Posts by Gary Jones10

I’ve been seeing a private gynecologist for ten years now, and I couldn't be happier with him. However, since I'm planning to get pregnant, I really need to establish care with a primary provider—someone for prescriptions, referrals, and hopefully more frequent prenatal checkups down the road.

My GP is based out of the downtown health center in the heart of the city, so I headed over there. Part of the reason was a glowing recommendation for Dr. Franulović.

Unfortunately, the nurse informed me his patient list is already full for the year. Instead, I was assigned to Dr. Matezović.

Since she’s currently out on maternity leave, I haven't had the chance to meet her. Has anyone here had experience with her? What was it like?

One other thing: does anyone know what the typical co-pays are for routine exams like Pap smears or ultrasounds?

To make matters worse, I decided to stop paying for supplemental insurance after two years—right when I'm starting to plan for a pregnancy. I call that being smart, don't you?🙄

mellowridge said:My cycles are regular, so I doubt there's any chance I'm pregnant, but I just felt the need to tell someone.

Why worry? This is a total win-win. If your cycles are steady, the odds of pregnancy are slim. But if you're planning on having kids down the road—it's better to find out now than later.😬

Enjoy it. 👋

Raymond Bennett9 said:Thanks, 326 👍 ... spinal without local 🙄
Does anyone know the potential side effects of general anesthesia?
And isn't there anyone from the US, Europe, or Australia who can weigh in on how it is over there?

Due to various circumstances, I have undergone four surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Twice as a child and twice within the last five or six years. I never experienced any issues or side effects.

The most intense experience was actually a heavy sedation during a sinusoscopy. They first injected me with something intravenous—before they even moved to the local anesthetic injections around my nose, at which point I felt nothing—that left me absolutely sky-high. I was babbling such nonsense that I would have been embarrassed to see the doctors on rounds the next morning.
I was laughing like I was drunk and asked the doctor, "Are you Dr. Mark Greene?" 🙄 😁

I don't think they'll "abolish" it; rather, you'll finally have the freedom to choose which insurance companies you pay and how much coverage you want for supplemental plans.

I recently read that ADENDDA is already offering coverage for $17 a month that handles all those co-pays previously covered by Medicare's supplemental plans.

I’m lucky enough not to deal with chronic issues, and I see my dentist and OBGYN privately, yet I still spent the last two years paying for supplemental insurance—it was costing me $27 out of my paycheck every single month.

It turns out I've handed over nearly $667 over two years, despite only getting about $300 worth of actual value from it. So, I've decided I won't be renewing once this year's final installment is cleared.

I'd much rather eventually pick out my own private policy from an insurance provider that actually comes highly recommended.

James Newman4
If we were living in an era before penicillin was discovered, and someone offered it here with the genuine intent to save a life, would you really say you'd rather die than let someone make a profit off a poor soul? ... Please, think about what you're actually saying.. 😢>

I assume you mastered that particular line of reasoning at those seminars where everyone breaks into euphoric applause? You’re giving demagoguery a whole new meaning as a professional discipline.

Fine, you've provided your input, your info, and your links. Now, do us all a favor and stop cluttering this thread with those massive copy-paste posts. Show a little empathy. A little decency. Some restraint. The bare minimum.

dustypilot2 said:From what I know, chemo doesn't cure cancer. It’s used when there's nothing else left to try, or if it’s caught so early it isn't even needed. But once your doctor tells you surgery isn't an option, you know what comes next...

You’re only partially right.

Chemotherapy—cytostatic therapy—is also utilized in cases where surgeons can't be 100% certain that a physical procedure will remove everything.

And when it is "very early stage," surgery is the standard. That is when surgical outcomes are at their peak.
Of course, surgery doesn't apply to things like leukemia—which is essentially "blood cancer"—or certain brain tumors located in hard-to-reach areas, regardless of how small they might be.

By equating chemotherapy solely with hopeless cases, you aren't being accurate, nor are you being fair to those fighting cancer.

Betty Bennett10 said:Gary Jones10, since he’s a fertility specialist, I truly hope you never have to deal with him.🙂 His patients swear by him, though. He works from dawn till dusk, handles a massive caseload, and knows every single patient inside out. But he's rude and incredibly arrogant.

That's why I sincerely hope that if I ever need a specialist like him, there will be at least one more in America who can help me.

I can't stand people who use "high stress" or "heavy workload" as an excuse for being abusive. As far as I know, plenty of people have high-pressure jobs without treating their colleagues like garbage.

It sounds like his issues might run a bit deeper. Perhaps he’s a pushover at home, so he takes it all out on his patients.🙂

Betty Bennett10 said:I think the only takeaway from this news is that Dr. Petar Jukić is just an impolite man. He isn't a bad doctor; he's actually a top-tier specialist.

Thanks, Betty Bennett10—but I’ll do everything in my power to avoid seeking treatment from a top-tier specialist who treats patients like they're being shoved through a revolving door at a crowded clinic. 🙄

placidgardener19 said:Beep?
I think I’m getting mixed up here.

There is continuous pill use. You finish one pack and immediately start the next. No period.
Doctors claim it's safe, though it might affect a woman's mental state, so they suggest taking a two or three-month break every six months.

Then there is the The Day After pill, used when you have unprotected sex—condom breaks, he pulls out, the diaphragm fails... whatever.
Those are heavy hormones and should NEVER be used on a monthly basis. 😲

What exactly did you mean?

That was my first thought. The Day After pill and the hormones used to delay a period aren't the same thing. Their only commonality is that they are both hormonal preparations.

As for The Day After pill, from what I know, it's meant for emergencies only—when things go seriously wrong. A colleague of mine took it once; I just remember her saying she spent three days nauseous and vomiting.

Ultimately, it's common knowledge that you shouldn't play around with hormones without medical advice and a legitimate reason.

Use contraception, don't just play games with—as Betty Rivera14 puts it—hormonal bombs.

0$4M4 said:You're generalizing too.

Taken as a given. That isn't true. I know plenty of doctors and surgeons—top-tier specialists—who would never dream of charging a single cent for their expertise.

I should apologize here. I didn't mean to generalize the entire profession, but instances like this are simply becoming too frequent.

[User Name] says:
I support the strike. Between all the specializations and subspecialties, these professionals spend more time in training than almost anyone else in the US, only to be met with pathetic paychecks for the work they actually do.

Any professional who actually takes their career seriously commits to lifelong learning. The days of walking into an office with nothing but a degree and coasting for the rest of your life are long gone. Why would anyone expect otherwise?

Eighty percent of my colleagues hold master's degrees. They are constantly leveling up, racking up certifications, and passing professional exams just to keep pace. It isn't about chasing titles or ego; it’s a necessity. If you don't stay current, you're obsolete. And no, we aren't working in academia. The days when doctors were the only ones stuck in endless schooling are long gone.

FedEx said:Let's be honest: doctors in America are vastly underpaid compared to their peers in Western Europe. That’s despite everything they endured to reach this level. Even after finishing their degrees, they aren't exactly thriving.

Generally speaking, Americans are paid much worse than their counterparts in Western Europe. You have scientists with Master's degrees or those nearly finished with their PhDs earning next to nothing $1667.
When looking at the American landscape, we can all compare ourselves to Western Europe. In my own field, given my education, experience, and years on the job, someone in Western Europe earns three times what I make here. Am I expected to go on strike over that? I could easily pack my bags and head to Germany; nobody is holding me hostage. But while I am here, I have to be pragmatic and work within the constraints of the American standard.

No one is disputing that they are underpaid, but they aren't being paid any worse than other highly educated professionals in America.

FedEx said:Why should doctors be perfect? They're human beings too. Why shouldn't they be allowed to make mistakes? And how can you be certain a doctor—not some technician—is actually responsible for replacing an HP? In pathology, it isn't just one person working; it's a whole team.

Look, this wasn't a simple breakdown in communication between the pathologist and the physician. The diagnosis was sent over, clearly dated, with the exact findings included.
When my father called, he was told over the phone that everything was fine and the results weren't positive for cancer. Meanwhile, the report explicitly stated that adenocarcinoma was found in three out of the six samples taken. So, he stayed silent for an entire year, until he finally went in for a second biopsy. Only then did last year's results "suddenly" reappear. What part of that is unclear?

I'm human too, and when I screw something up at work, I take responsibility. Here, nobody took ownership. Barely anyone even bothered to apologize.

Casey Cook10 said:I am certain half those users offering such little gifts would revolt if told they actually had to pay for the search or review they just "gifted" (50-$20). They’d immediately complain about the cost, completely oblivious to the fact that they've already paid indirectly by failing to fund the very system providing their care and paying the doctors' salaries.

You are oversimplifying and generalizing, Doctor. You are equating a simple gesture of appreciation—like a nurse receiving a gift after a patient spends ten days at the Mayo Clinic and wants to show gratitude for their care, kindness, or even just a smile—with a Chief of Medicine demanding an envelope of $500 upfront as a prerequisite for service.

Betty Bennett10 said:Bribery wouldn't help a mother at the Mayo Clinic. People die from medical complications, plain and simple. I can't imagine what that family had to endure just to get an investigation started, and my heart goes out to them. But I don't see this being a case of medical malpractice.

I wasn't even bringing up bribery; I was talking about medical accountability. If I recall correctly, the Department of Justice opened an investigation—though only after the media made enough noise to force their hand. I forget the specifics, but I believe the issue was a uterine rupture during labor that went unnoticed for hours until she fell into a coma and passed away.

Medical accountability? Non-existent. It’s the same story as when my father’s doctor "overlooked" a biopsy report that clearly showed cancer, telling him everything was perfectly fine.🙄

Vojko said:There is no final verdict—and only a court can determine if a crime was actually committed—so what you're saying is defamation.

If someone solicited a bribe from you, then the police, the Department of Justice, and the FBI are the ones who handle that.

Otherwise, by speaking publicly, you could find yourself facing fines or even prison time, not to mention paying tens of thousands in damages.

The fact remains that this entire situation could have been described without mentioning the doctor's specific name and surname—provided she was willing to testify in court or file an official report.

Then again, once one of your own is in mortal danger or you are watching them suffer through an illness, rational decisions become rare. I am referring to those famous "under the table" payments.
One becomes willing to do anything, strike any deal, or turn the whole world upside down just to "pay" for a favor to get them out.

We are dealing with sensitive matters and unimaginable emotions here; people regularly act with their hearts rather than their heads. The last thing they need is judgment or being told, "Whose fault is it?" or "Why don't you just report him?"

Reporting corruption in a time and a country where all living structures are saturated with it is nothing short of a utopia.

On the other hand, just try suing a doctor for malpractice because someone's health was permanently damaged; you will surely face a debacle. Doctors stick together like the Mafia.

One of the most glaring examples is the case of the mother who died at the Holy Spirit hospital. You wouldn't believe everything her family had to endure just to get an investigation started. All of this discourages people, leading them to opt for the "painless" route—bribery, a "gift," whatever...

Kevin White5 said:I’m with Casey Cook10 on this one.

👍

As for me, I support a patient's right to receive competent medical care.

Doctors, you still haven't answered my question:

Gary Jones10 said:By the way, who the hell is this Babić guy?😕

What exactly has he done for the American healthcare system? Shouldn't the head of a medical union be someone who actually commands respect among physicians and possesses a legitimate professional background?

Furthermore, I would appreciate an answer to this: does a quality control system even exist in American hospitals? In any reasonably serious corporation, there are consequences for a "job poorly done"—especially when those mistakes cost human lives.

If such a system exists—which I highly doubt—how is it possible for a doctor to call a patient and tell them their pathology report is "fine," simply because they misread the file or swapped it with another patient? How can his superiors fail to notice such a fatal error?

Fast forward one year: the same patient goes to pick up a repeat biopsy report, only to be handed last year's results again. Upon checking the date, they realize cancer has been spreading inside them for an entire year.

The family makes a scene, and only then does the department head demand a review of both biopsies. Once it is indisputably confirmed that the first biopsy showed adenocarcinoma (found in three out of six samples), the response is essentially just "shit happens."

Of course, the situation is somewhat mitigated by the fact that it was a slow-growing tumor, allowing surgery to take place in time.

How can such a massive oversight occur, and how is it possible that absolutely no one is held accountable?

In the federal government service, a minor breach of duty results in a 15 percent pay cut for three months. For this particular doctor, aside from some awkwardness with the boss, nothing of consequence happened at all.

My point is this: fine, raise their salaries, but simultaneously tighten the sanctions when they fail in their responsibilities.

trebor said:I completely agree—this situation is grotesque, to say the least. Especially since politics seems to be dragging its feet through the middle of it all. And the salaries? Honestly, calling it anything other than hypocrisy is a stretch. When you're pulling a guaranteed $1,500 or more every single month here in America, and you turn down a 10% raise just to demand more, more, and more... hiding behind notions of "dignity" or being "undervalued"... it defies both common sense and basic morality.
As one doctor put it: we’ll all eventually pile into our Mercedes-Benzes, Audis, and BMWs, honking our horns through the streets about how underpaid and undervalued we are.
Good luck to all the patients. Stay strong.

By the way, who on earth is this Babić guy?😕

What exactly has he done for the American healthcare system? Shouldn't the head of a medical union be someone who actually commands respect among their peers and possesses a legitimate professional background?

Scott Allen10 said:I believe you can walk into any hospital if there is an emergency or a scheduled appointment.
You just have to push back hard if they start playing games. I mean threatening to call the media, demanding the name of the doctor refusing treatment, insisting on their signature for a refusal, making a scene, going straight to the administration... and so on.

Thanks, Scott Allen10. I think you always provide a realistic view of the situation.

It’s just that from a patient's perspective, things look a bit different. I remember about two and a half years ago when I finally decided to deal with my sinus issues. They were becoming serious, affecting both my career and my personal life.

I would wake up every morning feeling congested, exhausted, sleep-deprived, and unable to breathe. Midway through some tests, the doctors timidly suggested that the indicated surgery—for some significant polyps—would have to wait until July because of the physician strikes this spring.

Fine. No one dies from sinus issues, and generally, I support the medical staff's cause; they deserve better pay. So, I waited until summer.

Two and a half years later, history repeats itself. My brother—and I don't know if it's genetic, which is almost funny, though he isn't laughing—has terrible ENT problems. He deals with such bad tonsillitis four times a year that he gets knocked out of work for ten days every single time. After extensive testing, it was determined he has a severe deviated septum.

The referral says to contact them after May 15th for the surgery, "because of the current strike, and because once that's over, we'll be overwhelmed by patients with tumors."

To hell with sinuses, polyps, or septums, but seriously—are you postponing surgeries for people with tumors? Is that ethical? Does that align with the Hippocratic Oath? You should be ashamed.

By the way, this isn't directed at Scott Allen10, but rather at any physician reading this...

Karen Green said:I just finished reading the reviews for Petrov's hospital.
😱
The vibe there is straight out of an Alan Ford comic strip.

I find comfort in digging up examples of people I actually know who had a great experience. My cousin’s wife gave birth at Mount Sinai last fall, and she said the staff was more or less fine.

By the way, after everything I've read, there is zero chance I'm stepping foot in a delivery room without my partner by my side, even though I never thought twice about it before. I suspect they might behave a bit more professionally when someone is actually there to watch them. Especially if that person isn't willing to let them throw everything into chaos at 3 p.m., or deal with any rudeness or arrogance. 😁