you'd better be kidding me

[kaydeefalls]

Okay, f-list, lend me your medical knowledge. What are the chances of re-developing strep throat three days after finishing off the ten-day regimen of antibiotics?

I'm mostly operating on paranoia right now. The paranoia borne of a slightly tender lymph node in my neck and very vivid, very recent memories of a night in the ER without health insurance. Probably this will turn out to be nothing at all, but I'm ever so slightly edgy, and not usually prone to hypochondria. What are the odds, d'you think?

ETA: It should also be noted that until my health insurance card arrives by mail -- hopefully next week -- I am, still, operating without insurance, which means running to a doctor on the barest hint of a possibility will lose me a LOT of money if it turns out to be nothing.

Comments

[troisroyaumes]

Ten day regimen as prescribed by your doctor? I'd say, if you're sure that it's strep throat and not just allergies or a cold, please go to the hospital straight away--I know it's expensive, but there's been a lot of issues with antibiotic-resistant bacteria these days, and while I don't want to cause you any more unnecessary paranoia, it's better to be on the safe side.

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure yet -- it's still mostly paranoia. And knowing how strep sneaks up on me, if it is, I won't BE sure until all hell breaks loose in my neck in a couple of days. And I'm still uninsured until the insurance card shows up in my mailbox, hopefully next week. Goddamnit.

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

Yes it is, especially depending on which antibiotics they gave you. Go see doctor right away.

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

I lack health insurance for another few days at best (it's always delightful to see health taken out of my paycheck and still be waiting on that insurance card in the mail...), so if I'm really just being paranoid, that's gonna cost me. A lot. Argh.

[penknife.livejournal.com]

If you have insurance coverage, but not your insurance card, try calling the company that handles your insurance and seeing if they can fax you or your doctor proof of coverage. (Or at least tell you your policy number, at which point you can try to get your doctor's receptionist to shake them down for actual proof of insurance coverage over the phone.)

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

That was going to be my next plan, yeah. I don't have time to do anything today even if I wanted to, but if I wake up tomorrow morning feeling more positively strep-ish, that's what I'll try. I'm really hoping this is all in my head right now. The fact that I haven't gotten enough sleep all week isn't helping.

[semielliptical]

I concur with penknife; you have coverage now (and you're paying for it already! how frustrating!) so having a policy/member number, even without a card, should be enough if they can then call the insurance and verify. Or if get some faxed document, even better. Unfortunately you may need to push at your agency's human resources person and/or the insurance people to get the appropriate number, but they should give you that information.

I had to deal with something like this when the spouse had a medical situation a day after I switched jobs and our insurance changed, and it was a bit of a pain, but it worked out. I found that the health care people were pretty good about it; they're used to dealing with folks with all kinds of insurance situations. It helped that I could tell them the exact names of the insurance company and the particular health care plan.