I had a medical “incident” last week.
On Thursday afternoon, I noticed a pain in my lower left groin, especially after I’d been sitting for a while and then walking. By Saturday, I saw no improvement, so I got it checked out at a local Southwest Medical Associates Urgent Care. Some friends and my trainer said that it was probably just a muscle pull, but due to “family history,” I wanted to make sure.
My mother had colon issues all her life. During a colonoscopy two years ago, I learned that (like my father), I have a redundant colon (extra-long), thus I should check out any issues in that part of town.
So I called the 24-hour nurse on the back of my Health Plan of Nevada card. She referred me to Southwest Medical Rancho Urgent Care near the intersection of Rancho and Charleston. Like other medical networks, Southwest Medical Associates now offers three choices for same-day care, from cheap to very expensive: Convenient Care, Urgent Care, and Emergency Rooms. Of course, if you feel that the situation requires an emergency room, call 911, but if your concern is between minor and maybe urgent, check to see if a Convenient Care (now available at major pharmacies) can handle the issue. They’re quicker and cheaper than Urgent Care operations.
The entire Rancho Urgent Care experience did take five hours (due to test prep), but I was very impressed by the staff and very well-designed facility.
Luck of the draw, I waited only 20 minutes before someone saw me. The nurse took my vitals (commenting that I hadn’t had a core blood test this year, she set one up next week through Quest Diagnostics), then did an initial work-up of my groin pain and assigned me to a small exam room. Twenty minutes later, a Dr. Edward Mathis came in and explained that I would need a blood test, followed by a CAT scan to rule out serious issues including hernia, kidney stones, colonic volvulas (occasional issue with a redundant colon), and diverticulitis (common in people over 60).
The clinic wasn’t very busy, but due to both pre-testing procedures and post analysis, I was going to be there several hours. Luckily, I brought a good book (The Pioneers by David McCullough).
The tests went very smoothly and mostly on schedule and the staff was efficient, experienced, and polite (they even laughed at my joke, “Will this test harm the baby?”).
Four hours later Dr. Mathis came in, told me that it was a muscle pull (“No workouts for a week”), and offered to put me on a prescription anti-inflammatory, which I declined. I had to dish out a $295.50 co-pay, but the piece of mind was wonderful.
One final issue: As I’ll be turning 65 in January, it’s time for me to investigate medical options. While spending my time learning about Part A, Part B, Part D, Medicare Preferred, and Medigap policies, I’ve found out that everyone should sign up for Part A when they turn 65 (or a few months before) even if they’re still covered by an employer policy. It’s free and saves a lot of trouble when you do leave that employer.
Need further information? Go to aarp.org or check out a book (with a copyright date no earlier than 2016) at your local library or bookstore.
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Yikes! I was a pediatric OR nurse in 1970s. On occasion we were called in (the middle of the night kind) for surgical correction of “volvulus neonatorum” or bowel malrotation, a birth defect. Very sick baby, swollen belly, vomiting bile,, etc. X-ray studies would show the twisted intestines,. At emergent risk for bowel strangulation, gangrene, perforation, etc. Good that you’ve had the colonoscopy and know not to ignore symptoms. Another one was intussusception, where part of the bowel ‘telescopes’ into itself, causing blockage. Glad yours was the lesser or the evils, muscle strain instead of bowel blockage.
Thanks for sharing. Very good to know about the quality care you received at that clinic.
make sure to sign up for some form of medicare B also.
Medicare B is not free – and if you are still working and covered by an employer, you may not need it.
I think you mean “Medicare Advantage”, not “Medicare Preferred”. And as well as signing up for Medicare Part A (free), when you turn 65 you should sign up for either Medicare Part B or a Medicare Advantage plan (which includes Part B equivalent), unless you have equivalent coverage through an employer. Otherwise, “Your monthly premium for Part B may go up 10% of the standard premium for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but didn’t sign up for it.” [https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/part-b-costs/part-b-late-enrollment-penalty ]