had to take the poor husband to the er this morning

[fizzgig]

they did a chest x-ray and it's pneumonia. he's back in bed, i'm having coffee while i wait for the prescriptions to be filled.

he needed to go but i'm feeling like a dick because i'm already stressing about the bill.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I"m so sorry, my dear fizzgig...

I hope he will soon be over this awful disease.

[fizzgig]

2. he is so sick and it just breaks my heart

my poor guy

[femmocrat]

3. So sorry, fizzgig.

Hope he is better soon.

[fizzgig]

8. he's finally napping

and i'm about to start some beef stew for dinner.

we rarely get sick but, when we do, we go all out.

[greymouse]

4. I hope he is better soon.

Are you guys on Obamacare? I don't know how that works for ER visits.

The price of healthcare in this country sucks. Well, everyone knows that. I just paid $400 for a month's prescription that last year cost about $70 a month. And I have Plan D.

[fizzgig]

7. we have insurance through my job

and thank the gods for that, but you're right in that the cost of health care sucks.

[mrmpa]

11. did you check..........

goodrx.com for the price. My mom has medicare & her plan D is a PA state plan, Pacenet. I never use her pacenet. She has 3 prescriptions that are not 3 months for $10 and I use goodrx.com for the lowest price.

I was surprised in the past 2 weeks, one prescription that is always about $38 was only $25 this month and one I picked up today, a 90 supply was $18, it's usually $28.

[greymouse]

12. thanks for the idea

I will try that.

[redwitch]

5. Pneumonia is miserable!

I have had it twice. Very hard to get comfortable. Hope he heals quickly, hope the bill isn't too astronomical.

[fizzgig]

9. he hasn't been comfortable for days

doc gave him some painkillers and he sounds like he's sleeping deeper than he has for a week. i think that's a good first step.

[riderinthestorm]

6. I'm so sorry. Our healthcare system completely sucks.

Hang in there..

[fizzgig]

10. there is no reason for it to cost what it does

i am grateful we have insurance but there is still no excuse.

[Lars39]

13. You can still try to negotiate your portion down, fizzgig.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it's definitely worth the effort. Hope your husband gets better asap.

[fizzgig]

20. i'll let them know they get 20 bucks a month

best we can do.

[Lars39]

25. Well, I meant for the balance that your EOB says you owe.

Like say from $500 total owed, negotiated down to $300-400, then your $20 a month. A lot of places will do this. They'd rather have less money coming in total steadily than for you to not be able to pay at all and the bill getting bumped to collections.

[DebJ]

14. Sending vibes your way! That is terrible. I hope he can rest up

for a long, long time. You need that with pneumonia.

My Dad was the type of high-energy man that never sat still, ever.
When I was about 10 he got pneumonia, and slept for a week. I
kept checking on him because I was terrified. First time I ever
saw him sit still. The next time I did, he was like 75, and I saw
him fall asleep in his armchair with a blanket...took a picture
and shared it with everyone 'OMG Dad is asleep!"

He's 84 now and when I take him shopping, I can't keep up with
him in the grocery store. I'm only 60 so that is rather embarrassing.

[fizzgig]

21. he's between jobs right now, so i guess that's something

he's supposed to start his new job in a week, but he needs to remember he can't push himself if he's not ready.

[MrMickeysMom]

15. PM me if you need any pulmonary hygiene tips to clear this

Sorry he's sick. Hang in there.

[fizzgig]

22. any tips would be appreciated

he has the inhaler and has been taking hot baths, but i don't know what else to do. we're smokers (i know) and i'm hoping that he'll be uninterested in picking it back up when he's better.

[MrMickeysMom]

26. Water...

1) 95% of the mucus you produce everywhere in your body is composed of water. Therefore... Constantly sip it (don't care if it's flavored with a splash of cranberry juice or lemon... whatever) just drink until your urine is pretty clear.

2) Positioning so that areas that are infected with pneumonia are higher than your head. (That means head down, but not more than a 45 degree angle). Breathing a deep breath in with your nose, exhale a little longer than it took to inhale (1.5 times is ideal). Do this for 10 minutes a few times a day.

I'm telling you the obvious, but stop smoking. I can't help but give you this advice. One person can quit if the other joins in with support and does the same thing. It CAN be done. It isn't easy, I can tell you. If you have to smoke, then I'd rather it be vapor. Only problem is that vapor isn't regulated, so you don't really know what you're getting, but at least it will not be particulate of smoke, which increases the inflammatory reaction in the lung.

Get a complete pulmonary function test after recovery to see what degree of lung function may be been harmed. Sometimes you need to see the real figures to understand what they mean. I perform this testing, which may be too expensive unless you have health insurance. I could help you interpret what each component of testing means.

Other than a big ole and I can give you this. Strength through support!

[shenmue]

16. Dr. Tinycat recommends cookies

[fizzgig]

24. dim one is taking care of her hoomin

[NJCher]

17. hey fizzgig

I just wanted you to know my thoughts are with you and your husband.




Cher

[fizzgig]

19. thanks, friend

he didn't go for any of the stew last night and requested roasted bell pepper soup for today, but the smell of the peppers is upsetting his stomach. he hasn't eaten for a few days and i'm just hoping i can get something in his belly.

on the upside, fat harvey liked the stew and he doesn't do human food.

[grasswire]

29. watch his electrolytes if he's not eating

Some pedialyte beverage will take care of that.

What about some baked egg custard? Or homemade rice pudding? Poached eggs on toast? An omelet with salsa?

He's on antibiotics?

[fizzgig]

32. he's been drinking gatorade

but the smell of food was making him sick. he wanted veggie pizza with no cheese, so i picked one up for him.

he is on antibiotics and they're starting to kick in. the fever finally broke and he's much less achy then he had been.

[mnhtnbb]

18. Hope he will be feeling better every day now

Pneumonia is not to be sneezed at-- --and hopefully the Rx will do their job.

My husband and I have been advocates of single payer--government administered, no insurance companies--for years and years.
He is now 73 and I'm 65. We have been hoping to see it in our lifetime, but are becoming more doubtful it will happen. Such a shame
that health/medical care is all about profit in this country. It need not be like that.

[fizzgig]

23. i'm really hoping he's about to turn the corner

poor thing is just so miserable and it's breaking my heart.

it is obscene that people in this country have to worry about the cost of needed treatment.

[RebelOne]

27. He will turn the corner toward recovery.

I had pneumonia last November and thought I would never recover. But I did after about 2 weeks. Thank goodness for Medicare or I could never have afforded medical care. Tell your husband I wish him a speedy recovery. I bounced back and am fine now and I am sure he will be also.

[bigwillq]

28. Hope he feels better.

[whistler162]

30. So the rich husband stayed home?

Better the bill for the ER than a bill for 2 or 3 days stay in the hospital. Know someone who got pneumonia and ended up in the hospital for 2 or 3 days.

[My Good Babushka]

31. I hope he feels better soon

and gets all the rest he needs.