Just to show you how freakin' stupid I am: I bid on and won the ADJUSTABLE Carey pictured here.
I had never seen or heard of one before, and I've been a Carey smoker since 1968 or thereabouts. The adjustment lever controls the air flow through the three slots above and below the "Magic Inch." That's what makes a Carey pipe unique and why ten out of my thirteen pipes are EA Carey's.
Of course, you can accomplish this by putting your index finger and thumb over the six slots. Why on earth anyone would pay ($9.95 in this case) for an adjustable Carey is (now) beyond me.
@motie2 When the doctors become conflicted as to your treatment then the final decision rests with you. The past three months I've been having a hate/hate relationship with my doctors. No more love/hate relationship ... it's been pretty much downhill.
"Physician heal thyself".....we have a very frustrating and somewhat confusing issue in southern New Jersey. Over the past several years we have had the local hospital form a health group buying up so many practices of all kinds under the new (what I call) "corporate medical group". Almost all of the doctors to whom my wife and I have used over many years are now "employees" of this group. Then to make matters worse, a huge Pennsylvania group came in and absorbed that group. The difference in treatment is palpable. The attitudes of the service providers is definitely different. Records are incorrect, billing is very hard to understand, and it is now very difficult to find an independent healthcare provider. This group has even bought out most of the Xray facilities, rehab facilities, they have their own labs (probably because the existing labs are national or at least regional and they won't sell).
Where the providers previously were amicable and over time became friends, now they seem to be under the gun in terms of time pent with the patient. I am fearful of the record keeping, eveytime we go the prescriptions that we take are very seldom correct in the computer database, which I think is frightening.
We have been looking for an independent general practitioner to whom, after some vetting process, we could change to, however with "admitting permissions" to another hospital.
Anytime something serious pops up, we tend to go independent sometimes to Philadelphia where at least it seems they have their "corporate philosophy" bugs all worked out.
This is apparently the way of the future healthcare system.
@pwkarch When I first started seeing my Family Doctor about 20 years ago, he was affiliated with one of the local hospitals. I had back surgery and it was discovered I had high blood sugar so they assigned me to him (or vice versa). About 10 years ago he got tired of arguing with the hospital and stopped working for them. I've noticed the time spent in the waiting room for doctor appointments has decreased since then.
That situation is probably the natural progression of that systemic operation. When the doctor leaves after a period of time, probably most of his former patients from his former private practice who followed him into the "corporate world" will just stay with the "corporate world". So they get a number of new patients no matter what the case. I would bet money there is a "business model" designed by someone that maps this out in detail. Then the "returned" practitioner has to again assemble a new "patient base" on which to build his new business (and pay his/ her astronomical education loans and buy new equipment). Sad that all of our traditional services, especially medical, have turned into a money pit. If this is not a monopoly, or at least heading that way in populous areas, where the money is just there to be gotten. Yes, I tend to be a cynic as I get older and rely more on medical care.
Another aspect is payment and insurances. I can't say how many times I get a notice that things have been paid by the carrier, and then receive an invoice for something that the provider has been paid. Then the provider requests me to prove that. The fact is the "Notice of Benefits' concurrently goes to the provider and patient at the same time. I would hope their not having their copy is a clerical SNAFU, and not some nefarious action on their part. My wife always comments on how folks, particularly older folks, do not catch these double billings.
We have started going to a ‘clinic’, staffed by CNP’s. I think the term is...they are overseen by a doctor in another town..It is one of three clinics owned by the same small group, NO nation thing, and they have rights at the local small town hospital which happens to be right across the street.. I have been going for over a year and half, the Practioner spends over 40 minutes with me...and my health has never been better. Wife went for the first time yesterday,,,came out eyes agog,,,,,,and happy, she has never had a ‘doctor pay that much attention to her ever!! Ordered lots of tests,,, wants to know everything,,,the same ‘ppractioner.’ For both of us,, and just wow.
I don’t care who most of the patients are...all of them don’t have insurance, etc....to get health care of this quality is wonderful
It took a month and three weeks, and fourteen phone calls lasting 30 minutes to a hour, in order to get Medicare Supplement Plan F after Medicare Advantage dumped me suddenly after five years.
My plan F costs over $200.00 more per month than her Plan F, which she got less than two weeks after applying.
Thank you sir. Went to my urologist this morning. Had a healing setback, but told the doc I was not going to let him operate a third time no matter what.
Looking into switching urologists to someone who isn't as cut happy.
You are the boss, only you can make that decision along with counsel from SWMBO. Sometimes I think we are all too quick to take a doctors advice and run with it. You and you alone are the Captain of your ship.
Doctors are too very quick to want to cut you open. If you are making any progress that should be a good sign. I know this has been a very long and slow road for you, but do not give, up you are better than you were just months ago.
I continue to have you in my thoughts and my prayers as do many of our friends here on TPL, a pretty amazing bunch of folks for sure. Bask in the knowledge that all will be fine, you are just being tested.
I totally support your approach @motie2. I think we are oftentimes too willing to accept a doctor's advise as gospel. You have to decide for yourself. Seeking another opinion given the circumstances only makes sense. Continued positive thoughts and prayers your way.
The wound is not healing; that's the problem. It's been a month. Trying to avoid another surgery, which would require another foley, which could start the whole circus over again. Thanks for asking, @PappyJoe
@motie2 - Sorry to hear that. I was hoping it was just the incisions that weren't healing because they didn't stitch them up properly. I will offer up more prayers for you.
Thanks @PappyJoe The support I get from you and the rest of our members is deeply appreciated.
Removing the suprapubic catheter left me with holes in my belly AND bladder. Neither got stitched. "It'll close by itself," my idiot of a urologist assured me. This is the same guy that botched my first surgery (blue light laser).
@motie2 - I guess he subscribes to the Mayan and Aztec Indians belief about brain surgery "Let's just drill a hold in the skull, it will close on its own."
About five years ago one of my buddies was working on a (12 foot?) sickle mower on a large (not gigantic) Oliver farm tractor. It was not running, the sickle bar was down and the hydraulic 3-point mount was supported on some boards. He was working in front of the sickle bar when the boards shifted (probably from the hydraulics leaking down a bit) along with them, the sickle bar. He was out near the end where the bar whipped forward like "crack-the-whip", plunging one of the cast iron guards/teeth into his left bicep. Those guards are kinda pointy in an industrial kind of way...it punched through to the bone leaving about a one inch hole or bigger. Pretty much hit muscle and bone. Well, the doctor did not sew that wound closed and also said it would heal on its' own. Well it did. I guess they leave a wound like that open to let the nastiness drain and just keep it bandaged/covered. Who knew? He was around 50 years old when it happened, he is doing fine.
Without getting overly graphic, the problem is the urine follows the path of least resistance and comes out the hole in a stream. That prevents healing.... I assume.
Ordered a bottle of pipe cleaner from EA Carey. They sent this little 16 page booklet. You probably already know about it, but in case, I thought I'd make you aware...
Comments
Just to show you how freakin' stupid I am: I bid on and won the ADJUSTABLE Carey pictured here.
I had never seen or heard of one before, and I've been a Carey smoker since 1968 or thereabouts. The adjustment lever controls the air flow through the three slots above and below the "Magic Inch." That's what makes a Carey pipe unique and why ten out of my thirteen pipes are EA Carey's.
Of course, you can accomplish this by putting your index finger and thumb over the six slots. Why on earth anyone would pay ($9.95 in this case) for an adjustable Carey is (now) beyond me.
I'm an idiot.
I'm definitely thinking of switching urologists.
Thank you!
Where the providers previously were amicable and over time became friends, now they seem to be under the gun in terms of time pent with the patient. I am fearful of the record keeping, eveytime we go the prescriptions that we take are very seldom correct in the computer database, which I think is frightening.
We have been looking for an independent general practitioner to whom, after some vetting process, we could change to, however with "admitting permissions" to another hospital.
Anytime something serious pops up, we tend to go independent sometimes to Philadelphia where at least it seems they have their "corporate philosophy" bugs all worked out.
This is apparently the way of the future healthcare system.
That situation is probably the natural progression of that systemic operation. When the doctor leaves after a period of time, probably most of his former patients from his former private practice who followed him into the "corporate world" will just stay with the "corporate world". So they get a number of new patients no matter what the case. I would bet money there is a "business model" designed by someone that maps this out in detail. Then the "returned" practitioner has to again assemble a new "patient base" on which to build his new business (and pay his/ her astronomical education loans and buy new equipment). Sad that all of our traditional services, especially medical, have turned into a money pit. If this is not a monopoly, or at least heading that way in populous areas, where the money is just there to be gotten. Yes, I tend to be a cynic as I get older and rely more on medical care.
Another aspect is payment and insurances. I can't say how many times I get a notice that things have been paid by the carrier, and then receive an invoice for something that the provider has been paid. Then the provider requests me to prove that. The fact is the "Notice of Benefits' concurrently goes to the provider and patient at the same time. I would hope their not having their copy is a clerical SNAFU, and not some nefarious action on their part. My wife always comments on how folks, particularly older folks, do not catch these double billings.
We have started going to a ‘clinic’, staffed by CNP’s. I think the term is...they are overseen by a doctor in another town..It is one of three clinics owned by the same small group, NO nation thing, and they have rights at the local small town hospital which happens to be right across the street..
I have been going for over a year and half, the Practioner spends over 40 minutes with me...and my health has never been better.
Wife went for the first time yesterday,,,came out eyes agog,,,,,,and happy, she has never had a ‘doctor pay that much attention to her ever!! Ordered lots of tests,,, wants to know everything,,,the same ‘ppractioner.’ For both of us,, and just wow.
I don’t care who most of the patients are...all of them don’t have insurance, etc....to get health care of this quality is wonderful
My plan F costs over $200.00 more per month than her Plan F, which she got less than two weeks after applying.
I see we both just had our 2nd “ThisPipeLife” anniversaries. Happy anniversary 😁🎂🎉👏
And to you, Good Sir!
Thank you sir. Went to my urologist this morning. Had a healing setback, but told the doc I was not going to let him operate a third time no matter what.
Looking into switching urologists to someone who isn't as cut happy.
You are the boss, only you can make that decision along with counsel from SWMBO. Sometimes I think we are all too quick to take a doctors advice and run with it. You and you alone are the Captain of your ship.
Doctors are too very quick to want to cut you open. If you are making any progress that should be a good sign. I know this has been a very long and slow road for you, but do not give, up you are better than you were just months ago.
I continue to have you in my thoughts and my prayers as do many of our friends here on TPL, a pretty amazing bunch of folks for sure. Bask in the knowledge that all will be fine, you are just being tested.
Gentlemen: Thank you for your kind support....
Also yesterday, my cardiologist changed my main HBP medication to one without a diuretic (namely, HCTZ)
Freedom! Now I only micturate every hour instead of every half hour.
Removing the suprapubic catheter left me with holes in my belly AND bladder. Neither got stitched. "It'll close by itself," my idiot of a urologist assured me. This is the same guy that botched my first surgery (blue light laser).
Without getting overly graphic, the problem is the urine follows the path of least resistance and comes out the hole in a stream. That prevents healing.... I assume.
Thank you for your kind words and thoughts......
-- Sincere thanks. Really!