We're getting old (OO medical complaints)

[Blackhawk]

I haven't had my flu shot or covid.

You should get them. And the shingles vaccine while you're at it.

[WYBaugh]

OMG, the side effects from the shingles vaccine suuuuuuuuuuuck.

I feel like I’ve been hit by a damn truck.

I double dipped on Shingrix and COVID booster. Absolutely do not recommend.

[Jeff V]

Taking the kids and myself for Covid and flu shots tonight after my daughter's ballet class. She's already asking about her prize...

[Jeff V]

Ugh, Walgreens said insurance companies aren't covering Covid shots anymore, so we got none last night.

[gilraen]

Ugh, Walgreens said insurance companies aren't covering Covid shots anymore, so we got none last night.

Nope, must be just your insurance company. Mine covered the shots just fine, also at Walgreens.

[LordMortis]

CVS took my Blue Cross Complete of Michigan no questions. There are a billion different variations of Blue Cross, so I can't say they took "Blue Cross"

[ImLawBoy]

Yes, it's insurer dependent. Some are reportedly dropping it. I recommend checking with the insurance company themselves to see if it's actually covered or not.

[Jeff V]

Yes, it's insurer dependent. Some are reportedly dropping it. I recommend checking with the insurance company themselves to see if it's actually covered or not.

I just sent an email to my insurance agent (independent who finds stuff on the exchange). They still cover flu shots -- Covid is still considered a bigger threat...it seems irresponsible for them to drop it.

This is a more minor inconvenience though. I got an obscene phone call from Rush Copley hospital about an hour ago. They reiterated they don't take my insurance. The insurance company told my agent that all hospitals are covered, and after 6 months of dicking around they finally paid the bill from my first surgery. According to the lady I spoke to, it didn't qualify for a discount that was improperly applied and I can expect to receive a massive bill after the account is audited.

More obscene was the text stating it was determined my portion of Friday's surgery will be $58,000, due prior to the surgery. She had contacted the insurance regarding a single-case exception (they apparently only pay Medicaid rates, which is what the hospital does not accept). If she doesn't hear back in 2 days, I'll have to cancel the surgery and live with a broken arm indefinitely. I asked my agent to take this into account when she pitches 2025 plans.

[Zarathud]

Firm decided that too many people were on GLP1 meds and changed our “maxed out of pocket” copay from $30 to $300 per month. They allegedly sent a notice letter in the USPS a month ago which never arrived due to Chicago mail. Benefits person sent a snotty email blaming people for taking it non-medically and declaring it too costly.

So much for our High Deductible but “high coverage” health plan. Stupid and short-sighted. I hate having shitty Red State insurance despite being at a major firm.

[Blackhawk]

What a woild.

[Isgrimnur]

Benefits person sent a snotty email blaming people for taking it non-medically

I must have missed where it was approved for OTC use. What's it like to have a benefits person with no interest in knowing how benefits work?

[Smoove_B]

Benefits person sent a snotty email blaming people for taking it non-medically and declaring it too costly.

Yeah, people are out on the street taking GLP-1 shots and eating donuts. The kids are calling them Skittle-bumps.

[LordMortis]

Firm decided that too many people were on GLP1 meds and changed our “maxed out of pocket” copay from $30 to $300 per month. They allegedly sent a notice letter in the USPS a month ago which never arrived due to Chicago mail. Benefits person sent a snotty email blaming people for taking it non-medically and declaring it too costly.

So much for our High Deductible but “high coverage” health plan. Stupid and short-sighted. I hate having shitty Red State insurance despite being at a major firm.

did you ask for $270 a month raise because you aren't taking GLP1 meds for medical purposes? (And what is a recreational GLP injection? Does it get you high or something?)

[Jeff V]

Yes, it's insurer dependent. Some are reportedly dropping it. I recommend checking with the insurance company themselves to see if it's actually covered or not.

I just sent an email to my insurance agent (independent who finds stuff on the exchange). They still cover flu shots -- Covid is still considered a bigger threat...it seems irresponsible for them to drop it.

This is a more minor inconvenience though. I got an obscene phone call from Rush Copley hospital about an hour ago. They reiterated they don't take my insurance. The insurance company told my agent that all hospitals are covered, and after 6 months of dicking around they finally paid the bill from my first surgery. According to the lady I spoke to, it didn't qualify for a discount that was improperly applied and I can expect to receive a massive bill after the account is audited.

More obscene was the text stating it was determined my portion of Friday's surgery will be $58,000, due prior to the surgery. She had contacted the insurance regarding a single-case exception (they apparently only pay Medicaid rates, which is what the hospital does not accept). If she doesn't hear back in 2 days, I'll have to cancel the surgery and live with a broken arm indefinitely. I asked my agent to take this into account when she pitches 2025 plans.

Agent got back to me right away. She said I can still get the vaccines at Walgreens, then submit a claim form and get reimbursed. I think I'd rather go to Jewel and get a 20% coupon for the aggravation. She also said that the exception request was being fast tracked regarding the operation, so there's still a non-zero chance I can get it done Friday. And that would be nice...it's been a downward curve since about 2 months after the operation when recovery seemed to start going off the rails. Now in addition to my shoulder pain, it's brought my elbow to the party and I can scarcely lift my coffee cup when driving. And that's bad. Coffee is essential to not dying in a fiery crash, especially since the painful shoulder prevents me from getting decent sleep at night.

[Smoove_B]

Agent got back to me right away. She said I can still get the vaccines at Walgreens, then submit a claim form and get reimbursed.

Do you get health insurance through your wife? You can ignore my question if you'd like. The reason I'm asking is that I thought she was a nurse and the idea that her health insurance plan wouldn't support her (and you) from doing something about a vaccine preventable severity reduction disease is going to break my brain.

[Zarathud]

did you ask for $270 a month raise because you aren't taking GLP1 meds for medical purposes? (And what is a recreational GLP injection? Does it get you high or something?)

With both my wife on it too, that would be 50% of my bonus last year.

The problem with partnership is there’s a strict pay formula. I just have to work more. The good news is I should make a much bigger bonus this year and future years. But there is no longer any “raise” except to keep our base pay more than our employees.

And in fact, GLP1 kills the joy from food and makes drinking with hepcat hard. Even sweet birthday cake barely registered. The benefit is weight loss, so it’s worthwhile. I don’t want to be Kevin Smith/Silent Bob.

Basically, there is a bunch of “fat people did it to themselves” bullshit out there in the world. The new GLP1 meds prove there is a chemical component to weight, but close minded people won’t see that. My family gets hyperthyroid from my mom until we lose the excessive metabolism. So we’re either big or small, depending on life.

[Kraken]

I ordered a couple of sandwiches at a deli counter and when they were ready, the sandwich maker eyed the braces on my hands and offered to take them to the register for me. “Tendonitis?” he asked. “Arthritis,” I corrected, and he nodded sympathetically at the broken down old man standing before him.

I could've carried my own damned sandwiches.

[Smoove_B]

Basically, there is a bunch of “fat people did it to themselves” bullshit out there in the world. The new GLP1 meds prove there is a chemical component to weight, but close minded people won’t see that.

Plus you have the actual pharmacies doing everything they can to make insane money:

Novo Nordisk has asked the Food and Drug Administration to bar compounding pharmacies from making copies of its blockbuster weight loss drug semaglutide, arguing that the medication is too complex for the pharmacies to safely make.

Compounding pharmacies are typically allowed to make copies of drugs that are deemed to be in shortage by the FDA, which semaglutide has been for over two years. But Novo argued that semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity, should be on the FDA’s “Demonstrable Difficulties for Compounding Lists,” which are lists of complex medications that compounders are not allowed to make regardless of shortages, according to documents the agency posted this week.

"It's too complex" they say while rolling around in piles of cash. I keep seeing a suggestion that the GLP-1 medications are going to break American insurance; I hope it happens.

[Zarathud]

I am all for socialized healthcare/drugs. My wife’s job is basically managing our medical expenses and claims. No business wants this necessary job anyway.

[Jeff V]

Agent got back to me right away. She said I can still get the vaccines at Walgreens, then submit a claim form and get reimbursed.

Do you get health insurance through your wife? You can ignore my question if you'd like. The reason I'm asking is that I thought she was a nurse and the idea that her health insurance plan wouldn't support her (and you) from doing something about a vaccine preventable severity reduction disease is going to break my brain.

Yes, she's a nurse, the family plan through her employer would be roughly 50% of her salary. The plan we have from the exchange is designed for people like me (Uber drivers), no deductible was the selling point and it probably would serve just fine if I didn't fuck up my arm.

[Jeff V]

So the hospital and my insurance company struck a deal...I only have to pay $250 and the show will go on. But then the hospital notified me that upon further review, I owe $10,000 from the February surgery and they suggest I do battle with the insurance company over that. Ugh.

[WYBaugh]

Had the CT Angiogram and reading the results it appears I'm good heart related.

Had a pulmonary CT early this week and had interesting results. First thing they hit me with is I either have no left kidney or an ectopic kidney. Second, I have a 1.5 cm calcified nodule and a 6 mm something in my right lung. Result said both are benign but will go to the pulmonologist on Monday to see what is going to be done moving forward.

PFT was great so my lungs are not involved.

All of this to still be unsure of why I'm feeling more exhausted doing regular outside exertion. I guess I could be that out of shape but just seems to be too acute.

[WYBaugh]

Pulmonologist appointment and learn that I've had the 1.5 cm nodule since before 2016 so all good with the lungs.

Everything seems to be pointing to the prognosis that I'm old and out of shape.

[naednek]

Everything seems to be pointing to the prognosis that I'm old and out of shape.

I'm so sorry

[Blackhawk]

Everything seems to be pointing to the prognosis that I'm old and out of shape.

I've begun developing that same condition as I've aged.

[Daehawk]

I nodded off watching a ASMR video and woke up to a blood pressure spike. Knew something was off right away as I could barely walk. The bp monitor clocked me at 222/111..ouch. I rolled two bp meds around in my mouth before swallowing.....better now. Those out of the blue spikes are scary weird.

[Anonymous Bosch]

I nodded off watching a ASMR video and woke up to a blood pressure spike. Knew something was off right away as I could barely walk. The bp monitor clocked me at 222/111..ouch. I rolled two bp meds around in my mouth before swallowing.....better now. Those out of the blue spikes are scary weird.

IANAD, but waking up to a blood pressure spike of 222/111 is a fairly strong indication that you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA):

Q. Is it true that snoring raises your blood pressure? I'm a snorer, and I worry that it puts me at risk for other conditions.

A. Severe snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). If you have OSA, then your breathing is blocked temporarily many times per night. That causes oxygen levels in your lungs and blood to start falling. Your brain sees this happening and sends adrenaline into your bloodstream. This stimulates the breathing center in your brain. It also makes your heart beat faster and raises your blood pressure. Fortunately, treatment for OSA can lower blood pressure.

[LordMortis]

That's me. I sometimes wake up with headaches. I have a CPAP but I'm such a light sleeper that I can't really sleep with it or with a mandibular appliance.

[Madmarcus]

Right before I left teaching I was waking up in the middle of the night with an elevated heart rate. Perhaps it was sleep apnea or perhaps it was anxiety brought on by knowing that I was falling behind in my work (deciding to get out of teaching in December but needing to finish the school year isn't a great way to run things!). Loosing 20 pounds, reducing drinking, and removing the stress of teaching has done wonders for the problem!

[Daehawk]

I was stressed at bedtime. sad but also worried about another 2 years of bills and being stuck without a car or a computer upgrade had me stressed good. It why I was listening to the asmr.

[Jeff V]

I've slept like shit for years, my doctor has a standing order for me to get a sleep study, but it's never been convenient to do so. He actually agrees that the results would be suspect since I broke my arm earlier this year and that alone accounts for me being up all the time.

There's a place that advertises on the radio a lot that claims many in-office procedures that don't require a CPAP. In their earlier commercials, the doctor that owns the place came off as a condescending douchebag, but he's toned it down in the past year or so. Maybe I'll give that outfit a try if and when my arm heals.

[dbt1949]

I really would recommend it. It's really helped me. Also they tell me i can wake up dead without it. Doctors are always asking me if Im still using it and I say yes even when i take my naps.

[Blackhawk]

When I was on my CPAP before my cancer, it was like night and day on the impact it had on my life. It was worth taking the time to get used to it.

[Zarathud]

Agreed. Jeff V, find someone who can help you fit the mask properly. Talk with your doctor if you need the air pressure to ramp up so you can get to sleep before it bothers you. I went from not being able to remember shit after 10 hours of sleep before my CPAP to being operational on 5-6 hours of sleep again. Also, they can test you at home now so you don't have to go to a strange hotel room.

Frankly, I'm recommitting to my health because I want to see the better tomorrow of the future.

[The Meal]

Thank you cataracts. Surgeries to be separated by two weeks, with the first as soon as the end of October.

The first was this morning , and my experience was exactly described by WYBaugh and disarm:

I've had both eyes done and you are awake but they give you versed or similar to totally relax you. They do an extremely small incision and you don't feel anything. You'll see a bright light with a bunch of colors swirling around but as Unagi said, it's about 15 minutes and really is nothing.

Main concern is an infection after the surgery so make sure you stay on the drops.

I can't say anything more useful this...awake but numb and relaxed. You don't feel anything other than touching and a lot of water, and most people say it's like looking into a kaleidoscope while they work. Most people show up very nervous for the first eye but quickly realize it's no big deal, then can't come back for the next one soon enough.

Surgeon spent six minutes on the process once he got started. Took about 45 minutes to get me prepped. I even got to keep my own shirt and pants on. I'll be a lot less apprehensive for my Left Eye Upgrade the week of Thanksgiving.

[Jeff V]

Agreed. Jeff V, find someone who can help you fit the mask properly. Talk with your doctor if you need the air pressure to ramp up so you can get to sleep before it bothers you. I went from not being able to remember shit after 10 hours of sleep before my CPAP to being operational on 5-6 hours of sleep again. Also, they can test you at home now so you don't have to go to a strange hotel room.

Frankly, I'm recommitting to my health because I want to see the better tomorrow of the future.

My dad was on one for the last bunch of years of his life. He could only sleep on the couch, and it took him an hour to meticulously clean it after each use. He did not sleep in a bed for about the last 12 years of his life.

[Blackhawk]

Thank you cataracts. Surgeries to be separated by two weeks, with the first as soon as the end of October.

The first was this morning , and my experience was exactly described by WYBaugh and disarm:

I've had both eyes done and you are awake but they give you versed or similar to totally relax you. They do an extremely small incision and you don't feel anything. You'll see a bright light with a bunch of colors swirling around but as Unagi said, it's about 15 minutes and really is nothing.

Main concern is an infection after the surgery so make sure you stay on the drops.

I can't say anything more useful this...awake but numb and relaxed. You don't feel anything other than touching and a lot of water, and most people say it's like looking into a kaleidoscope while they work. Most people show up very nervous for the first eye but quickly realize it's no big deal, then can't come back for the next one soon enough.

Surgeon spent six minutes on the process once he got started. Took about 45 minutes to get me prepped. I even got to keep my own shirt and pants on. I'll be a lot less apprehensive for my Left Eye Upgrade the week of Thanksgiving.

Did they do anything special to keep your eye open? It's a major concern for me when mine eventually come due.

[The Meal]

There was no special device, but my lack of vision, the versed flowing through my veins, and three medical professionals futzing over a four square inch region of my face prevents me from remembering exactly what was done. Guessing back at things, I’d expect that it was medical grade tape that held my lid wide open.

Note that everything I was told may hurt (“these first eyedrops may be a bit spicy”, “you may feel a bit of a pinch when I inject the antibiotic”, etc), nothing even gave me a sensation other than the IV line getting installed in the back of my hand. My eye was definitely numbed up with three sets of three drops each over the course of twenty minutes (some numbing drops, some super dooper dialation drops, and a third mystery product) to the extent that I felt nothing (see: antibiotic injection… guess where that went) and I’m still dilated to the extent that I can’t really judge the new lens (I had 20/30 vision in the follow-up, but in reality I can’t see much, yet).

Tomorrow will be exciting when everything has worn off. I’m *not* expecting clear vision in the new eye, but I’m hopeful to have capable multi-plane vision restored in a way I haven’t had since I turned 42. And my untouched eye should carry the load for sharp vision (at a distance while wearing contacts, up close while wearing my spectacles). I do retain concerns about the period of time between the second surgery and whenever they can apply The Meal-specific vision correction, but that’s December Meal’s problem.

[Blackhawk]

I've always been extremely oversensitive to having things near my face that aren't under my own control. Move your hand within 6" of my eyes, and my eyelids flutter like a butterfly on speed. It's completely involuntary, and completely uncontrollable. I can't actually see it (it feels/looks like I'm just squinting), but it was always a source of great entertainment for the other kids when I was in school (it was far less entertaining for me.)

It's always worried me about getting work done on my eyes. Optometrists have trouble even getting eyedrops in there.

[Zarathud]

You don’t have to change it anywhere that frequently, Jeff V. They’re much better and smaller these days. They even give you reports via wireless app on your sleeping.

Besides, it’s white noise that will help you sleep.