having a very hard time

I am 5 weeks post op today and it is 4:07 am and I have been awake for hours. I had a tah/bso because I had an ovarian mass bigger than a cantelope that they didn't think was cancer. It turned out that it was just beginning to turn into ovarian cancer but I don't have to have any treatments or anything. Thank God. I am on my 3rd different hrt. Yesterday I had a dr appt and I was so excited. I just want to get back to normal so bad. When I got to the dr I was called back to talk about the money. I just had gallbladder surgery in Oct 02 and am making monthly payments on all those bills and I have insurance so I'm paying on the balance of what the ins. didn't pay. This lady told me how much my ins had paid on the hysterectomy and how being as they were a ppo ( i think she said) they had to write off like 3000.00. My balance is not that much, I think like 500.00 plus. But she wanted me to pay like 95.00 a month and asked if i could, I said no I cannot. Then she said ok then you have to pay 63.00 and we will not accept less than 25.00 a month. I told her I would do the best I could but this surgery was unexpected, I have been out of work and I will have other bills to pay for this surgery and the surgery in oct. I signed the paper and went back to the waiting room. As I sat there the tears began to flow, I went into a hallway and sit by myself so I didn't feel so stupid. I am not a person that normally cries. When I saw the dr, I asked if I had to worry about cancer anymore and she said that she would have to keep a very close eye on me due to the cancer. She could tell I had been crying of course. She is sending me to a health innovations pharmacy where they "customize" a hrt. I don't know yet how expensive this will be and don't know yet if ins will pay for this. I will find out when I call. I cried most of the day yesterday and now I'm have having so many hot flashes and feel so nauseated. I understand how important the money is and my dr has been wonderful. She says i'm healing very well and that i should take it easy for about 2 more weeks. I am not a "cry baby" but right now this is really getting me. I feel like all this has just taken such a toll on me. I need to reply to some of the post that I have subscribed to but just don't have the heart to right now. Thank you all for being there for me and I hope even though this is so long that somebody will take time to read it. I have been trying to work a little bit, I work in an office, but with all the depression and the pain that I still have it is so hard. I am just not handling all this very well right now. Right now their money is just not that important to me.

First of all I want you to know that you are not a cry baby at all.
You have been through a very life altering traumatic surgery and it is going to take an emotional toll on you. Second, you are right about not worrying about the money right now. If all you can pay right now is $5.00 a month then they will just have to settle for that. I know exactly how upsetting it can be to worry about finances. Please try to let the money take care of itself. You need all your strength to rest and recover.
Now, as far as the depression goes please ask your doctor for an antidepressant. It may be that you will only need this for a little while until you get back on your feet. But you sound like you really could use one right now. It may also take a while to get the right hormone replacement. I am almost one year post hyst and am getting ready to switch again. What you are feeling is completely normal in this phase of your recovery.
I hope you continue to come here for support as this is the perfect place for it and please don't forget to talk to your doctor about your meds.

's

Pamela

P.S. I was up at this time of night when I was at your point in recovery too. It is pretty normal to have trouble sleeping post hyst.

Oh Buffie

You are NOT alone sweetie!! Most of us have been there at one time or another. I am so sorry that they approached you like that about the payments, it could have been handled very differently!!

I am glad that you have great Dr's, that makes it a little bit better for you.

I will tell you a little story about when I had my daughter. We are now military so medical is free to us, but I DID have a similar situation when my DD was born since I was so young and DH was not in the military. My mom and dad agreed to pay part of the payments and we only had to pay about $1700. Well we were both in our teens still and living with my parents and got turned into a collection agency because we could not pay anything at that point. As soon as DH joined the military we could afford only $20 a month and that was ALOT for us to have to part with. Well, to make a long story short, she was not paid off until she was 2 years old. I used to joke and tell DH and my mom, "What are they going to do? Repossess her?"

My point is, pay what you can, when you can. If you can send $5.00 a month, at least they can not say you are not paying anything. You need to worry about getting better and not paying them the full amnt. SInce she went from $95 down to $65 then down again to $25, I would not really worry about it as long as you send them a little each month.

We are all here for your support and come and vent all you want!! I also had both ovaries turn out precancerous and had no treatment. Get your HRT right and you will feel much better. I am also getting ready to switch when I go in for my post-op Friday. I am having severe nightsweats and have been on the same HRT for almost 2 years.

Please take care and vent away dear sister!! We are all here for ya!! and by the way, cry babies do not exist on this board, just women letting it all out!!

Buffie,

You pay what you feel you can & they will just have to wait! I am on the otherside where I have good insurance from my dh retirement w/prescription plan. My medical bills have reached nearly $150,000 & I have only paid $50.00 since all this started. Medications do cost me somewhat more. My drs keep doing tests over & over again which I am sure they wouldn't be doing if I didn't have this insurance. Also I am having my 3rd fistula repair which I bet they would have fixed the first time without this insurance. They just keep sending me to a bigger & more "expensive" hospital with the same trained drs. They more than make up on me what they don't get from you. They have people duped into thinking that bigger is better but it took my dh little country practioner (just moved here from the city) to prescribe an anxiety medication for me that finally took away my pain. Did not charge me anything! I have complained to my insurance co & said yeah they know but they pay the bills anyway! Tuesday I am having surgery in a hospital that is larger then all 3 hospitals put together in my hometown (not a small town) & will have a plastic surgeon, uro & a dozen students watching & my odds of recovery are exactly the same as the 2 previous surgeries done in smaller hospitals or maybe even a little less at this point. But I bet the bill will be hefty nevertheless. So don't you worry, my insurance co is paying enough for 10 people! Sorry to ramble on but you hit a nerve. You should not have to worry about medical bills on top of everything else it just isn't fair. Something needs to be done in this country about the unfairness of skyrocketing medical charges. I'll step down from my soap box now.

Take care of yourself, that is what is important!
Terry

AMEN REDAPPLE!!! I couldn't agree more.

buffie, I'm sorry you are dealing with the financial issues along with not feeling well. Like the other sisters have said, pay what you can....they have to accept it. You are so early in your recovery dear, what you are feeling physically is so common. Work with your doc and I'd be willing to bet that you will come up with a combination that will have you feeling much better soon. s

I just want to let you all know how much I appreciate you. Thank you so much for being there, I don't know what I'd do without this website cause it's there when nobody else is and when you can't sleep. And want2bpainfree believe it or not but I am on prozac have been for a long time. I have had hot flashes for years, but, I have an appt tomorrow morning to see about a different hrt. I know I am not alone and you all have some really bad problems and touching stories. I truly wish you all the best and we will all get thru this together. Thank You So Much.

Hi Buffie:
I just wanted to echo the part about paying a small amount each month....if you show willingness to take care of your bill on a regular basis, the office is obligated to respect that.

Beware, though...in my state, it isn't every calendar month, but every thirty days . You might want to check your local laws on this issues.

Good luck! ....oh, and try not to worry.

Hi Buffie,

I was still fuming about your problem & treatment by billing clerk when my dh brought home the mail with a $10.00 copay bill from my old uro. I called but got answering machine & boy did I leave a message. Told them that first of all everything from post op is not subject to a copay & besides how did they have the nerve to bill me when they have taken $1,000's & $1,000's of dollars from my insurance co without fixing me. I told them I would not pay & they have my number if they want to talk about it.

My dh couldn't understand why I was going off the deep end about $10.00 until I told him about your problem & we both agree they shouldn't even bother you until you are well & able to work. Telephone rang & uro billing clerk said my balance is 0 & didn't know what I was talking about so I threw the bill in the trash.

I am Irish & have the temper to prove it!
Terry

There is nothing they can do to you if you are paying something every month. How cold and inconsiderate can they be. All about money. You should put all your energy in resting and healing to get yourself better. Good luck to you.

Buffie,
Sending you a big hug!

I had a similar experience when I had my 2nd child. My husband took a new job that necessitated a move just 4 weeks before my due date. The new insurance took effect immediately and my new OB/GYN was on the list. When I went for my first appointment, I was escorted to the business office after meeting my doc. The dear lady proceeded to tell me that the total for services would be XXX$'s, what insurance would pay and then what my remaining balance would be.

I had a minor fit in her office! The amount she quoted me was for FULL maternity care...the whole shebang: all office visits, routine labs done during pregnancy and the cost of my scheduled c-section. After I dissolved into a puddle of tears, I cleaned myself up and asked why I should pay for the full treatment when I would only be seen by their staff a total of 4 times prior to delivery. I had already worked out a payment with my doc in the other town. We knew early into the pregnancy that we would be moving and going ahead and getting established with a doc in the new town wasn't feasible due to distance. He agreed to charge per visit and procedure.

I explained that money was very tight and I would need to arrange a payment schedule. She was adamant that I must make payment in full that day! I also told her that I was willing to accept charges for 4 visits, any procedures actually done and the c-section. I would not however pay for an entire pregnancy's worth of charges that I did not receive.

Her answer...I'm not sure there are codes for that. It can't be done. I thanked her, picked up my bag and started walking out. She followed me telling me that I couldn't leave without making a payment. My reply...have the doctor call me and I'll work it out with him.

He called me late that afternoon and understood completely. He & I had a very brief conversation and worked out payment arrangements.

The point of my rambling...talk to your physician directly about the charges. The business office acts on their orders so if you can get the doc on your side, they should smooth the way as far as financial arrangements go. Your doc understands that $ worries are added stress that you don't need right now. They also know what kind of follow-up you'll need and probably wouldn't want you skipping any because of cost.

Wishing you well,
Karen H.