This thread may save your life

[Tab]

(of course, you may need insurance for it to do so)

Last fall, I began some investigative tests with my PCP as to why my leg hurt. I had this incredible constant pain in my leg.

We decided to start with a blood test by checking my muscle enzymes

My Doctor called my back and said that my enzymes were okay, but I was anemic - had I had any excessive bleeding? Say, vomiting, or rectally? The answer was yes, and for some time now.

She encouraged me (although I am under 50) to get a colonoscopy. They don't hurt any more, they put you to sleep, and males aren't supposed to be anemic, so we should check it out.

I was unemployed, and we managed to schedule it for the last day before my COBRA ran out.

Thank goodness.

We hadn't expected much other than a bad hemmorrhoid or something, but found a tumor, 8 to 10 cm tall, 3 to 4 years in the making, for Stage III cancer.

Since then has been a fight against cancer, and thank god we found it during COBRA - but if we had been any of the ones either uninsured, or who choose to not take cancer (at least get Major Medical you guys!) we'd be screwed. I've had surgery and am still doing chemo - it's not over yet.

Pt.1: Colonoscopies are not to be afraid of. They put you to sleep. You don't even know what happened.
Pt.2: You GOTTA have insurance. Otherwise you will miss the test that saves your life, and the death panel that judges you - God's death panel.

This can't be more clear.

[lonestarnot]

1. Ackety colon blow is the worst of it.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. There's a third factor -

anytime you have bleeding, rectal or vomiting, and, as you wrote, "for some time now," TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. That's a terrible symptom, and while it might just be a hemorrhoid, it might, as was the case with the OP, be something else, something that needs further attention.

(Tab, why didn't you see a doctor about the bleeding? I'm curious, and I'm also glad you're doing well, and getting good care.)

You're right about colonscopies - the hardest part is the stuff you have to drink before, but I got half of it down before throwing it all up - the gastroenterologist happened to be visiting me in my hospital room just as this happened, and she assured me that it was no big deal, that they have child-sized instruments that work just as well on adults.

And the anesthesia is terrific. You have no idea, and nothing even hurts afterward.

There's nothing to be afraid of, and I am the world's biggest coward when it comes to medical treatment.

And, yes, you have to have insurance, unless you have superb financial resources - which, if you do, you'd have insurance.

Tab's right..................................

[ellaydubya]

4. And if you have these symptoms and no insurance......

Pray tell, what do you suggest????

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. I have no idea -

try to get some kind of help. If you qualify for Medicaid, there's that. But, otherwise, I would try to work out some kind of payment plan with whatever doctors or hospitals I had to deal with.

Ultimately, of course, I would get sicker and probably die, because I couldn't afford any of it.

That's the whole point of universal health care, but even with the public option available, what about people who can't afford even that?

Does that answer your snarky little query, or would you like me to state more obvious scenarios?

[demodonkey]

44. I don't think ella was "snarky" at all...

...Lots of us have been prescribed such things and we can't possibly afford afford them.

Very few qualify for Medicaid. In my state, if you are an adult with no children to support you are NOT eligible. Period.

Payment plans require adequate income to repay them.

The only part of YOUR post that I don't find snarky, is where you say "I would get sicker and probably die, because I couldn't afford any of it." You are correct there -- and that is the cold truthful reality many of us face without healthcare reform.

And for your information, the Public Option is supposed to include subsidies for those "who can't afford even that" (as you put it.)

[Tangerine LaBamba]

50. Well, I did -

and so we differ.

Your response goes to the substance, and my comment about "snarky" was to the tone. There's a big difference, but you see them differently, so there you have it.

In what state do you dwell? I'm curious about a state that would deny Medicaid to an impoverished, childless adult.

And you find my response snarky?

My goodness, you do seem to be standing on your head.....................

[liberalhistorian]

67. Contrary to popular belief, Medicaid has very stringent criteria, and

most people just don't qualify. And most hospitals and clinics demand thousands of dollars upfront for treatment for cancer or other major illnesses if you're uninsured; if you don't have it, tough shit. This is the very real, cold, hard reality for far too many Americans. It's why the estimate of 20,000 Americans dying yearly because they're uninsured is considered even by conservative economists to be very low.

Hubby and I are uninsured now and I'm terrified of something happening, illness or injury, because we just don't have the money for it and we'd be screwed financially for life. It's truly sickening that this is the case in this country, sickening, unconscionable and unacceptable. But the dipshit Congress only cares about its deep-pocketed health care lobbyist donors. Hey, as long as THEY get THEIR excellent plan that they pay very little for, paid for by many of us, including hubby and I, who work but don't have insurance or a ton of money ourselves.

[ellaydubya]

69. Never meant snarky....

No doctor visits for 25 years, no insurance, no idea.....scared....does that mean snarky to you? No more comment for awhile from me- I have heard of these kind of attacks here at DU- but I don't need this.....my first encounter and not pretty.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

74. Why the tone of your post to me?

I wasn't defending the status quo, or putting down people without insurance, and your post - I paraphrase, "So what are people without insurance supposed to do?" - was off the wall.

Why ask me that? I didn't cancel your insurance, and if it were within my power, I'd make sure you were covered immediately.

The snark, my friend, began with you. Before you start playing all wounded, check out what you posted to me......................

[Tangerine LaBamba]

75. The insertion of "Pray tell"

was gratuitous and that's called "snark,"

It would have been a perfectly fine post without it, although why you'd ask me what someone in that position is supposed to do is beyond me. Did I advertise as some expert on diseases and health care?

You can dish it out, but you can't take it.

How tiresome....................................

[demodonkey]

71. My goodness....

... you do seem to grow more smug and snarkier every time you touch your keyboard.

Try living on limited income with no health insurance and no way to get any like many on DU have to right now. Then come back and let us see how smug you are then.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

72. You know nothing of me

or my circumstances or my history, so you can just take that tack somewhere else.

So, what's the state that denies Medicaid to grown adults without children?

[ellaydubya]

73. Thank you for defending me against being "snarky"

This is the first time someone has taken offense at one of my posts....not that I should be surprised since I read about this kind of thing all the time at DU. I can see where it can get your dander up but then there are so many more serious things to be concerned about it seems silly. I do very much appreciate your support- thanks again and I hope I can do the same for you someday.

LAW:toast: :kick: :fistbump:

[Hekate]

12. See if you can get health care through your County Health Dept., a low-cost clinic, ANYthing...

Okay?

This week my daughter, who is 21 weeks pregnant, is signing up for prenatal care with our County. She and her husband used to have medical insurance, and now they don't. She is going to need a C-section. This is not a good time in her life to be without insurance, and they will be paying for this baby for a long long time.

What I'm telling you, is explore your options NOW. There may be more out there for you than you know, but you will never find out unless you start asking.

Hekate

[Maine-ah]

30. my c-section was 26k almost 3 years ago.

luckily, when I got Mainecare they went retro on it and payed for the whole thing. They refused me when I first applied while I was working w/o insurance. It was suggested that I quit my job at that point. I couldn't afford to do that. My prenatal costs were all out of pocket about 3k.

[eShirl]

66. Do you have those symptoms and no insurance?

I honestly don't know what to suggest.

[FLyellowdog]

15. If someone can't tolerate the liquid preparation,

there are pills you can take. I only had to drink two small bottles of liquid (really disgusting) but my husband had to drink a much larger amount. Two different doctors...

[Tangerine LaBamba]

16. There are pills, yes,

and my gastroenterologist said they didn't work quite as well as the liquid. But, just remember - child-sized instruments.

If only the stuff wasn't so disgusting.......................

[FLyellowdog]

18. I know...it was awful, but I'm good for another 10 years (I hope).n/t

[Tangerine LaBamba]

19. Me, too -

the gastroenterologist was so pleased with my results, she came to my hospital room twice to tell me about them. She said she doesn't very often get to deliver such great news, so she was soaking it for all she could.

Plus, she'd just returned from a vacation in Italy, and we talked a lot about things and places we both knew and loved. A very nice woman. And a very good doctor. I was lucky.

You're lucky, too. They're real careful with that sort of thing, so we're doing something right.

I eat everything............................

[jbnow]

34. My problem is having to have a person there the whol time

I had one scheduled and the person who arranged to be there had to cancel. They were coming in from out of town in the first place
I have no close family or friends in town. Hard to ask just some acquaintance to take time off work to spend hours sitting

They wouldn't let someone just come and pick me up, they had to stay. I can't be the only person this is a problem for
I have to admit it isn't like I asked a lot of people so maybe it is more of a pride issue, asking for such a huge favor for a screening test

[barbtries]

47. i just had to have someone drop me and pick me up nt

[katkat]

76. a person

My helper didn't have to stay, just pick me up. That's been the case both times.

I suspect your doctor's office was being extra cautious and wanted to assure that you didn't try to drive home yourself. So, basically they treated you like a child.

Yes, it does suck to not have someone to depend on for stuff like this. I moved away from my friends of decades in order to go back and save the family house, which otherwise would have been lost after my last parent died. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't.

There is a very dependable guy where I live who runs a we help out type of service. I have hired him several times to take me to the doctor's etc. when I had a broken foot rather than impose on distant relatives. Something to keep in mind for the future.

There are likely also local volunteer services that will do this. Try calling the town or Senior center, even if you aren't a senior.

Then you can pay people back by volunteering yourself.

[Fire1]

63. Yeah, I had that disgusting stuff your hubby had!!!! I got

nauseous drinking that crap!! Next time, it's pills or nothing!!

[Tab]

22. "Why didn't I see anyone about the bleeding?" (Chickenshit, the usual excuse)

Thought it'd be nothing, thought it'd be something more, didn't want to think about it.

Lesson to be learned.

[REP]

49. Unless you're super lucky and have the paradoxical reaction to Versed

Then they do hurt. A lot. But this reaction is quite rare. I'm just lucky enough to have both it and a condition that requires frequent trips up Mt Assmore.

[NMDemDist2]

3. good warning there

and glad your doing better

:hug:

[question everything]

6. Glad you took care of it

and, good luck with the treatment.

I would like to think that even without insurance, you could find some agencies that would treat you, perhaps through the American Cancer Society - at least, I would like to think that this is where my contributions are going.

[abumbyanyothername]

7. The best thing about my colonoscopy

When I came out of the anesthesia, I was in a blissful state for almost a full minute - no ability to worry, no ability to get angry . . . it was enough to make me think about going back to opium.

[Ron Green]

43. Mine was closer to half an hour.

Fentanyl and Versed. Yowza!

:thumbsup:

[The Straight Story]

8. Damn, read this too late and now I am dead

;)

Kick and thanks for passing along good info. Hope others read it.

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. I guess someone has to ask the obvious question

You mentioned that your COBRA coverage ran out the day after your colonoscopy. With a cancer diagnosis, how were you able to get insurance elsewhere? Or were you?

[SharonAnn]

11. Exactly! Chemotherapy is several thousand per session for colon cancer and you need at least 12.

My husband is going through this right now. They bill about $10,000 per session and get reimbursed less than that. Who's paying for it?

He's now on his third type of chemo. So far, it's been over $250,00 in billings for the colonoscopy, later surgery, hospital stay, nearly a year's worth of chemotherapy, tests, doctor visits, etc.

Because his didn't respond to the FOLFOX treatment and actually metastisized during it, he was put on FOLFIRI plus Avastin but the side effects were intolerable. He's now in a drug study at M.D. Anderson Cancer Clinic in Houston and for the first time in a long time, there's hope.

[Tab]

21. No, we decided to renew it

Whatever COBRA cost, it had to be cheaper than cancer treatment.

In the meantime, my wife took a job and her insurance took over.

Failing that, we would have been screwed,

I can see how medical bills can sink people easily.

[CrispyQ]

36. I wasn't aware you could renew COBRA.

???

I thought it was offered for 18 months & then that was it. If I may ask, did your rates go up when you renewed & how much?

[Tab]

37. Correction

We did not have COBRA. You have to sign up for it within 30 if you want it.

What was expiring was the 30 day limit. We found out on day 29 or something and immediately signed up.

As soon as my wife qualified for her insurance (which was cheaper) and we triple-checked that they would transfer the case, we dumped COBRA.

I meant to say that we got COBRA just in time, not that we renewed in just in time.

Sorry for any confusion.

[CrispyQ]

40. No problem.

COBRA, while expensive, is a good idea. But the 18 month limit is ridiculous, especially in these economic times, where it can take you that long or more to find a job, especially one with benefits.

I'm glad you are covered & taking care of your illness. The best to you.

[Liberty Belle]

10. I'm glad your safe. But colonoscopies have a downside-and can be dangerous.

My mother-in-law died from a ruptured colon caused by a botched colonoscopy. Another acquaintance has been left wheelchair-bound and frail from the same thing. My Mom had a friend who was also killed by a colonoscopy.

I would have one if I had symptoms or a family history of colon cancer. But I'd be very reluctant to have one if I were symptom free, as the test can be fatal. The people I knew who had problems all had different doctors, by the way.

That said, I also lost a friend to colon cancer. So there are no easy answers here. Another friend's father is a 10-year survivor of colon cancer caught early.

[moriah]

14. In my family, yes, I'd be drinking the colon blow.

My grandmother had several polyps removed from her colon -- not cancerous, but could have been. One of her nephews, however, did have a cancer detected, and several others on that side have had benign polyps.

Then again, I've also already been told twice by doctors based on CTs that they thought I had cancer (first time was a radiology resident who apparently had never seen the combination of incredibly bad pneumonia with a liver tumor -- liver tumor was benign, but it looked to him like metastasis, second time was when my left supraclavicular lymph node got up to 4 CM and was hard as a rock.... yeah, bad sign, but it wasn't cancer) and they were wrong each time. I'm probably going to burst out laughing if it's told to me again based on CT or MRI and tell doctors not to say that damn word until they get back biopsies.

[Ms. Toad]

26. Best advice is to find a place that does lots of them

and insist on full anesthesia.

Experience counts, and recent studies have shown that more early cancers are caught with colonoscopies done under full anesthesia than under Versed or the other conscious sedation options. The reason is that you still move around under conscious sedation so the scope can't be as thorough. It also stands to reason that if you're moving around there's also more chance of rupture.

Had my first one two years ago. My daughter had her 4th one two weeks ago - she's on the every year schedule.

[Hekate]

32. Good advice, that. Experience counts for a lot. Neither Mr H nor I had any trouble with ours...

... though the doc said that mine was difficult for him ("tortuous, with redundant looping") and that my next one would be under full anesthesia.

Hekate

[Ms. Toad]

33. I mentioned the study to my daughter's doc

I already had a guess as to why full anesthesia was better at detecting cancer - and he confirmed it. Even though you aren't mentally aware something is going on, your body is still reacting and preventing the best view (and access).

Her doc always does hers under full anesthesia - one of the reasons I'm keeping her in the pediatric practice as long as I can - but it is kind of funny for a fully developed 19 year old to be hanging out in the pre-surgery with babies and signing all her own paperwork.

[Justyce]

64. My dad had a stroke during recovery after his colonoscopy and had

been in perfectly fine health beforehand. The dehydration from the bowel prep and strain of the anesthesia can be hard, especially on an older person.

[WillieW]

13. A colonoscopy saved my life . I had colon cancer - stage 2.

Had surgery,received a colostomy bag (which I hate), chemo and radiation. It has been almost 2 years since. My oncologist tells me that I have a 75% chance of the cancer not returning. The chemo drug Xeloda is very expensive I paid $400/mo. after 80% was paid by my insurance. My next CT scan is next month. Hopefully I will still be clean. Good luck to you.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

17. Keep on keeping on -

there's lots left to fight about, so good luck with the recovery. Just keep doing whatever you're doing.

Any chance of getting the colostomy reversed? I had a friend with colon cancer, who had the bag for a couple of years, and then his surgeon was able to patch him together so that he no longer needed it, for which he was really, really grateful.

Good luck, WillieW..........................

[FlaGranny]

23. That depends on where the cancer was.

If it was in the rectum or next to it, the colon cannot usually be reconnected - unfortunately.

[Ms. Toad]

27. and a fair number of people actually prefer

the ostomy. Particularly with certain diseases the prevalence of pouchitis is very high - lower chance of complications with an ostomy.

[WillieW]

56. I have lots of problems with that thing. It had come away form my body three times in public

and once while I was asleep. It was very embarassing to say the least.

[Ms. Toad]

62. My father-in-law had one after bladder cancer -

he hated it. Leakage all the time, plus the bag was hot and sweaty all the time.

I'm now in contact with a lot of people who have colectomies now and a disease that makes pouchitis a problem - from what I've seen the ones with ostomies are happier than the ones with j-pouches. (And they all have a disease where overnight incontinence is, unfortunately, fairly common with all their body parts intact.)

[WillieW]

55. Sigmoid carcinoma

[WillieW]

54. An attempt was made about 3 months ago. Could not be done due to adhesions.

But I am taking enzymes now that suppose to dissolve the scar tissue. I an only hope.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

59. I'll hope with you -

can't hurt.

Good luck, Willie W. Don't give up....................

[WillieW]

60. Oh, I will not go down without a fight. Thanks

[barbtries]

48. and good luck to you

WillieW

[WillieW]

57. Thank you.

[WillieW]

61. Thank you.

[Inchworm]

20. Dude...

testing PCP has never been a joyous occasion... well, I lie.. but that's what I should say.

Hope all is well on your end. .. . ok, that made me giggle a little.

I love ya man.

:hug::*

[OneGrassRoot]

24. Easier said than done....

While I am SO glad you had care and COBRA to help obtain that care, "at least get Major Medical" is easier said than done.

Way too costly, especially with a pre-existing condition.

All the preventive scans and tests are wonderful, but too costly for so many of us. So, I practice prevention in every other way I know how. ;)

Sending hugs for your continued wellness!

:hug:

[3dfan]

25. thanks!

Very useful info - made me think about a lot of things - thanks for posting this!

[renate]

39. welcome to DU!

:hi:

[varelse]

28. Thank you for posting this

:kick:

[Blue Diadem]

29. The hospital and nursing home ignored my Mom's bleeding

An urgent care clinic discovered lung cancer through x-rays when she had pneumonia. From there she was admitted to a hospital where she stayed for a few weeks and then was sent to a nursing home for rehab due to her extensive spinal arthritis. Anytime she was bedbound, she'd end up not being able to walk thus the rehab. This meant being on a bedpan or being escorted to the bathroom until she could regain her mobility. No one seemed to pay attention to the amount of blood she was passing.

Her Dr. had previously told her that she had hemorrhoids and that was why she had a small amount of blood. She never told us it continued or had increased. She finally told me about extensive bleeding during the week she came home that summer, after nearly 2 months in the hospital and nursing home. I had to force her to go to the Dr.(she'd say but he told me it was just hemorrhoids) where she was immediately diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. The lung cancer was a metastasis.

The one thing I didn't have to worry about was the bills. She had medicare and a very good insurance that my father's employer had covered for all their retirees. After my father passed, that insurance had continued to take care of my sister who had down syndrome and it paid every cent during her 3 month illness before she died and it covered what medicare didn't for my Mom.

Colonoscopies are so very important.

My prayers are with you Tab.

[Leftist Agitator]

31. Two points:

"Pt.1: Colonoscopies are not to be afraid of. They put you to sleep. You don't even know what happened."

They won't unless you can afford the anesthesiologist and the hospital time. Anyone who doesn't have insurance, all 47 million of us (and growing!) gets the fingers and ass-speculum while conscious treatment. As a long-suffering patient with a history of anal fissures and hemorrhoids, I know this first hand.

"Pt.2: You GOTTA have insurance. Otherwise you will miss the test that saves your life, and the death panel that judges you - God's death panel."

You GOTTA have money. And it doesn't grow on trees.

[Laelth]

52. +1 n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[redqueen]

35. Yes, it is VERY important to see a doctor if you have rectal bleeding.

I'm glad you're well, despite our shameful excuse for a healthcare system.

[Juche]

38. I would love insurance

I would like a high deductible, catastrophic plan. A 2k deductible or so would be fine as I could do primary care via walk in clinics.

However, I saw a psychiatrist 2 years ago and one of the questions they ask on your form is 'have you seen a psychiatrist in the last 5 years'. So no idea what to do.

Even if I get insurance, there is no telling if they will just yank it away because I screwed up on the application.

All insurance does it make you less prone to financial collapse. It doesn't eliminate the risk.

[barbtries]

41. best wishes

for a full recovery.

[demodonkey]

42. This thread is really upsetting because if you don't have insurance and can't get it...

...you don't have insurance and can't get it.

Telling someone they "GOTTA" have something they can't possibly afford is just not helpful. Sorry.

If you really care, how about working for health care reform (especially single payer) instead, so everyone is covered?

[liberalhistorian]

70. Excellent point and those

were my sentiments as well. Sometimes people just don't get it, even here on DU.

[Tab]

78. I didn't mean it in that way

What I mean was that the unfortunate thing was that unless you HAVE insurance that will cover it (or a family member who does colonoscopies for free - real ones, not your dip brother with his bad sense of humor), it won't happen for you. So tie my little story in with the need for health care for everyone.

Put it this way - once they get advanced cancer (from not having pre-screening or testing at earlier levels) and get into the hospital at a point where they (1) probably won't ever get out and (2) probably won't ever be able to pay, then we all pay more, one way or another.

Any early intervention, from medical to jail-related stuff, is preferable to letting something run its course, which is invariably a more expensive route.

[Rainngirl]

45. Advice for the colonoscopy prep...

Having had several colonoscopies, I'd like to offer some advice on the prep. If you can get the doctor to let you take two tiny 1.5 oz. bottles of Fleet instead of the gallon of stuff we used to have to drink-- what works for me is to put each dose of Fleet into a small amount of Gatorade. Chug that, and then follow with fresh, clean Gatorade. The sodium in the Gatorade slightly masks the horrible sodium taste of the Fleet and then the fresh Gatorade wipes out the memory of the strong sodium taste. If you try to put the Fleet into something that isn't sodium-ish, it's disgusting and will ruin your taste for whatever you put it in (like soda, for instance).
(Did I say Gatorade enough times?)
Good luck to all and don't be afraid of this procedure! It's easy peasy once you're done with the prep.

[Prophet 451]

46. Best wishes

for a complete and speedy recovery.

[WillieW]

79. Thank you.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

51. I dare not tell that an oncologist told me, "we may be catching your leukemia, early".

That was just before a divorce from an abusive man, nearly ten years ago.

The same symptoms of leukemia showed up while I was working in an "appointed" position (yup,...a politically-appointed one) and that position was, go figure, lost.

Now, I am trying to work towards a BSN (nursing degree) for a more stable future where I can feel good about making a living. But, I am feeling,...terribly weak,...wondering if I can make it to the side of fighter and survivor, anymore.

There are so many who never make it,...because,...a human being is only worth "DOLLARS" in this nation.

***pause****

WTF is wrong with this nation? How did it devolve into being so aweful and barbaric?

[Laelth]

53. Read Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle"

Believe it or not, it used to be worse.

Really and truly, as imperfect as the U.S. is now, this is the best it has ever been.

Mainly because liberals have slowly, with blood and toil, made it better.

And we continue to try to do so.

:dem:

-Laelth

[moondust]

58. You do not have to be put to sleep.

I had a colonoscopy recently at the VA. I could not find anybody to drive me there that day so I rode the bus. The VA would not even allow that. My choices were to come back some other time with a driver or have the exam without any anesthesia. They said quite a few people do that. I did that. It wasn't bad, certainly tolerable with only moderate discomfort. Without anesthesia there is no time spent in a recovery room. You get up after the exam and get to leave immediately.

[applegrove]

65. I hope you post this story of yours on many sites. On both accounts it is a story

worth repeating.

[deaniac21]

68. The prep is HELL though.

[Tab]

77. Not like it used to be

Of course, it helps if you have something to read on the toilet.