I'm so glad I don't live in the US.  $1250.00 for an ambulance???  That's fechen ridiculous.  Like did they transport you 1200 miles across state lines or something?  Shoot, I could fly from Australia to England for that... and still have some change in my pocket.

Yeah, we've had some cuts to health services here in Australia, but pensioners and low income earners are usually pretty well looked after under the national health care scheme.  It's not perfect, but far better than profit mongering insurance companies running the show and making health care unaffordable to the less fortunate.

It is what it is Mark. Fortunately my insurance should cover it......hopefully. Also hoping to have an update soon. Not knowing is a bit annoying.

Off topic: Laptop charger died. May be awhile before I can update. Need to replace it. One thing or another.

Yeah, damned insurance companies.... as bad as fechen bankers,  I can't recall just how many people who have said to me that their insurance company refused to pay up, citing some obscure clause or other.  An aunt and uncle of mine had private health insurance, but the company refused to pay up when she became ill, claiming that it was pre-existing and a work related illness that was up to workers comp to pay. 

Thing was, she'd been retired for over 20 years and the policy was 40 years older than the illness, but still they weaseled out of it, costing my aunt and uncle thousands because they didn't qualify for Medicare at the time.

Yup, insurance companies... money grubbing bastards.

I have no complaints about my insurance coverage. Medicaide is covering me 100% All meds and Hospice, Damn good thing to as I don't think they planned on me being around for so long after my diagnosis. The hospice nurses seem suprized that I"m still breathing every time they come for my check-ups. ( My COPD is harder on me than the cancer) I was told by my cancer doctor after he read the biopsy to just go and enjoy the rest of my life as best I can, so as much as I miss my dear sweet wife. I aim to hang around as long as I can.  I can deal with the pain better than most people can deal  with me so as long as I can still eat, breath and s**t I'm in no hurry to clock out. It helps to have all my friends here, especially Jim, to keep from going bonkers (a side effect of living with my mother.)lol.

Thanks again for all the prayers and good thoughts. I love you all.

Randy

I love ya, bro. Mumzy too! 

Jim has been close too you for a long time. Doesn't mean there aren't many others that do care. I have asked her before and now asked my wife again to help you best she can. I have been asking her for help more in the last few years then I did for the 44 years we were married. She can handle it.

Thank you so much for the reply.  Where would we be without the women in our lives.? You are one of the people here who have made my time spent here worthwhile and special.  I won't post anything else here as I don't want to hijack Uvah's thread but I plan on creating  one myself where replies and comments will be most welcome. Have a great wekend, I'm hoping it will be a bit warmer as I never did like the cold.

You know, Wiz, I may not see you around as much these days, but I often wonder how you are and how you're coping.  I'm so glad that you have the fighting spirit to keep going, because that makes so much difference as to how you face each day.  I have my own health issues, and sometimes they seem overwhelming, but I'm a stubborn ol' bastard who won't give in, and you come across the same.  Same with Ross, he's far too ornery to give in as well.

It comes with age I suppose.  We mightn't be as spritely or nimble any more, but our tolerance patience and wisdom has grown over the years, making us stronger than even we ourselves might imagine at times.  So keep fighting, Wiz, and start that thread, I'd love to see it and more of you here in the forums.

   

Oh, and Ross.... banned for getting shit you didn't sign up for.... ditch it real soon, okay.  

Hey Whiz...you can hijack it all you want, no worries. All are welcome.   

Cap'n says it all Whiz. Ours is a particular boat and we're the only ones who know how to rig her.

same here...  

not here much myself 'cept for a pop in occasionally to see how everyone's going...

your sharp wit and great sense of humour have made the forums so much fun over these many years....and I think that gift is standing you in good stead now.... a good laugh is the best medicine....and I know Starkers will provide you with plenty of medicine...lol..

Well I'll give a darned good try.... just gotta give me funny bone a knock and see what I can come up with.

Shoot.... Nothing!  Gave my elbow a good whack.... and nothing.  Not a bloody thing!

Maybe later this afternoon after a couple of beers with my son, who's staying for a few days to help out with things.  We're still unpacking and organising stuff after the big move.  I didn't realise just how much stuff we'd collected over the years.  We bought 60 good sized packing boxes to go with the 30 something I had already collected for the move .... and we filled them all.  Talk about hoarders, lol.

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Speaking of moving, it reminds me of when I was a kid.  Mum would often give me money to go to the shop to buy sweets, ice cream, etc.  Dad never did.  He always called me a useless ornament and often gave be a good walloping for the mischief I frequently got up to.  So on the one and only time he gave me money to go down the shop, I was completely ecstatic and took off with the shilling he gave me as fast as my little legs would carry me.

It took a while to decide what I wanted because a shilling [approx 10c] was a lot of money in them days, and it bought quite a few sweets  Anyway, I got what I wanted and was excited to get home to show the family what I had..... but when I got there they'd moved.

     

That's the best medicine I can come up with for now, but I'll see what's what after I've been to the pharmacy of good jokes.

 

would have been cheaper to just change the locks......  

Nah, I'd learnt to pick locks at a very early age.  By the time I was five, the local Barclays bank barred me from going in there., lol.  The manager didn't trust me near the safe.

   

I saw an ad for burial plots, and thought to myself this is the last thing I need.

According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy. 

And one the Cap'n will enjoy.

A man died and was taken to his place of eternal torment by the devil.

As he passed sulphurous pits and shrieking sinners, he saw a man he recognized as a lawyer snuggling up to a beautiful woman.

"That's unfair!" he cried. "I have to roast for all eternity, and that lawyer gets to spend it with a beautiful woman."

"Shut up", barked the devil, jabbing the man with his pitchfork.

"Who are you to question that woman's punishment?"

BTW, Ross. I was diagnosed with COPD in March of 2015 but actually exhibited syptoms well before that, I was just too darn stubborn to see a  Doctor (that and we had no insurance coverage at the time.) I also take Albuterol, both for a nebulizer and a hand held rescue inhaler. Along with that, I take Symbicort in an inhaler (about $380.00) and Atrovent (about $420.00) all of which is covered 100% by Medicaid. I also have an O2 concentrator.They have been doing a fair job of keeping me breathing.

The "catch"  with Medicaid is you have to pretty much throw yourself into poverty to get it in Illinois. No real job, car, or savings over $2,000 is allowed. Hopefully your state has a better deal than that. Bottom line, get on and stay on those meds, and I sincerly hope the other issues will be handled as easily for you.

Stay well my friend.

 

 

That's like the man whose mother-in-law told him that when he dies she's going to dance on his grave.

"Well that's fine with me, you old witch," he retorted: "I'm getting buried at sea."

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Then there was the old skinflint who didn't trust banks.  When he died his ex-wife went to the funeral, and when she saw his body in the casket she immediately burst into tears.

Her friend piped up and said: "But you weren't even talking for the last 10 years, why are you so upset?"

"The old bastard didn't tell me where he buried his money."

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As for going to Hell......

Lmao at some. Good medicine for this numb nut. Using my daughters iPad, it sucks. Waiting on a replacement charger for my laptop still. Should know more within a few days. Scheduling appointments is such a bitch. Otherwise I'm doing ok. No more congestion, cough is gone and I got more energy than I know what to do with. Plus my appetite is back with a vengeance 

That's some great news Ross. Thanks for keeping us informed, now get out there and enjoy the day.  

 That sounds good!

Say Ross, in your original post you mentioned a mass in your lung that was possibly cancerous, any word on that yet?

I asked that in my reply 20 Tom. Maybe he has an answer now

 

Yeah, I just looked at his replies for the answer, but not mentioned yet.

Let's just hope he forgot to take his wallet out of his breast pocket and it accounts for the 'mass'  

As for feeling a lot better, Ross, that's great to hear.... just don't let your 'vengeful' appetite increase your girth too much.... otherwise your next ambulance trip could cost more

   

I think the highest ambo fee in Oz is around $7000....[it's a big country]...so it pays to be in the Ambo Subscription....about 100 a year....worth it as it also covers the Air Ambo and KiwiLand...;)