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I Now Have a Cardiologist

joecieplinski.com

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Re: I Now Have a Cardiologist

#181

Post by pcwalton »

tptacek wrote: post #180
pcwalton wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The difference is that Medicaid is a patchwork of various state systems rather than a no-questions-asked federal subsidy. Some states are hostile to Medicaid (e.g. Kentucky with its work requirements). Furthermore, the entire future of the ACA system is in doubt, because of executive sabotage, legislative attempts at repeal, and judicial overreach. All of that leads to people not being confident that they will be abl…

What reform could the US pass that would escape the criticism that Republicans might in the future choose to repeal it?

I don't know. I'm not sold on single payer either, mind you. The only long-term solution I can really see is for the Republicans to fail at repealing the ACA so many times, and for public opinion to be sufficiently against them, that they basically give up.

Re: I Now Have a Cardiologist

#182

Post by peteretep »

wincy wrote: post #123
peteretep wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When compared to health insurance almost anywhere else in the world, it's dire value for money.

It’s pretty good for my daughter. She was born with Spina Bifida and we’re paying $300 a month for an ACA plan. She’s cost probably a million dollars by this point so it’s worked out pretty well for us. In a country with socialized medicine they’d probably have just let her die, as the doctors had given her a prognosis that she might not last a year. My wife dug up some research on some treatments they hadn’t conside…

There is _some_ truth to what you're saying, but only a bit.

> the government decides how much to spend on care

This is true, there are limits to what the government will pay. The NHS, which isn't far from the gold-standard for socialized medical care, does indeed not stock some drugs that are deemed too expensive. Here's a good write-up of QALY's and the NHS:

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-28983924

If your child had been born with spina bifida in the UK, all treatment would have been free. This treatment would include (from 2018) pre-natal surgery, post-natal surgery, physiotherapy for life, occupational therapy for life, special educational needs, mobility aids for life, and all manner of treatment for association problems, including kidney treatment for life[0]. Here's a summary of the NHS treatment for it:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/spina-bifida/treatment/

> In a country with socialized medicine they’d probably have just let her die

How much research did you actually do on this point? I'm always amazed by how much Americans suck up the death panels bullshit. If a fraction of what all y'all believe about socialized medicine was true, then free medical care wouldn't be free at point of use in literally every other civilized country on the planet.

That you are willing to believe all the world except Americans are idiots for the way we have our healthcare setup beggars belief, and reflects poorly.

Re: I Now Have a Cardiologist

#183

Post by peteretep »

ex3ndr wrote: post #152
wincy wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s pretty good for my daughter. She was born with Spina Bifida and we’re paying $300 a month for an ACA plan. She’s cost probably a million dollars by this point so it’s worked out pretty well for us. In a country with socialized medicine they’d probably have just let her die, as the doctors had given her a prognosis that she might not last a year. My wife dug up some research on some treatments they hadn’t conside…

In the countries with "socialized medicine" it will just cost zero with same level of treatment.

+ no risk of getting kicked off the insurance for some bullshit technicality.

Re: I Now Have a Cardiologist

#184

Post by Tharkun »

milemi wrote: post #178
Tharkun wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What you describe sounds like health anxiety. Please consider seeking help for that.

I’m definitely aware that I suffer from hypochondria, but what if I’m just imagining that I do? All joking aside, I never even thought about getting help for that, maybe I should.

It's very common, and it often starts after an illness or health scare. In some people it gets worse and worse, they start going to the ER all the time because they feel something is wrong etc. It can be debilitating. If you feel like it's having a negative impact on your life, don't hesitate to seek help. It's always easier to nip it in the bud sooner rather than later.

Re: I Now Have a Cardiologist

#185

Post by milemi »

Tharkun wrote: post #184
milemi wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m definitely aware that I suffer from hypochondria, but what if I’m just imagining that I do? All joking aside, I never even thought about getting help for that, maybe I should.

It's very common, and it often starts after an illness or health scare. In some people it gets worse and worse, they start going to the ER all the time because they feel something is wrong etc. It can be debilitating. If you feel like it's having a negative impact on your life, don't hesitate to seek help. It's always easier to nip it in the bud sooner rather than later.

Hah, too late now, I kind of got over it on my own, but it was debilitating for a while. The catch 22 is that the brain that's tricking itself isn't aware that it's tricking itself. Once I realized over time that I was imagining it, I was able to put it behind. Also, no doctor that I went to see for my imagined problems ever suggested that I should seek treatment for health anxiety, which I guess I don't blame them for because they are supposed to take people's complaints seriously.

Re: I Now Have a Cardiologist

#186

Post by milemi »

mlindner wrote: post #125
milemi wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you know how many sieverts you get each time? I had one of those and I think I got one year's worth of background radiation in those few seconds that it lasted.

People worry too much about radiation. A year's worth of background radiation is not that much radiation.

I wouldn't know what's too much or not, but here's a link with the numbers https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=safety-xray

Re: I Now Have a Cardiologist

#187

Post by morganw »

azinman2 wrote: post #111
morganw wrote: post #6

from the article: "Did my Apple Watch save my life? I think in my case, that’s a bit of an overstatement." Thanks to an Apple Watch w/ ECG, I now have a cardiologist, too. My A-fib burden is only 4% and at my age without diabetes my increased stroke risk is minimal, so my Dr. basically asked why I was bothering to wear this thing if it was just worrying me unnecessarily. I mostly agree. It is nice to finally know wha…

So you’re cardiologist is saying it’s not a big deal to be in afib (unless you’re on blood thinners)? I don’t understand how that could be a reasonable thought.

My cardiologist is saying that it's not a big deal for me to be in afib 4% of the time with the longest lasting 3 hours 10 mins over a 2 week period. I haven't had a stroke or transient ischemic attack previously, don't have diabetes, hypertension or congestive heart failure. I'm male and 51 years old. Thus, my CHADS₂ and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores are zero.

Re: I Now Have a Cardiologist

#188

Post by azinman2 »

morganw wrote: post #187
azinman2 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you’re cardiologist is saying it’s not a big deal to be in afib (unless you’re on blood thinners)? I don’t understand how that could be a reasonable thought.

My cardiologist is saying that it's not a big deal for me to be in afib 4% of the time with the longest lasting 3 hours 10 mins over a 2 week period. I haven't had a stroke or transient ischemic attack previously, don't have diabetes, hypertension or congestive heart failure. I'm male and 51 years old. Thus, my CHADS₂ and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores are zero.

If you come out of it reliably on your own within a few hours, that makes sense.

Re: I Now Have a Cardiologist

#189

Post by xs83 »

rswail wrote: post #127
dis-sys wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Australia generally has great "free" healthcare No, the Australian medicare system is not remotely close to being great. When a simple CT scan/MRI can take 4 months waiting time [1], I wouldn't jump up and defend such a failed system. It is not great, it is the complete opposite of that. Ever tried to do some dentals using that "free" healthcare you mentioned or ever tried 12-18 months elective surgery waiting time…

OK, so this is Australia's system (from patient's perspective). I'm a T2 diabetic, obese, 55, have had one heart attack, angiogram/stent, second angiogram, quad bypass: 0. Everyone pays a 1.5% "extra" tax for Medicare, but that's actually just a cover. The actual cost to government is much higher, but is paid out of general revenue. 1. GPs and specialists are reimbursed by the government at a govt decided rate for di…

Great write up! I do find the Australian system a bit confusing but that is basically because on the NHS in the UK there are literally no "costs" other than prescription costs. It seems a much simpler way but as you can see there the gubberment doesn't like this because they can't make money off it.

I am very happy with the healthcare in Australia so far (I haven't had to use it much thankfully) and like the NHS there will always be waiting times for non urgent surgeries - I think most people would prefer than than a 6 figure bill (which they can also choose to have if they go private)...

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