Medical fees must be one of the most unregulated, outrageous things ever. For some reason shopping around with medical fees is not like shopping around for a car or your groceries - people seem to think that once you have one that's it. But it amazes me sometimes how much people charge and what they can get away with.
It started with my parents a few years ago when they had a colonoscopy. Mum told me that the colonoscopy cost $2000 and the anaesthetic was $800! I nearly fell of my chair. That means that they were WAYYY out of pocket. I gapcover all my scopes, because they're such quick procedures, you'll make good money already. But $800! For a 20 minute anaesthetic? Maybe 30 minutes? I mean really does anyone think they're worth $1600-$2400 an hour??? And what makes them better than me?
On Tuesday we were discussing fees and what people charge (amongst my anaesthetic colleagues). At the San (Private hospital in Northern Sydney) a relative of one of my colleagues was $700 out of pocket for a knee scope! And they're with Medibank Private! Which means that the knee scope probably cost close to $1000 for the anaesthetic alone! My fee is less than half of that! So do people REALLY think (patients that is) that they're getting a better anaesthetic for that ridiculous price? I do post op follow ups, I am considerate and caring and I give plenty of advice about what to do for pain relief after the operation and what to expect. I bet you half of these slack dogs don't even do that. And nobody does a thing about it. And some anaesthetists charge $1000 for an epidural IN HOURS! For labour pain. And that is more than double my fee EASILY. The things people get away with. It's truly astonishing.
Sometimes I feel like I should write an anonymous letter to the paper or Today Tonight or something looking at the price of medical bills.
Sometimes I am temped
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Starcraft 2 is out!
Well finally Starcraft 2 is released! I haven't had much time to play, having gone out and had meetings and so on but I have to tell you I'm pretty bad at playing Zerg - I keep getting wiped out! I think I need to make a defensive team with offensive backup to start. I was annoyed because I had so many network dropouts! And I was winning one game too.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Julian unwell again... is he ever healthy?
Julian came down with some febrile illness last weekend, and was rather miserable. It turned into diarrhoea by Tuesday and Wednesday and on Thursday was really lethargic and off his food. Even my nanny was worried, she called me about him, just to let me know but didn't think he needed to go to hospital or anything. Anyway yesterday he was looking a bit better, more chirpy but still miserable and he came out in an all over body rash spotty thing. Measles looking but I don't think it's that, I'm not exactly sure what it is. But I haven't been able to catch any poos, they're all going in the nappies. And I feel bad because I've been throwing nappies into the bin with poo in them, when I should at least spray them off. And the amount of disposables we're using... geez my environmental conscience is yelling at me! Though it is a lot easier to get rid of diarrhoea poo that way...
Oh and I have diagnosed it! He has Roseola infantum. Also known as 6th disease. Starts off with fever and when fever breaks they get a rash all over their trunk and spreads to arms, legs and face. Says the fever can last 3-7 days and the rash a few hours to a few days. It came on pretty quick the rash. Hopefully it will fade just as fast.
Poor Julian has such a red bottom from his frequent poos. Looks so sore!
Oh and I have diagnosed it! He has Roseola infantum. Also known as 6th disease. Starts off with fever and when fever breaks they get a rash all over their trunk and spreads to arms, legs and face. Says the fever can last 3-7 days and the rash a few hours to a few days. It came on pretty quick the rash. Hopefully it will fade just as fast.
Poor Julian has such a red bottom from his frequent poos. Looks so sore!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
First electricity bill after solar rebate
Oh I forgot to mention I got my first electricity bill after having the solar panels installed and the meter in place. My electricity bill was $18.57! Now the interesting thing was that it was all from late fees... because I forgot to pay my last electricity bill on time. Solar rebate got me back $409.67 (602kWh @ 68c). And we used 2091kWh. So that was really good!
Mobile monster-baby
Geez Julian is climbing everywhere! He is climbing the stairs, getting up the bookshelf (!!) and pulling books out - yesterday he was standing on a bucket pulling things off the bookshelf. He does like to stand at the printer and the windowsill and also at the table.
Converted the trike back into a walker for him though unfortunately Erika seems to like "helping" which is basically pushing the walker along for him which of course is too fast and he falls flat on his face!
It was only last week that I put him in that space around the staircase - I have the gate around it so I thought well he can't go up, and he's contained by the fence so he can't go anywhere. I went to the toilet and then I heard Ivan yelling my name, so I came out and saw that Julian had made it up to the third step! On the weekend Ivan decided to see how far he could go and he managed to go up the whole flight of stairs! He got stuck on the top step because he couldn't get over the safety gate edge.
Now Julian is constantly standing in his cot. I wonder how long it will be before I have to lower the cot. If he climbs this much he probably could get over the cot edge before long.
Converted the trike back into a walker for him though unfortunately Erika seems to like "helping" which is basically pushing the walker along for him which of course is too fast and he falls flat on his face!
It was only last week that I put him in that space around the staircase - I have the gate around it so I thought well he can't go up, and he's contained by the fence so he can't go anywhere. I went to the toilet and then I heard Ivan yelling my name, so I came out and saw that Julian had made it up to the third step! On the weekend Ivan decided to see how far he could go and he managed to go up the whole flight of stairs! He got stuck on the top step because he couldn't get over the safety gate edge.
Now Julian is constantly standing in his cot. I wonder how long it will be before I have to lower the cot. If he climbs this much he probably could get over the cot edge before long.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Meeting People in Real Life after only knowing them online
When you play online games like World of Warcraft with the same people every day for years, people become your good friends. People who don't meet people online often don't understand this. They think that you can't know someone unless you have met them in person. But seriously, you meet someone at a bar, you pick them up, you take them home. How well do you REALLY know that person, come on! People often think oh people you meet online are stalkers, axe murderers, criminals, perverts - you don't know anything about them! But how do you know some guy you meet on a date isn't the same? Or any other colleague or peer for that matter?
But on to meeting my online friends. At our big Frostwolf party when Madcow (Moopie) came to visit seeing some people was like.. wow is that what you look like. Take Lacrox, a golden haired metrosexual looking Blood Elf. In real life he's round, dark and bearded. Ghistal, hilariously, looks exactly like a dwarf. And Frostie was gorgeous in real life. Davith was like a gentle (vegetarian!!) giant, Silentogre looked like a scary scrawny Nazi to me... and Saintzhul and Kaz were just like they were online, loud, brash and friendly.
Then when Mil and Thinto came to visit, I was worried because they kinda look scary from their pics... but Mil is actually very pretty and crazy, and Thinto is also very nice but scarily observant! Why does it feel like all boys who play WoW are overweight and bearded/unshaven... got to see Arstor for the first time there too and he was very pleasant looking as well as being nice to talk to and totally non snobby like. Totally don't like their drunken and drug taking behaviour though. Makes everyone totally annoying and just outrageous thinking they can get away with stupid things.
Then on our 5th birthday party when we went to Tout's place, Melfina looked totally... hate to say it... bogan (Bel's words not mine)! How on earth does he have 2 girls at once and raid 6 hours a day and work.... /rolls eyes. Eboniee looks older than we thought, and for some reason I thought she was blonde but she's dark haired and a bit overweight too (but she's still sweet and lovely!). Fue looks pale and quiet, and had less hair than I thought since I remember his pics from when he was 18 on the website! So yeah online Fue is calm yet in command but in real life is quiet and not bossy at all. Caedis was actually what I thought he'd look like. And his voice sounds different for some reason. Arstor was gorgeous as usual and even Eboniee thought so! Would have to say he's the best looking WoW player I've met so far.
Then when we went to Sev's place the other weekend because Aza came to visit. Aza has long hair - flowing golden locks he says - and he's very tall but his enthusiasm in real life is just like he is online. He looks different to when I met him 3 years ago! I have to admit that I was a bit grouchy thinking that Sev was going to meet up with Tout but hadn't met up with me and hubby because I always thought we were better friends and I was letting him have his space... and I was prompted a little by thinking I can't let them meet him before I have! I know I know, totally petty! So I shamefully admit one of the driving forces for going to see Sev was that I didn't want everyone to do it before I did...
Sev is pathologically reclusive so I never feel like I should force him to do things. And he was so nervous with entertaining... you should have seen all the drinks in his fridge! He could have fed a classroom for 2 days! So we went out for Indian food which I really liked and unfortunately Tout didn't like. And silly old Tout he did his usual thing - "I can take you to the BEST place for Indian" he cracks me up with how he always knows the BEST of everything, the best dentist, the best restaurants, the best bar... poor Sev if that was me I'd feel really embarrassed that I took my friends to place and they didn't like it! Sev said he looked like Fue... maybe in terms of paleness but other than that not really. He did look awkward though - shy mixed with some hesitation. But he was happy enough, he wasn't sullen or anything and seemed genuinely pleased to see us. I was glad I met him, it doesn't change my opinion of him, and we're still as good friends as ever. His brother though, was not what I expected! Perhaps I expected someone a bit more like Caedis, being the brand name shopper that he is - but he is obviously one of those who likes to dress designer without looking designer grunge! Long hair in a ponytail, glasses, skinny but friendly - he looks like somebody from a comic book store! Sometimes I wonder if I should mention to Tout his lack of tact - though when I try to point out his faults and lack of insight into them I am told I'm being paranoid and not being his friend! Blah! LOL don't want to make this a whole whinge about Tout post, I might have to make up a separate one for whinging about friends!
This weekend Bel is coming to Sydney because Fae has a presentation of some sort. I asked him briefly if he wanted to meet up, he was evasive so I didn't bother pushing it, after all, it's probably not an ideal thing if a married dude is meeting up with a chick in Sydney (even though his Mrs may be present). But then I find Tout has asked him over for lunch! I think I'll just avoid the whole thing, just to be on the safe side. After all, guys meeting guys is ok. I don't want to upset Fae! I'll happily stay at home and besides I'm on call.
But on to meeting my online friends. At our big Frostwolf party when Madcow (Moopie) came to visit seeing some people was like.. wow is that what you look like. Take Lacrox, a golden haired metrosexual looking Blood Elf. In real life he's round, dark and bearded. Ghistal, hilariously, looks exactly like a dwarf. And Frostie was gorgeous in real life. Davith was like a gentle (vegetarian!!) giant, Silentogre looked like a scary scrawny Nazi to me... and Saintzhul and Kaz were just like they were online, loud, brash and friendly.
Then when Mil and Thinto came to visit, I was worried because they kinda look scary from their pics... but Mil is actually very pretty and crazy, and Thinto is also very nice but scarily observant! Why does it feel like all boys who play WoW are overweight and bearded/unshaven... got to see Arstor for the first time there too and he was very pleasant looking as well as being nice to talk to and totally non snobby like. Totally don't like their drunken and drug taking behaviour though. Makes everyone totally annoying and just outrageous thinking they can get away with stupid things.
Then on our 5th birthday party when we went to Tout's place, Melfina looked totally... hate to say it... bogan (Bel's words not mine)! How on earth does he have 2 girls at once and raid 6 hours a day and work.... /rolls eyes. Eboniee looks older than we thought, and for some reason I thought she was blonde but she's dark haired and a bit overweight too (but she's still sweet and lovely!). Fue looks pale and quiet, and had less hair than I thought since I remember his pics from when he was 18 on the website! So yeah online Fue is calm yet in command but in real life is quiet and not bossy at all. Caedis was actually what I thought he'd look like. And his voice sounds different for some reason. Arstor was gorgeous as usual and even Eboniee thought so! Would have to say he's the best looking WoW player I've met so far.
Then when we went to Sev's place the other weekend because Aza came to visit. Aza has long hair - flowing golden locks he says - and he's very tall but his enthusiasm in real life is just like he is online. He looks different to when I met him 3 years ago! I have to admit that I was a bit grouchy thinking that Sev was going to meet up with Tout but hadn't met up with me and hubby because I always thought we were better friends and I was letting him have his space... and I was prompted a little by thinking I can't let them meet him before I have! I know I know, totally petty! So I shamefully admit one of the driving forces for going to see Sev was that I didn't want everyone to do it before I did...
Sev is pathologically reclusive so I never feel like I should force him to do things. And he was so nervous with entertaining... you should have seen all the drinks in his fridge! He could have fed a classroom for 2 days! So we went out for Indian food which I really liked and unfortunately Tout didn't like. And silly old Tout he did his usual thing - "I can take you to the BEST place for Indian" he cracks me up with how he always knows the BEST of everything, the best dentist, the best restaurants, the best bar... poor Sev if that was me I'd feel really embarrassed that I took my friends to place and they didn't like it! Sev said he looked like Fue... maybe in terms of paleness but other than that not really. He did look awkward though - shy mixed with some hesitation. But he was happy enough, he wasn't sullen or anything and seemed genuinely pleased to see us. I was glad I met him, it doesn't change my opinion of him, and we're still as good friends as ever. His brother though, was not what I expected! Perhaps I expected someone a bit more like Caedis, being the brand name shopper that he is - but he is obviously one of those who likes to dress designer without looking designer grunge! Long hair in a ponytail, glasses, skinny but friendly - he looks like somebody from a comic book store! Sometimes I wonder if I should mention to Tout his lack of tact - though when I try to point out his faults and lack of insight into them I am told I'm being paranoid and not being his friend! Blah! LOL don't want to make this a whole whinge about Tout post, I might have to make up a separate one for whinging about friends!
This weekend Bel is coming to Sydney because Fae has a presentation of some sort. I asked him briefly if he wanted to meet up, he was evasive so I didn't bother pushing it, after all, it's probably not an ideal thing if a married dude is meeting up with a chick in Sydney (even though his Mrs may be present). But then I find Tout has asked him over for lunch! I think I'll just avoid the whole thing, just to be on the safe side. After all, guys meeting guys is ok. I don't want to upset Fae! I'll happily stay at home and besides I'm on call.
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