Another ER visit down.... HOW MANY MORE?

jerth6932

jerth6932

Active Member

Well I am in the ER with my wife because she has gastro parisis; in essence anything that goes in her mouth doesn't make it past her stomach. If she eats something it goes into her stomach sits there for days, then she pukes it out. She has a feeding tube in place, and recently had a pacemaker placed on her stomach to stimulate it. She has had a couple of news articles written on her from our local newspaper:
http://www.standard.net/topics/health/2010/09/12/syracuse-womans-life-without-eating-gastroparesis

http://www.standard.net/topics/health/2011/02/24/chance-be-normal-syracuse-woman-rare-stomach-condition-approved-surgery

I laugh at the second ones title: "A chance to be normal", they obviously didn't know her prior to this condition..... She has always been strange.... no normality.

Some back ground on it:
2008: she had an attack that lasted 1 month, where her stomach shut down, but returned back to normal.
Flash forward to 2010:
January- has attack, that doesn't let up.
February- they place a NG tube that goes into her nose, down past her stomach into the duodenum of the small intestines.
April- NG tube is not working so they place a J tube (jejunum tube) that is directly through her stomach wall, into her intestine to feed her
October- she has a G tube placed (gastric tube) into her stomach to vent stomach juices off to give her relief.
March 10 2011- She was approved for her pace maker to stimulate her stomach, and it was placed (giving her some relief from the constant nausea that she experienced since October) but she is due on June 2 for an adjustment on the pace maker, so it’s a waiting game.


Some numbers to crunch:
2010: 43 ER visits and 67 days in the hospital
2010: $183,000 only $12,000 paid by us (7,000 of it for the food to put in the tube so she can eat, because insurance deems it not medically nessacary for the food, at $6 dollars a can, times by 6 cans a day........)
2011: 3 ER visits including this one I am writing from
2011:$303,283 and we have only had to pay $3,400 (Because of new Obama care, my wife is 22 and so she could be added back to her parents insurance again, and they pay for her food.)

I feel I am done with my rant for now.... just needed to tell someone........ I should probably tell a therapist....lol.... so save me some money and make me feel better.... lol
 
nikesb

nikesb

Active Member
wow man, you are a strong person! dont ever falter. i cant even dream of anything like this happening to anyone.
i'll keep you guys in my prayers.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
How miserable for your wife, and how difficult for you. You guys are in my prayers too. I just spent one day in the hospital with my mom from 12:00 till 4:00 and I felt like it drained my very life away just waiting for lab test results. I can't imagine it as a constant in my life the way you have experienced. I think just to walk into an ER it costs $1000.00 before they do a thing...... The laptop is a handy diversion..... be careful..LOL... sitting in an ER waiting makes you cranky, I got a bit snippy at folks on the site and didn't even notice I was being a bear.
I would be fighting the insurance on the food issue, that's insane to not pay for what goes in a feeding tube.
 
jerth6932

jerth6932

Active Member

How miserable for your wife, and how difficult for you. You guys are in my prayers too. I just spent one day in the hospital with my mom from 12:00 till 4:00 and I felt like it drained my very life away just waiting for lab test results. I can't imagine it as a constant in my life the way you have experienced. I think just to walk into an ER it costs $1000.00 before they do a thing...... The laptop is a handy diversion..... be careful..LOL... sitting in an ER waiting makes you cranky, I got a bit snippy at folks on the site and didn't even notice I was being a bear.

I would be fighting the insurance on the food issue, that's insane to not pay for what goes in a feeding tube.
the ER use to be a place of crankiness for me, but I really feel like an old pro at it now though. Our ER visits with out any tests costs around 1700-2200. Sad I know the range. I learned the laptop trick early as I had college courses I was taing on line and had to complete.
The food issue has been resolvd this year. Last year nestle company stepped up big for us and donated us 3 cases a month so 73 cans a month. Whichb helped. The obama care chang of allowing her to go on her fathers insurance was big they are taking care of it this year so far.
Weappreciate your prayers, same as u and your mom with us.
 
jerth6932

jerth6932

Active Member

That's so terrible. Hang in there!
Sending good thoughts your way!
Getting mixed signals from your thoughts:
Buy more blennies............
Don't buy hermet crabs, because they are :evil: ..
Quarintene and research everything.....
Fish are friends, not food.......
:rotfl:
:rotfl:
We really appreciate your positive thoughs for her, and thanks for the encouragement.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Just came to my mind. I work through a CDPAP (Consumer Directed Personal Care Assistant). While she is your wife and you can not get paid to care for her through the program, they do step in and help out a lot with medical expenses that are not covered by ones insurance. It has worked out great for the family I work with. The child I work with needs to be on Nestle Nutren Jr, which his insurance company deemed not necessary, CDPAP (which is a Medicaid program) stepped in and foots the bill for it. Something to at least look into.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
Man sry to hear this jerth....It really has been tuff for everyone these last couple years. I have stomach issues as well but the doc dosent know wats up. Ive had MRIs and blood work and all kinds of things. My stomach has calmed down lately and only hurts a lil in the mornings but usually goes away after a cup of cold water. I wish u and ur fam bam the best man!
 
S

siptang

Guest
Wow Jerth, I'm praying for you and your wife.
I thought i'm the only one with trouble in this world (in my world and in my clouded head, that's how it felt like) but your op put me in 'perspective' and made me grateful for both me and my wife's health. Keep up the good fight and we will pray for you and your family to pull through!
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
Wow! I can't imagine to be dealing with what you and your wife are dealing with. I'm praying for you and your wife.
 
jerth6932

jerth6932

Active Member

Man sry to hear this jerth....It really has been tuff for everyone these last couple years. I have stomach issues as well but the doc dosent know wats up. Ive had MRIs and blood work and all kinds of things. My stomach has calmed down lately and only hurts a lil in the mornings but usually goes away after a cup of cold water. I wish u and ur fam bam the best man!

Man the munchies are a killer aren't they.........:rotfl: thx bro for the good wishes. Sorry 2 hear you are experencing probs too.
WOW....My prayers go out to you and your wife
Thx every prayer counts swf mom....... lol thx
Wow Jerth, I'm praying for you and your wife.
I thought i'm the only one with trouble in this world (in my world and in my clouded head, that's how it felt like) but your op put me in 'perspective' and made me grateful for both me and my wife's health. Keep up the good fight and we will pray for you and your family to pull through!


I realy appreciate your prayers..... you are going through a lot more than I could handle. I have read over your posts in the member pictures thread several time and cry.... bad..... I have major problems when it comes to children sufforing. There was a lot I wanted to say to you but would lose my composure. I am truely and deeply sorry for your loss. Your family has been with us in our prayers since I heard of the loss... I apoligise to go into it so much...
Wow! I can't imagine to be dealing with what you and your wife are dealing with. I'm praying for you and your wife.
Thx evry one counts and helps. I appreciate it.
It has helped me a lot to write this, I really appreciate everyones support.
Friday at 2:15pm she's getting g and j tubes replaced.
 
S

siptang

Guest
Hang in there and also no worries, I wouldn't have posted those pictures and words if I minded.
I realized sharing these types of pain helps in more ways then we realize. If you need someone to vent/talk pm me anytime.
 
jerth6932

jerth6932

Active Member
Well a week later and she is sitting next to me getting a gastric emptying test done. She is 2 hours into a 4 hour procedure. Right after this she has an adjustment with her pacemaker. I hope this gives her some more relief. She has been bad as of late again. An adjustment was needed. If we lived closer then 750 miles from this doctor it would be easier..... But 2 more of these trips this year then it is yearly from that point.
 
jerth6932

jerth6932

Active Member

I'm still thinking of you guys and wishing you all the best!
..... this post couldn't of came 2 me at a better time. Wife had just medicated her self for the night. I was sitting alone in the bathroom (at I am in a hotel) feeling I have lost my wife. My phone vibrated telling me I had an email. And it told me this post. You made me smile.... thanks!
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerth6932 http:///forum/thread/385881/another-er-visit-down-how-many-more#post_3387758
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/385881/another-er-visit-down-how-many-more#post_3387751
I'm still thinking of you guys and wishing you all the best!
..... this post couldn't of came 2 me at a better time. Wife had just medicated her self for the night. I was sitting alone in the bathroom (at I am in a hotel) feeling I have lost my wife. My phone vibrated telling me I had an email. And it told me this post. You made me smile.... thanks!
Glad I could make your day a little brighter. Hang in there man, your wife sounds like a trooper, and she's lucky to have you by her side.
 
jerth6932

jerth6932

Active Member

Glad I could make your day a little brighter.  Hang in there man, your wife sounds like a trooper, and she's lucky to have you by her side.
You did. Thx. She is a trooper. Its been a long struggle. I hope her body finaly agrees the struggle is over.... we need it.... thx again u realy timed that response right!
 
jerth6932

jerth6932

Active Member
Well the Pacemaker does seem to be making some progress. Her initial gastric emptying tests from this doctor before the pacemaker was 47% left after 4 hours (normal is less then 10%). This time with the pacemaker set at 4 it was 36%, which isn't good, but is GREAT because she made progress in the right way. They adjusted it to 7 now and made her another appointment for August 25Th, to get another follow up.
They gave her a better diet, I had her eating the wrong foods....... I figured if it was slowed..... FIBER...... WRONG!!!!! IT was bad for her. So I hope with the new diet/changes made to the pacemaker that she will start to feel a little better.
 
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