I started writing out a chronological narrative of my diagnostic process, but it became very, very long. So I thought of other ways to quantify this experience.

2016

• Insurance charges: $79,278.05
• My cost: $3,319.10
• Radiology and diagnostic testing (other than bloodwork): $60,448.80
• Additional out of pocket costs: approximately $3,500
• 95 prescription fills
• 9 separate medical specialists
• 1 physical therapist
• 32 office visits and lab tests

I’m too lazy to go through all the Explanation of Benefits statements to confirm, but I think there was 1 angiogram, 1 CT (chest), 1 MRI (cranial), 1 echocardiogram, 3 EKGs, 1 pulmonary function test, 1 nuclear stress test, 1 asthma challenge.

We mostly spent this year testing for and ruling out various types of cancer, heart malfunction, and other abnormalities like blood clots.

2017

• Insurance charges (to date): $35,247.05
• My cost: $2,541.29
• Radiology: $5,172
• Additional out of pocket costs: approximately $800
• 48 prescription fills
• 6 separate medical specialists
• 1 physical therapist
• 29 office visits and lab tests

Pretty sure this radiology roundup includes 2 CTs (lumbar, pelvic), 2 MRIs (cranial), 1 x-ray (lumbar). I’m also done with routine visits for the year, so this will hopefully be it.

This year began with some lower back pain and creating baselines to monitor for a couple degenerative disorders.

Not calculated by my insurance provider is the total number of hours received receiving sweet comfort from Maggie.