Opti
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Post by Opti on Jan 30, 2020 16:51:51 GMT -5
While me. Poor. Not poor enough for Medicaid, not old enough for Medicare, and just recently signed up for the cheapest Health ins option because NJ Taxes.
I've had bad pink eye for at least a week. The clinic doctor wants me to see a Optha... to determine how bad it is including how is Mr. Cornea and is the infection MRSA, something similarly icky ... and Oh do I now have shingles on my forehead.
Not sure what to do, but I am heading home to call some Dr. numbers and see what the costs are and can they fit me in tomorrow. I am trying to avoid the ER, because it will be probably double the cost or more and I don't think I will qualify for Charity care.
Any advice or personal experiences to share? ER ? I suppose if I can't get a DR appt Friday AND my eye-sight is really at risk. Thoughts?
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jan 30, 2020 16:59:04 GMT -5
My best guess is that if you have shingles on your forehead, that it might be in your eyes too. THAT would be my concern. I'm not sure why they came up with you possibly having MRSA, unless you are a carrier. I think about 30% of the population is a carrier, and it's usually picked up in the hospital.
Shingles in the eye would be concerning, so I'd see the ophthalmologist. Going to an ER, they are going to punt you back to an ophthalmologist for continuing care anyway.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jan 30, 2020 17:18:07 GMT -5
My best guess is that if you have shingles on your forehead, that it might be in your eyes too. THAT would be my concern. I'm not sure why they came up with you possibly having MRSA, unless you are a carrier. I think about 30% of the population is a carrier, and it's usually picked up in the hospital. Shingles in the eye would be concerning, so I'd see the ophthalmologist. Going to an ER, they are going to punt you back to an ophthalmologist for continuing care anyway. Why they are thinking that I am not sure. MRSA and virus were the top two guesses concerning my left eye. I don't think its shingles, but I have cared for it very differently because I don't have a regular doctor. I used Bactine to dry various patches out with cotton balls never using any cotton ball in any place except where I originally placed it. I have chosen not to put A& ointment or neosporin on these patches after my Allegra cream debacle. I really do not believe that clear liquid infection is in my eye, but it is close. And I could be wrong. I do work in a subacute facility so there is MRSA almost always somewhere in the building so . But I don't have pustules, so I think the thought may have been probably not MRSA?
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jan 30, 2020 17:19:15 GMT -5
Weird. A and D ointment shows up as A & emoji ?
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jan 30, 2020 17:36:21 GMT -5
You need to see an ophthalmologist. They will be able to tell you what kind of infection you have, no one can tell you what sort of infection you have or speculate. If you have shingles, it can hit the eyes. That is why I would not risk it, because shingles in the eyes needs special treatment.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2020 17:47:58 GMT -5
I second the not bothering to go to an ER unless you have an eye hospital in your area. I was playing with the dog, and she accidentally scratched my cornea. I went to an Urgent Care clinic, and they refused to treat me (but not to charge me a copay to tell me that!) Most facilities other than eye doctors or eye hospitals don't have the equipment to properly examine your eyes.
Don't be penny foolish about this. If you cause damage to your eyes over this, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Find a board-certified opthamologist and ask to see him asap.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Jan 30, 2020 18:11:47 GMT -5
You need to see an ophthalmologist. They will be able to tell you what kind of infection you have, no one can tell you what sort of infection you have or speculate. If you have shingles, it can hit the eyes. That is why I would not risk it, because shingles in the eyes needs special treatment. When I had shingles, my doctor warned me about what could happen if it gets in the eyes. I would not want that to happen to anyone.
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CCL
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Post by CCL on Jan 30, 2020 19:01:05 GMT -5
Agree with the others. Did you try asking the clinic doc to get you an ophthalmologist appointment? IME, it's much faster getting a specialist appointment when your doc requests it for you.
There's also something called Ramsey Hunt syndrome which occurs when shingles affects the facial nerve/ear. Just something else to be aware of with shingles near the face.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jan 31, 2020 15:22:27 GMT -5
Agree with the others. Did you try asking the clinic doc to get you an ophthalmologist appointment? IME, it's much faster getting a specialist appointment when your doc requests it for you. NOThere's also something called Ramsey Hunt syndrome which occurs when shingles affects the facial nerve/ear. Just something else to be aware of with shingles near the face. Thanks for the info especially the last paragraph. That clinic doesn't do referrals. He hoped that the office mgr would give me the phone number of his one recommendation, but she went another way. And in the end I went slightly different as well. I have an appt with a multi-location practice tomorrow morning. I called first thing and got an appt in one location for this afternoon but need to locate my ins card or at least card# and insurer & plan before the appt. I'm online to do that now since when I am this sick, my ability to find anything is poor. Have no idea if it was mailed to me, it is not in an envelope in my usual place to hide such things I don't have time to address yet. (Sorry about tired word salad. I made an appt this morning for this afternoon in a town I don't know well. Since I couldn't find my card in time I called to move my appt to later in the day if possible and to the location I preferred tomorrow if nothing was available today. As a new patient they don't want to see me without ins, so it will be interesting if I don't find the card or get the policy# before the appt. So I have until tomorrow first thing to find the card in my place or get something almost as good now.)
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jan 31, 2020 16:01:10 GMT -5
Update2 - Found my ins benefit enrollment conf. Its a consumer directed health plan which might be pure reimbursement after massive deductible met for office visits.
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CCL
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Post by CCL on Jan 31, 2020 19:57:04 GMT -5
So you have an ophthalmologist appointment in the morning? Good to hear. I was going to suggest you try printing a duplicate card via the insurance company website. We can do that with ours.
Good luck tomorrow! Hopefully it will turn out to be something minor and simple to correct.
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