Can I just say that not only is insurance totally messed up, but honestly it is the hospital billing that is even worse.Basically we had to pay for the surgery before the surgery or they would not give me surgery. We paid what we thought was the rest of the of the out of pocket maximum (though it seems we are off by about $80).And now we are getting bill after bill from the hospital. It seems that UCLA Billing has not bothered to talk to the insurance or figure out how the insurance is relegating the money. They just put our payment wherever they pleased, and didn't tell the insurance that we had made they payment. And they are billing us for all the bills where we pay 60% and the insurance pays 40% instead of talking to insurance and seeing that after another $80 payment from us, we have hit our out of pocket maximum and the rest of covered by the insurance. And we are talking thousands of dollars in additional bills they are trying to get us to pay.No AETNA is being helpful and is even trying to talk to UCLA to try to get it cleared up, but meanwhile we are getting robocalls from UCLA saying they are going to take action unless we pay these bills! WTF! It is there mistake.They have applied the money incorrectly, and are trying to get more money out of us because of it.

Yuch, that is pretty nasty. The bottom part of the main incisision, the small circular hole also seems to have developed a pimple, that keeps popping and I clean it, and it fills again. It doesn't seem infected, seems like a pimple, so I am going to assume it is probably another ingrown hair, right on the wound.Rather nasty if I do say so myself.Looks a little better once I squeeze it out.Main incision is overall looking pretty good though. With the top part pretty flat and healed, the bump at the top as gone as I think it will be, and above the top wound the skin is starting to look good.And the chest tube wounds are looking pretty good. No longer any scab, just divots and very red skin. No longer have to keep them dry in the shower, which is wonderful.Still having to use a pillow when I drive though. We bought a small travel pillow to make it easier. And while it does help, since the scar doesn't like things rubbing on it, especially a seatbelt (and really not even a shirt). And it has actually gotten a lot more sore. Mainly I think because all the nerves were severed, but they have grown back. Went and got a soft travel pillow and it works pretty well.Of course it doesn't help how incredibly hot is of late in Los Angeles! Driving with a pillow on your chest when it is close to 100 degrees outside certainly could be more pleasant!Still doing pretty well, and just about ready to get back to work. Need to start making some money!

Wow, 7 weeks out. Didn't seem like this point would every come, but I am recovering very well overall. Lost the scabs for my two chest tube wounds, and no scabs are coming back, so now they are just red and divots a bit. They will be worse than the main wound for sure.They may not look great, but they are so much better. No more gaping wound.The main wound now that is weird. I guess the skin is really healing as it is pretty sore now, where it was not before, and not internally, but on the surface. It really doesn't like anything touching it right now. On the good front, part of it is looking pretty white in the middle, so I guess that part is healing. You can see how the skin is getting white in the middle of the scar.And here is a wide shot of the whole thing.Of course there is even more weirdness as there is what seems to be a pimple on the wound, though it could very well be an ingrown hair.That is the pimple or whatever it is near the top of the frame.Other than that I am doing well. Still walking, though I seem to be hotter on the treadmill than walking outside, maybe since it is has a slight incline (and it has been too hot outside to walk much), but I have also started doing kettle bells again. Only a little bit, as not to make the wound any worse, but it doesn't seem to bother me, at least with a 10 pound bell (vs a 20 I was doing before surgery). Even more surprising is how much less tired after doing it I am, though I can still feel it in my thighs, that is for sure.Still coughing every day, though not as bad. Hopefully it is getting better.My back is much better after the chiropractor, though he could only adjust my neck and use the activator on my back. It is better, but really needs a full adjustment, and is still pretty sore. Am icing it and heating it, to try and make it better. Have to wait till 12 weeks for a full adjustment though, but will probably be back for some more activator in the next couple of weeks.Blood pressure has been good, though my heart beat has been up a bit in the evening, in the 90's and even 100's, though it does seem to calm down once I lay down.One more week till I am cleared to go back to work. And I am up for it. And we really do need the money. Still nice to have one more week!