Hello everyone. I went to see the surgeon. I was hoping he would say I did not need the surgery that there was something else that could fix my vision. It did not work out that way. Let me start from the beginning. We arrived and their computer systems were down and they were way behind because they were handwriting all the patient information and passing paper between stations instead of just accessing the patients chart on the computers.
The tests were very extensive and thorough. When the doctor looked into my eyes and tested them on the machine he had in the room he said that I definitely needed surgery on both eyes. He talked to me about my daily activities, and what I liked doing. He went over each lens choice and said he did not think the more expensive lenses would help me because I had used a prism so long. He recommended the non-corrective lenses. I might not need the prism after the surgery but he thinks there is a chance I will. He also thinks I may need readers but that my other vision well be good.
We had been there three hours when we had one more stop. The finance guy. He had already put the information through Medicare. He gave us print outs for each eye. He showed us the cost. I had roughly figured $880 for my 20% co pay. His figures broke it down to each person involved, the operating center, and the drugs. Everyone got a separate cut. My cost total came to $842.24
The operation takes 10 to 15 minutes for each eye. The surgeon gets 984.99 per eye for a total of $1,969.98. The facility gets $1,158.15 per eye for a total of $2316.30. I pay $842.24 for a total of 5,128.52 which is for maybe up to 30 minutes work if each eye takes the maximum time of 15 minutes. I realize the doctor is a super professional doing a job most people can’t do. I realize the surgical center which is in their building is also a professional medical operating room so has to meet certain requirements. Still I think the cost is a lot of profit. I am reading over the statement and in each case they charged the maximum that Medicare would pay plus my 20%.
I am one of the lucky ones. I have Medicare. We have enough in savings to pay for the co-pay. But what about those who don’t have insurance and are working several jobs with no medical care. What about the poor people who depend on Medicaid but are soon going to lose it? Do they just slowly go blind with no hope? We need medical care in this country. We need universal medical coverage. Every study has shown, even the one done by the conservative heritage foundation study showed it is cheaper with better results to have single payer government universal care. As Bernie says, the US is the only wealthy country on earth not to give the people living here health coverage. It is a human right. Hugs
Scottie's Playtime 
Congratulations, that the operation went very well. Best wishes, Michael
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Hi Michael. That was the exam, the operations have not happened yet. I have to do the pre operation stuff first, then get one eye done and a week later the second eye. But let’s hope you are correct and it will go very well. Hugs
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So glad to read your news Scottie. Hope all continues to go well for you.
Best wishes
Roger & Sheila 🙏🙏
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Hi Roger. Thank you, I wish the best for you and Sheila also. Good friends and knowing people care are wonderful safe harbors in the storm of life we are living in right now. Everyone has told me the operations are safe and that I will be able to see so much better without straining so much. I hope this is true. Hugs
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Let us know, when you can the date and time Scottie, so we know.
Thanks
Roger & Sheila
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Take good care with this, Scottie. You’ll soon be past the initial recovery, and I really think you’ll be happy with the outcome.💖
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Hi Ali. Thank you. I admit I am nervous. They did not go over the surgery with me yet. I also hope I can see well again without straining like I do now. I will keep everyone up to date after I do the pre operation stuff. For now I am to put drops in four times a day and just wait. How long after the surgery could your husband use his eye and see well? Hugs
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I think I remember that they kept the bandage on longer with the first eye. I think he went for around 2 weeks with the bandage. He went to work the second week, but did desk stuff; obviously he wasn’t able to do line work or drive a truck. With the second one-again, he waited longer than they asked him do before doing it, but it worked better for his work schedule-I think the follow-up was 7 working days, and he was good without the bandage. He did wear dark safety glasses all the time for a couple of weeks after the bandages came off. He was a little light-headedly happy for a couple of hours after the surgery, then took some Tylenol and a nap. He said he felt all right after that, and a home-cooked meal. I’m not sure he even used Tylenol after the second surgery, but we picked up food on the way home, too, so that could have made the difference for him.
We had to drive up to Wichita for these appointments, and some were in different places; it seemed at first as if they scattered them around Wichita on purpose! 🙂 So, we had to leave our house at 5 to get in to his surgery appointments for 7:30. We got home around noon. We like to get there around 15 minutes early, but the surgeon tended to be about ten minutes behind. The second one seemed quicker than the first. Again, this was during COVID, too, so I was waiting in the car as only patients could enter. I hiked around the strip mall lot that contained the surgery center in order to get my steps in, and to keep my rear from falling asleep!
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Hi Ali. Thanks for the information. I think things are going to be different for me than your husband. See first the eye center that they do everything in is only about 20 to 30 minutes away. Second they prescribed drops that have to be put in the day before then after surgery four times a day. I won’t be able to do that if the eye is bandaged unless they plan to have Ron bandage it. He is capable as he worked in ICUs for over 20 years. Lucky for us it is not during a pandemic so they have included Ron in everything. Hugs
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DH just sort of lifted some tape, dropped in the drops, and put the tape back. He didn’t care for bathing instead of showering, though. I just now remembered that when explaining about the bandages.
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Thanks again Ali. I will let you know what they tell me on the 21st. Hugs
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