Just Spent 8 days in the Hospital With Kidney Stone

[JCMach1]

Am finally home now after 2 procedures and immense pain from the stenting and stones.

Pain was horrific and in the UAE they are hyperconservative with the pain meds.

The only good part was my final payment was about $90 for a private room in a private hospital. It would have been closer to 0, but we have co-payment on the meds.

The scary part is that I know how such an illness would have wiped us out financially in the U.S. :(

It was the only part of the experience that was a relief.

[Bertha Venation]

1. I hope your pain is completely gone*

Glad you're out of the hospital, and that it cost you so little. Perhaps I should consider a move to the UAE.

* I know nothing about kidney stones, don't know if there's residual pain

[JCMach1]

2. There is some pain left over, but compared to the stone and stenting...

It is one of the worst pains you can have.

Just call me feeling relieved and glad to be home now.

[woo me with science]

3. For comparison purposes:

Relative recently had two HOURS in the emergency room at a US hospital for a kidney stone. He was given pain meds, fluids, and blood tests. He refused all scans.

Total bill for two hours was over 2000 dollars.

Glad you are feeling better.

[JCMach1]

4. Total bill before the insurance was around $10000

That was at the most expensive private hospital in the UAE...

There is nothing so special about the system here. In face, it is very similar to the U.S. The only difference is very tight government control over pricing and insurance. The total system is a mixture of public and private just like back home.

[woo me with science]

6. Wow. Just wow.

Thanks for posting this.

Hope you continue to feel better. I have been told by a woman I know that they are more painful even than having a baby.

[madrchsod]

10. dam....i owe around 5 after the insurance company paid....

[Shell Beau]

5. How terrible!!! Ick! Feel better!

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. I am so very sorry. Hubby had one and thought he was gonna die. :^(

[REP]

8. I no longer fear hell because I've had a double-J stent in for 14 days

I had a stone removed from the lower pole of my left kidney, which tore the ureter (well, the passed a laser, camera, trochers and who knows what the fuck else through it getting to the bottom part of the kidney). It was outpatient surgery, and my husband says I was screaming by the time anesthesia wore off completely, but I think I was just moaning loudly. I was given an IV of morphine at the ER and spent the next week not talking due to pain.

So, I've felt your pain! Ow! But my bill was $10.00 + $50.00 for the ER.

[madrchsod]

9. wow...no pain meds that worked worth a shit......

yes the bill in the usa would have made the pain you had seem a reasonable trade off...good to hear everything worked out ok.

[JCMach1]

13. Only Tramadol and Cocodamol...

i.e. not worth a crap... :(

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. My dear JCMach1...

Ouch!

I'm glad to hear you're home and recovering!

Hopefully the pain will completely disappear over time...

:hug:

[JCMach1]

14. Pain steps down in stages... two procedures in 7 days is a pretty

intense schedule though...

Will probably try a few hours of work tomorrow though. I will see how it goes.

[applegrove]

12. Glad you are feeling better.