Sorry, this restroom is taken
Posted by laurie on February 20, 2013
My niece and nephew like to post pictures on Facebook of their kids in the tub or on the potty. This is the best I can do.
Yesterday I took a 40-minute walk on the canal. At about 30 minutes I started to look for places to sit, but I managed to walk the entire way back. I started driving on Sunday and can do so with no discomfort. I see the surgeon today and am waiting for the bills to come in. My insurance is very good, so I’m more curious than worried. Anyone care to take a guess? ER visit, surgery, 6 days in the hospital, 3 in rehab, visiting nurse and so much more.
The Daily Digital 
Luana,Cody, and Henry said
Ah yes . . . the familiar winter sight of yellow snow!
My sister Lori (Cody and Henry’s Aunt) had both back surgery and neck surgery last year. Her insurance is pretty good, too, but there were still bills that the insurance didn’t cover. Both times she only spent one night in the hospital, so I’m guessing your total will come out to a lot more than hers.
Glad to hear that you are recovering so well. Keep up the good work!
Cody and Henry's Aunt said
I met my out-of-pocket expenses with the first surgery and other assorted doctor visits, so I didn’t have to pay a thing for the second, or anything for other doctor appts. through the end of the year. However, I can tell you that between the surgeon’s fees and the hospital bill, the total for the first surgery came to more than $11,000 for an overnight stay. I’m sure the second was about the same. I bet my insurance company loves me.
Darlene said
Glad you are up and about. In Canada, where I am, health care if free, so I am curious to know what it costs.
Cody and Henry's Aunt said
Lucky you!
Karen Spivey said
I’d be really happy with a good national healthcare system
Eleanore said
Darlene, is there a long wait for surgeries that are not emergencies. Say knee or hip surgery, or even heart surgery?
Kate (Gandolf's mom, w/ memories of Kramer) said
I am SO glad you are up and walking. 40 minutes without a rest?! You’re superwoman! And, I’d venture a guess somewhere in the vicinity of $100,000.
Darlene said
omg…..are there people in the States who don’t have insurance and would have to pay that out of pocket?
Bailey & Gypsy & Trents dad said
glad you are up and walking. I’d sit down when you open those bills. My guess would be somewhere around $160k total billing..of which your insurance company will probably have scheduled fees for each procedure (remember when doctors made a decent living?) reduced down to next to nothing. Since it was early in the year, you have surely not met your deductible, so, I would bet you would be in for a few bucks on your part…
Good luck with that…
Karen Spivey said
Funny, my dogs know how to do that too! And they do it very well, especially Timmy, who pees like a fire boat.
As for medical bills, I’m still trying to pay off co-pays from when I DID have health insurance. Those were the days.
Any way, sounds like you’re doing well! It shows the benefits of being in good shape before undergoing something like this.
Spunky's Mom said
When I went to emergency and had surgery to remove a kidney stone (was there approximately 24 hours), the total billing was around $10k. I, too, have very good insurance and paid nothing – still think the insurance company must have made a mistake as I’m not sure why I didn’t at least pay a deductible. So I’m with Kate – I’d venture to guess north of $100k.
So impressed with your recovery! All that swimming and staying fit that you do makes a huge difference.
harperlea said
Wow! A 40 minute walk! Way to go!
I’m still working to get myself fully rehabbed from my knee surgery back in August. Tho I stopped going to the actual gym, I’m now working out in a 1/4 of an acre sand dune horse pasture (aka cleaning up after my horse on pretty much a daily basis… )… I had been biking to work prior to my surgery (50 miles a week) so I wasn’t in bad shape, but Laurie, you kick butt!!!!
As for the bills, I’m curious, tho I think Bailey, Gypsy, and Trent’s dad is probably the closest…
My co pays were more than I expected, and mine was outpatient … And I have pretty good insurance and Conexis…
harperlea said
Postscript – last night while heading to bed, our little old lady rescue, Quincy decided to go outside before bed in the middle of (what I thought was a major rainstorm). When she came in, her coat was covered in hail! So of course I toweled her off (she loves a good rub but she’s so unsteady on her feet that she falls down…) and once she was settled on her bed, covered her with her blankie that Santa Paws brought 🙂
We’re in central California coast… Hail is fairly rare.
Cathy, Gomez, Lily & Mr. Peabz said
Hail yes it’s rare! I’m in the Bay Area and we had hail and an actual tornado about 15 years ago. Just as it was all going down I was driving through the NASA Ames Research Center to pick up my husband from work. I arrived at his building and saw all the occupants standing outside looking up at the sky and pointing rather excitedly. Fresh from my vantage point on the freeway and seeing the chance of a lifetime, I proceeded up to the building entrance to find my hubby, explaining as I walked by the crowd of rocket scientists, “Warm, moist surface air colliding with an upper level cold front, combined with the Coriolis effect “.
They applauded.
Maureen Doherty said
I am impressed that you are already walking and driving! I was a good 8 weeks post-op from driving and walking took much longer to get back. good for you!! Keep up the good work! I am with Kate thinking pre-insurance around $100k. My advice, keep a spreadsheet of all invoices that come in. Doing that saved me thousands of dollars that I was able to get written off due to “emergency” type events when Aetna said the Dr wasn’t “in-plan”. A simple explaination and they switched the Dr’s to in-plan.
Keep getting better! My Jake has to pick out the exact blade of grass that will be on the recieving end of his bladder. it has to be the “right” one or we move on. Note, it’s not just one per walk, more like one per house passed. Lily tries her best to get higher than some of the boys which is a sight to see! She never quite makes it much to her dismay.
Maureen, Jake & Lily
Susan Hann said
You are superwoman! I can’t walk 40 minutes and I haven’t had surgery. Keep up the wonderful recovery but don’t overdue it! I say don’t open those bills – you might have a relapse!
Linda UK said
Laurie, you’re doing amazingly well on your recovery 🙂 You may well be able to lift your legs higher than the boys soon!!!
I shall be interested to hear what the med costs will be – in Britain we have the National Health Service so it’s all free. However when taking out travel insurance for USA trips, we are given dire warnings about the cost of medical care in the US, so you have to have millions of $ cover…
Sue ~ Barney , Jodi, & Huggy Bear's Mom said
Wow 40 mins, I would have been afraid to do that unsupervised. You are WOMAN!
That picture ususally has another pup waiting in line to pee on the precise blade of grass that the first one did. LOL
Keep up the great recovery. I’m with Trent’s dad on the cost.
Cathy, Gomez, Lily & Mr. Peabz said
Congratulations Laurie – a 40-minute walk is outstanding! On the hospital bill, I’m thinking at least what Trent’s Dad’s said. It might go as high as $200K even. I was in for 3.5 days after a sojourn in the ED, no surgery, no OT, no treatments. That was around $30K.
Julie - JB & Cassie's Mum in England said
Well done on the walk Laurie – keep up the good work! I think the others are right about your bills – in the order of $100k. 10 years ago my friend had treatment here in the UK for breast cancer – an operation to remove the lump, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and the bill was £10k back then.
Linda UK said
I guess your friend had private treatment? The way to avoid the waiting lists….
I think vet’s bills give us a bit of insight into medical costs 😦
Scott (and Scout) said
TO KIM. PER RUSTY. Kim I wasn’t able to post yesterday. Rusty looks like such a sweetheart. I was very sorry to learn of your loss. It’s amazing the bond that forms between dogs and their owners. That’s why it always hurts. Holding you and Rusty in my heart.
Sunny's Mom said
$87,000. We are glad to here you are doing so well!
Carol, Eddy's mom said
Why do our boys gaze off into the distance while lifting their leg?
Cody and Henry's Aunt said
Making sure no one sees them pee!
Jackson Pack - Abilene Texas said
Wow! Walking that far and driving! You are doing great! As for tht Bill I am guessing closer to $250k if we are talking of the amount billed and just the allowable amount!