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Dilemma
So, I went to see the knee surgeon in Sydney today. He basically took one look at it and said, "When do you want me to operate? I've got slots Friday week." In my somewhat-bemused state, I agreed to next week, in the spirit of getting the thing over-and-done-with.
It was funny, though. He had some little junior doctors trailing him, and they got to look at my scans and tsk at them. So, it's the area to the outside of the meniscus which is on the right side of my knee joint. Other than the tear, the thing has degenerated over the last few years, and the cysts are the things that cause the pain. I feel the pain under the tendon that goes up the side of the knee. The largest cyst is right under that, and it also explains why the pain comes and goes - it's the cyst flaring up. He's going to take that out explicitly as well - normally they'd leave them to shrink naturally since they're not being "fed" with more fluid with the meniscus repaired, but this one is too large. Bah.
So, after waiting half an hour for one of the junior docs to track down the receptionist who was doing the booking, she went through the details with me. And this is why I'm starting to have second thoughts about the timing.
Firstly, I won't be able to put much weight on it immediately after the op, and that will take more or less time to heal, depending on what they do. If he repairs the meniscus rather than chopping the bad part out, it will be months of hobbling around, as opposed to a week or two. Still, I decided that I could probably manage myself onto taxis and trains (flying back to Canberra after knee surgery doesn't appeal), so that part's not too bad. What is badder, though, is the fact I'm living up two flights of stairs. Since I probably won't be able to bend my knee much for at least a few days after the surgery, getting inside my flat could be a little challenging.
Secondly, how much time will I need off work? More than a couple of days will be difficult. Surgery days are always a Friday; I could take an extra couple of days for a very long weekend. I suppose that's not too much pay to lose...
Except, thirdly, the cost. Nearly $6000, of which I'll get less than $500 back from Medicare. The surgeon is $2500, then there's the assistant surgeon (about $500) and the anesthetist. That's the part I'll get the $500 back on. Then there is the hospital charge, which is $2500, of which I will get nothing back. Not bad for a few hours in a bed and the use of an operating theatre, eh? (It's same-day surgery - I wouldn't be staying overnight).
I could go public, but there are big waiting lists, and I don't want any old surgeon tinkering about with my knee. Getting private insurance now would be pointless, since everyone has about a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions. If I'd thought of it when I first got here, I'd be over the hump by now, but I didn't. One of the curses of not thinking of oneself as requiring major treatment. Yes, I know I'm stupid. However, they won't cover 100% of the costs anyway, so I don't know if I'd have saved much in terms of excess payments + premiums.
So, getting it out the way now is feasible - I'd need an overdraft, and it'd put back my debt-repayment schedule, but it's feasible. Alternatively, I could see if he has slots available in the two weeks I have to take off for Xmas. I don't really care if I don't make it home to the family do. Then there's another 60 days for final payment (for the surgeon's part, the hospital is cash up front), which would take some of the pressure off. Or I could postpone it entirely until after next Feb, when I should have virtually all of my evul debt paid off. And perhaps have done something about my living arrangements - ie. be living in a place where I only have a few steps to get up.
I have to decide tomorrow. Well, I don't have to - I'd just rather let them know sooner if I want to delay things. Hm. Agh.
It was funny, though. He had some little junior doctors trailing him, and they got to look at my scans and tsk at them. So, it's the area to the outside of the meniscus which is on the right side of my knee joint. Other than the tear, the thing has degenerated over the last few years, and the cysts are the things that cause the pain. I feel the pain under the tendon that goes up the side of the knee. The largest cyst is right under that, and it also explains why the pain comes and goes - it's the cyst flaring up. He's going to take that out explicitly as well - normally they'd leave them to shrink naturally since they're not being "fed" with more fluid with the meniscus repaired, but this one is too large. Bah.
So, after waiting half an hour for one of the junior docs to track down the receptionist who was doing the booking, she went through the details with me. And this is why I'm starting to have second thoughts about the timing.
Firstly, I won't be able to put much weight on it immediately after the op, and that will take more or less time to heal, depending on what they do. If he repairs the meniscus rather than chopping the bad part out, it will be months of hobbling around, as opposed to a week or two. Still, I decided that I could probably manage myself onto taxis and trains (flying back to Canberra after knee surgery doesn't appeal), so that part's not too bad. What is badder, though, is the fact I'm living up two flights of stairs. Since I probably won't be able to bend my knee much for at least a few days after the surgery, getting inside my flat could be a little challenging.
Secondly, how much time will I need off work? More than a couple of days will be difficult. Surgery days are always a Friday; I could take an extra couple of days for a very long weekend. I suppose that's not too much pay to lose...
Except, thirdly, the cost. Nearly $6000, of which I'll get less than $500 back from Medicare. The surgeon is $2500, then there's the assistant surgeon (about $500) and the anesthetist. That's the part I'll get the $500 back on. Then there is the hospital charge, which is $2500, of which I will get nothing back. Not bad for a few hours in a bed and the use of an operating theatre, eh? (It's same-day surgery - I wouldn't be staying overnight).
I could go public, but there are big waiting lists, and I don't want any old surgeon tinkering about with my knee. Getting private insurance now would be pointless, since everyone has about a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions. If I'd thought of it when I first got here, I'd be over the hump by now, but I didn't. One of the curses of not thinking of oneself as requiring major treatment. Yes, I know I'm stupid. However, they won't cover 100% of the costs anyway, so I don't know if I'd have saved much in terms of excess payments + premiums.
So, getting it out the way now is feasible - I'd need an overdraft, and it'd put back my debt-repayment schedule, but it's feasible. Alternatively, I could see if he has slots available in the two weeks I have to take off for Xmas. I don't really care if I don't make it home to the family do. Then there's another 60 days for final payment (for the surgeon's part, the hospital is cash up front), which would take some of the pressure off. Or I could postpone it entirely until after next Feb, when I should have virtually all of my evul debt paid off. And perhaps have done something about my living arrangements - ie. be living in a place where I only have a few steps to get up.
I have to decide tomorrow. Well, I don't have to - I'd just rather let them know sooner if I want to delay things. Hm. Agh.
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You might've already had several docs examine you but just wanted to mention that.
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The rest is complicated and is about your financial situation as much as anything else so I won't stick my oar in. If issues about shopping for essentials are factoring into your concerns about hopping up and down your stairs tho', that can be taken care of, as can help to minimise trips up and down stairs generally.
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However, it seems like a situation where it's going to be a huge inconvenience no matter when you get it done and the longer it's left the more you suffer and the greater the chance of it going downhill. I'd probably think, "Better sooner than later," on it.
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As someone whose elderly relatives are suffering from neglected knee injuries, GET IT FIXED.
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