It’s worked before for Dopers. I’ve been under the weather for a couple of months (losing weight, off my feed) and really sick (nausea and vomiting) for the last week. Symptoms point to a bowel obstruction (tender mass in abdomen), and I’m off to the doctor. If I had insurance, I’d have gone sooner, but there are 47 million like me, so no whining.
Fingers crossed that I’m just bloated. If not, fingers crossed for an easy fix, like an enema or something.
Be sure to ask about payment plans, discounts, referrals for financial assistance, whatever you can get. I know the hospital I work for automatically takes half off the charges for people without any insurance, and then can work to help you find other assistance or at least put you on a reasonable payment plan.
And best of luck. I hope it’s something easy, not dangerous, and cheap! I’ll be thinking of you.
The diagnosis: I’m full of shit. No obstruction, just a load of poop that isn’t moving. The x-rays were amazing. I had no idea poop could be in all those places.
So it’s fluids and a mild laxative and it should clear out. I’ve never been constipated in my life. Doc said taking the Pepto for my upset tummy didn’t help.
Ferret Herder, you were right. I paid cash and got a 30% discount. Only $130 for the office visit, blood work, and x-rays.
AP, I’m so glad to hear it’s nothing too serious and nothing requiring surgery or expensive treatment.
FWIW, when I was 9 I nearly died from a bout of ileus. My body stopped moving solid waste completely, and nobody figured out what was wrong with me until I was full from the back end all the way up into my stomach, where freshly consumed food just sat and started to rot. The total procedure for my cure: 18 days in the hospital, a stomach pump for 9 days, 3 a day enemas for 9 days, massive amounts of antibiotics and fluids and enough x-rays, upper and lower GI exams to to light me up like xmas in New York.
Like I said, I’m glad your condition is likely easily fixed.
My husband sure did. Haven’t heard him laugh like that in ages.
I remember how good it felt after I cleaned out for a colonoscopy, and I’m looking forward to that feeling again. Good thing I actually like prunes and dried apricots.
