Surgery at home Graphic warning

[Aerows]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Stich-Yourself-Shut-Sugery-at-home/

Is it just me, or is the fact that people do surgery at home a symptom of a health care system that no longer serves the patients, and only the administrators and owners of hospitals?

Google surgery at home, self-surgery and other topics. There are a plethora of them. Some are for goofy topics like plastic surgery, but many of them are for sewing up an injury.

If we have to do this at home because health care is too expensive, what exactly are we paying for when we get hospital treatment?

(Graphic Warning)

[Demo_Chris]

1. We voted for something better, but we were sold out. nt

[Whisp]

2. bull & shit. n/t

[Aerows]

3. You are Canadian

Sorry Whisp, you are not qualified to comment on this topic. If you get gashed, you go straight to the hospital without a thought. 35% of Americans cannot do that without being financially ruined. Ask me about the $18,000 hospital bill for rabies treatment. I'll be glad to fax it to you so you can see the bullshit we put up with.

[Whisp]

4. I was responding to post #1 and am qualified to do so. n/t

[Aerows]

6. You aren't

You can go to the hospital.

You can get medical treatment without them taking your home.

[Whisp]

15. post 1 made it sound like Obama was selling misery and profiting from it.

the old sick story that the President is lying to us all and doesn't give a flying fuck about improving the road to proper health care or anything related to the welfare of people and he is just stuffing his pockets made from selling to his evil buddies on wall street, the pharmas and the rest. His mom was fighting those insurance fuckers on her deathbed - if anyone thinks that Barack Obama is such an evil asshole as to disgrace his own mother that way...

whatever, I'm done.

[Aerows]

18. Whisp, no offense

But you are peddling nonsense if you think our health care system has gotten any better. I won't say it has gotten any worse, because it has always sucked ass, but it certainly hasn't improved.

[Whisp]

22. I am very and sincerely sorry for your situation.

But I have heard many, many great stories here from DUers as to how the ACA has greatly improved their finances and their peace of mind when it comes to health coverage.

No, it is Not Near what it Should Be. But these things take decades to finally get right - and even then it's never perfect.

So please peddle Your nonsense to the many here that have found the system much better than the old. Peddle that nonsense to parents whose kids who have awful diseases now do not have a Cap on their insurance and don't have to worry about when the calendar and the finances run out.

[Fumesucker]

30. Do you disagree with the statement that some Americans avoid medical care because of costs?

[Agschmid]

43. I agree with it...

But I sure hope they realize they are NOT really qualified to give themselves surgery!

The bacterial infection they could get, and the costs associated with fixing that should stop anyone from doing this. Far too risky IMO.

[Aerows]

48. Financial ruin or physical ruin

flip a coin.

[Agschmid]

49. Well in one scenario you die, so I know what I'd pick.

[Aerows]

55. And it's a choice

Is this serious enough to be ruined financially?

If the answer is no, you do what you have to do.

That is the question too many Americans are being forced to consider.

Yes (or I'll die) or No (maybe I can get over this without seeking medical treatment).

[Agschmid]

59. Yah but if you have rabies you don't get over it...

This is a good read and a similar situation:

http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/the-costs-of-not-dying-from-rabies/

http://instagram.com/p/Qd1_koKzw4/

[Aerows]

66. I would have chosen death

and freeing my family members from being burdened, my nieces could have my assets, my parents all of it.

I'm just a drain of 18,000.

[Agschmid]

113. You've lost me...

Good luck with everything.

[Demo_Chris]

78. The choice is not that simple. Try, 'Is this potentially life threatening condition....

"Which I might or might not have, worth destroying my family's financial future to have checked out?"

It's going to the ER, being turned away because you still have a pulse, then still getting a bill for a couple grand.

It's that single mom, working at Applebee's in Texas, who now has to choose between paying for an Obamacare plan she cannot afford to have or use, or paying for that college class that might get her out of poverty.

It's funneling TRILLIONS of dollars into the hands of insurance companies in the form of mandates and subsidies and then claiming you really did something special.

It's believing that the real problem with healthcare wasn't access to care, it was that UnitedHealth just didn't make enough money.

[Aerows]

104. While I like the person you replied to

I suspect they aren't a US citizen. No one that isn't a US citizen would understand the bullshit and financial pressure even minor shit costs here. They can go to the doctor for anything. We can't even go to the doctor if we are about to drop dead without it costing a fucking fortune.

I'll elect to die first.

They wonder why we are such a militant bloodthirsty nation? It's because if we get even slightly ill or injured we are destroyed financially.

[Fumesucker]

53. If the costs are already beyond your ability to pay what difference does it make?

You take a chance of going bankrupt for $200,000 in order to possibly avoid going bankrupt for $20,000. For plenty of Americans it wouldn't make any difference one way or another, either figure is simply impossible to pay.

[Aerows]

71. I wish I would have taken my chances

$18,000 is more than I can handle.

[PowerToThePeople]

79. I avoid it because of costs. eom

[Agschmid]

84. Sure many people do...

Hell I do.

But I sure as hell know not to attempt urgent medical surgery on myself.

[Aerows]

101. Get desperate

and you would be surprised at what you are capable of accomplishing.

[Aerows]

31. That will be fantastic

when the payments for financing 18,000 start coming in over something that is relatively minor. I got the care I needed but will pretty much be strangled by bills. Thank heavens I own my own car and can get to work. I have blessings. I will have my car to sleep in if they take my home.

[Aerows]

47. I hope you have $18,000 just lying around

if something happens to you. Something that is minor in the modern world. But I know, that will never happen to you, so there is no reason to be outraged about it.

[Walk away]

62. Right now Obama Care is saving my life so you don't spaek for....

everyone. Let's hope that a new Congress will work towards making it a better law that will help you too.

[1awake]

65. Right now Obama Care refuses to cover two of my children because of custody requirements.

So I'm not sure what to do.

[Aerows]

67. I owe 18K n/t

[Walk away]

68. Did your previous insurance cover them?

Can you settle your custody problems? There most be a social worker who can help you.

[Aerows]

70. Custody?!

I've never had a child. I'm female and I would be extremely informed it I ever had a child.

[Walk away]

87. I didn't respond to you. What made you think I did?

Did you read the post that we were both responding to? I was posting to 1awake's post and for some reason you also answered her with a dollar amount. When I actually commented about her children's problem you responded. Unless you are both Aerows and 1awake you are confused.

[Aerows]

89. We are two different people

I have no idea who 1awake is, and if you would like to pursue that I have sock puppets on this site, you are welcome to take it up with the Administrators. My driver's license and IP have been on record with them since I was a moderator on DU2.

Don't go hurling around accusations like that. It's a very ugly thing to do.

I apologize if I am harsh.

I'm just extremely upset about this, as is the other poster. Nothing you do seems to keep you from getting bled dry of every nickel you will ever see in your lifetime if you go to a "hospital".

[Walk away]

93. You do realize that you posted an answer to a question I asked someone else...

and acted as if you thought I was asking you.

Are you feeling alright? (rhetorical) You are obviously a very confused person.

[Aerows]

94. What on earth are you talking about?

I'm not certain I'm the one with comprehension problems here, but please, knock yourself out.

[Aerows]

90. You think there are people to help you

when you get overwhelmed with medical bills?

Excuse me while I laugh my ass off.

You can be made of money and then destitute because of one single health problem.

[Walk away]

92. You are sneering at someone who has had cancer twice...

So maybe you should think twice before you tell me what it's like to get sick in America. I worked three jobs for several years to pay the bills from my second cancer operation and treatments and I was insured at the time.

I now have my insurance through the Exchange and no matter how much my medical bills are, I will never have to pay above my Out of Pocket Limit again and I cannot be denied coverage. That means I won't have to lose my house and everything I have work to rebuild won't get swept away while I am recovering from an illness.

So, laugh your ass off! The ACA has made a big difference for millions of people. It shows just what kind of person you are that you think it's funny.

[Aerows]

95. It didn't for me

I don't think it is funny at all. It's devastating is what it is.

[Walk away]

97. That is because you have somehow ended up with an $18,000 out of pocket limit...

even though $6,000 is the limit on all of the Exchange policies I have seen.

[Aerows]

98. Can you talk to my insurance company?

Or the hospital? Because I was in the ER for a total of an hour, my wound site shot up with crap (no anesthesia), a tetanus shot, and then a series that I went to at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days that took like five minutes.

If I wasn't experiencing this, *I* would think I was full of crap.

[Walk away]

110. Well,for starters, the government website should have an overview...

of your coverage. It should have a maximum out of pocket cost for the year. The maximum for an individual for the year is $6350 and family is $12,700 and that is with NO subsidies at all. Even with that you would have to have the lowest coverage and be pretty sick to spend that much money because your insurance should be covering a percentage of the costs after your deductible.

Why don't you post a link to you coverage page and maybe someone here can help you figure out the problem.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Features/Insuring-Your-Health/2013/061113-Michelle-Andrews-out-of-pocket-costs.aspx

[Aerows]

120. You seem to think I'm full of it

with an $18000 hospital bit for a minor rabies treatment, and that it was rejected by the insurance company.

When was the last time you went to the hospital?

[Aerows]

122. You know what?

I hope to everything good in this world that you never end up in my place.

Compassion is clearly a problem for you, and please revel in the situation I am in.

[Aerows]

102. By the way

Let me know when people in Canada opt for do-it-yourself surgery vs. homelessness.

If you think I am kidding, you do not know the reality of living in the US.

[Demo_Chris]

12. We elected a guy who pledged to veto any healthcare reform that lacked single payer...

The only bullshit here is what he was peddling.

[PowerToThePeople]

42. Public option

Last edited Mon Mar 17, 2014, 12:05 AM - Edit history (1)

edit - yes, it was public option as others posters have stated.

[Aerows]

50. When you can't even get a minor

injury treated without it costing $18,000 and you walked IN to the place where your doctor referred you and walked OUT of it an hour later, something is not right.

[babylonsister]

51. Who was that, how was that ever possible? Not even. nt

[Demo_Chris]

80. Yeah, I mispoke once. I didn't run around the country making it the foundation of my campaign. nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

52. It was public option not single payer.

[pnwmom]

57. I'm assuming you mean a public option, because otherwise you'd be lying.

When Ted Kennedy died and was replaced by a Rethug, that was the end of that possibility. As it was, the ACA barely got passed.

[Demo_Chris]

77. Yes, public option. nt

[Demo_Chris]

81. Kennedy died and took that veto pen with him?

In any case, a public option was never on the table. Obama got the plan he wanted. He got his mandate and his subsidies, and the insurance industry got their trillions in corporate welfare and regulatory capture. Good tomes for the elite.

[pnwmom]

88. He said that when a public option was still in the realm of the possible.

Vetoing it would have accomplished absolutely nothing. As imperfect as the ACA is, millions have already benefited, including millions of the poorest among us, in the states that agreed to accept expanded Medicaid. This would not have been possible it Obama had vetoed the bill.

[Aerows]

108. You hit the nail on the head Demo_Chris

I would have thought differently if I had not experienced this incident. It knocked the scales from my eyes, and what I see now is a twisted, ugly extortionist health care system in collusion with insurance companies.

[Aerows]

5. We are absolutely screwed in this country

if we have any need to go to the hospital. I swear on my grave that the next time I ever get injured, the last fucking thing I will ever do is go to the hospital if I can somehow crawl away from whatever injured or sickened me.

[babylonsister]

56. Where have you been? Try this:

1-800-318-2596. Obamacare. Try it. I live in GA, live under minimum wage, am covered. Try it.

[Aerows]

103. babylonsister

I wish to GOD I was making this up. I *really* *really* wish I was making this up.

$18,000 for rabies treatment when I walked into the hospital and walked out of it. It's so crazy I can't even wrap my mind around it.

[Autumn]

10. That's exactly what happened. Insurance finance reform is not

health care reform.

[Aerows]

13. Yep

Insurance companies and hospitals got to charge a shitload more, but the things they supposedly "cover" just got worse.

I'm pretty sure that if I had a minor incident like getting bitten by a raccoon in any other civilized nation in the world other than the US, they would be like "Oh yes, you really should get that treated because it is a public health issue." In the US it's "We'll take care of that - now hand over $18000 because you were stupid enough to come to the hospital and expect us to do anything for you for free!"

[Deep13]

58. veritas nt

[pa28]

7. Just like "Dentist in a box".

Healthcare needs to be a guaranteed right in this country.

[Aerows]

121. Do you think that people should do this

subject themselves to "Doctor in a box" or "Dentist in a box" because health care is too expensive?

Which type of people should be denied health care?

[Autumn]

8. How about adults that pull their own teeth

at home. In this country of ours these things should not happen.

[Aerows]

16. Many people are resorting to it

But "We have the best health care system in the world".

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. I have done that, in a hospital

with the patient receiving local anesthesia and proper techniques. Patient usually got a tetanus shot and antibiotics. broad spectrum.

Oh and I was supervised by a doctor. In a disaster I could see it. Otherwise this is nuts.

There are a few things you could do wrong.

[Aerows]

17. Last resort

is last resort. A financial wasteland is in many cases worse than a literal one.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. I know, and I agree with you

this is absolutely nuts!

[Agschmid]

11. Hmmm...

It does suck that people do this, I (and flame away) think this is more of a mental health issue. This just isn't safe, there are ways to get the medical help you need that don't involve doing your own surgery.

Maybe I feel this way because I've lived on only very liberal states which programs to help people who can't afford medical care.

[Aerows]

14. You think it's a mental health issue

that people are put in a position between losing their homes, their credit rating, and their financial future vs. getting medical treatment?

Where do you live? It isn't the US.

[Agschmid]

23. I do, I think people should be educated enough to know operating in yourself is a terrible idea.

I do live in the US.

I've lived in VT, and Mass both states have some systems in place that help to overcome these issues. I think the point of my post was this...

- It is a terrible idea to complete a surgical procedure on yourself.
- No one should have to do this.
- Single payer for all.

[Aerows]

25. Unfortunately

Many people are educated enough to do it anyway lest they get financially ruined. I know I sure as hell wouldn't have gone to the hospital if I knew I would get mixed up in this insurance mess and be liable for 18,000.

[Agschmid]

33. Is this for the raccoon thing?

[Aerows]

34. YES

$18,000 for 5 shots that took 5 minutes a piece and a nasty one in the emergency room (no anesthesia, I gritted my teeth and bared it). Not a single complication.

I don't even know what in the hell to do.

18 grand for immunoglobulin shots?

[Agschmid]

36. If I remember correctly you may not have sought treatment immediately?

With that price it also sounds like you went to the ER since the whole series usually comes in under $8,000. At least that's the price I've heard before? The ER visit must be a big price of that cost?

[Aerows]

37. No. I went in that day at @ 18 hours after the bite

I was admitted to the emergency room and had a nasty injection in the wound site and a tetanus shot. I was prescribed antibiotics (and ibuprofen) and sent home. I went back after 3, 7, 14 and another 14 days to complete the series. I was in no way hospitalized or not ambulatory.

I walked into the ER.

[Aerows]

38. How would I be admitted otherwise?

My doctor told me to go to the hospital. I told him what happened, and that was his advice. My God, I'm not an idiot. I called my physician. He said "Go to ______ _______."

And I did.

[Agschmid]

41. Didn't say you were.

[Aerows]

45. Implying it is as good as saying it.

I'm not trying to be combative, but this is an issue for many people, insured or not. I'd have been better off if I wandered into the hospital, didn't offer my insurance card and identity and just gave a fake name.

[Agschmid]

46. To be blunt it would have been better had you avoided the raccoon.

I'm sorry you are facing this, the bill seems WAY to high to me so I'd suggest fighting it in some way but at this point we should just both quit while we are ahead and not end up in a flame war.

Again I'm sorry this has happened to you.

[Aerows]

63. Sorry isn't getting very far

and it won't with a demand of $17,896.

For a few shots and treatment in a hospital. I could swing 8 thousand, though we would eat less. When it gets into the ten thousands, I give up.

[nenagh]

111. I am so stunned by your bill, Aerows..

as a Canadian, we are not worried about a trip to the Emergency department.. you would not be billed here in Ontario.

Your insurance would not cover rabies injections?

It is so difficult.. but I'd agree that you might start with trying the billing department, as was suggested below.

Here in Ontario, many years ago, to expose the great differences some Pharmacies would charge for Rx's, a reporter took the same Rx into different pharmacies in a large city.. and reported on the widespread different charges.. and people were furious.. and changes happened.

So as a last resort, would a letter to the editor, or some other way of making this very visible ...
help to get the costs reduced? Or that insurance does not cover a life saving series of injections which are recommended by a physician?

I'm just speechless..

Do you have the full accounting for the bill? What did they charge you for, aside from the cost of the injections themselves? I'd like to see the full bill repudiated, of course. But what extras did they charge you for? Maybe they charged a "retail" price on the rabies shots? Don't know, my mind is blank.

Best of luck, Aerows...

[steve2470]

91. Aerows, if I may chime in....

$18K is highway robbery, no doubt. That's the "retail price with no discounts". I'm sure with tough and shrewd negotiating on your account, you can get the total sum down to something manageable.

The last card you have to play is bankruptcy. Before you play that card, I'd consult with a bankruptcy attorney. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is more difficult than it used to be, but I really think the hospital, doctors and other providers want more than they would get in bankruptcy court.

Seriously, talk to a bankruptcy attorney in your county or a nearby county before you start negotiating with them.

[Marr]

109. Have you tried talking the bill down yet?

If you haven't, I'd definitely recommend it. Hospitals regularly bloat the living shit out of their bills, as they appear to have done in your case.

First, look up the standard market rate for the treatment you were provided here:

http://frugalliving.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=frugalliving&cdn=money&tm=49&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//healthcarebluebook.com/page_Default.aspx

Having so armed yourself, call the hospital's billing department. Tell them flatly that you just do not have the ability to pay this bill but would like to negotiate a reduction. If they won't do it, ask for their supervisor. And that supervisor's supervisor, if they won't do it, and so on.

I'd be very interested to know what the standard charge is for that treatment you received, btw. That is just an insultingly high bill.

[Agschmid]

112. The standard seems to be 14-16 currently.

Some websites quote 2-7k but they are from the 90's.

[Marr]

114. Jesus-- that is just unreal.

Unbelievable. And thanks for posting that, btw.

[Demo_Chris]

82. I have done it....

It wasn't mental health. Seriously what the fuck? I had a cut that was pretty deep, needed stitches and I had a family but no money. First I tried superglue and duct tape. That didn't work. So I tried superglue, duct tape, and a staple gun. That really didn't work. Then I tried stitching it up myself, along with the superglue and duct tape. But even after three more days it was still oozing blood and it was getting infected. I finally had to go to the university clinic. The rich teen girl doctor-trainee looked at me like I had lost my bloody mind. Turns out it needed stitches inside the wound.

It took me a year to pay off that doctor's bill. But I wasn't crazy, just poor. I still am.

[Agschmid]

83. I consider you lucky that it didn't get infected.

[Demo_Chris]

85. Lucky. That's me. nt

[blkmusclmachine]

20. A great advertisement for RepublicanCare.

[Aerows]

26. What's the difference?

Republicans: "You get charged a shitload."

ACA: "Your policy doesn't cover that."

[JEB]

21. I'd use a veterinary if I could.

Fixed a lot of semi minor things myself.

[Aerows]

28. Me too n/t

[Autumn]

116. I have a neighbor who uses goat penicillin when he needs an antibiotic.

No Dr. visit and no prescription. That's just crazy.

[JEB]

119. I'm sure it works just fine. In most cases.

[Fumesucker]

24. ...

[Aerows]

27. 13.95

or a stone on your back of tens of thousands dollars.

Pick one.

[ReRe]

60. .

[CFLDem]

29. Only the best frontier medicine

a libertarian system can provide.

[Aerows]

32. Pretty much

That's what our health care system amounts to.

[eShirl]

35. yep

here in Maine, I'm on the "Die Quickly" plan. (tea governor vetoes Medicaid Expansion)

[Aerows]

39. I'm pretty sure

it is the plan we are all on. "Die Quickly" if you can't serve at 100% for any reason.

[Aerows]

76. Truthfully

Frontier Medicine is the best we can hope for since it won't impoverish out children, parents and everybody we know.

I would have elected to die first if I would have known rabies shots cost 18,000.

[functioning_cog]

44. Do they have a video for self administering rabies shots?

Kip, do you ever wish you could go back in time with all of the knowledge you have now?"--uncle Rico.

[JoeyT]

54. That's pretty horrifying to watch.

I've done something similar to this, but I didn't have nearly that dull a needle. Jesus Christ, did he sharpen it by rubbing it on concrete, prison style?

In the years since I tried that, I've discovered super glue works wonders for smaller cuts, while Dermabond works wonders for bigger ones.

[NYC_SKP]

61. Taking the long view, my great aunt Edna live a day's ride from the nearest dentist.

Self-surgery wasn't a big deal to them, and wasn't too bid a deal for us, though I was lucky enough to live less than a day's ride into town and in a time when doctors made house calls.

I say these things without watching the video, I'm squeamish, but I think my point is valid.

It's not so odd that many among us are capable of suturing our own minor wounds, it's a good skill to learn!

[Aerows]

69. OMG I had an Aunt Edna and she was the most wonderful

woman in the world. I hope we aren't related.

But she would sew you up and send you back to the playground.

[Liberty Belle]

64. I wonder if some people who try this are lawbreakers - folks who got shot or stabbed during a crime

such as a robbery or drug deal gone wrong. If they go to a hospital, they'd likely be arrested.

[Aerows]

72. In the past

they would have.

Today, they are people preventing themselves from being ruined financially.

"My arm is hanging open, Mama". "Let's get you settled down and sew it back together, because Daddy's insurance may or may not cover it."

[adirondacker]

73. This has been going on for a long time in the construction trades. If you work for a small

company or are self employed, the cheapest way out is to "do it yourself". I've seen a guy get stitched on the job from a pretty serious saw cut and show up for work the next day.

I've done self treatment including the use of superglue and butterflies on deep knife cuts. Gauze and electricians tape holds things together quite well also. Accidents happen, and when you're uninsured, you get creative.

I've never seen anyone get a post infection either, since we're smart enough to realize the necessity to sterilize everything.

[Aerows]

74. Butterfly stitches and superglue

You know what is necessary.

[Aerows]

75. Do it yourself

for less than 30 dollars in equipment, save yourself financial devastation.

[sendero]

124. One of these..

.... http://www.amazon.com/Surgical-Disposable-Sterile-Enhanced-Preloaded/dp/B002OMA99O/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1395412728&sr=1-1&keywords=surgical+stapler

could come in handy.

[Earth_First]

86. A friend of mine recently drained a traumatic hematoma on his leg...

He purchased all the sterile items online after he found out what the out of pocket costs would be an did it himself.

[Aerows]

107. I don't blame him a bit

More power to anyone that can heal themselves. It is too damn expensive to go to the hospital, and even when you do, you are treated like cattle.

[1000words]

96. This stuff is big with hardcore "preppers" and survivalists.

I watched it, and frankly, I don't regret knowing it.

[Aerows]

99. If you went to the hospital and got charged 18000 dollars

for what should be a public health concern that you DO get treated for, you would probably agree with it wholeheartedly from now on.

How I went from shots to 18,000 is something I will never know.

I tried to do the right thing by going for treatment. Fuck if I ever go again after this experience.

[Aerows]

100. Libertarians chant about "choice"

Republicans blame the victim.

When you are severely injured and it is a choice between live or die, you really take stock of that decision if you live in the US. It's either die, or pretty much kiss a future goodbye because you will be drowning in medical bills.

I wouldn't put up a fuss about 6K for the rabies treatment. But 18K? What in THE hell?

[dilby]

115. Some people live in remote locations.

Not everyone lives within 15 minutes of a hospital or urgent care, there are people who literally live hours to the closest place to receive basic medical attention. Also if you are an outdoors person where you do 7 day or 14 day hikes you should have basic medical knowledge for setting bones and doing stitches. I have a medical kit that I take with me whenever I am backpacking because you never know what will happen.

[steve2470]

117. want to clarify something I said, Aerows

I have the greatest of compassion for you, Aerows. I know what it's like to get huge doctor and hospital bills. $18K is very excessive in my opinion.

I did not mean to communicate a lack of compassion in my earlier post to you. I hope things get better for you !

[steve2470]

118. hopefully this site will help you

http://healthcaresavvy.wbur.org/resources/negotiate-medical-bill/

[Lunacee_2013]

123. Yeah, I'm a little disappointed that Obama didn't fight harder for the P.O.

And while the ACA has helped many people, there are still millions more who cannot afford the healthcare they need. To be fair, it's not always Obama's fault. Many of the states with repub governors will not take the extra money offered to them by the federal government. Because of my governor Rick Perry, my medical costs, along with my parents, have gone up recently. On top of that we're having problems getting my sister's newborn completely covered. We simply don't have the money.

Back in January I had to forgo some of my meds because of an unexpected $180 doctor's bill and the fact that the meds I went to see him for cost me $355 (for the first time ever). I had to make a choice between my insulin (I'm a type 1 diabetic) and my anti-depressants. Not really much of a choice though, considering I'll die if I don't have any insulin. So I had to wait until February to get the rest of my meds and anyone who's ever been on anti-depressants knows you just can't stop taking them cold turkey. Those few weeks were hell.

I actually take cymbalta not just for its ability to help with depression, but also because it helps with diabetic nerve damage. It was 1 of the 3 meds I had to wait to buy and going without it made my feet and legs burn so badly I could barely walk by the time I got them. I really wish Obama had passed the ACA with a P.O., but it probably would have been affordable if Perry had just taken that money.

I hope before his second term is up, our president realizes that some of the angry, rich, old, white guys on the right are never going to work with him. And it is because he's a black man with more power than them. He needs to come back to the left when it comes to the poor, working, and middle classes. And enough with listening to the bankers and other 1%ers when it comes to financial issues. We all know that they're just going to write bills that benefit them and if those bills screw the rest of us over, too bad. Wall Street has proven, by throwing parties with our money during the bailout, that they don't give a shit about the rest of us. Just look at what they, and the repubs, have done to our safety nets. And hasn't 95% of the money made since the "bounce back" from the recession gone to the top 1%?

Anyone who doesn't live here and has never been through our healthcare system and has a single payer system of their own, probably can't understand what it's like choosing between your home and your health. While I don't agree with his wording, I know what Will Pitt was dealing with. Any post making fun of his anger is just insensitive. I'm just glad he and his wife have found a way to get her M.S. meds. Good on the posters who were able to help him.