From anyone else I would have said too much information. H ... View more

What do you mean done! You're not getting off that easily. I want a full description (no photos, thanks) and a scientific assessment. And I'm not pandaing to you here. This is serious. H ... View more

ben I have cost my insurance people over $28,000 in the past two years. I can't get back the transaction record for the previous two years on the website but it was even higher as I had more tests, chemicals and specialists in those two years. I would say my insurer is $60,000+ out of pocket thanks to me. Don't mention it. I have not had any indication from them at all that they want to change things. The premiums have gone up of course, but that is an industry wide thing and not related to my circumstances. They will cover whatever is listed as a a claimable item. In all the four years I have only had one test that was not a claimable item. It was not a major one and I can't remember what it was. H ... View more

That is really nicely expressed. I hope you are glad you wrote it. I am. H ... View more

I know what the look is like. But I also know what it was like on the inside. My own first reaction was a lot more horrific than anyone else's. I can forgive everyone the first look on that basis. I have moved on and I can help others move on with it too if they want to come with me. If they stay with the look then there's nothing I can do and I won't spend time on them. If I ran a business, that would of course present me with a problem of how to maintain a public presence in a small town. I understand that. H ... View more

Benbravery I was a private patient of an oncologist who worked out of a number of private hospitals as well as with the public system, That's why the tests he ordered for me came with a component of out of pocket cost (that is, additional to medicare and private health fund rebates combined). That was my routine for three years and included having to pay out of pocket for each blood test (of which there were a lot, as you would be well aware). Two things happened though. One pathology company had a rule that oncology patients only paid the scheduled fee, which was pretty civilised of them. And another pathology company initiated a discussion about bulk-billing me 'from now on' because of my history. Those two things made a huge difference to my sense of wellbeing, as well as my bank account. More recently I have been in the public system as a renal patient. I was concerned that I might have to change oncologists and find one that would work with m6y renal team (dialysis, vascular surgery) but when I asked him about it he said he was quite happy to work in with my renal team at the public hospital. Again, this was a boost to my sense of security. Since I have been in the public system I have come to realise how fantastic out system is here in Australia. I could have every test that was ordered previously as a private patient and it would now be provided at no cost to me. And there is absolutely no sign at all within my medical team that they will make a business decision ahead of a patient care decision. None at all. I am glad I can see it like this. It feels really good. Maybe others have different experiences. PS. I have agreed for the public hospital to charge my health fund my costs and I have no out of pocket at all. So, I am not actually using up public resources (financial) as a private patient. Again, this makes me feel pretty good. H ... View more

This is a good post, ben and very silly allicat comments too. I would only add that anything that objectifies my existence rubs me up the wrong way. I tend not to want to engage with people abut my health at all. I dread being in groups of people where chit chat is the expectation. I avoid them and I don't need them for my social wellbeing. I have a school reunion coming up in August (40 years) and I recently decided that I have no interest in going. If I went it would only be to win money after betting on which of number one to six would be directed at me the most often. 'You look great' is the early market leader. (My oncologist said it this morning, actually,but he's allowed!) I have decided to leave it up to other people to chase me and find a way of getting to me (if they are really interested in me) that is beyond the usual list of perfunctory transaction options ben has listed. ... View more

November is not too far ahead, Loulou. Plan the party! What a great idea. And forget about staying positive. What a load of crap that is. H ... View more

Hi all This is one place in my life where I never feel frustrated. It is like there are rubber walls here so I can just write what is on my mind and I know it will be understood. Everywhere else I have to decide on the best approach, most appropriate language, who will be put out or something, etc, etc, etc. Not here. I love it. Despite the network TV circumstances I did think the Dalai Lama joke was quite funny. I can imagine walking in here and saying 'make me one with everything'. Nice. H ... View more

Nice metaphor. As a non-scientist my first thought was 'Where is the whole being in this?' It seems to me you have made a very good job of chopping yourself up into pieces. I am not saying that is a direct result of having different strategies, just that there has to be an overall holistic strategy much in the same way that Michael Pollan encouraged us to eat food, not omega 3 and vitamin B. I made the most progress in terms of wellbeing once I reclaimed a whole person back from the scientists, however well meaning they were/are. H ... View more