Surgical excision for under $100???

Kimberly Thomas4 said:It’s common knowledge that private clinics just rip people off, so I’m staying far away from them! This was my last post, so you guys can go ahead and argue among yourselves now.👍 🙂

so yeah, it hits home; you wait over a month, pay $33 and whatever.

rustymoose54 said:that I’m filling up 😁 lately I’ve been living with double lungs. mashala. 😍

jadesailor14, there's no way I can claim a tax refund for that—my doctor insists that for everything to stay regulated, I should only take exactly what my Medicare covers, nothing more. and since that's only 40%... plus, I don't have the pharmacy receipts put in my name. though, I suppose I could start doing that down the road 🙂

Anyway, money isn't really a huge issue: I married well. 🤣

It’s fine to go off-topic when the topic is this kind of thing 😬

Maybe I misread the situation, but if I didn't—congratulations 🙂

Megan Morales5, here’s how I looked at it: it’s basically a combo deal involving full lung capacity plus the placenta 🎉 🎉 🎉

rustymoose54, wishing you nothing but the best 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 😘

So, are you actually thinking about starting a "Life of a Doctor" thread? Honestly, I think it’d be way more interactive than just a standard blog—plus, I bet people would jump at the chance to ask questions, and hopefully, you'd be down to answer them (I’m still holding out hope for some more detailed insight from our talk about end-of-life care and how doctors handle those relationships with families...)

You in? If you want, I can kick it off myself—just so you don't look like a total egoist 😁 😂

Jose Miller3, look, it’s totally up to you if you want to open up. Honestly though, with the way things are going lately and how people act around here, admitting you’re a doctor can feel pretty ungrateful—maybe even a little risky for your own peace of mind 🙂
. The vibe right now is just... off. It feels like everyone points the finger at us (and okay, maybe we aren't always blameless, but it’s definitely not as much as people love to claim) as the reason the healthcare system is such a mess.
I actually write about all this stuff on my blog quite a bit (the link is in my profile, so I won't clutter this post by dropping it again), specifically regarding the medical field. If you're curious, check out my recent post called Healthcare—is it a dying profession?
. Whenever I have a spare moment on here, I try to jump in and reply to people... so one of these days, I'll 😬 get around to answering your question about the issues surrounding terminal patients.

And as for the whole "egotrip" thing—man, I feel like if I actually tried to convince anyone that I'm not constantly on an ego trip, nobody would believe me anyway 🙂
.

Kimberly Thomas4 Asks:
Does anyone actually know if there’s a private surgeon out in Washington, D.C., who handles breast augmentations without absolutely draining your entire life savings? I mean, I'm looking for someone legitimate, obviously, but I feel like every time I look up a specialist, the quote they give me is just... astronomical. It's a bit overwhelming, honestly. I was reading this article about medical inflation in the States the other day—can you believe how much things have jumped? Anyway, I just want a straight answer. Is there a clinic that won't treat me like an ATM the second I walk through the door? $267 I honestly just can't wrap my head around it... I mean, really. How on earth can such a minor, almost trivial little procedure end up costing this much? It feels completely nonsensical.🤣 So, basically... if anyone happens to have some solid recommendations for private practitioners, please let me know! I'm all ears. Or, alternatively—and maybe this is more practical—does anyone know of a hospital that would actually accept my Medicare referral for this? I'm feeling a bit lost in the shuffle here.👍

So, I originally went through with the whole procedure down in Miami. I actually pulled a few strings, you know? Had a little connection there just to make sure I was seeing a top-tier doctor instead of some random intern. But after that, I realized the surgery itself was pretty routine stuff. So, when it came time to do it again in Washington, D.C., I didn't feel the need to call in any favors or hunt for a specialist. Instead, I just headed over to that local clinic—you know the one—where I ended up being more of a practice case for a medical student. It felt a bit surreal, honestly, but everything turned out fine. 🙂I mean, look, I specifically told them during the pre-op consultation that I didn't want anyone "practicing" on me. I had this gut feeling—this nagging suspicion—that I was going to be someone's learning opportunity. And honestly? It wasn't even about being anxious during the surgery itself... it was the sheer, blinding fury and that absolute sense of helplessness afterward. When she dropped those surgical shears right in front of my face? Just clattering down like that? That one moment told you everything you needed to know about how unsafe I felt. It was devastating.

After that whole ordeal, I think my next move is going to be for... $333 I decided to go private for this one, and honestly? I couldn't be happier with the choice. It made such a difference. The surgeon who handled everything was just incredibly professional—so poised, really. He was actually chatting away with the doctor and the nurse about some insanely complex surgery he’d performed recently, you know, something a trillion times more complicated than what I was there for. Hearing him talk like that... it sounds strange, I know, but it actually made me feel totally relaxed. I felt like I was in the best possible hands. $333 It’s a lot, I know. But if you ask me? It’s well-deserved. When you're performing surgery—no matter how routine or "simple" someone might claim it is—you're still stepping into a role that required years of grueling schooling. You aren't just punching a clock; you're carrying the weight of a patient's life in your hands. Your hands can't shake. Not even a little bit. And you have to make sure that scar heals perfectly, too... there's an art to that. Honestly, what gets under my skin way more than the big stuff are those mindless, routine check-ups where... $67 Honestly, you end up learning SO MUCH LESS than what I can pick up in just ten minutes of scrolling through the web. It’s actually kind of ridiculous. About a year ago, I went to see a private doctor—just for some unrelated stuff, mind you—and I ended up laying out everything I had already deduced from my own online research. And you know what? He actually charged me for the privilege of confirming my own self-diagnosis! Just... yeah. Unbelievable. $67 🙄

There isn't a single dermatologist in my neck of the woods. Everything revolves around the hospital 124 miles away.
When I asked for a referral, my doctor was kind enough to scribble down the number for a private specialist in a nearby city.
I realize healthcare isn't cheap, but I tend to prioritize the budget for our pediatrician—you just can't put a price tag on your baby's care.

Anyway, enough about me. I could use some advice: aside from a few birthmarks that have always been there, I’ve noticed an oval-shaped spot, maybe 4mm, appearing during this pregnancy. It wouldn't even bother me if it wasn't for the constant pulling, stinging, and itching every single day. Is this a normal pregnancy thing, or should I be panicking?

I’d much rather you get every single change checked out—shape, size, color, whatever... I saw some info about this on a medical site, and look, I’m not a dermatologist 🙂 but I like to stay informed. They could be dangerous, or they might be nothing, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Good luck! (Our doctor, Susan Martin24, can probably explain it better than I can)
It’s better to panic for no reason than to skip the doctor entirely. I get the whole money issue, honestly; I wish everyone could afford the most expensive treatments and top-tier specialists, but in this cutthroat world, that just isn't always a reality.

So, your "wonderful" doctor was probably just trying to be helpful so you wouldn't waste your whole day wandering around—especially since being out and about all day isn't cheap, what with having to grab lunch and coffee and everything... but still...

(Honestly, maybe I'm the bad guy here too. Every once in a while, when a patient asks me for advice on really delicate or specialized stuff, I'll just give them a name or a number of someone who actually knows what they're doing and can be trusted, whether they're in private practice or not. And hey, maybe we "corrupt" folks like us are just looking for a little kickback, right? 🙂 )

The thing is, during pregnancy, all your pigment tissues get super stimulated. It sounds like it could be an intradermal nevus sebaceous—basically a mole with a bunch of oil glands packed in there. Those glands, much like your sweat glands, tend to go into overdrive during and after pregnancy. It’s actually pretty common for a small mole like this to "calm down" or even disappear entirely a few months after giving birth, especially once you're done breastfeeding. But since you mentioned it's stinging and bothering you, there's a chance it's inflamed or irritated (maybe from accidentally scratching it and causing a little secondary infection). Either way, you really ought to have a dermatologist take a look at it.
Wishing you all the best!

Thanks for getting back to me.
I get why you’re reacting to my frustration with my GP, but please don't take it personally just because you're a doctor. I have nothing against your profession.
I’m not one for baseless sarcasm. The thing is, this doctor has quite the reputation for being stingy with referrals. There’s no hard proof, but word is she gets some kind of kickback from Medicare by holding them back. It seems to be a common practice at my local clinic.
I’ve mentioned before that my situation isn't an emergency, yet it's strangely specific enough that I felt forced to go private. Why should I have to shell out over $67 just for a routine hip scan for a baby? If I could have just used a referral and walked in, I would have—but babies are unpredictable.

The fact remains that she claims she's just looking out for me, trying to save me a trip and get me into "better hands." If that were actually true, she would have at least glanced at that mole I brought up. She didn't.
Anyway, that’s a whole different conversation.

Much appreciated.

wanderinggull6 said:Thanks for the reply.
I get why you’re reacting to my outburst against my GP, but don't feel targeted just because you're a doctor. Respect to you.
I'm not the type to throw irony around for no reason—the thing is, this lady has been widely labeled as someone who "hoards" referrals. I don't have hard proof, but word is she gets some kind of kickback from Medicare that way. Apparently, it's already standard practice at my local clinic.
I’ve mentioned on here before that my situation isn't exactly an emergency, but it's specific enough that I shouldn't have to run to a private specialist—why should I have to shell out over $67 dollars for a routine hip scan for a baby, if I could just book through a referral? But hey, it's a baby.

It doesn't change the fact that she claims to be "worried" and wants to "send me to better hands" while saving me the trip... if that were true, she’d at least take a look at that mole I mentioned. She didn't.
Whatever, that's a whole different conversation.

Thanks again.

Hey wanderinggull6! If you're actually worried about that mole, why not just see a surgeon to get it removed and be done with it? I don't know where you're located, but surely there's at least one surgical clinic within 124 miles of your city once a week or something.
A dermatologist doesn't make the diagnosis anyway—it's the pathologist, after they look at the mole under a microscope. Save yourself the stress and the cash: tell your doctor you want it out and ask for a referral to a surgeon.

wanderinggull6 said:...and I wouldn't have even noticed if it hadn't started feeling tight, stinging, and itching at that spot almost every single day!? Is this actually normal? Should I be panicking here?...

Look, I’m definitely not a doctor or anything, but I’ve spent way too much time falling down internet rabbit holes about moles. I’ve actually had five or six of them removed myself, so I’ve picked up quite a bit of conflicting medical advice along the way.

In my case, I had two moles that were acting up and itching. I ended up getting one removed—it was just dysplastic, you know, totally benign but something that could have turned into a real headache down the road. As for the other one, I haven't had it taken off yet because the irritation finally stopped. Honestly, looking back, I think it was just being constantly rubbed by the waistband of my jeans or my underwear. So, yeah, it's not necessarily cause for alarm.

I actually know a freelancer who handles all that under the table $267