- Joined
- Oct 25, 2000
- Messages
- 1,350
My GF recently noticed that she had developed a lump around her left hipbone so so went to the health dept. to get it checked out. The lady she went to determined it wasn't a female related health problem and advised her to see another doctor. The other doctor examines the lump but can't determine what it is, and refers her to go see a local surgeon that has more experience in lumps. Without running any tests, the surgeon advises that the lump needed to be surgically removed to determine what it was.
My GF decides to follow this advice and schedules a surgery date. On the morning of this date, I felt the lump before we went to the hospital. We spent a grand total of maye 2.5 hours at the hospital, an hour of that spent in the waiting room, at preop, and post op. It was an outpatient proceedure.
After performing the surgery, the surgeon approaches me and informs me that the surgery went well, but that she couldn't find any lump to remove, but did remove a little bit of fat that "could have possibly" been the lump. I was a bit astounded and started asking how it was possible that the lump wasn't there, and the surgeon tries to blame hormonal changes in the ovaries.
As soon as the swelling from surgery subsided, it was apparent the lump was still there, in the exact place it had been.
We receive a bill from the surgeon for around $200, but then we get the news from my GF's insurance company. The hospital charged OVER $11,000 for this OR visit. Thats right, Eleven THOUSAND dollars. The insurance covered their end, but it still left my GF with $1700 to pay out of pocket. How can it be possible that a very simple, outpatient proceedure taking less than an hour to perform, can cost $11,000?
We just moved into out Apartment and were struggling to make ends meet as it stands. The hospital is allowing 6 months to pay the $1700, which leaves her paying $300 a month. She doesn't want her credit ruined by missing payments, but she really can't afford this and I can't afford to help her.
Seeing as how the surgeon managed to miss a superball sized lump, this surgery accomplished nothing but draining money, taking time from work, and leaving a 3" scar on my GF's abdomen. All this while not doing what it was supposed to have.
She saw another OBGYN today and was told once again that it had nothing to do with the femal repro. system and it was DEFINATELY not her ovaries or anything hormonal. An ultrasound performed a few weeks after the surgery shows that there is a lump under the surface but that its of unknown origin.
We can't afford to hire a lawyer, and we really don't want to upset the medical personel in this town as long as she still has this lump. At the same time, we don't feel such excessive fees for the surgery were justified, nor can we understand how the head surgeon at this hospital could have not seen this lump once she began the proceedure.
Our main concern is my GF's health and getting rid of this lump, but the money is also a concern since if we have to pay such a rediculous amount, we won't be able to afford to live in our Apt. anymore.
My GF decides to follow this advice and schedules a surgery date. On the morning of this date, I felt the lump before we went to the hospital. We spent a grand total of maye 2.5 hours at the hospital, an hour of that spent in the waiting room, at preop, and post op. It was an outpatient proceedure.
After performing the surgery, the surgeon approaches me and informs me that the surgery went well, but that she couldn't find any lump to remove, but did remove a little bit of fat that "could have possibly" been the lump. I was a bit astounded and started asking how it was possible that the lump wasn't there, and the surgeon tries to blame hormonal changes in the ovaries.
As soon as the swelling from surgery subsided, it was apparent the lump was still there, in the exact place it had been.
We receive a bill from the surgeon for around $200, but then we get the news from my GF's insurance company. The hospital charged OVER $11,000 for this OR visit. Thats right, Eleven THOUSAND dollars. The insurance covered their end, but it still left my GF with $1700 to pay out of pocket. How can it be possible that a very simple, outpatient proceedure taking less than an hour to perform, can cost $11,000?
We just moved into out Apartment and were struggling to make ends meet as it stands. The hospital is allowing 6 months to pay the $1700, which leaves her paying $300 a month. She doesn't want her credit ruined by missing payments, but she really can't afford this and I can't afford to help her.
Seeing as how the surgeon managed to miss a superball sized lump, this surgery accomplished nothing but draining money, taking time from work, and leaving a 3" scar on my GF's abdomen. All this while not doing what it was supposed to have.
She saw another OBGYN today and was told once again that it had nothing to do with the femal repro. system and it was DEFINATELY not her ovaries or anything hormonal. An ultrasound performed a few weeks after the surgery shows that there is a lump under the surface but that its of unknown origin.
We can't afford to hire a lawyer, and we really don't want to upset the medical personel in this town as long as she still has this lump. At the same time, we don't feel such excessive fees for the surgery were justified, nor can we understand how the head surgeon at this hospital could have not seen this lump once she began the proceedure.
Our main concern is my GF's health and getting rid of this lump, but the money is also a concern since if we have to pay such a rediculous amount, we won't be able to afford to live in our Apt. anymore.
