HEALTH UPDATE: My Wild & Crazy Adventure
This past Friday was…intense, man.
Intense. And scary.
When I got out of bed in the morning I looked down to my legs. Eek!!!!!!!! My right calve, ankle, and foot were hugely bloated. I kept glancing between the right leg and left leg. It did not seem possible that these two legs belonged to the same person.
Alarmed, I called my doctor and explained. The response: “Please go to the emergency room, quickly.”
Fuck.
Two Friday’s ago it developed that I had blood clots in my lungs. While my right calve had been sore for a month or so I thought I had simply pulled a muscle. With the new diagnosis though I wondered…belatedly…if I had clots in my right leg?
Remember, I had my first-ever blood clot in my left leg in 2021. Two weeks after getting my first Moderna vaccination. Since then, I had another vax shot and a booster.
This new emergency room visit revealed: Yes, my right leg had blood clots. Alarmingly so. While I had been on blood thinner for a week, and while this had made a notable difference in my chest discomfort, the thinner was…for some reason…not able to reduce the clots in my leg.
The myriad people attending me were obviously worried. When I entered the emergency room around 1PM I assumed I would be home around 4 or 5. However, I was told that my condition was so alarming that I required special treatment not available in Emporia, and that I needed to be taken by ambulance to Topeka or Kansas City. I might not be discharged until late Saturday, Sunday…or later.
F U C K
F U C K
F U C K
What about my kitties? My fish? As I live alone I could not just make a simple call: “Hi honey! The shit has hit the fan. Can you hold down the fort until I get back?”
I was also worried about money. While I am newly on Medicare A B, I recalled from somewhere that this did not include ambulance costs. A dear friend of mine, also with A B, recently had an emergency situation and he called 911. His 24-minute ambulance ride cost him $1,200. Eek! So, what would a 2-hour ride cost me? EEK!!!!!!!!
The minutes and hours ticked by. And I slowly adjusted to the scary idea that I might not return home for a day…or more. Or…fuck fuck fuck…maybe not ever.
Then everything, with a shocking dimensional shift, changed. I was told that maybe I did not need to go far far away for treatment. After a great deal of consulting with experts in Kansas City it was decided that a change in my clotting medicine would likely resolve the problem. The conclusion was that Xarelto simply was not powerful enough to handle my particular situation, and that shifting to a super-duper thinner would make a world of difference.
Imagine, if you will, me trying to take all this in. I had now been in the emergency room for about 4 hours. I was naked save my underwear, a gown and blanket, and strapped with an IV and about a dozen cords taped all over my chest.
I asked the doctor to repeat what she had just said. Then I asked for another repeat.
It very slowly dawned on me what was happening. I asked to the doctor: “I’m obviously having trouble processing what you’re saying. But, and please correct me if I’ve misunderstood, are you telling me that if I can afford $350 dollars for a months supply of the super-duper blood thinner (because this is not covered by Medicare A B), I could…dramatic pause…go home?”
The doctor nodded affirmatively.
I repeated: “So, $350 out-of-pocket will buy me a Get Out Of Jail card? If so, YES YES YES! I will happily pay that!”
The doctor laughed. And nodded yes.
Relief surged through my body.
After much ado, by 630PM I was in my car….clothed…and picking up my new thinner at the drug store. By 7PM I was…hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah…back at home. The cats seemed unaware of what I had been though. And I thought it best not to tell them.
NOTE: It was repeatedly stressed that although my condition is deeply alarming, I should be OK. “With the right medicine, and careful monitoring, you will likely be fine.”
Surreal is the only way to describe the afternoon. It was truly an out-of-body experience. During my hours on the hospital there were about a dozen people attending me, in and out and in and out, all professionally attending to their respective tasks.
While I experienced terror and fear and worry and confusion, what proved a powerful antidote to all this was how I was treated. Not once, with all these people, was I ever treated like I did not matter. Each person was generous in their empathy (!!!!). Each person responded to my questions with serious intent. In short…and I know this will sound ridiculous…I felt bathed in, ahh, love. I really did.
I cannot imagine what emergency room workers go through in a single day but it must be INTENSE. How, how are they able to retain the humanity to deal with an anonymous old man with blood clots?
My eyes well with tears just thinking about this.
34 Comments
Leave a Reply Cancel Reply
Your email address will NEVER be made public or shared, and you may use a screen name if you wish.
Isn’t healthcare wonderful? Too bad you still had to pay out of pocket for the change in meds and no telling what the emergency room is going to cost. Still better than an ambulance ride to and from wherever plus who knows how long in a hospital.
I don’t need to remind you to take it easy and let your body have some healing time. The kitties will love having you all to themselves 24/7 for a while. The House and Carriage House can wait. They’ve waited this long. They’re patient. Nothing is urgent.
You can polish up some light fixtures or catch up on a book or some TV shows. I’m sure there is some peaceful, calm thing you’ve been putting off that can occupy you. a scrapbook or perhaps a journal or photo album. Maybe just line the cats up for some pets. “Spook!”
I have experienced that kind of caring, too. I’m so sorry about your experience. But – please – is the new med working?
Dear Ross, as I read down your post I kept repeating “please let him be ok” over and over. I’m so relieved and grateful the right people committed the necessary effort towards a good outcome. As well that they took care of you as you deserve. Hope the medicine is the right answer and wonder how soon they will validate it’s working well enough. Do let us know. In the interim, be very kind to yourself mostly by taking it very easy for a bit, please. I’ll keep sending good energy intention your way.
Oh Ross! I’m so glad you made it through that! We love you and need you! Prayers for you! I understand about the single life – sucks sometimes. (Even though you didn’t tell the kitties, I have a feeling a few sensed it)! Take care!🥰
I am so happy to hear that the healthcare workers there did such a great job, and that they quickly reached out to those at a larger med center with a greater range of experience. And I cannot believe that within that community in Strong there aren’t those you could reach out to who would gladly and quickly care for your fur babies. Take good care of you, so many of us who have come to care for you through the years via this blog! I was home the other day and failed to do a drive by the house, I want to see what Chris has accomplished across the street, too!
Ross: thank goodness for wonderful health care providers❤️❤️ Your symptoms are so very similar to my co-worker’s husband— he has had blood clots in his right leg and blood clots in his lungs. His doctors have told him it was due to him having had covid prior to all that. He is 70. Somewhere along the way with all the tests, his doctors discovered a hole in his heart—they believe was always there and was just revealed. That has been repaired now. He needs knee surgery next (his knee was painful prior to all this).
Please take care of yourself and keep us updated!❤️😀
Dear Ross! What a scary time!!
This is a time when you need to add traditional Medicare Part D (drugs). When you have no prescription drug coverage, this helps immensely when faced with your type of dilemmas. I signed up when I retired & needed prescription coverage.
When I was a catastrophic case manager and RN case manager for Mayo, it became apparent that insurance ins & outs were extremely important! Stay away from Humana Medicare plans (Advantage Plans). Any Advantage plans promise super coverage and your Medicare funds supposedly are utilized. They are a mess when you need it. Many times they don’t cover what and when you need it must.
A Medicare supplement also is helpful.
My D premium is $6.80/month. I ensured all my current scrips were co-paysin Tier 1 and Tier 2. My asthma medications & one BP med were Tier 3 co.pays.
I think this would be immensely helpful for you.
Open enrollment for Medicare is now thru December 7th. No penalty for adding Medicare coverage.
Just a few helpful suggestions.
BTW
Medicare Advantage Plans are Medicare C.
(A for Hospitsl admissions,
B (outpatient, Drs, durable medical equipment (DME), therapies OT, PT etc),
C (Advantage Pkans),,
D (drugs).
Feel better Ross!! Heal quickly!
Dodged a bullet or seemingly series of bullets! 😃
Hi Sandra
Thanks for this explanation. And thank goodness Ross is ok!
Medicare is complicated so this post is helpful. I have often enjoyed reading your posts.
Plan G is also a very good supplement. But expensive…which is one of the reasons I am over 70 and still working…
Most important is that Ross recovers quickly.
Wishing good health to all.
Good. It’s really nice to hear from someone in the healthcare field. As an aside, a family member got talked into a Humana Advantage plan. It was about the time that Humana started using the slogan “Guidance when you need it most”. I notice that it didn’t say “Payment when you need it most”. She had to fight for everything. It was an ongoing battle. I have Anthem, and my results have been the opposite.(Maybe I’m just lucky this time).
Good advice E.J.
I don’t agree regarding Advantage plans. Anthem may be a decent one but I found Blue Cross Advantage plans to not be the most helpful with regard to skilled care, services and a huge issue with intravenous antibiotics. Blue Cross Platinum Advantage Plan was the best until they discontinued it. It was not profitable for the company. In 2018 and 2019, there was a shift in Blue Cross reimbursement. Services would be pre-certified and approved and then claims were denied routinely. Almost everything had to be appealed and it was a great rigmarole. Basically the rug is pulled after the fact. Extremely heartbreaking and bankrupting for patients and loved ones.
I think we both have great ideas for Ross and we have provided additional information for him to choose what best for him.
I just hope Ross heals and is back to being healthy and robust again!
On the road to healing Ross!!
Ross, I’m so sorry you had to go through all that–and to do it alone. Just remember that we are all always “there” for you in spirit–I know that sounds hokey, but… we are. Hopefully, you can find a way to get that cost for the super-duper blood thinner to somehow go down. Please hang in there!
Wow. I do have a bit of advice. Medicare Open Enrollment has just begun, as of Sat Oct 15th. Go to Medicare.gov, and review the available plans. You may find that you will be able to get an “Advantage Plan” that will add little to nothing to your monthly Medicare premium, but will cover most of your medications, for a small co-pay. Not every plan is available in every state, so you may not be able to get my Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, but I pay no extra premium for it. I pay $1.66/mo for one of my 3 medications, nothing for any of the others, and my diabetic test strips are entirely covered($144/3mo).
As far as the medical profession goes, I’m sure it is (mostly) filled with caring people, and I have no real gripe about my doctor. However, the hospital system that dominates my area is Catholic-based, as are the other 2 that are available, I was recently asked what religion i am, and the answer I should have given will now be “atheist”. My answer caused a nun to snap at me “Don’t you think you should make up your mind?” To say the least, they are now on my fecal roster. Remember, Ross, YOU are responsible for your health care, and that puts you in the drivers’ seat. This is hard to remember during an emergency, but that IS the most important time to remember it.
“fecal roster” made me spit my drink.
Agreed. I’m stealing that one.
I’m glad there’s some light for you at the end of that terrible tunnel. Be careful and read up on whatever side effects the meds can cause so you know when to worry.
Wow! Talk about a wake-up call, huh? Nothing like a “right now” experience, to get those “what if?” thoughts going.
It’s a definite relief to find that an alternative blood thinner could be the key – sometimes these things need tweaking. As well, the compassionate & caring emergency room staff can be an example to follow for some sensible & necessary self-care. Autumn is a great time to prepare for 🍂 everything!
Take this healing time to paper plan for an emergency situation – strip everything down to immediate necessities. House checkers, cat wranglers, errand runners, etc., line up your people network. If it’s a bit thin, work on that, meet new people, & get those people connected.
Hint 1: People like to help.
Hint 2: Let them.
Making sure “Ross stuff” can get done if/when you can’t do it, will relieve a massive load of unforeseen stress.
Take care, Ross. 💜 It’s probably impossible but, do try to keep the wild & crazy adventures to a minimum. 😉
So glad you found a quick resolution to the hospital dilemma! Now you need to concentrate on resolving those clots. Best wishes for the speediest recovery possible.
Dear Ross if you ever need any help with your animal babies, Raymond and I would gladly help! I’m so glad you appear to be ok. We went by Cross house yesterday and remarked how beautiful it looked! Call on us if you need anything.
Yay Lori and Kim!
I hope Ross starts his Critter Caring and Caring Emergency Peeps! Put together an emergency house and feline tenders I said feline managers at first but switched to tenders as kitties can’t really be managed….hahahaha! Ever hear the term, “it’s like herding cats?”….kitties cannot be managed, but tended to. Felines think they rule the world! Haha
All kidding aside as you have dodged a bullet and need your emergency backup people.
All your fellow bloggers care about you as well as all your friends! Your loved ones are those you surround yourself with and folks will come out of the woodwork to help!
Luckily restaurants, groceries and pharmacies will deliver when you cannot get out or are “benched for the season.” Put your legs up and eat nutritious foods, drink plenty of fluids and be careful with the strenuous activities! No climbing on ladders and hanging off the roof! Work on vintage lighting!! Get cracking with fun light fixtures that need sprucing up!
So glad it turned out well and rooting for your continued recovery. All the way in MA, this reader feels a little bit better with every “Baby Step” you take!
Warmest of hugs…
So grateful it’s a simple solution Ross!! Sending lots of love and prayers for full healing from Mississippi. We are cheering you on!!!
Hi Ross. I’m so glad to hear you are on the mend and like others have said, take some time to rest up. The house can wait for a few days. Whilst our NHS here in the UK is a money pit of endless sums of public cash, I’m always grateful for the free care which we receive, especially when hearing stories such as yours. Imagine having to pay for an ambulance?
Best of luck in your recuperation,
Colin
Colin! It’s a delight hearing from you! BIG hug! I still expect a visit one day! Ross
Hi there. Trust me, as soon as I finish this quick restoration of my new house I’ll be planning a trip! My home is a 1930s semi ( two family home in US terms) and the entire floor plan would probably fit into your parlour! However, I love it and will be ever so glad when it’s finished! Stay healthy because we all love hearing how you and the Cross House are progressing
“”While I experienced terror and fear and worry and confusion, what proved a powerful antidote to all this was how I was treated. Not once, with all these people, was I ever treated like I did not matter. Each person was generous in their empathy (!!!!). Each person responded to my questions with serious intent. In short…and I know this will sound ridiculous…I felt bathed in, ahh, love. I really did.
I cannot imagine what emergency room workers go through in a single day but it must be INTENSE. How, how are they able to retain the humanity to deal with an anonymous old man with blood clots?
My eyes well with tears just thinking about this.””
I have had many reasons to wonder this myself in the last three years. My DIL delivered during Covid, and she and my son could not say enough good things about the care recieved. My step-mom, my father, my husband, myself, and two close friends, all have had urgent medical issues and marveled at the obviously caring attitude of the tired and stressed medical staff.
It is truly amazing what people can deal with and maintain their humanity
So relieved to hear that you were able to go home and had such wonderful care. What a nightmare of a day for you! You’re definitely in my thoughts.
Oh, man, so glad to hear you are going to be ok. <3
Sending more hugs, and all my best wishes for no more health scares.
This comment section is one great big group hug. Get well soon, Ross!
And more hugs are being sent from New York!
You are very loved by the wonderful community you created dear Ross.
I wish I was closer so I could help.
Wishes for every day to be a healthy and happy day.
Ross, even during challenging times, you are aware of people around you. And you appreciate their approach towards you. That is a sign of a great person that you are. Sending positive energy to you, the clowder of cats and the Cross House.
Ross,
New poster but old reader here (and also health care lawyer). From =NOW= until 7 December is the time when you can enroll in one or another variation on Medicare that pays for all sorts of things beyond what Medicare A and B pay for. Given that you will be taking medication for the foreseeable, you need at least a Part D drug plan.
Look into available Medicare Advantage plans. Start with these people: https://kdads.ks.gov/kdads-commissions/long-term-services-supports/aging-services/medicare-programs/shick which is the state government-sponsored insurance helper. ( They are not insurance agents, do not receive compensation for directing you to an insurer.)
Do this soon.
All good wishes.