Couch 227 - The Safe Couch

Artley that's horrible, I hope you have some help lined up. Sending good wishes for a full recovery.

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Artley, I'm sorry you and your H are going through this. I wish you the best and I hope that the help you do have is really helpful. HUGS Kit

It's challenging. The last months have been truly awful, but the good news is that he is coming home after three months in the hospital - alive. I'll accept that challenge.

I'm not unfamiliar with having to handle him post-hospital. This is not my first rodeo. But, he's never been this incapacitated before, so it's taking some extra planning. I'm getting my mind wrapped around it. It's daunting though.

He and I have been functioning on the motto, "One day at a time." That's all we can do. Our kids will help when and how they can, but it will primarily be me and my husband figuring things out as we go.

Appointment with new T, Dr. K, went well. He said that he thinks like my T does that I am doing really well. But that he can see the need for a crisis reduction plan so that is what we are going to work on so that when I am in crisis it isn't so severe. He is CBT oriented which is not my favorite type of therapy and he even admitted it's not the best form of therapy for my diagnosis. He said my meds are going to be doing the heavy work due to my diagnosis. I talked a little about my goals. A lot that we talked about was about my past and my present. And how to stay out of the hospital. even though I have worked really hard to get there. He's glad I don't have a demon in my head at the moment. His voice was very soothing. He didn't look anything like his psychology today picture. Must be an old picture. I liked him, what I saw of him. He seemed more Pdoc like than therapist. Maybe because he has a PhD. So does Pastor T but Pastor T seemed very T like. Dr. K seems very Pdoc like with his questions. He is impressed that I am working and stuff, shrug. Well, yeah, I have to support myself and my kiddos that I support through Compassion International. I mean, what other choice do I have? Maybe it is because of the diagnosis of schizoaffective but I've always been high functioning. I need to text regular T and tell her I need a break for a little while. I am not sure how I will feel after that because she IS supportive, we just aren't getting anything done. It's more like talking to a friend. Oh yeah, and I have homework to do. Another reason why I don't like CBT but it isn't a lot and I have two weeks to do it. I'll probably do it right before I see him next so it is fresh in my head. I see him in two weeks.

No, insurance does not have to cover everything COVID related. They cover testing and the vaccine, not hospitalization; common misperception. We are so far doing pretty well with the medical bills. The hospitals themselves were mostly covered 100% because our teacher insurance chose to cover COVID hospitalization 100% - they didn't have to do that. We're mostly going to end up paying for the parts of the doctor's bills not covered by insurance. For instance, every time the cardiologist walks into the room (every single day), insurance gets billed for $150. Insurance, for some unknown reason, pays all but $14.92 of that each day, so we are responsible for that (times 90 days-ish). We have a reasonable out-of-pocket annual limit, so we'll only be paying up to the out-of-pocket - then everything is 100%. Ambulance bills (he's had 5 ambulance transfers at anywhere from $2000-3000 a trip) are being covered through an ambulance policy I was wise enough to add to my insurance coverage. (Insurance policies are notoriously bad about not covering ambulance bills.) I also was smart and invested in a hospital indemnity policy that pretty much paid our entire out-of-pocket, so we're okay for the most part of bills. I've actually only seen a few bills so far, but I did see the bottom line of how much as already been submitted - well over a million so far. Crazy!

Good to hear Artley. I know hospitalizations are super expensive. I'm glad that your portion of the bills sound like it is going to be manageable. HUGS Kit

Glad you could prove it, but it's a horrible thing to have gone through. How are you doing now?

Ugh, that's really frustrating, Artley, though I'm glad the insurance will cover most of it. And thanks for clearing up the misperception. I imagine many who have been hospitalized for COVID have been very unpleasantly surprised when they get bills...

Today, in bad business plans: I get various meal kits (where they send you all the ingredients to cook something with the recipe). I'm not going to name this particular kit. But when I got the box today, some of the ingredients, including prepared sauces, felt warm. I checked with a food thermometer, and one was 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which is way above the safe food storage temp (which I believe is 40 degrees--did research for a paper in grad school). I contacted the company via chat, and am getting a refund.

She asked about the ice configuration in the box--just ice on the bottom, partly melted. She told me that they eventually change to a "summer configuration" with ice on top and bottom. I asked her when they do that. She said usually around May, but "we wait until customers complain about warm boxes." How does that make any sense? Isn't that just a way to lose customers (or potentially make them sick)?


She wanted to give me a credit but offered full refund to my card--I opted for the full refund. So, good customer service in that regard, but we were also counting on the ingredients for 3 meals to cook this week...guess it's time to raid the pantry and/or get carryout!

I'm sorry you're struggling so much Could they refer you to a dietitian to help you come up with a new eating plan?

I don't like heights!

I'm sorry he didn't seem impressed or supportive in this. I wanted to say that I'm very proud of you. Since I formerly used to also, I know how hard and tempting it can be. Not easy! You are doing great, Kit! So so proud!

Uuugh what is wrong with me? My stomach's mostly better but now my head and neck are killing me. I took some tylenol but it didn't help at all. What is going on? I'm drinking enough water, eating, getting fresh air and exercise. I'm sick of this

The crazy insurance/medical corp accounting goofiness is just nuts.

Hugs to all who want.

HUGS Artie!

It is absolutely nuts. I've learned to just wait and ride the bills out. It takes a while for all the accounting to hit the insurance company, so what we actually have to pay will be unclear for months to come.

It all makes so little sense. For instance, I mentioned insurance says $150 is $14.92 too high a billing price for the cardiologist each day. But, the pulmonologists charge exactly the same thing and are paid 100%.

One hospital billed $235,000. Insurance discounts over $200,000 of that and pays them around $25,000. There is no way to understand the way the billing system works. I swear they just throw darts at the wall.

As much as I love swimming, ! That's just.... my fear of heights would keep me far, far away. I never used to be afraid of heights, it has very very gradually sneaked up on me that gets worse the older I get.

This must be a huge amount of stress and uncertainty at a time when you and your loved ones are really struggling. I imagine it is really horrible having to manage this kind of bureaucracy when you need to be able to prioritise your and your family's well-being. I hope you and your partner are doing as ok as you can.

Thanks. The bureaucracy IS the most crazy-making part of this. Fortunately, I've dealt with medical insurance craziness for decades, and I know to just wait it out until the numbers finally settle in. Lots of deep breaths. LOL.

I unexpectedly got 2 hours off work this afternoon, so I'm air frying a package of bacon for h for the rest of the week. I love doing this, it makes me happy because bacon is one thing that I have never been good at cooking, until I discovered air frying. I always overcook it when pan frying! And just put in a load of laundry, too.

For the rest of the week? As in he likes it cold?

Just curious.

I don't understand why my therapist puts down $200/session when he files insurance claims when he knows they only pay $92.50. There must be a reason for that.

I accidentally mistook the white vinegar jug for the bleach jug and then mixed them together and mopped the bathroom floor.

Only then did I wonder if bleach + vinegar is a bad combo. And yes, yes it is.

(I think it’s fine—it was diluted, only a small amount of each, all windows are now open, I put on this mask I have on hand for some reason.)

ETA: apparently if I spray

in the air that helps any gas dissipate. I think I’ll do the alternative: baking soda + water. I am not that Freudian.

There might be some legal reason?