By Andres Mercado
Yesterday, I was up all night and half the day vomiting. Had I been younger, I would have just toughed it out and recovered in a day or two.
However, being a senior I felt I had better get some medical advice. I called my primary care physician who advised me to go to the emergency room since I would need an IV.
I proceeded to the ER and checked in. I was placed on a gurney. The doctor came in and said, “Lets see what”s going on with your tummy.” I was taken to X-ray where five X-rays were taken of my abdominal area. A while later the doctor said, “There may be a blockage here; I may have to keep you in.” I replied, “I just had a good bowel movement.”
I was taken to radiology and given a CT scan. Then I was hooked up to the IV for three hours while a liter of water was pumped into my arm. I dozed off and on.
Just before the IV was completed, the doctor came in and reported that I could go home, as everything was OK. He gave me a couple of suppositories to use in case I felt nauseous again.
So, here is my question.
Were all the X-rays and CT scan necessary? These tests blew up the bill to Medicare from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand.
Andres Mercado
Lucerne
