Monday, July 07, 2008

Healthcare...

At my new job, my healthcare costs are 100% paid for by my employer. Unfortunately, the cost to cover the rest of the family was astronomical, so we contacted our insurance guy and for less than what I was paying out of my paycheck at my last job, Ray and the girls are covered for better coverage through the same health insurance company.

The only problem is that coverage doesn't start until August 1st, and Murphy's Law is that someone was bound to get sick. And that someone was Audrey. Last minute, we headed to Pinehurst, NC on July 4th to visit with our friends and hang out at their parent's house. They are on a golf course, there was a pool, multiple lakes (both kids swam in a lake for the first time...) and fireworks. Plus, with seven grandkids, their house was stocked with toys and things to do. Audrey started complaining that it hurt when she peed. We thought she had a diaper rash as she kept peeing in her pull-up. Then she woke up on Saturday morning and was pretty much inconsolable and crying and trying to go to the bathroom. Any of you ladies out there who have had urinary tract infections know just how painful it is.

A quick call to our pediatrician, and we rushed out of there and back to Raleigh to see the doctor. Of course they wanted a sample and when the nurse told me they would have to catheter her if she wouldn't pee in a cup, I started to cry. I gave Audrey a few minutes, and then bribed her with a lollipop and the prospect of peeing in a cup and she did it, just enough to confirm a urinary tract infection.

Office visit: $85 (not bad considering there was a culture for her urine in that cost)
Drugs: $95 (but we have a $20 rebate we can mail in for)

We have to go back in a week to have her checked, and then as a precaution, they want to do an ultrasound of her kidneys as standard procedure for any child under the age of four who gets a UTI. We can wait and do that after we have insurance. I am betting she is fine...I am guessing she is like me. I had many UTI's as a kid, and was even hospitalized at one point. So all in all, it wasn't as expensive as we thought it would be. And the main thing is that she is feeling better, although I am pretty sure she has eaten her weight in gummy bears in the last three days...(which she only weighs 25 pounds...)

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Poor kid!! Hope she's feeling better real soon :)

Lost A Sock said...

Oh yikes. Murphy's law indeed. I hope she is feeling better though, what misery. And poor you guys. Cross your fingers and keep your family sealed in the house until the 1st, haha.

Frannie said...

i have had so many of those! hospitalized 9 days for one once. yuck! they are so painful. I would hate to watch my child go through that!

Sabrina said...

Alyssa had one when she was 8 months old. Broke my heart.

Mel said...

Good ol Murphy! Poor thing. I'm glad you got some meds and that she is feeling better. I'm sure all is well.

Julie said...

Thank God the lolli bribe worked - the alternative would have been awful.

Lori said...

poor little one... I hope she is feeling better now

That Chick Over There said...

Poor thing! I hope she is on the mend. Those things are awful!

Mozi Esme said...

Gummy bears should do the trick! Hope she's feeling better - and glad you've got a good insurance deal coming up!

Amanda-The Family News! said...

Yes you are right about Murphy's law!!! That is the way it always seems to go.
My little one has not had a UTI, but I am so fearful that she will get one and I won't know that is what she has.

Jen @ One Moms World said...

Oh goodness! I know all too well about bladder infections. I hope she is back on the mend. I do agree about Murphy's law... its always the truth hehe.