I think I'm getting too emotional over money.

I had a milk jar worth $1.50 deposit tip over on the ceramic tile and break today. I burst into tears. I was looking forward to that $1.50 back today. I reprimanded myself all day that I should've set it somewhere where it wouldn't get bumped, or that I should have turned it in earlier this am when I dropped my son off at work. Dh looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "good grief I'll give you $1.50!"he said. NO that's not the same.....it still makes us out $1.50.

Then it gets interesting.

I get the mail to find a $500 bill for lab tests for dh and a $94.75 bill for the office visit. When dh returned from the mission trip he had, well, ...gastrointestinal issues....and was concerned it may be parasites. So it cost $95 to talk to the Dr and $500 to poopoo in a jar. Just to find out he's normal. But he's not right yet. So he needs some probiotics or some supplement to right him anyway. We only have a private master medical policy with $7500 deductible so it's all ours. I was figuring that the policy would at least pay something and/or at least not cost that much!!!!!!

 I was supposed to have my thyroid, hormones etc blood test in Sept., but with dh not working then I let it go and when my meds ran out, they ran out. Then my son had to go to the Dr (he has state ins.) and it happened to be my Dr so I got her to write a script for 3 months and promised to get in for the blood tests as soon as money allowed. Now I feel wayyy too guilty to put another $400 on us especially since we'll have this $600 to pay. That would take most of my $1000 emergency acct. So I am planning on trying to work out a payment plan with the hospital.

And dh wonders why I cry over a spilt milk jar worth $1.50.

 Alright, cinnamonhuskies, I don't know whether you need a hug or a kick in the b### to adjust that attitude!  

Hug first  {{{{you and family}}}}

You MUST get your labs done immediately.  Low thyroid function, left unmedicated, can kill you.  Look at the thyroid as the motor that runs you.  

DO NOT ignore anybody's health care due to the $$$.  Be up front and make a payment plan.  Tell your doctor that you need scrips, probiotics, etc. free of charge.  Most will come up with a free supply of meds needed and give them to you.

READ THIS:  what happens when you don't/won't take your thyroid medication

Cinnamonhuskies, I completely understand.

Your incident reminds me of the time my in-laws were complaining that once when they were out with their next door neighbors, the gentleman was overcharged for his lunch by 69 cents. He was not happy and brought it to the attention of the resturant management. My in-laws could not understand why anyone would be concerned over 69 cents. I turned to my DS and stated that I would have said something also, that's another lunch. That  would buy a can of spaghetti o's. Needless to say they gave me a look like I was from another planet. When it comes to my thoughts about money, I get those looks from them a lot. Oh well, I do not ever want to be in the bind they are with money.

I do not know if this would help your Dh,but Yoplait Yo Plus has probiotics and so does Activa yogurt. There may be others, I just happened to be eating the Yoplait as I was reading this thread.

As for your appointment, you really should try to get your bloodtests taken care of. Of coarse I understand not going, I absolutely hate going to the doctor, and put off everything way longer than I should. We have reasonable copays, so no excuse for me other than my dislike of doctors.

I second what Rolo said, you absolutely must get your thyroid work done. I've been thru all that, the treatment for shrinking an enlarged thryroid was a nuclear pill, than slowly bringing back the function thru increasing dosages of medicine. But when I was at my lowest there I had severe muscle cramps and stiffness, extreme joint pain, and a very heavy depression, skin rashes, among other problems caused by no thyroid hormone is my system.

You have to stay healthy for the sake of your family, they need you.

Edey

It's just when you work so hard for your money and saving a dime here and there... Today is my first day of unemployment and I have been gearing up with the help of this forum to save those dimes, too.  I also have some kind of funky flu bug.  I was on clear liquids and thought I could handle a bit of toast and fat free noodles in homemade soup, Wrong! 

 I have IBS and I can totally relate to the gastrointestinal thing.  I would recommend that he give his system a "break" by going on the BRAT diet for 2-3 days.  This consists of Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Dry Toast.  Then he slowly start introducing other foods such as oatmeal, pancakes, etc.. Stuff easy on the digestive track.  In the meantime, I would stay clear of dairy with the exception of yogurt with active cultures which will help put his system right.  If he can't tolerate the dairy yogurt, soy yogurt is just as good. 

 Last, please don't neglect your health.  I did for four years and I am in a right state now. 

Cinnamonhuskies:

I think I'm getting too emotional over money

And dh wonders why I cry over a spilt milk jar worth $1.50.

It makes sense to me. With all the other issues you have to think about that $1.50 was just another slip backward, no matter how small. What you want is some progress forward, not backward.

I do hope things get better for you.

Dear MichelleCinnamon Huskies, I know exactly how you feel.  I stopped in an ethnic produce market today -- their prices can be beaten only by supermarket loss leaders.  ALL apples swere $1.29/lb.  Now I HAVE Food Stamps money left -- a full $79,49 -- BUT I'm not just going to throw money away.  I have LOTS of canned fruit in the house & will just eat that & the one grapefruit & the one apple that I have left.  Navel oranges on supposed loss-leader till Tues are $1/lb!  (CA is orange-growing country.)  (And maybe I'll be luckier  with the loss-leaders that will start on this Weds.)  Anyhow, the point is that I would cry over $1.50, too!  Those folks who just throw their money away should be giving at least 10% of it to charities or as a tithe, so that decent folk who are just down on their luck like you can have enough food to eat -- $1.50 buys a loaf of bread in a thrift store or the ingredients for a home-baked loaf (so long as you have bought the yeast aat a warehouse store [in bulk]).  You see how you have gotten me into a rant!  Yours in Him, Deb

Rolo,

have you noticed it's cheaper for a person to die in this country than to have medical care?!

 I hate to say it but I would've felt better about spending $600 to find out dh had bugs or some rare tropical disease from Peru than to just get a letter in the mail saying he's "normal" whenhe doesn't feel normal and hasn't since returning from his trip last month.

We have a probiotic supplement on hand he's going to take for a week or so and see if that helps. 

But what is with the cost of medical these days?! That's what really irks me. Dave Ramsey says that when you wave cash around it gets them to lower your bill. Well I tried it at a furniture store and with the medical bills and it didn't work grr.

I suppose I might as well have my blood work done now since I'll be making (interest free) payments to the hospital.

DEB,

Yep i get bent out of shape when I find something in the grocery store I always bought for $X and now it's $XX. I either have to pay that price for it or do without. AND while I'm ranting too, I can't believe the amount of food stamps people out there that act like it doesn't matter because it's all free to them anyway! How stupid! It is not free....it is just as good as cold hard cash coming out of their pocket every time they use their FS card and it should be budgeted as such. Kudos to you Deb for being so saavy with your allotment!

Awww, I am so sorry. I know how it is though. I just recently had the bomb dropped on us. My severely disabled son that turns 21 today and does not qualify for Medicare. His share of cost for Med-cal will be a whopping 1100.00 per month. He takes two seizure meds about $900.00 for a 30 day supply and has a Baclofen Pump. Found out that the medication to fill this pump every 64 days alone is about $600.00 some and the office call to inject the medication is about $900.00. I will have to pay the $1100.00 out of pocket that month. Yikes!!!!!  Oh and he also has a Gastrostomy Feeding Tube that he gets all of his nutrition through due to asperating last May. The high calorie formula that he intakes is priced at $612.00 or a lil more for a 30 day supply.

I am responding primarily because I know the importance of taking your medication when you have thyroid issues. My daughter had her whole thyroid surgically removed due to a large mass in Feb 2008. She is covered medically but as for my son, I have been seeking out discount programs for the medications that he has to have. My sister told me a while back about the rx card and she said that she saves almost 50% on her medications. (She has no Ins at all) Here is the link for ya.    unarxcard.com

Geeze, Good luck, I have been searching high and low for something to help with my sons medical needs. I do have tons that I have gone through in my research. If I run across something that might be of help to you I will post it.

Dear Bambi, I am SO SORRY to hear of your plight.  Do you subscribe to EXCEPTIONAL PARENT Magazine?  (Some larger libraries get it, free is much be tter than subscribing!)  The magazine carries lots of tips about how to get costs a LITTLE more manageable ....  Yours in Him, Deb