ENT Update

Yesterday I went back to UAB ... on the schedule, a CT scan and another appointment with ENT.

The verdict?  CT Scan was a hot mess. It's about what Dr. W. expected ... scar tissue and polyps. I'm going to start the Pulmicort flushes and he is going to try and revise some of the scar tissue in the office on March 9th. Not that I'm looking forward to having him dig around in my head for a few hours (it will be numbed with Pentacaine, which is like a super-duper Lidocaine), but it's better than going back to the OR. Anesthesia does not make the lungs happy.

I did not sign up for this.

In other news, I talked to C.Fred about starting Cayston.  She said there is still a study ongoing at UAB that I can possibly participate in.  Meaning that I won't have to wait for the actual release (even though that is only about two weeks away).  Yay!  I am more than willing to try ANYTHING that may keep me away from Club Med.

Still trying to appeal BCBS's denial of being genotyped.  I did find out that my company has no specific exclusions for genotyping, so it is simply a matter of convincing the insurance company that being genotyped is important for all CF patients ... it's value is not just in diagnostic or pre-pregnancy / newborn screening.

But, hey, if all I need to do is tell them that I'm thinking about getting knocked up, then it might be worth it.  Just jokes.

Hospital Stays By The Numbers (2009), Part IV

Hospital Round 4 / September 28, 2009 to October 19, 2009:

This was my most recent hospital visit (until now) and all that I can recall is that it was completely uneventful. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing! I did discover that UAB finally came to terms with their internet services and I could now Facebook or blog as much (or as little) as I wanted.

My goal was to make sure I was healthy for Halloween, even if I did have to miss the Kings of Leon concert. My timing was perfect ~ I was able to dress up, have fun, and party like a rock star on All Hallow's Eve.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Total # of Days Admitted: 21 Days

Total Amount Billed: $104,289.84

Average Cost Per Day: $4966.18

Hospital Stays By The Numbers (2009), Part the III

Hospital Round 3 / July 28, 2009 to August 18, 2009:
Other than a diagnosis of pneumonia, this trip was fairly par for the course. What I hated the most was the fact that Katey and I were due to fly out to San Francisco the next day to go to the NACFA Conference. I did get to make up for my missed vacation by going on a two day trip to Vegas.

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Total # of Days Admitted: 21 Days

Total Amount Billed: $101,227.57

Average Cost Per Day: $4820.36

Hospital Stays By The Numbers (2009), Part II

Hospital Round 2 / May 27 - June 10, 2009:

I was hospitalized from May 27, 2009 to June 10, 2009 for a pretty uneventful hospital visit. I was able to be discharged in 14 days, which was FAN-F'N-TASTIC, since I honestly can't remember the last time I've done less than 21 days. I guess this visit could be packaged up with a pretty bow and called a "tune-up."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Total # of Days Admitted: 14 Days

Total Amount Billed: $77,564.02

Average Cost Per Day: $5540.29

Again, my only out of pocket expense for my hospital stay was $250.

Hospital Stays: By The Numbers (2009), Part I

Hospital Round 1 / February 11 - March 13, 2009:

I was hospitalized from February 11, 2009 through March 13, 2009, to be treated for a Cystic Fibrosis exacerbation. During this time, I had major sinus surgery which kept me under lock and key the entire time.

Welcome to "Club Med":

Unfortunately, our accommodations aren't quite so nice:

I was trying to come up with some intelligent reason for writing this post, but I couldn't. I am bored, and looking for ways to pass the time. I decided to figure out how much work I missed last year and also how many day I spent in the hospital. Then I decided to compare the costs of each visit.

Below is a partial list of the medicines and treatments I receive when I am in "Club Med Dread."

1. Private Room (per day) - $1210.00
   
2. Oxygen Use (per day) - $320.00
3. Ultrase MT20 (100 capsules) - $484.40
4. Meropenem Injection (2 Gm Vial) - $247.50
5. Vancomycin Injection (1000 grams) - $17.44
   
6. Ceftazidime Injection (2 gram Vial) - $73.22 / per dose
7. Pulmozyme - $221.22 per dose
8. Albuterol - $14.45 per dose
9. Colistimethate Injection (75 mg) - $72.27 / per dose
10. Budesonide (Pulmicort)
    
11. Neb Bronchdil TX SubSeq - $95.00 / per nebulizer
    
    • At UAB, this means your Respiratory Therapist sticks his head in your room, and leaves your evening aerosol / nebulized meds.
12. Chest PT CF Pateient Subsequent - $144.00 / per session (usually TID)
13. Zolpidem Tablet (Ambien) / $8.72 each
14. Tramadol Tablet 50 mg / $7.26 each
    
15. Benzonatate Perles (100 mg) / $30.00 each
    
16. Aquadeks Soft Gel Tabs (Vitamins) - $15.44 / per dose
17. Nexium (2x/day) - $14.36 /per pill
18. Montelukast Tab 10MG (Singulair) - $25.38 / per pill
19. Ferrous SO4 Tab 300 MG (Iron) - $14.11 / per pill
20. Guaifenesin LA Tablet 600 mg - $8.75 / per pill
21. Azithromycin Tablet 250mg (x2) = $36.40
    
22. Acetaminophen Tablet 325 mg - $0.08 / per pill Yes, folks, that is OTC Tylenol

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Total # of Days Admitted: 30 Days

Total Amount Billed: $314,611.38

Average Cost per Day: $10,487.05

My out of pocket expense is $250 for each visit, but I work hard to keep my benefits with BBVA Compass and our heath insurance provider, Blue Cross / Blue Shield.