Octopus Overlords

Jeff V wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 7:40 pm Last week my wife pointed out I was developing varicose veins. I hadn't noticed.

Yea, I have a spot on the inside of my left knee that has shown up in the last few years. Kinda gnarly looking.

Scuzz wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 3:00 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Tue Aug 03, 2021 8:34 am Statins have been linked to early dementia.

Who is talking about statins?

They say that the memory is the first to go.

No, they're wrong. It's second.

So I have recently retired, and learned that the insurance coverage I had for the last 3 1/2 years will not be available. So while I had signed up for Medicare A when I turned 65 I hadn't signed up for Medicare B because I had other coverage. Now I find myself without any outside insurance until I can prove I have Medicare B, which I have now applied for. The wife is also having to go thru the same process.

All this could have been avoided had my old insurer simply been willing to answer questions about my coverage, rather than tell me "We can't do anything until we get the paperwork from your prior employer", at which point I had about 10 days to figure everything out. I guess the insurer figures it's better to refuse to answer than to give a wrong answer, but neither is much help.

We have to figure out Medicare before Wife turns 65 in three months. If she makes it 10 years with her employer (3 more to go), then she retires with (basically) free health insurance for life -- for both of us. If she dies first, I inherit the benefit. She needs to ask HR how Medicare fits into that. I presume it will become our primary coverage, with her BCBS coverage functioning as Medigap. Whatever she figures out, I'll just do the same six months later.

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:46 pm We have to figure out Medicare before Wife turns 65 in three months. If she makes it 10 years with her employer (3 more to go), then she retires with (basically) free health insurance for life -- for both of us. If she dies first, I inherit the benefit. She needs to ask HR how Medicare fits into that. I presume it will become our primary coverage, with her BCBS coverage functioning as Medigap. Whatever she figures out, I'll just do the same six months later.

Going from your own insurance to Medicare is a lot of fun, isn't it ? Happily my wife, who is older, went through the process early and figured it out pretty well. The premiums we pay for Medicare get taken out of our Social Security automatically and BCBS get a check, or something else, whatever my wife does each month . There are just so many plans to work through with BCBS, luckily we had a very competent agent would was willing to work with my wife and deciding exactly what is the best plan for each of us.

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:46 pm We have to figure out Medicare before Wife turns 65 in three months. If she makes it 10 years with her employer (3 more to go), then she retires with (basically) free health insurance for life -- for both of us. If she dies first, I inherit the benefit. She needs to ask HR how Medicare fits into that. I presume it will become our primary coverage, with her BCBS coverage functioning as Medigap. Whatever she figures out, I'll just do the same six months later.

I applied for medicare at age 65. There is some kind of penalty (minor I think) if you don't, same with Medicare B although if you have other coverage it is no big deal. When you have regular Medicare A it just covers hospital care, nothing else. So it would be primary in the hospital and your other insurance would be secondary. Your other insurance would still take care of everything else. I think under your wife's situation that would remain the norm until she retires when you either get a supplement from the current insurance (probably at no cost) and medicare then becomes primary for all (maybe).

A supplement thru Anthem Blue Cross requires you have Medicare B, which under your wifes plan you probably can avoid. But yea, talk to her HR people or to the insurance company she deals with there.

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:06 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:46 pm We have to figure out Medicare before Wife turns 65 in three months. If she makes it 10 years with her employer (3 more to go), then she retires with (basically) free health insurance for life -- for both of us. If she dies first, I inherit the benefit. She needs to ask HR how Medicare fits into that. I presume it will become our primary coverage, with her BCBS coverage functioning as Medigap. Whatever she figures out, I'll just do the same six months later.

Going from your own insurance to Medicare is a lot of fun, isn't it ? Happily my wife, who is older, went through the process early and figured it out pretty well. The premiums we pay for Medicare get taken out of our Social Security automatically and BCBS get a check, or something else, whatever my wife does each month . There are just so many plans to work through with BCBS, luckily we had a very competent agent would was willing to work with my wife and deciding exactly what is the best plan for each of us.

Any idea what you pay BCBS? They won't give us any info until we are eligible (which is now when my wife can show she has Medicare B.

Scuzz wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:30 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:06 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:46 pm We have to figure out Medicare before Wife turns 65 in three months. If she makes it 10 years with her employer (3 more to go), then she retires with (basically) free health insurance for life -- for both of us. If she dies first, I inherit the benefit. She needs to ask HR how Medicare fits into that. I presume it will become our primary coverage, with her BCBS coverage functioning as Medigap. Whatever she figures out, I'll just do the same six months later.

Going from your own insurance to Medicare is a lot of fun, isn't it ? Happily my wife, who is older, went through the process early and figured it out pretty well. The premiums we pay for Medicare get taken out of our Social Security automatically and BCBS get a check, or something else, whatever my wife does each month . There are just so many plans to work through with BCBS, luckily we had a very competent agent would was willing to work with my wife and deciding exactly what is the best plan for each of us.

Any idea what you pay BCBS? They won't give us any info until we are eligible (which is now when my wife can show she has Medicare B.

My wife and I together pay BCBS $450 for supplement plans. Hers is more than mine since she has a Plan D and I don't. And we each pay $148.50/month for Medicare.

Damned socialists.

Here's my list:

I have hydronephrosis in the new kidney, which I guess is pretty common in transplants. Basically, the ureter has scar tissue so urine doesn't always drain properly into the bladder. In my case, I get urine backwash as well. I spent 6 hours in the emergency room last week because I couldn't urinate for 8+ hours despite having had 3 liters of water that day. The solution when they discovered the hydronephrosis was to put me on a 6-month regimen of a low-grade antibiotic which doesn't actually help the issue but would supposedly keep me from getting urinary tract infections caused by the bacteria that builds up when your urine isn't flowing properly. (Antibiotic #1)

I have a urinary tract infection right now, which they think is what led to urinary retention last week. Guess that low-grade antibiotic isn't working all that well. So now I'm on a super high dose of sulfa antibiotics, because I'm resistant to the more current UTI scripts. (Antibiotic #2)

The antibiotics have caused c diff colitis, which is a pretty regular thing for me anymore. I'm on a 45 day regimen of different antibiotics for that. (Antibiotic #3) Also, when they ran the tests for that, I've got an e.coli infection in my digestive tract. No idea where that one came from, but that's (Antibiotic #4). All of this on top of the statin, the high blood pressure meds, the prednisone steroid, the anti-rejection meds.

I know I'm super duper lucky to have gotten the transplant and all, but man, some days I feel like it's wasted on me since I'm such a busted can of biscuits.

MHS wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:59 pm Here's my list:

I have hydronephrosis in the new kidney, which I guess is pretty common in transplants. Basically, the ureter has scar tissue so urine doesn't always drain properly into the bladder. In my case, I get urine backwash as well. I spent 6 hours in the emergency room last week because I couldn't urinate for 8+ hours despite having had 3 liters of water that day. The solution when they discovered the hydronephrosis was to put me on a 6-month regimen of a low-grade antibiotic which doesn't actually help the issue but would supposedly keep me from getting urinary tract infections caused by the bacteria that builds up when your urine isn't flowing properly. (Antibiotic #1)

I have a urinary tract infection right now, which they think is what led to urinary retention last week. Guess that low-grade antibiotic isn't working all that well. So now I'm on a super high dose of sulfa antibiotics, because I'm resistant to the more current UTI scripts. (Antibiotic #2)

The antibiotics have caused c diff colitis, which is a pretty regular thing for me anymore. I'm on a 45 day regimen of different antibiotics for that. (Antibiotic #3) Also, when they ran the tests for that, I've got an e.coli infection in my digestive tract. No idea where that one came from, but that's (Antibiotic #4). All of this on top of the statin, the high blood pressure meds, the prednisone steroid, the anti-rejection meds.

I know I'm super duper lucky to have gotten the transplant and all, but man, some days I feel like it's wasted on me since I'm such a busted can of biscuits.

Jeez, and here I am whining about a sprained knee. Best of luck, MHS.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 7:08 pm
Jeez, and here I am whining about a sprained knee. Best of luck, MHS.

Trust me, I'd be whining about a sprained knee too! It's not a competition, and definitely not one anyone wants to win.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 7:08 pm
Jeez, and here I am whining about a sprained knee. Best of luck, MHS.

The best you can hope for is a silver medal. MHS is a lock for gold in this event.

My wife's job has the shittiest health insurance plan in the history of health insurance plans. It costs over $1000 per month and seems to cover absolutely nothing. So we went with a short term plan that was offered by an agent a year ago when I first become unemployed. It's half the price (about $480 per month), but so far we only tried to used the med benefit...a discount card that does not do better than some other discount plan offered by CVS. The pharmacist helpfully offered to throw away the card for me.

Today my wife got a call from her HR regarding insurance. If she does not sign up for it, her next opportunity will be in...JUNE! That's right, the rest of the free world has open enrollment in November, but her company has it in June, so if I manage to become gainfully employed it would be worthless to compare plans anyway.

MHS wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:59 pm I know I'm super duper lucky to have gotten the transplant and all, but man, some days I feel like it's wasted on me since I'm such a busted can of biscuits.

Realistically, I strongly suspect that being a transplant recipient, which necessitates hefty suppression of your immune system, is likely a significant reason why you are so susceptible to such infections in the first place. So no need to beat yourself up for your biscuit deficiencies!

Anonymous Bosch wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:35 pm

MHS wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:59 pm I know I'm super duper lucky to have gotten the transplant and all, but man, some days I feel like it's wasted on me since I'm such a busted can of biscuits.

Realistically, I strongly suspect that being a transplant recipient, which necessitates hefty suppression of your immune system, is likely a significant reason why you are so susceptible to such infections in the first place. So no need to beat yourself up for your biscuit deficiencies!

That's probably accurate. Be that as it may, I often feel like my body is summed up by the Apollo 13 quote:

MHS wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:52 pm

Anonymous Bosch wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:35 pm

MHS wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:59 pm I know I'm super duper lucky to have gotten the transplant and all, but man, some days I feel like it's wasted on me since I'm such a busted can of biscuits.

Realistically, I strongly suspect that being a transplant recipient, which necessitates hefty suppression of your immune system, is likely a significant reason why you are so susceptible to such infections in the first place. So no need to beat yourself up for your biscuit deficiencies!

That's probably accurate. Be that as it may, I often feel like my body is summed up by the Apollo 13 quote:

Tish pshaw, just ask The Meal, he'll set your mind at ease there. And even though you're married to a space-nerd, considering what you have endured, I suspect he'd be inclined to agree that Timex's slogan more aptly sums up your resilience.

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:38 pm

Scuzz wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:30 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:06 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:46 pm We have to figure out Medicare before Wife turns 65 in three months. If she makes it 10 years with her employer (3 more to go), then she retires with (basically) free health insurance for life -- for both of us. If she dies first, I inherit the benefit. She needs to ask HR how Medicare fits into that. I presume it will become our primary coverage, with her BCBS coverage functioning as Medigap. Whatever she figures out, I'll just do the same six months later.

Going from your own insurance to Medicare is a lot of fun, isn't it ? Happily my wife, who is older, went through the process early and figured it out pretty well. The premiums we pay for Medicare get taken out of our Social Security automatically and BCBS get a check, or something else, whatever my wife does each month . There are just so many plans to work through with BCBS, luckily we had a very competent agent would was willing to work with my wife and deciding exactly what is the best plan for each of us.

Any idea what you pay BCBS? They won't give us any info until we are eligible (which is now when my wife can show she has Medicare B.

My wife and I together pay BCBS $450 for supplement plans. Hers is more than mine since she has a Plan D and I don't. And we each pay $148.50/month for Medicare.

Thanks, I was guessing probably $500 for the two of us. We will pay the $148 as well for medicare.

Scuzz wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 5:40 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:38 pm

Scuzz wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:30 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:06 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:46 pm We have to figure out Medicare before Wife turns 65 in three months. If she makes it 10 years with her employer (3 more to go), then she retires with (basically) free health insurance for life -- for both of us. If she dies first, I inherit the benefit. She needs to ask HR how Medicare fits into that. I presume it will become our primary coverage, with her BCBS coverage functioning as Medigap. Whatever she figures out, I'll just do the same six months later.

Going from your own insurance to Medicare is a lot of fun, isn't it ? Happily my wife, who is older, went through the process early and figured it out pretty well. The premiums we pay for Medicare get taken out of our Social Security automatically and BCBS get a check, or something else, whatever my wife does each month . There are just so many plans to work through with BCBS, luckily we had a very competent agent would was willing to work with my wife and deciding exactly what is the best plan for each of us.

Any idea what you pay BCBS? They won't give us any info until we are eligible (which is now when my wife can show she has Medicare B.

My wife and I together pay BCBS $450 for supplement plans. Hers is more than mine since she has a Plan D and I don't. And we each pay $148.50/month for Medicare.

Thanks, I was guessing probably $500 for the two of us. We will pay the $148 as well for medicare.

Our supplemental plans are pretty good. My wife can see the doctors she wants and AFAIK we aren't out of pocket on these surgeries she's been having.

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:19 pm

Scuzz wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 5:40 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:38 pm

Scuzz wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:30 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:06 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:46 pm We have to figure out Medicare before Wife turns 65 in three months. If she makes it 10 years with her employer (3 more to go), then she retires with (basically) free health insurance for life -- for both of us. If she dies first, I inherit the benefit. She needs to ask HR how Medicare fits into that. I presume it will become our primary coverage, with her BCBS coverage functioning as Medigap. Whatever she figures out, I'll just do the same six months later.

Going from your own insurance to Medicare is a lot of fun, isn't it ? Happily my wife, who is older, went through the process early and figured it out pretty well. The premiums we pay for Medicare get taken out of our Social Security automatically and BCBS get a check, or something else, whatever my wife does each month . There are just so many plans to work through with BCBS, luckily we had a very competent agent would was willing to work with my wife and deciding exactly what is the best plan for each of us.

Any idea what you pay BCBS? They won't give us any info until we are eligible (which is now when my wife can show she has Medicare B.

My wife and I together pay BCBS $450 for supplement plans. Hers is more than mine since she has a Plan D and I don't. And we each pay $148.50/month for Medicare.

Thanks, I was guessing probably $500 for the two of us. We will pay the $148 as well for medicare.

Our supplemental plans are pretty good. My wife can see the doctors she wants and AFAIK we aren't out of pocket on these surgeries she's been having.

I handled my fathers finances in his final few years. He had medicare and a BCBS supplemental. He never paid anything for the several hospital trips in his last few years, and that included a pacemaker and hip replacement. I think he paid a few bucks for prescriptions but we are talking nothing there.

Plantar warts. I've made it my whole life without 'em, and now I have two on each foot, along the ball, right between the inner and outer (so right where the weight rests.) It's like having four rocks stuck in my shoe 24/7. I tried some OTC freezing solution with liquid. The freezing solution was... moderately cool at best. The liquid killed a few layers of flesh. After that sloughed off with two weeks of application the warts were... smaller. But still there. And still pokey.

I waited a couple of weeks for the areas to heal, and now I'm starting again. This time I super-saturated the cold solution onto the swab so that it was literally dripping (instructions say dispense for 2-3 seconds - I did about 5.) I applied it for about 40 seconds (instructions say 20.) That made the areas almost cold. I started the liquid again last night. Hopefully it does better this time.

I know that any doctor can freeze them off in a heartbeat, but I'm not making an appointment during a surge to deal with a little discomfort. I'm not exposing myself for that, and I'm not taking the (seriously overworked) doctor's time away from patients in actual need.

I doubt a podiatrist is treating covid patients. What makes your medical need less than another's? Go get some help foo

Have you tried a chemical approach - like Compound-W ?

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:57 am Plantar warts. I've made it my whole life without 'em, and now I have two on each foot, along the ball, right between the inner and outer (so right where the weight rests.) It's like having four rocks stuck in my shoe 24/7. I tried some OTC freezing solution with liquid. The freezing solution was... moderately cool at best. The liquid killed a few layers of flesh. After that sloughed off with two weeks of application the warts were... smaller. But still there. And still pokey.

I waited a couple of weeks for the areas to heal, and now I'm starting again. This time I super-saturated the cold solution onto the swab so that it was literally dripping (instructions say dispense for 2-3 seconds - I did about 5.) I applied it for about 40 seconds (instructions say 20.) That made the areas almost cold. I started the liquid again last night. Hopefully it does better this time.

I know that any doctor can freeze them off in a heartbeat, but I'm not making an appointment during a surge to deal with a little discomfort. I'm not exposing myself for that, and I'm not taking the (seriously overworked) doctor's time away from patients in actual need.

Duct tape to the rescue!

Seriously. This worked for my son's Plantar warts. It takes a while, but it's free.

Holman wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:31 am

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:57 am Plantar warts. I've made it my whole life without 'em, and now I have two on each foot, along the ball, right between the inner and outer (so right where the weight rests.) It's like having four rocks stuck in my shoe 24/7. I tried some OTC freezing solution with liquid. The freezing solution was... moderately cool at best. The liquid killed a few layers of flesh. After that sloughed off with two weeks of application the warts were... smaller. But still there. And still pokey.

I waited a couple of weeks for the areas to heal, and now I'm starting again. This time I super-saturated the cold solution onto the swab so that it was literally dripping (instructions say dispense for 2-3 seconds - I did about 5.) I applied it for about 40 seconds (instructions say 20.) That made the areas almost cold. I started the liquid again last night. Hopefully it does better this time.

I know that any doctor can freeze them off in a heartbeat, but I'm not making an appointment during a surge to deal with a little discomfort. I'm not exposing myself for that, and I'm not taking the (seriously overworked) doctor's time away from patients in actual need.

Duct tape to the rescue!

Seriously. This worked for my son's Plantar warts. It takes a while, but it's free.

I have the vid queued up to the Duct Tape part.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:57 am Plantar warts.

Salted or roasted?

Daehawk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:22 am I doubt a podiatrist is treating covid patients. What makes your medical need less than another's? Go get some help foo

A podiatrist would require a referral from my GP, which would require an appointment.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:48 am

+1

Seriously though, dermatologists aren't on the front lines of COVID so you should make an appointment.

Unagi wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:25 am Have you tried a chemical approach - like Compound-W ?

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:57 am I tried some OTC freezing solution with liquid. The freezing solution was... moderately cool at best. The liquid killed a few layers of flesh.

Different brand, same stuff, same strength (I used Dr. Scholls.)

I will look at duck tape (duck tape!) as an option. I'd have to get some, though - I don't keep any in the house. I replaced it all with gaffer's tape ages ago (it works better, sticks better, tears easier, is tougher, and it doesn't leave nasty residues.)

I got to see a derm myself soon and have something on my back removed and a couple other places looked at. When ya get older ya grow new things in weird places.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:57 am Plantar warts. I've made it my whole life without 'em, and now I have two on each foot, along the ball, right between the inner and outer (so right where the weight rests.) ...

The Toe Bro Youtube channel has a couple entries on plantar warts and other warts. The trick is basically, warts only live on the top layer of skin, but it goes deep, esp. if it Is living on the weight-bearing part of your foot. And it grows THICK SKIN so topical solutions may not get all of it. And if there's even a little left it'll come back, and since your tissue is damaged by the previous treatment, it may be worse than ever. So you need to have ONE operation where it's ALL taken out, scraped and scooped, then the area electrocauterized, AND acid applied, to make absolutely sure it doesn't come back.

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 12:00 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:48 am

+1

Seriously though, dermatologists aren't on the front lines of COVID so you should make an appointment.

I needed my GP to set up my first appointment with a skin doctor. But now I see them once a year for a check up.

I'm not against the idea of setting up appointments to get in, but now isn't the time for something that I can manage. The treatment did reduce them enough to be far less of an issue.

I've been feeling pain in my lower abdomen for about 6 weeks. At first I though I might have a hernia, but then the pain would start to get better. It was worse when I ran, but would go away during the run and I could be fine for a few days and think it was gone and then it would come back. It never kept me from working out, but there was a period where I couldn't do a single sit up and would even roll out of bed rather than sitting up because I simply couldn't. Very weird.

Last night after dinner, I started getting pain in my right testicle. I thought I just brushed something wrong. It got worse over the next hour, but I was still able to fall asleep at my usual time. About 8:45 I woke up from the pain and thought something was very wrong. I couldn't get comfortable and a self exam didn't find any swelling but did find very painful areas. With Urgent Care closing at 10pm, I decided to go in rather than risk spending the night like that. I decided to drive myself which, in retrospect, wasn't the best decision. I was very focused on the pain and don't really remember the drive at all. Stupid move.

It is amusing how many times people in Urgent Care normally ask how you're doing, but when you start by having them put "testicular pain" on the chart, they catch themselves and go "oh, must not be particularly well." Diagnosis is epididymitis (which is actually my second bout with this) and something most of us should probably not google on a work computer. Doctor said that the pain can start in the lower abdomen and was probably what I had been dealing with and by the time it gets south, it's pretty bad (I can agree with that). I asked what I had done or not done and she said it might be related to sitting so much at work, but there was nothing specific. Antibiotics and Advil helped me get through the night, but I'm taking the day off of work as I'm still tender.

Back when I used to bicycle a lot I twisted one of my testicles. I eventually went to see the doctor about it. He said just live with it. It is very sensitive to pain.

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 15, 2021 7:35 am Back when I used to bicycle a lot I twisted one of my testicles. I eventually went to see the doctor about it. He said just live with it. It is very sensitive to pain.

So you're the reason we now have ergonomic, non-testicle-twisting seats. Thank you for your sacrifice.

stessier wrote: ↑Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:25 am Last night after dinner, I started getting pain in my right testicle. I thought I just brushed something wrong. It got worse over the next hour, but I was still able to fall asleep at my usual time. About 8:45 I woke up from the pain

All of this sounds no fun at all, but I've gotta ask: what time do you normally go to bed???