A new study is out on the uninsured with the shocking result that 1/3 of the uninsured are chronically ill. This is a health care disaster:
“These people are going to end up with complications of their illnesses prematurely. They will be disabled early. They will probably die younger. It is a major public health disaster,” said Dr. Oliver Fein, president-elect of Physicians for a National Health Program and professor of clinical medicine and public health at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University in New York City. “Longer-term, there will be expensive admissions to hospitals, usually through the emergency department, due to diabetes out of control and congestive heart failure because of hypertension.”
I doubt if the actual number of people who died due to lack of health care will ever be known, but this period of denying health care to the population will eventually be viewed as hideous and despicable. Meanwhile, politicans like McCain (and most other Republicans) believe they should be entitled to great health care while denying it to millions of others.
Today Jim had a colonoscopy and the restults were outstanding. First, the bleeding ulcer has completely healed in his colon. Dr. Weinstein said Jim’s colon looks great. All healed. However, the great better is that Dr. Weinstein believes the inflection and ulcer was caused by the drug Celcept which Jim has taken off of just before his last hospitalization. Dr. Weinstein said his opinion was based on the final pathology from when Jim was in the hospital and his assessment from the colonoscopy today. This likely means that the infection was not likely caused by the CMV virus at all nor any of the really horrible things.
Wow. I am so excited and pleased about these results.
As I was driving home today, I was reflecting on how close Jim came to havng abdominal colon surgery when he was in the hospital. That type of surgery would have taken 6 months or more to recover from with lots of possibilities for complications and further infections. We now know in hindsight that would have been a huge mistake. It is obviously so wonderful that the doctors made the right call about the surgery.
Like we (I really mean me) say at checkonjim.com, we love the doctors and hospitals but hate all the health insurance companies.
Another example of how horrible the health insurance industry is in the country; they should really be put in jail. Nonetheless, the countries has billions, even trillions, of dollars for war and financial institution bailouts but no money to provide health care for all Americans.
The mess that is health care is no surprise to the people who have been reading checkonjim. Just yesterday, Jim had a unbelieveable experience with his health insurance but I am going to let him tell you about it if he wants — I’ll just get unbelievably angry and say all sorts of things that you might not understand or appreciate. Anyway, here’s a link to a story about the current views by the Presidential candidates. Personally, single payer, eliminating all health insurance companies, is the only thing that will have any chance at solving the health care mess. I think the physicians at PNHP have the only real solution.
Jim and Kristen stopped at Outback today and had THE Cheese Fries after having Dim Sum this morning. No offense to the Chinese, but I think the cheese fries won. I never knew anybody could be so happy about cheese fries. I think Outback should consider featuring Jim in a commercial.
Jim continues to do well at home. He is eating without any problems which is wonderful and something Jim has to get use to. He is administering his antibiotic IV to himself (through his PIC line) each morning as he continues with the 3 weeks of CMV antibiotics. Jim’s energy is increasing and his breathing is good. Jim will be going to UCLA on Monday for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Ross. Overall, there is lots to be happy and thankful about.
Jim’s first day out of the hospital has been going very well. The home health nurse came by and gave Jim his IV. But the eating has been amazing today:
- For Breakfast: eggs, sausage, yogurt, and a pop tart
- For Lunch: three Chipotle tacos
Jim even got his exercise by going out and getting the food himself which was pretty challenging.
I am so happy and excited to be home right now, more than even when I got out after the lung transplant. I made it through the first big test after the transplant and I’m still alive! That feels really great…and the shower was pretty good too.
Thank you to everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers over the last two weeks. I am so lucky to have such amazing family, friends, and colleagues who are always there with encouragement during the ups and downs.
Jim was released from the hospital tonight and is back at home. Since 1996, Jim has dodged one bullet after another and there have been lots of bullets. He is a very brave person.
The home health care will begin tomorrow and the drugs were delivered today that will be infused.
I hope Jim can get some rest and his body can heal after this latest ordeal.
Sleep well, Jim. I love you.
The infectious disease doctor was explaining that CMV is generally found in solid organs (like lungs) and that valcyte (the drug jim has been taking orally) works on blood CMV and ganciclovir works on tissue CMV. He also said that lung transplant patients use to get a year of ganciclovir to deal with the CMV in the tissue. Jim has consistently been CMV negative in his blood tests but there is circumstantial evidence that CMV was present in cecum even though the stains have not yet confirmed it. The doctors have also taken Jim off of one of his three immunosuppression drugs because they think it may be causing GI problems. Jim is currently on a three week course of ganciclovir which he has been taking for 12 days in the hospital. A home health care nurse will continue giving Jim the drug for the remainder of the three weeks, starting tomorrow.
Jim is suppose to be released today but …
Jim was just called by UCLA and told Blue Cross would not approve the home health care until Jim pays $1795. The UCLA person had no idea who Jim was suppose to pay. Jim’s insurance agent said that is illegal for Blue Cross to demand payments in this manner. Later Jim gets a call and is told that he will have to sign something that he is financially liable for the payments. Jim already signed such a document but they want another such document.
One other little fact about Jim’s policy. There is a maximum out of pocket limit of $4000 per year on his policy. This is suppose to be the maximum that he is required to pay each year. However, if Blue Cross denies a claim that that is added to the $4000. So, there is actually no maximum because Blue Cross will routinely deny claims for any reason they can think of. They have people who work for them that specialize in such denials. Sometimes if you fight then they might pay the claim, sometimes not. Sometimes you are just too sick to fight them. Blue Cross knows this. Ultimately, it becomes a battle between the insurance company, the providers, and the collection companies to see who pays for what.
We know all about how the system works. We know when they are asking things that are illegal. We are pretty sure that Blue Cross knows it is illegal as well but they don’t care so much. We have spent years navigating the system but think about all the people out there that doesn’t understand this.
Some have objected to my past comments about the nature of American health care, the outrageousness of Blue Cross, and even my political feelings about how we got into this mess. To those people, I apologize that I am making you feel uncomfortable or annoyed. The problem is we are so frustrated with the system and have been involved with it so long. When I hear politican like McBush saying that American has the “best health care in the world” I realize that he is either out of touch, doesn’t care, or sides with the greedy health insurance companies which are some of the most profitable companies on earth.
I have always avoided saying Fuck Blue Cross and the evil bastards that work there, Fuck the politicans who have let American health care get to such a low point, and Fuck anybody who thinks American health care is good or humane. I just won’t go there.
Dr. Ross came by a little while ago and confirmed that Jim would be leaving the hospital tomorrow. Jim still needs to complete a 3 week dose of antibiotics (currently on day 11) for likely CMV. Dr. Ross explained that pathology was not able to confirm CMV in the biopsy but it was still likely the cause. Jim will not be getting TPN (IV nutrition) at home. His blood will be monitor as well and Jim will have a follow-up colonoscopy in about a month to confirm the ulcer has healed. Dr. Ross felt that Jim would be able to thrive at home.
Jim just had his most daring lunch in a while: thick crust pizza and salad.
p.s. Goodbye George — we’ll miss you.
Jim got another unit of blood today because his hematocrit dropped — the doctors don’t think he is bleeding but there is no explanation for why Jim needed more blood. Jim is on a regular diet now and expects to be released from the hospital tomorrow.
Jim had soft foods last night for dinner and this morning for breakfast. He said everything went well and there was no discomfort. Jim will likely be released in the next few days. It will certainly be wonderful if Jim is able to eat without any problems when he is released — he has had problems with his digestion since the transplant and in the weeks prior to this hospital stay, the problems became quite severe. Meanwhile, Jim’s lungs keep working well.
Jim’s diet just got promoted to soft liquids and Dr. Ross feels confident that Jim will be released this week. I am taking today off from being with Jim at the hospital; however, if any of Jim’s friends want to visit Jim is in Room 510A. This week is your last opportunity to see the current UCLA medical center which was built in 1955. Next week the hospital moves across the street into new facilities which has been under construction for seven years.
