The past week or two I have been having some chest pain. I have been trying to locate my doctor, who has mysteriously disappeared, to make an appointment. Yesterday one of my employees noticed I was having problems and she more or less bullied me into going to the ER to have it checked out.
We have a brand spanking new 5 floor hospital here. There has been much hype over it and how it will serve the county. Most of the residents think it's more than we need or can afford right now. But, I digress.
I walk into the ER, check in and explain my problem and tell them I think it's bronchitis. They get me in, work me up. I have a heart monitor, pulse ox and whatever else they can find hooked up to me and everything looks fine. My BP is a little high (160/100) but I hadn't taken my BP meds before I went to work.
The ER Doctor comes back and says I look fine, but they are going to admit me anyway. ADMIT? Whoa there buckaroo, it's time for let's make a deal. "You don't think I'm serious, I don't think I'm serious. Let me go home and I'll promise to follow up with my Doc or another clinic." He says that's fine, just sign out AMA and I can go. But, my insurance won't pay for anything if I do.
Rock, meet hard place. I wind up being admitted then poked and prodded all night long. For some reason they ordered nitroglycerin patches for me so I had a wonderful 18 hour headache. Since I missed my BP meds, they were nice enough to give them to me by injection in my belly....twice.
After meeting with another doctor this afternoon they agree to discharge me. Total damage, 18 hour stay, $24,370.00 . BTW, my chest still hurts and they gave me nothing for the bronchitis.
