View Full Version : Help Please... Colorado Springs, Doctors...
I have no "family practioner" or other Doctor... I don't remember the last time I've been to a doctor outside of my car wreck a decade ago. Also, I have no health insurance, it's just too damn expensive with current debt load.
Anyways, I need to get some checkup work done ASAP. I've tried calling several doctors to ask questions but once they find out I have no insurance, they hang up. I would think that cash would rule but I guess not.
I need a doctor in Colorado Springs that will give me a price list, time frame, and be able to schedule an appoinment for:
- general physical
- general blood lab
- diabetes check
- thyroid check
I've been lightheaded for several months. Fainted twice. Can't seem to get enough to drink, ever. Consistent headaches no matter how many pills I take. Exhausted day after day. Chest pains. Sleep too much. Overweight, etc... all symptoms of diabetes among other things.
I fainted in the bathtub this morning during a hot shower and my wife freaked out... I need to get this checked out. Any help would be appreciated cause I'm having no luck.
I found one place called "Quest Diagnostics" that has most everything things but it looks like I need a doctor to recommend me to them. If you can find a place that is open on Saturdays all the more better... can't really afford to take a day off of work.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks...
ER.. That's what I had to do with my foot..They will work out repayment with you..
ER?.... will they do lab work and stuff though?
HBARleatherneck
05-12-2010, 12:59
go to the ER, tell them you are jesus guttierez-romerez. they will take care of you. they will just send the bill to john q public.
seriously though. Did you serve in the military? if you did the VA will take care of you.
that first part is not a shot at you. or anyone here. just the current situation nationally came to mind.
How about an Urgent Care clinic?
Did you serve in the military?
No sir, car wreck and resulting weight made that not a viable option... Though I have won several auditions including Pershings Own in DC... but could never sign the dotted line.
How about an Urgent Care clinic?
That is my current thought, but I hear of people getting raped by them... I'm getting raped enough for the next 20 years or so due to debts that I get to eat PB&J and mac n cheese and don't get a date night with my wife until at least January 1, 2018! HAHA. I'd prefer to stave off any more rapings if I could.... lol.
Hope everything turns out alright for you man.
go to the ER, tell them you are jesus guttierez-romerez. they will take care of you. they will just send the bill to john q public.
Gee, they just sent the bill to me, Maybe I did it wrong..
don't tell them you don't have insurance, ask if they give a discount for cash paid at time of service.
(Wife's a doctor)
don't tell them you don't have insurance, ask if they give a discount for cash paid at time of service.
(Wife's a doctor)
Second person I've heard say that. Will do, thanks.
Unless it's $15,000 like my foot was.. They did knock it down to $12,000..
5 more payments and the foot is mine again..
Of course $12,000 for 44 hours, I need to find a gig like that..
[LOL]
$15K for a broken foot?! Jesus!
Forget it, let me die.
$15K for a broken foot?! Jesus!
Forget it, let me die.
Lolololololo
In all seriousness I hope you get it taken care of man. I'm thinking an urgent care clinic the next time you feel faint or even pass out.
$15K for a broken foot?! Jesus!
Forget it, let me die.
Wasn't broken.. Cellucitus...[Tooth]
Wasn't broken.. Cellucitus...[Tooth]
Did you mean Cellulitis
As in this? http://www.medicinenet.com/cellulitis/article.htm
If so that's is some rough stuff man. Glad you're well now.
Never said I could spell it..[Tooth]..
Sad part is, it never really hurt until it was "cured"..
ETA;, Guess I had the Bactrial version.. Can't ever remember injuring it in anyway..Plus the fact I never had a temp and I don't have diabetes..
Had 'em stumped for awhile..
Never said I could spell it..[Tooth]..
Sad part is, it never really hurt until it was "cured"..
I wasn't trying to be an ass I was just curious if I looked up the right stuff. LOL
No problem,, If you can't tell, I never won the spelling bee.. [Tooth]
In all seriousness I hope you get it taken care of man.
In all seriousness... if it costs $15K, let me die. That's outrageous....
College was a complete waste.... lol.
Could be more,, could be less.. Heck most of it was "Room rental." For what I paid for the room, Could been put up in a 5 star hotel on the French Rivera.
HBARleatherneck
05-12-2010, 14:57
yah, i have never heard too many good things about dead.
And BB:
Get in, figure out how to pay for it later. What happens if it is something serious? I bet your family would be willing to pay the 15k after the fact if it was [Luck] so keep that in mind. It sucks, but you can't put a price on healthy. You can put a price on dead though...
Not to be a jerk or suicidal or anything, but dying is cheaper. My family wouldn't be able to afford $15K if their lives depended on it... well, maybe my genius brother... if I knew how to get in touch with him.
Anyways, I'm off for the rest of the day. Need to get with the wife and figure things out. Ciao.
Yeah, wish I had mine checked out earlier.. But it was acting like it was clearing up. Then a couple of days later it got worse..
Not to be a jerk or suicidal or anything, but dying is cheaper. My family wouldn't be able to afford $15K if their lives depended on it... well, maybe my genius brother... if I knew how to get in touch with him.
Anyways, I'm off for the rest of the day. Need to get with the wife and figure things out. Ciao.
I know its a tough decision and I understand your position (I wouldn't be able to afford $15k in a million years, either) but you've gotta take care of yourself. I guarantee it will cost significantly less just to go to a private practice for a checkup so don't let the $15k scare you. Untreated diabetes can cause you to lose limbs...
seriously though. Did you serve in the military? if you did the VA will take care of you.
I hate to be a pain, but the VA only takes care of you if you have a documented service connected disability, and the problems you are currently having are related to your service connected disability.
I hate to be a pain, but the VA only takes care of you if you have a service connected disability, and the problems you are currently having are related to your service connected disability.
I have actually heard both.. More inclined to go with this one though..
Arz said his wife's a doc, maybe worth checking that out further? Elizabeth ain't too far from the Springs.
Man, I feel for folks with no insurance. I've been covered very well for so many years I have no clue what it's like to not have any. Scares the shit outta me to think about NOT having any.
HBARleatherneck
05-12-2010, 15:32
the VA will see you and take care of you, as long as you were honorably discharged. They dont care when. You do not need to be medically discharged. This is what they do. If you are rich, it will be fee based. But, the fee is like a few bucks. And I mean, you have to make alot of money. I will find the documentation and post it. My discharges (2 enlistments) both were honorable. no medical reasons listed whatsoever. Hell, I never went to BAS, medical whatever. I needed help after I got out, and they took care of me. And they will any honorably discharged veteran (US VET)
Edit.
I have know many vets who had been out for 20 years and gotten seen. I just checked the VA website and they are tightening restrictions, but I think most people will qualify. for the sliding scale plan anyway.
Chapter 1 VA Health Care Benefits
VA operates the nation’s largest integrated health care system with more than 1,400 sites of care, including hospitals, community clinics, community living centers, domiciliary, readjustment counseling centers, and various other facilities. For additional information on VA health care, visit: www.va.gov/health (http://www.va.gov/health).
Basic Eligibility
A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable may qualify for VA health care benefits. Reservists and National Guard members may also qualify for VA health care benefits if they were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a Federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty.
Minimum Duty Requirements: Veterans who enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980, or who entered active duty after Oct. 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible. This minimum duty requirement may not apply to veterans discharged for hardship, early out or a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
Enrollment
Well according to the little test, I did not qualify..
HBARleatherneck
05-12-2010, 18:03
you were disqualified because question 2 right?
when I go to the VA, they have different levels of Veterans in thier care.
example: something like this
Level 1: 100% disabled service connected
level 2: 60-70% disabled service connected
level 3: 0-50% disable service connected
level 4: veteran no service connected disability.
if you are level 3 or 4.
you may pay something, you may wait for non emergency care.
Marlin, if you, or any of you are Veterans, and cant afford health care I urge you to fill out the VA forms and try to get care. Vets did thier part for the freedom of all Americans.
Well, off that, I would be a level 4. Hell, I've been out longer than some of these kids have been alive.[Abused]
go to a doctor. now. you can call them up and do as others said, ask if there is any discount for cash up front. even if not, it doesn't matter. itll cost, but as previously stated the big time costs are due to hospital ROOMS. if you go and see a general doc, they can often do simple tests, although you won't get the results for a few days likely. im not sure if they can check for diabetes or not, probably depends on the clinic. but simply talking to the doc in the office will be a big help, telling him your symptoms and such. to me, it does sound like diabetes, especially with the thirst and fainting. diabetes can cause a lot of other more serious problems, and really is often fairly cheap to treat, most prescription meds are generic. i am in my third year of pharmacy school and we haven't covered diabetes in depth yet but from what i know i wouldn't waste time seeing a doc or letting cost scare you away. basic labs and a visit will probably run you several hundred bucks, but assuming you aren't in a life threatening situation it shouldn't be much more
I more or less had a "check up" while I was in there.. I was in perfect health, well, except my foot was about 3X bigger than normal..
Arz said his wife's a doc, maybe worth checking that out further? Elizabeth ain't too far from the Springs.
she's not the kind of doc that will/can do that kind of stuff. She teaches now, no patients.
Don't go to the ER.
they will check you out, and if you're not about to die they will kick you to the curb. (and bill you a shitton)
if you are about to die, they will admit you, treat you until you're not about to die, then kick you to the curb (and bill you even more)
she's not the kind of doc that will/can do that kind of stuff. She teaches now, no patients.
Well, it was a thought.
ChunkyMonkey
05-12-2010, 23:33
+1 on ER.. make sure its a private hospital. And make sure it is an 'emergency.' They don't want to be be liable if you got turned down and God forbid dies otw to the next hospital. Work out the payments later! Try not to give up your ssn and address early in the check up... jose and pedro dont have to, you surely dont.
BTW.. i thought county health wont turn you down.. they'll bill medicaid if your income is below certain level.
Get either health insurance or life insurance!!!!!!
theGinsue
05-13-2010, 11:20
Had 'em stumped for awhile..
Just so long as they didn't end up giving YOU the stump!
[Help]
Fentonite
05-15-2010, 10:38
Email sent
Update:
Went to the Penrose Urgent Care Clinic. They ran some blood tests for me. Then they made me get naked and jump into a robe and do some workout stuff. My little half hour appointment turned into a 3 hour ordeal...
Bottom line: I'll live... with a lot of work to do.
I am NOT diabetic though if I don't change some things, I may become that way. I do have super high blood pressure and cholestrol that I must get on meds for as quickly as I can and change some lifestyle stuff. Apparently I'm also lactose intolerant... go figure, I love cheese/ice cream/etc. But hey, at least I'm not allergic to anything nor have cancer nor have any STD's! HAHA.
Fainting and chest pains are due to apparently stress and fatigue without proper "recovery" time... Though I don't really "feel" stressed except about $$$$... but I do work myself fairly hard.
So... hopefully I will catch some of y'all on the range sometime, lol. Have a good day thanks for the "get wells, etc".
They did give me a recommendation for a private care primary physcian who will work with me though I don't have insurance, etc.
So, I hopefully won't have to sell my trumpets or firearms but the bill will take a few months to pay off, and they'll work with me on that so it was overall a good experience. Last time I was at a doctor was about two decades ago for my car wreck.
But, I'm alive, right?!
See y'all later. I need to go "rest" so I can surprise my wife when she gets off work with teh semi-good news. Yes, she has to work Saturdays, I know, it sucks. Out.
[Beer]
ChunkyMonkey
05-15-2010, 17:39
Good to hear you are ok. RANGE time definitely help my stress level ALOT!
StagLefty
05-15-2010, 20:00
Good news BigBear but I didn't need the naked/robe visual [ROFL1] Welcome to my world been on BP & cholestrol meds for years and no insurance as of March. I'm glad you followed up though-your health is more important than bills. Make sure the Doc give you prescriptions for generic. 3 month supplies are cheap at Wally World.
ChadAmberg
05-16-2010, 08:52
Update:
I am NOT diabetic though if I don't change some things, I may become that way. I do have super high blood pressure and cholestrol that I must get on meds for as quickly as I can and change some lifestyle stuff. Apparently I'm also lactose intolerant... go figure, I love cheese/ice cream/etc. But hey, at least I'm not allergic to anything nor have cancer nor have any STD's! HAHA.
So the good news is this is mostly things you can do yourself, that's awesome. When you do see the primary care doc, talk about non-prescription options (but not holistic or voodoo meds).
For example, my bloodwork has always been great except for minor side effects of when my liver turned off years ago, but I had low "good" cholesterol. Lots of commercials on TV for nice expensive meds about it, but my doc just said take slow release niacin at night. It's slower, but unless it is an emergency, it'll do the trick. Sure enough, last week my last round of blood work said everything was perfect.
Oh and several months ago I was reading a study that suggested that after fasting overnight, what you eat first thing in the morning controls what type of metabolism you body chooses for that day. Eat toast and cereal, and you'll need carbs all day long. Bacon and eggs tells your body to burn fat because that's what your body expects to burn. The idea being taht your cavemen ancestors didn't have a buffet, if they ate mammoth in the morning, they'd probably be eating it all day. Doing that in the morning for the last few months, I've lost 20lbs without changing anything else really.
ChunkyMonkey
05-16-2010, 14:10
Oh and several months ago I was reading a study that suggested that after fasting overnight, what you eat first thing in the morning controls what type of metabolism you body chooses for that day. Eat toast and cereal, and you'll need carbs all day long. Bacon and eggs tells your body to burn fat because that's what your body expects to burn. The idea being taht your cavemen ancestors didn't have a buffet, if they ate mammoth in the morning, they'd probably be eating it all day. Doing that in the morning for the last few months, I've lost 20lbs without changing anything else really.
wow.. ! You dont want to know what I eat out every morning!
Kidding! Good advice, I need to loose 40 lbs!!
theGinsue
05-16-2010, 23:31
Bear/Tim,
I'm quite pleased to hear that you have nothing that is immediately life threatening and you should get to be with us for some time to come.
Welcome to my world been on BP & cholestrol meds for years and no insurance as of March. I'm glad you followed up though-your health is more important than bills. Make sure the Doc give you prescriptions for generic. 3 month supplies are cheap at Wally World.
Agreed. Wal*Mart is a fantastic place to get meds - especially the generics when you can get them. Just remember to read the instructions that go with the meds. Most importantly, DO NOT eat/drink anything with grapefruit in it while on cholestrol meds...bad juju. I've been on both BP & cholestrol for years too. It seems that I'm one of those who has high cholestrol thanks to genrtics.
I didn't realize that my BP was as bad as it was a few years back when I forgot my meds over the weekend (didn't follow my weekday routine). By Sunday afternoon I had a headache. By the evening the headache was severe enough that I realized what was causing it & took my meds. I ended up having to go to the ER (drove myself - dumb!). Lost sight out of my left eye on the drive. the good news was that they didn't have me sitting around for hours waiting for care once they took my vitals. I was on a gurney with an IV and a doctor at my side within 5 minutes. Apparently I was minutes away from having a stroke.
Moral of the story: You have just one body and one life. If you don't take care of yourself, get regular checkups, etc. you won't be around for long. I'm not afraid to die. but I don't want to leave my wife and kids behind .
Oh and several months ago I was reading a study that suggested that after fasting overnight, what you eat first thing in the morning controls what type of metabolism you body chooses for that day. Eat toast and cereal, and you'll need carbs all day long. Bacon and eggs tells your body to burn fat because that's what your body expects to burn. Doing that in the morning for the last few months, I've lost 20lbs without changing anything else really.
I've never heard of that before. I'll have to give it a shot.
wow.. ! You dont want to know what I [I]eat out every morning!
Er, hmmm. Um, really dude?
Troublco
05-17-2010, 08:43
Tim,
Glad to hear you got it figured out. I have the same issues; I know all about the dizzy/lightheaded/fainting stuff. It's no fun. I'm on meds for the BP and the Cholesterol myself, although my BP is from my sleep apnea. I have to watch mine carefully, as my BP isn't just high, it varies. But the bottom line is you got a handle on it and you're going to be OK, and I'm glad to hear it. High blood pressure will really mess you up if you don't take care of it, same with the cholesterol.
Also, what Ginsue said!
Seriously, I'm really glad you got this taken care of.
I've heard of that breakfast thing... but I don't eat breakfast. I know, I know: "It's the most important meal of the day" and all that. I've tried to eat breakfast before, but even as a kid I could not keep it down. I would be throwing everything up not 20 minutes after I was done eating. My first meal of the day is lunch, then a late dinner. For breakfast I might have a single glass of OJ or maybe a bannanna/apple.. if I feel ok. But I physically can't sit down and eat grits, eggs, sausage, ceral, etc, yuck....
And before y'all start yelling, no it's not a sign of Chrons disease or anything. I got a FULL checkup and the doc said I was as good as a horse except the BP and Cholestrol.
Again, thanks for y'all's concern. I haven't met half of you, but the good sentiments mean a lot to me and speaks volumns about the kind of people whom so freely and glady protect our nation.
..although my BP is from my sleep apnea....
Yeah, they mentioned I might have sleep apnea or something called "OSA" since I mentioned not sleeping through the whole night (musician=night owl) <-- but they don't understand that, lol. I also get up to use the restroom quite a bit during the night but that's due to all teh drinking I do. Tea and Water, not alcohol you idjuts, lol. But that testing will have to wait until I get this visit and blood work/lab paid off.
theGinsue
05-17-2010, 10:35
I also get up to use the restroom quite a bit during the night but that's due to all teh drinking I do. Tea and Water, not alcohol you idjuts, lol. But that testing will have to wait until I get this visit and blood work/lab paid off.
Solution: Depends
http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Politics/Images/john-mccain-depends.jpg
Solution: Depends
http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Politics/Images/john-mccain-depends.jpg
I'm not that old...
Old lady asking her friends for advice: "So Marge, what do you wear on a date at this age?"
Friend: "Depends."
Good to hear man! I was diagnosed with Hypertension or HBP About five years ago. Even though it is serious with a few lifestyle changes you will be tip top in no time. Eliminating excessive sodium intake, regular workouts and not letting life get to you. Even MONEY PROBLEMS. And my BP never rises over 120/80 unless im working out or have a virus/cold etc.
[Beer]
On a lighter note I'll continue with the adult diaper banter.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5742933797940084418#
BlasterBob
05-17-2010, 16:43
I strongly recommend that all you guys get a PSA test when you get your blood tests. I did not watch my PSA numbers and now I have Prostate Cancer. Earlier tests may have caught it earlier before it became full blown cancer....So do yourselves and your family a huge favor and get monitored on a REGULAR basis. Blood tests with PSA do not cost that much. The 9News Health Fair is an inexpensive way to get blood tests.
Also, I received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army back in 1958 (52 years ago) and even with no service related injury, I do use the VA Medical facilities which saves a lot of dough.
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