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| So, there I was, just cruising along the side alley in my power chair,
heading to the quick shop to pick up a couple things. It was dark, but
there was sufficient light from the streetlamps to see where I was going.
The next thing I know, I am laying in the alley, still buckled into the
chair, laying on my side. I apparently hit a small hole with one of the
front wheels, spun around and flipped over onto my left side.
As I lay there, I begin to take inventory. OK, I can move everything.
My left shoulder, elbow & hip are telling me that they are NOT very
happy about the situation. My elbow is the worst.
Now I start thinking "what the hell am I gonna do now?!!". The thought
of me being able to turn the chair upright is quickly replaced by "who
the hell are you kidding?". There is no way I can walk home, legs won't
do it. Crawling is a problem due to the shoulder & elbow, if I don't
move my arm, it's not too terrible. Oh, by the way, it's freakin' cold
out here, especially laying on the ground.
Fortunately, I was only about a half block away from the quick shop,
which is quite popular as it's the only one on our side of town. After
what felt like an eternity, actually probably only about five minutes or
so, three(!!) cars pull up with about six or seven people.
I get unbuckled and a couple of them helped me sit up while a couple
more manage to get the chair back on its wheels. Then they helped me
back into the chair. Several question whether I need an ambulance. I
tell them no, that I'll be all right.
Someone hands me the pieces of my (now destroyed) left armrest. I take
a slow look at the chair. Seems like the armrest is the only casualty,
well, as far as the chair goes anyway. Someone else hands me the grip
for the joystick. It must have come off in my hand when I hit the
ground. Fortunately, it just slides back onto the metal rod.
OK, power up and check out the controls and movement. Seems to be ok.
I thank my rescuers profusely and motor my way back home.
I get home, take off my coat & the wife freaks out when I tell her what
happened. She asks if I want to go to the hospital. I think about it as
I'm putting an ice pack on my elbow. It's 8:30 on a Saturday night. I
know what the E.R. will be like. We will be there for hours just
waiting to be seen. Yes, I'm in pain, but at least at home I can be
more comfortable than sitting in the waiting room.
I check out my elbow. Nice rasberry and some minor swelling. No
crunchy sounds or feeling when I move it. No marks on my shoulder or
hip, no crunchies there either. So I decided that no, I'll stay home,
use the ice pack & eat a couple Tramadol that my neuro had prescribed
for breakthrough neuropathic pain. I finally manage to get to sleep.
Wake up in the morning and now my elbow has become rather large and
still quite painfull. My shoulder & hip are still very sore when I move
them. After the wife wakes up and sees my elbow, I don't have any
choice, it's off to the E.R. At least its now 9:00 Sunday morning, it
(hopefully) shouldn't be too busy.
It wasn't busy at all when we arrived. Filled out a form & was taken
right in. Two nurses help me onto the gurney and begin stripping me
down to my shorts, asking me all kinds of questions while poking,
prodding and bending me. Before they are even finished, in walks the
doctor. He begins asking me all the same questions that the nurses
asked. Of course the first question was "What the heck happened?!".
He decides on x-rays of my shoulder, elbow and hip. Then he notices a
bunch of scrapes on my left knee, which I had overlooked before. He
asks about the knee & I tell him that it doesn't hurt at all, however I
do have partial numbness from the MS on the left side. So he decides to
add the knee to the list of x-rays and off I go to x-ray.
After an eternity of laying on that hard, cold x-ray table, putting my
arm & leg into positions that the spasms make difficult, they wheel me
back into the x-ray waiting room & call for someone to take me back to
the E.R. So I wait, & wait, & wait some more. At least I'm on the
gurney, with a nice, soft mattress on it and a blanket over me.
Finally, the E.R. doc comes in & takes me back himself. He had already
received the results and had been waiting & waiting for me to get back.
He finally decided enough is enough and did it himself!
Good news. Nothing broken, just beat up. Use ice packs several times a
day and continue with the pain med I already have, as needed. Try to go
easy on the left arm/shoulder. He even does the discharge paperwork
with my wife instead of waiting for the nurse to come back. Gives me
the usual routine, if any new or worsening symptoms, come back. Follow
up with family doctor, etc. and we're done. We were in and out of there
in two hours!
So, today I need to go to the medical supply company and see about
replacing the armrest. I had been considering adding "tail lights" to
the chair for a while, now I've put headlights on the list, too. Many
of the sidewalks around here either don't have the curb ramps and/or are
in a terrible state of disrepair, making for a bone jarring ride. So in
many cases, I'm force to ride in the street or ally, hence the idea of
putting on head/tail lights. I think that I've just moved that from a
"neat idea" to a priority.
So, after the medical supply place, its off to the auto parts store up
the street. When I had checked out a lighting system from the medical
supply place, a while back, they wanted something like $400 or $600, I
don't recall exactly, but I remember thinking "you've got to be
kidding!". I can get a running light kit, a couple tail lights, some
wire and a switch for probably $50 or $60. I'm an ex-electronics tech,
so I certainly know what I'm doing as far as wiring it up, that won't be
a problem. I think, however, that I will wait until my arm & shoulder
are better before starting that project.
It almost makes me think that I could go into business putting lighting
kits together myself. I could sell them a whole lot cheaper & still
make tidy profit.  Isn't it disgraceful how much they charge for
something just because its a "medical device" or an accessory to a
medical device? I know that when I received my power chair, the invoice
they submitted to the insurance company (I still had coverage through
COBRA at the time) was for over $18,000. Of course, I have no clue what
the insurance company actually paid, but I'm sure that it was
*substantially* less than that.
<rant mode>
Isn't it shamefull that the people who can afford it the least, those
without insurance, are expected to pay the most? For example, as some
of you may have read previously, I get monthly Cytoxan treatments. Now,
the hospital bills Medicare over $2000 for each treatment. Medicare
actually pays about $200 & I pay about $50. Now if I didn't have
Medicare or any other insurance, I would still get a bill for over $2000
and they would expect me to pay it or they send it to a collection
agency. Let me tell you, if I didn't have Medicare and the VA, if I had
to pay for that treatment and my meds (I currently get them from the
VA), it would amount to more than our combined income each month, and
that's not even taking into account all the blood tests, dr. visits, etc.
</rant mode>
Ok, I've rambled on enough for now. Time for another dose of pain pills
and maybe a nap!
Alex - who's going to go a little bit slower at night from now on
| |
| John Husvar 2005-11-28, 10:58 am |
| In article <pVAif.814$to5.265@trnddc04>, Alex <akfromak@gmail.com>
wrote:
> So, there I was, just cruising along the side alley in my power chair,
> heading to the quick shop to pick up a couple things. It was dark, but
> there was sufficient light from the streetlamps to see where I was going.
>
> The next thing I know, I am laying in the alley, still buckled into the
> chair, laying on my side. I apparently hit a small hole with one of the
> front wheels, spun around and flipped over onto my left side.
>
Oouuuch, is right!
Wow! Hope you heal up quickly and relatively painlessly.
I've come close to rolling my 1170 a couple of times, but so far
haven't. Maybe just the thought of having that 300 pound monster lying
on me makes me try to be careful? Then there's the cost of repair parts,
even if I could get them wholesale because I work in the DME industry.
Cheap they ain't!
Standard Manufacturer Spare Parts Pricing Formula: Cost X 3 X whatever
you think your dealers' and users' medicare/medicaid/insurance will pay
without squawking too much.
For self-payers, we try to cut the prices as far as possible.
On the other side of the issue: My non-profit employer has had to
institute an Evaluation/Diagnostic fee because fixed costs have risen so
much.
Soon there might also be a cleaning fee: It's not practical trying to
work on a wheelchair that's soaked in urine/feces because the user has
continence problems and doesn't use pads. Surgical Gloves and pressure
washer time! At least the user gets a clean chair back. Takes time and
time costs.
| |
|
|
Alex wrote:
> The next thing I know, I am laying in the alley, still buckled into the
> chair, laying on my side. I apparently hit a small hole with one of the
> front wheels, spun around and flipped over onto my left side.
YIKES, Alex!! OUCH is right. :/ hope you continue with speedy mending
your bod, and then your chair!
> Fortunately, I was only about a half block away from the quick shop,
> which is quite popular as it's the only one on our side of town. After
> what felt like an eternity, actually probably only about five minutes or
> so, three(!!) cars pull up with about six or seven people.
i'd have probably keeled over from a fear-induced heart attack right
then and there, LOL. that's so cool that there were so many folks who
wanted to help! i'd most likely assume they were there to rob me, at
the very least.
oh, just BTW, there are NO sidewalks in my neighborhood at ALL. i
figure i'll be having enough trouble getting around in broad daylight,
rolling in the street with the cars (who in my neighborhood, seem to be
filled with people yelling 'GET OUTA THE ROAD, YA F***ING GIMP!"
because you're blocking their turn, rather than kind souls who want to
know if you need help), grass, gravel, broken pavement, potholes....ah
who am i kidding, if i ever do get the power chair, i'm pretty sure it
will be only after i really am 'too disabled' for it to make any
difference.
> <rant mode>
> Isn't it shamefull that the people who can afford it the least, those
> without insurance, are expected to pay the most? For example, as some
> of you may have read previously, I get monthly Cytoxan treatments. Now,
> the hospital bills Medicare over $2000 for each treatment. Medicare
> actually pays about $200 & I pay about $50. Now if I didn't have
> Medicare or any other insurance, I would still get a bill for over $2000
> and they would expect me to pay it or they send it to a collection
> agency. Let me tell you, if I didn't have Medicare and the VA, if I had
> to pay for that treatment and my meds (I currently get them from the
> VA), it would amount to more than our combined income each month, and
> that's not even taking into account all the blood tests, dr. visits, etc.
> </rant mode>
Alex, you're so cute when you rant! ;-> (sorry, kidding!)
yup, i think it IS shameful. my daughter just finished paying off
emergency room and lab test bills. these were tests needed as the
result of a criminal action. the state paid for the tests needed for
their case; the CVF "reimbursed" a couple hundred. that left almost $2K
for her to pay off all on her own. took her more than a year. if she'd
had insurance, she'd have been covered, but she wasn't, so she paid.
and paid, and paid. only one good thing to be found there, i told her
that when she finally paid off the bills, she'd have the hugest feeling
of accomplishment....and she tells me, i was absolutely correct. about
that part, at least.
it isn't the insured who pay for the impoverished; it's the uninsured
who still dream good credit score dreams that carry the brunt of the
burden.
dude, you SHOULD go into biz making chair-light get-ups, for real.
after my dx, i never again worked as a regular employee, tho i got
enough freelance and IC work to pay the bills. made me think about
alternate ways to bring in some cash, and i discovered all kinds of
previously unknown talents for getting a buck out of things i'd always
done just for fun previously (not THAT, in case any smart alecs were
thinking so, hee). just a whole bunch of stuff that was legal. :->
i grew up broke, our 'insurance' was staying healthy, and when
something was bad enough to actually *require* medical attention, we
took the bus to the community clinic and sat for hours waiting with
other sick and injured people. there was a glorious time in the middle
when i was working, making great bread, and insured -- i felt like i
was joining 'mainstream society' for a while there. these days, it's
like it was when i was a kid -- you can either afford it, or you do
without. in case of true emergency, go to the broke people's clinic and
wait. was talking to one of my sisters recently, she tells me that she
and her husband are having problems with Tri-Care. my bro-in-law has
some prescription that costs $1k per month, and they were paying
something like a $10-15 co-pay. she says they were informed that wasn't
going ot happen any longer. she said to me, 'well, we don't have the
money. i hate the idea that Larry will have to do without his meds, but
what other choice is there?" yup, that's my sister, all right. we're
in the same leaky boat together, LOL. maybe it's easier when you do
grow up knowing there WILL -- not might, but WILL -- be things others
think of as necessities that you're never going to be able to afford. i
was born broke and i'll die broke -- oh well! doesn't mean i want to
drag Dennis or god forbid Tam down with me. if getting the "recommended
treatment" means getting Medicaid and having a lien put on the house
that Dennis -- not me, him -- paid for, then too bad, so sad. it ain't
gonna happen.
hope you heal 'toot sweet!' :->
rose
| |
|
| Actually the mix of haves and have not makes the delivery of health care
much more inefficient, essentially right now if you are in those fields, you
are golden. This is unlike other countries where a doctor does not earn
several times a teacher. The doctor is incentivized to deliver the most
expensive care and prevent any competition. When I go to my semi annual
teeth cleaning, by legislation I have to have it at a dr office, even though
never has a dr cleaned my teeth.
--
Quaecomque sunt vera ----
"rose" <rosedawn_scott@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1133193817.821305.221840@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Alex wrote:
>
> YIKES, Alex!! OUCH is right. :/ hope you continue with speedy mending
> your bod, and then your chair!
>
>
> i'd have probably keeled over from a fear-induced heart attack right
> then and there, LOL. that's so cool that there were so many folks who
> wanted to help! i'd most likely assume they were there to rob me, at
> the very least.
>
> oh, just BTW, there are NO sidewalks in my neighborhood at ALL. i
> figure i'll be having enough trouble getting around in broad daylight,
> rolling in the street with the cars (who in my neighborhood, seem to be
> filled with people yelling 'GET OUTA THE ROAD, YA F***ING GIMP!"
> because you're blocking their turn, rather than kind souls who want to
> know if you need help), grass, gravel, broken pavement, potholes....ah
> who am i kidding, if i ever do get the power chair, i'm pretty sure it
> will be only after i really am 'too disabled' for it to make any
> difference.
>
>
>
> Alex, you're so cute when you rant! ;-> (sorry, kidding!)
>
> yup, i think it IS shameful. my daughter just finished paying off
> emergency room and lab test bills. these were tests needed as the
> result of a criminal action. the state paid for the tests needed for
> their case; the CVF "reimbursed" a couple hundred. that left almost $2K
> for her to pay off all on her own. took her more than a year. if she'd
> had insurance, she'd have been covered, but she wasn't, so she paid.
> and paid, and paid. only one good thing to be found there, i told her
> that when she finally paid off the bills, she'd have the hugest feeling
> of accomplishment....and she tells me, i was absolutely correct. about
> that part, at least.
>
> it isn't the insured who pay for the impoverished; it's the uninsured
> who still dream good credit score dreams that carry the brunt of the
> burden.
>
> dude, you SHOULD go into biz making chair-light get-ups, for real.
> after my dx, i never again worked as a regular employee, tho i got
> enough freelance and IC work to pay the bills. made me think about
> alternate ways to bring in some cash, and i discovered all kinds of
> previously unknown talents for getting a buck out of things i'd always
> done just for fun previously (not THAT, in case any smart alecs were
> thinking so, hee). just a whole bunch of stuff that was legal. :->
>
> i grew up broke, our 'insurance' was staying healthy, and when
> something was bad enough to actually *require* medical attention, we
> took the bus to the community clinic and sat for hours waiting with
> other sick and injured people. there was a glorious time in the middle
> when i was working, making great bread, and insured -- i felt like i
> was joining 'mainstream society' for a while there. these days, it's
> like it was when i was a kid -- you can either afford it, or you do
> without. in case of true emergency, go to the broke people's clinic and
> wait. was talking to one of my sisters recently, she tells me that she
> and her husband are having problems with Tri-Care. my bro-in-law has
> some prescription that costs $1k per month, and they were paying
> something like a $10-15 co-pay. she says they were informed that wasn't
> going ot happen any longer. she said to me, 'well, we don't have the
> money. i hate the idea that Larry will have to do without his meds, but
> what other choice is there?" yup, that's my sister, all right. we're
> in the same leaky boat together, LOL. maybe it's easier when you do
> grow up knowing there WILL -- not might, but WILL -- be things others
> think of as necessities that you're never going to be able to afford. i
> was born broke and i'll die broke -- oh well! doesn't mean i want to
> drag Dennis or god forbid Tam down with me. if getting the "recommended
> treatment" means getting Medicaid and having a lien put on the house
> that Dennis -- not me, him -- paid for, then too bad, so sad. it ain't
> gonna happen.
>
> hope you heal 'toot sweet!' :->
> rose
>
| |
| Rob Duncan 2005-11-28, 12:55 pm |
| Dang Alex. I hope your bumps, bruises, and scrapes heal real soon. It was
smart visiting the ER.
Rob
"Alex" <akfromak@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:pVAif.814$to5.265@trnddc04...
> So, there I was, just cruising along the side alley in my power chair,
> heading to the quick shop to pick up a couple things. It was dark, but
> there was sufficient light from the streetlamps to see where I was going.
>
> The next thing I know, I am laying in the alley, still buckled into the
> chair, laying on my side. I apparently hit a small hole with one of the
> front wheels, spun around and flipped over onto my left side.
>
> As I lay there, I begin to take inventory. OK, I can move everything.
> My left shoulder, elbow & hip are telling me that they are NOT very
> happy about the situation. My elbow is the worst.
>
> Now I start thinking "what the hell am I gonna do now?!!". The thought
> of me being able to turn the chair upright is quickly replaced by "who
> the hell are you kidding?". There is no way I can walk home, legs won't
> do it. Crawling is a problem due to the shoulder & elbow, if I don't
> move my arm, it's not too terrible. Oh, by the way, it's freakin' cold
> out here, especially laying on the ground.
>
> Fortunately, I was only about a half block away from the quick shop,
> which is quite popular as it's the only one on our side of town. After
> what felt like an eternity, actually probably only about five minutes or
> so, three(!!) cars pull up with about six or seven people.
>
> I get unbuckled and a couple of them helped me sit up while a couple
> more manage to get the chair back on its wheels. Then they helped me
> back into the chair. Several question whether I need an ambulance. I
> tell them no, that I'll be all right.
>
> Someone hands me the pieces of my (now destroyed) left armrest. I take
> a slow look at the chair. Seems like the armrest is the only casualty,
> well, as far as the chair goes anyway. Someone else hands me the grip
> for the joystick. It must have come off in my hand when I hit the
> ground. Fortunately, it just slides back onto the metal rod.
>
> OK, power up and check out the controls and movement. Seems to be ok.
> I thank my rescuers profusely and motor my way back home.
>
> I get home, take off my coat & the wife freaks out when I tell her what
> happened. She asks if I want to go to the hospital. I think about it as
> I'm putting an ice pack on my elbow. It's 8:30 on a Saturday night. I
> know what the E.R. will be like. We will be there for hours just
> waiting to be seen. Yes, I'm in pain, but at least at home I can be
> more comfortable than sitting in the waiting room.
>
> I check out my elbow. Nice rasberry and some minor swelling. No
> crunchy sounds or feeling when I move it. No marks on my shoulder or
> hip, no crunchies there either. So I decided that no, I'll stay home,
> use the ice pack & eat a couple Tramadol that my neuro had prescribed
> for breakthrough neuropathic pain. I finally manage to get to sleep.
>
> Wake up in the morning and now my elbow has become rather large and
> still quite painfull. My shoulder & hip are still very sore when I move
> them. After the wife wakes up and sees my elbow, I don't have any
> choice, it's off to the E.R. At least its now 9:00 Sunday morning, it
> (hopefully) shouldn't be too busy.
>
> It wasn't busy at all when we arrived. Filled out a form & was taken
> right in. Two nurses help me onto the gurney and begin stripping me
> down to my shorts, asking me all kinds of questions while poking,
> prodding and bending me. Before they are even finished, in walks the
> doctor. He begins asking me all the same questions that the nurses
> asked. Of course the first question was "What the heck happened?!".
>
> He decides on x-rays of my shoulder, elbow and hip. Then he notices a
> bunch of scrapes on my left knee, which I had overlooked before. He
> asks about the knee & I tell him that it doesn't hurt at all, however I
> do have partial numbness from the MS on the left side. So he decides to
> add the knee to the list of x-rays and off I go to x-ray.
>
> After an eternity of laying on that hard, cold x-ray table, putting my
> arm & leg into positions that the spasms make difficult, they wheel me
> back into the x-ray waiting room & call for someone to take me back to
> the E.R. So I wait, & wait, & wait some more. At least I'm on the
> gurney, with a nice, soft mattress on it and a blanket over me.
>
> Finally, the E.R. doc comes in & takes me back himself. He had already
> received the results and had been waiting & waiting for me to get back.
> He finally decided enough is enough and did it himself!
>
> Good news. Nothing broken, just beat up. Use ice packs several times a
> day and continue with the pain med I already have, as needed. Try to go
> easy on the left arm/shoulder. He even does the discharge paperwork
> with my wife instead of waiting for the nurse to come back. Gives me
> the usual routine, if any new or worsening symptoms, come back. Follow
> up with family doctor, etc. and we're done. We were in and out of there
> in two hours!
>
> So, today I need to go to the medical supply company and see about
> replacing the armrest. I had been considering adding "tail lights" to
> the chair for a while, now I've put headlights on the list, too. Many
> of the sidewalks around here either don't have the curb ramps and/or are
> in a terrible state of disrepair, making for a bone jarring ride. So in
> many cases, I'm force to ride in the street or ally, hence the idea of
> putting on head/tail lights. I think that I've just moved that from a
> "neat idea" to a priority.
>
> So, after the medical supply place, its off to the auto parts store up
> the street. When I had checked out a lighting system from the medical
> supply place, a while back, they wanted something like $400 or $600, I
> don't recall exactly, but I remember thinking "you've got to be
> kidding!". I can get a running light kit, a couple tail lights, some
> wire and a switch for probably $50 or $60. I'm an ex-electronics tech,
> so I certainly know what I'm doing as far as wiring it up, that won't be
> a problem. I think, however, that I will wait until my arm & shoulder
> are better before starting that project.
>
> It almost makes me think that I could go into business putting lighting
> kits together myself. I could sell them a whole lot cheaper & still
> make tidy profit. Isn't it disgraceful how much they charge for
> something just because its a "medical device" or an accessory to a
> medical device? I know that when I received my power chair, the invoice
> they submitted to the insurance company (I still had coverage through
> COBRA at the time) was for over $18,000. Of course, I have no clue what
> the insurance company actually paid, but I'm sure that it was
> *substantially* less than that.
>
> <rant mode>
> Isn't it shamefull that the people who can afford it the least, those
> without insurance, are expected to pay the most? For example, as some
> of you may have read previously, I get monthly Cytoxan treatments. Now,
> the hospital bills Medicare over $2000 for each treatment. Medicare
> actually pays about $200 & I pay about $50. Now if I didn't have
> Medicare or any other insurance, I would still get a bill for over $2000
> and they would expect me to pay it or they send it to a collection
> agency. Let me tell you, if I didn't have Medicare and the VA, if I had
> to pay for that treatment and my meds (I currently get them from the
> VA), it would amount to more than our combined income each month, and
> that's not even taking into account all the blood tests, dr. visits, etc.
> </rant mode>
>
> Ok, I've rambled on enough for now. Time for another dose of pain pills
> and maybe a nap!
>
> Alex - who's going to go a little bit slower at night from now on
>
>
>
>
>
>
| |
| Peace Dove 2005-11-28, 12:56 pm |
| Oy - Alex --- I wish you speedy recovery -- what a frightening event !
I wish you - all and only - good things ...... Dove
| |
|
| you poor guy, don't go out in the dark is my first thought, and second did
you really need to go . anyway you seem to be okay so take care of
yourself.
Joyce
| |
| Michael 2005-11-28, 5:57 pm |
| Ouch *indeed! :-(
However, you can still be thankful that you weren't called in to compete
with this guy...
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.p...23-102901-1628r
Man pulls truck with his penis
FREMONT, Calif., Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The Grandmaster of Iron Crotch, Tu
Jin-Sheng, strapped his penis to a rental truck and twice pulled it across a
Fremont, Calif., parking lot.
The 50-year-old who believes sex organs have great power tied a strip of
blue fabric around the base of his penis and testicles Tuesday, tugged to
make sure it was tight, then lashed himself to the vehicle, the Oakland
(Calif.) Tribune reported Wednesday.
He groaned and grunted and slowly pulled the truck as a documentary film
director and producer from London got it all on film for their three-part
series called "Penis Envy."
The footage shot in Fremont will be part of a segment on building the
perfect penis, the newspaper said.
Jin-Sheng practices a branch of Qigong, which reportedly has 60,000
followers worldwide.
© Copyright 2005 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved
| |
|
| John Husvar wrote:
> In article <pVAif.814$to5.265@trnddc04>, Alex <akfromak@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Oouuuch, is right!
>
> Wow! Hope you heal up quickly and relatively painlessly.
>
> I've come close to rolling my 1170 a couple of times, but so far
> haven't. Maybe just the thought of having that 300 pound monster lying
> on me makes me try to be careful? Then there's the cost of repair parts,
> even if I could get them wholesale because I work in the DME industry.
> Cheap they ain't!
>
> Standard Manufacturer Spare Parts Pricing Formula: Cost X 3 X whatever
> you think your dealers' and users' medicare/medicaid/insurance will pay
> without squawking too much.
>
> For self-payers, we try to cut the prices as far as possible.
>
> On the other side of the issue: My non-profit employer has had to
> institute an Evaluation/Diagnostic fee because fixed costs have risen so
> much.
>
> Soon there might also be a cleaning fee: It's not practical trying to
> work on a wheelchair that's soaked in urine/feces because the user has
> continence problems and doesn't use pads. Surgical Gloves and pressure
> washer time! At least the user gets a clean chair back. Takes time and
> time costs.
Fortunately, it appears that, other than a few scratches here & there,
that the only real damage is to the left armrest/pad. The armrest frame
doesn't appear bent. The plastic base of the armrest broke & the
padding/cover are tore up. As near as I can tell, everything else
appears to look/function ok. I didn't get to the dealer yesterday, just
didn't feel up to it, but I'm going to try today after I take Little
Alex to school.
I am slowly getting better. I was surprised yesterday afternoon. I
received a call from the E.R. doc, checking to see how I was doing &
what I thought about the service I received! I've never experienced
that before, I thought that was pretty cool.
Alex
| |
|
| rose wrote:
> Alex wrote:
>
>
>
> YIKES, Alex!! OUCH is right. :/ hope you continue with speedy mending
> your bod, and then your chair!
>
Yes, slowly but surely, I'm getting better. Each day is a little better
than the last one.
>
>
>
> i'd have probably keeled over from a fear-induced heart attack right
> then and there, LOL. that's so cool that there were so many folks who
> wanted to help! i'd most likely assume they were there to rob me, at
> the very least.
>
Yeah, although I feel pretty lucky. If it had happened in one of the
other alleys that I use, it might have been a different story,
residential, very little traffic. It is making me consider, very
strongly, getting a cell phone. I had considered it in the past, but
this incident has sorta pushed it to the forefront, shall we say?
> oh, just BTW, there are NO sidewalks in my neighborhood at ALL. i
> figure i'll be having enough trouble getting around in broad daylight,
> rolling in the street with the cars (who in my neighborhood, seem to be
> filled with people yelling 'GET OUTA THE ROAD, YA F***ING GIMP!"
> because you're blocking their turn, rather than kind souls who want to
> know if you need help), grass, gravel, broken pavement, potholes....ah
> who am i kidding, if i ever do get the power chair, i'm pretty sure it
> will be only after i really am 'too disabled' for it to make any
> difference.
>
>
>
>
>
> Alex, you're so cute when you rant! ;-> (sorry, kidding!)
>
> yup, i think it IS shameful. my daughter just finished paying off
> emergency room and lab test bills. these were tests needed as the
> result of a criminal action. the state paid for the tests needed for
> their case; the CVF "reimbursed" a couple hundred. that left almost $2K
> for her to pay off all on her own. took her more than a year. if she'd
> had insurance, she'd have been covered, but she wasn't, so she paid.
> and paid, and paid. only one good thing to be found there, i told her
> that when she finally paid off the bills, she'd have the hugest feeling
> of accomplishment....and she tells me, i was absolutely correct. about
> that part, at least.
>
> it isn't the insured who pay for the impoverished; it's the uninsured
> who still dream good credit score dreams that carry the brunt of the
> burden.
>
> dude, you SHOULD go into biz making chair-light get-ups, for real.
> after my dx, i never again worked as a regular employee, tho i got
> enough freelance and IC work to pay the bills. made me think about
> alternate ways to bring in some cash, and i discovered all kinds of
> previously unknown talents for getting a buck out of things i'd always
> done just for fun previously (not THAT, in case any smart alecs were
> thinking so, hee). just a whole bunch of stuff that was legal. :->
>
> i grew up broke, our 'insurance' was staying healthy, and when
> something was bad enough to actually *require* medical attention, we
> took the bus to the community clinic and sat for hours waiting with
> other sick and injured people. there was a glorious time in the middle
> when i was working, making great bread, and insured -- i felt like i
> was joining 'mainstream society' for a while there. these days, it's
> like it was when i was a kid -- you can either afford it, or you do
> without. in case of true emergency, go to the broke people's clinic and
> wait. was talking to one of my sisters recently, she tells me that she
> and her husband are having problems with Tri-Care. my bro-in-law has
> some prescription that costs $1k per month, and they were paying
> something like a $10-15 co-pay. she says they were informed that wasn't
> going ot happen any longer. she said to me, 'well, we don't have the
> money. i hate the idea that Larry will have to do without his meds, but
> what other choice is there?" yup, that's my sister, all right. we're
> in the same leaky boat together, LOL. maybe it's easier when you do
> grow up knowing there WILL -- not might, but WILL -- be things others
> think of as necessities that you're never going to be able to afford. i
> was born broke and i'll die broke -- oh well! doesn't mean i want to
> drag Dennis or god forbid Tam down with me. if getting the "recommended
> treatment" means getting Medicaid and having a lien put on the house
> that Dennis -- not me, him -- paid for, then too bad, so sad. it ain't
> gonna happen.
>
> hope you heal 'toot sweet!' :->
> rose
>
Thanks!
Alex
| |
|
| Rob Duncan wrote:
> Dang Alex. I hope your bumps, bruises, and scrapes heal real soon. It was
> smart visiting the ER.
>
>
> Rob
>
Thanks Rob. Yeah, when I saw my elbow all swollen in the morning, I
kinda figured it might be a good idea to get checked out. I had
thought about it after it happened, but I knew that a Saturday night at
the E.R. would mean hours & hours & hours of sitting there waiting.
Early Sunday morning was awesome!
Alex
> "Alex" <akfromak@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:pVAif.814$to5.265@trnddc04...
>
>
>
>
| |
|
| Peace Dove wrote:
> Oy - Alex --- I wish you speedy recovery -- what a frightening event !
>
> I wish you - all and only - good things ...... Dove
>
Thanks Dove!
Alex
| |
|
| Joyce wrote:
> you poor guy, don't go out in the dark is my first thought, and second did
> you really need to go . anyway you seem to be okay so take care of
> yourself.
>
> Joyce
>
>
Thanks Joyce.
No, I probably didn't *need* to go. I *wanted* to go because it is
something I can do, to help my wife. She has to take care of so much
more now, that I want to help her out as much I can. So if I can run to
the store for her, I will.
I am going to put lights on the chair, for sure. I have looked at it, &
it doesn't seem like it is going to be that difficult. That will solve
the problem of spotting the potholes. Actually, the larger ones aren't
hard to see, & when I went back to look at what might have happened, I
was surprised that it was really a pretty small one. Just big enough
though, apparently.
As far as going out at night, well, with a son in school, Cub Scouts,
etc., its either the power chair or the fold-up portable chair that fits
in the trunk of the car. That one is, shall I say, less than
comfortable. One day, perhaps we will be in position to get a van with
a lift/ramp, but right now its just not in the cards.
Alex
| |
|
| Michael wrote:
> Ouch *indeed! :-(
>
> However, you can still be thankful that you weren't called in to compete
> with this guy...
>
> http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.p...23-102901-1628r
>
> Man pulls truck with his penis
>
> FREMONT, Calif., Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The Grandmaster of Iron Crotch, Tu
> Jin-Sheng, strapped his penis to a rental truck and twice pulled it across a
> Fremont, Calif., parking lot.
>
> The 50-year-old who believes sex organs have great power tied a strip of
> blue fabric around the base of his penis and testicles Tuesday, tugged to
> make sure it was tight, then lashed himself to the vehicle, the Oakland
> (Calif.) Tribune reported Wednesday.
>
> He groaned and grunted and slowly pulled the truck as a documentary film
> director and producer from London got it all on film for their three-part
> series called "Penis Envy."
>
> The footage shot in Fremont will be part of a segment on building the
> perfect penis, the newspaper said.
>
> Jin-Sheng practices a branch of Qigong, which reportedly has 60,000
> followers worldwide.
>
> © Copyright 2005 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved
>
>
Where on earth do they come up with these ideas?!! I can safely say
that in my 42 years, I have never, ever thought "hmm, I can pull that
rope with my hands, or I can tie it to my penis." Although maybe it
does have its advantages. I suppose it would leave your hands free for
a smoke and a cup of coffee.
Alex
| |
| John Husvar 2005-11-29, 10:58 am |
| In article <WRUif.12422$F73.6536@trnddc03>, Alex <akfromak@gmail.com>
wrote:
> I am slowly getting better. I was surprised yesterday afternoon. I
> received a call from the E.R. doc, checking to see how I was doing &
> what I thought about the service I received! I've never experienced
> that before, I thought that was pretty cool.
>
> Alex
Glad to hear you're getting better. That was very nice of the ER doctor.
They don't often have, or maybe take, the time to follow up like that.
Anybody remember when Medicine was considered a calling, similar to the
ministry, and not a business? (How about taking these two chickens in
trade, Doc?)
| |
| Peace Dove 2005-11-29, 10:58 am |
| WOW ! a call from an ER doctor !!!
Alex - that is amazing to me !
I am happy to hear That you are feeling a bit better :-)
I wish you - all and only - good things ...... Dove
| |
| Peace Dove 2005-11-29, 10:58 am |
| OY !!!
This contest is a joke - RIGHT ????
G-d I hope so - this is too demented to even be amazing ! I can not
believe any man alive would do something like this .....
I wish you - all and only - good things ...... Dove
| |
|
| It's good to read that you came through OK, Alex.
CW
| |
|
| :-) There's nothing like a well-lubed truck. :-)
Do you think that the drug companies will use him as an E.D. drug
spokesman?
CW
| |
|
|
abdi wrote:
> Actually the mix of haves and have not makes the delivery of health care
> much more inefficient, essentially right now if you are in those fields, you
> are golden. This is unlike other countries where a doctor does not earn
> several times a teacher. The doctor is incentivized to deliver the most
> expensive care and prevent any competition. When I go to my semi annual
> teeth cleaning, by legislation I have to have it at a dr office, even though
> never has a dr cleaned my teeth.
yo Abdi, if you're getting preventive dental care and teeth-cleaning, i
hate to break it to you, but you ARE one of the "Haves!"
see http://www.newyorker.com/fact/conte...s/050829fa_fact for
some interesting info about the uninsured in America, the "Moral
Hazard" argument as it pertains to health care, and the problems faced
by people with bad teeth.
rose
| |
|
|
CW wrote:
> Do you think that the drug companies will use him as an E.D. drug
> spokesman?
>
> CW
hee hee heeee!! endorsements for amateur 'athletes' -- yup, this dude
should definitely be the "face" of Viagara! ;->
rose
| |
|
| I know, but that's what makes a human, to know how is the other half doing.
In fact most of the charitable institutions are stated by the likes of Gates
and Kennedys.
--
Quaecomque sunt vera ----
"rose" <rosedawn_scott@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1133290258.741319.36360@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>
> abdi wrote:
>
> yo Abdi, if you're getting preventive dental care and teeth-cleaning, i
> hate to break it to you, but you ARE one of the "Haves!"
>
> see http://www.newyorker.com/fact/conte...s/050829fa_fact for
> some interesting info about the uninsured in America, the "Moral
> Hazard" argument as it pertains to health care, and the problems faced
> by people with bad teeth.
>
> rose
>
| |
| GT Tick 2005-11-29, 5:58 pm |
| You think he's something you should see his girlfriend.
---
---
Group: alt.support.mult-sclerosis Date: Tue, Nov 29, 2005, 9:59am
(CST-2) From: chsw@optonline.net (CW)
:-) There's nothing like a well-lubed truck. :-)
Do you think that the drug companies will use him as an E.D. drug
spokesman?
CW
*****Don't Cry Because It's Over...Smile Because It Happened.*****
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| |
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