Come in for a friendly chat

 I was awake the entire time they put an little tiny camera into the inner side of my groin at the main leg artery and pushed it up into my heart to find the closed artery, I felt nothing, though I could see everything going on with an screen above me,...they opened the artery and put an tiny stent (circular mesh wire)in the artery to keep it open. Took an picture of it before and after also. Then I went back to my room, and they hand clamped on the artery after taking the device out, until it colgulated and sewed it a little and bandaged over it. They said that was the most danergerous part of the whole thing, was not bleeding to death, if it didn't make it's own blood clots. Enitre thing took one hour surgery and two hours clamping down by hand the artery....$51,000 total. We had to come up with 20 per cent of it out of our own pocket. Some of it they reduced the price on and I borrowed against an old life insurance policy for the rest of it, now I have no life insurance though...as they take the amount out before paying off the policy. It might be nice they can save people's lives these days, but what do they save them to..poverty? Once in an lifetime is plenty "price" wise. They need to do something about the high price of medical services these days. An Gall Bladder operation an couple of years prior that..well between the both of them, helped to clean out $13,000 of our savings...in fact all of it for us these days. It's left me very demoralized "spiritually" also. I now feel "homeless" in an way. Due to my age, it would be very hard to re-coup on the costs of things. Yet, I have worked for the medical society..for ten years...and this was more then even they paid me for the entire time I worked...because once again, my wages when I worked in years past...is no where like the wages/costs of today. I pay $150 an month our of my pocket for prescription medications also, almost $800 total, but insurance helps on the rest of it..bit by bit, they chip away our livabilty daily..kind of unfair. I don't begrudge people an job and wages to live, but we can barely keep up with this, and for us it means an very low profile Christmas for our grandkids this year. In an couple of days, daughter in-law goes in for an complete hystereocmy and will be off work, unpaid three weeks at least. Thanks to "Bush" letting the Mexican truck driver's in, my son has had his hours cut down to 14 per week, because they will work for less...they are taking over our agricultural industry.. No, I think I'll have to tell "God" to put christmas on hold for us this year. No money, can't be buying anything.  In days ahead, it would not surprise me to see an all out and out "revolution" here unless things change fast and more positive for the taxpayers...little guys. What they are doing now for the "answer" is very communistic, in that the "Governement" is running everything, and there is no "private" industry..and I can't see how that's going to work either, at least it didn't in Russia in the past.  There is an very strong underground going through the "net" right now, buy "American" and nothing else, if they don't hire American workers, silently "boycott" the company/product. Truckers of course are absoultely "furious"I might add. They have held rallies several times now. Our companies lay off it's people but over in Japan when they were facing this, they worked with their Governemnt  to keep people working .because they knew, wages given..meant wages spent, but people are so totally stupid here any more, its just plain rediculous. Our businessmen and politicans of today disgrace our country on every level for the most part...they will up hold about any forigner around over their own people. We still talk about how they were giving an free education to the pilots of 9/11 whom brought  down the World Trade towers...and they would never do that for an "average" american. Give them an free education...so they could have an better life. Our justice system spends more money supporting illegal hispanics and giving them free tickets "home" then they do helping "Americans"...when they can't find "jobs" they go to jail for an free meal and place to stay before getting sent back also. Number one objective to going to jail for them is ususally drugs or rape, preferably on an white person these days also. I mean we are real "fed up" with this "crap" over here. Beware and don't fall into the pit of hell being "helpful" to others like we have dear people. Sad thing is I know some hispanics are truly decent folks to know also....they have been here for generations "working" too...contributing to our society...not taking from it...for themselves only. But these days, they are far and few over the others.      

My heart goes out to you Shirley.

We have also had a hugely expensive year with medical bills. Both my foot surgeries were covered 80%, but still the 20% we have to come up with is not easy to find. And every time I go back for a check up I have to have x-rays. 

My husband just had a tooth implant (in fact he had the final crown on today) none of which was covered by insurance, and that broke the bank.

Then my son has to have blood taken (about $360.00 a pop) and Doctors appointments every month in order to be treated for his condition. It goes on and on.

I much prefer the National Health system in England, although it has it's own problems.

Dear Shirley and Sue,  I am so sorry that you have this financial burden, when you are ill and need treatment.  I have porphyria and I am moderator of a porphyria support group, it is a very rare blood disorder (King George 111 film), most of the members of the group live in the USA.  I am horrified every day, by the accounts I read, as to how difficult it is to get treatment and prescription drugs.

You are right Sue the National Health Service in England does have it's problems, but my goodness nobody is turned away from hospital if treatment is needed. We have the best Doctor we could ever hope for, we are so lucky, maybe after the election medical care will improve for you.  I certainly hope so,

Blessings

MaryL