Process & procedure: USA v Australia

[Eveready]

Comrades,
As an Aussie I'm interested to compare the process I've undergone in being transformed into a sexual cyborg with what happens in the States. So ...
Here in Oz, access to medical specialists is done by referral - mainly through our general practitioners, but it can be through other medicos. So, off I went to the GP and he referred me to urologist #1. Cost of seeing the GP was borne by our national health service.
After that it gets a bit complicated, funding-wise.
If I didn't have private health insurance, I'd be treated (for the prostate cancer) as a public patient, in a public hospital. If that hospital had robotic surgery facilities, all well and good, but if it didn't then I guess I'd be ripped open in some other way. It would not have cost me a cracker, but I would not have had choice of surgeon or hospital. Time-wise I would not have had to wait long: the public system makes pretty good space for cancer surgery; it's a different matter entirely if you need a hip replacement.
On the other hand, having private health cover, and of course wanting the magic carpet treatment, I got booked into private hospital (covered by health insurance) and had the robotic prostate removal. Since robotic surgery is not covered by national health, I had to bear the cost of surgery in full and contribute to the cost of the anaesthetist's new Porsche, too.
Far as I can tell from a mate who doesn't have private cover, post-prostate ED treatment in the public system is limited to Viagra. In his case, it's prescribed by an extremely attractive young woman who arouses his lusts something shocking. But if you want or need anything else you're on your own.
(And Viagra is on our national pharmaceutical benefits scheme, so costs AUD $17-22 for 12 x 100 Mg. As opposed to Cialis, not on the scheme, which costs more like $25 per tablet.)
In my case, urologist #1 referred me to urologist #2 - who does cancer surgery but also does ED treatment, including implants. Once again, I had to pay for the surgery, and part of the anaesthestist's charges, but hospitalisation was covered by my private insurance.
As far as the process goes, went into hospital day 1, cut up, stayed 2 nights, discharged day 3. Am I right in thinking that it's done as a day procedure in the States? Whew!
Mummification and catheterisation from time of surgery until morning of discharge.
Inflated at 60% for 2 weeks after surgery, and then (which is where I'm up to now) supposed to start cycling.
Paracetomol (Tylenol etc) and oxycodone to taste, though we here don't hand out opiates as readily as happens in the States.
How does all this compare with the US experience?
Cheers
Ken

[Donnie1954]

Mate,
My local Urologist performed my surgery. I have fantastic insurance with Disney. Of my $94,000.00 bill for total services, I only had to pay $72.25 for 12 months. My implant alone was $21,000.00. Some blokes here pay nothing at all.
Happily Implanted,
Donnie

[Eveready]

How do you come to choose your urologist? Just pick him yourself and go direct?
We don't have much in the way of sites like this to compare doctors, but mainly just rely on our GPs to steer us to someone competent.
And were you hospitalised for the implant as we are?
Cost-wise I've had to pick up around $AUD9K for the prostate surgery, $1K for anaesthetists, $7.5K for the implant surgery (including device, follow-up appointments).

[Donnie1954]

Mate,
My original referral came from my primary care physician. I said I wanted to see this Urologist and that was that. No questions because everyman needs blood work to screen for prostate cancer. I was an out patient but I stayed overnight for observation (less than 24 hours). Removed the catheter and sent me home with medication and follow up orders.
Donnie.

[Eveready]

Man, they make 'em tough in the States!

[Reggieman]

Eveready-

Man, they make 'em tough in the States!"

LOL

[TANGERINE]

here was my experience in the USA

1) I have Blue Cross PPO commercial insurance. It has a high deductable (5,000 dollars). Once I made it to the 5,000 mark, insurance paid for everything. Insurance was OK with me having an out of state doctor.

2) I had preoperative testing done a month before surgery at one appointment and a cardiac surgical clearance by my internist at another appointment

3) Surgery was in the morning on Tuesday. I went to the hotel Tuesday afternoon.
4) I stayed in the hotel for 3 nights, and flew home to the west coast on Friday afternoon
5) Activation on day 8 by me
6) Sex on day 19

Since then, life is way better for me as I am back to making plans on finding romantic restaurants or romantic get-away hotels.

[joe456]

TANGERINE sounds nice I can't wait for that 12 day left then surgery.
Good for you

joe

[oldgoat]

Congrats on your good outcome.
How much time between your prostatectomy and your Titan?
I got my Titan before my prostatectomy and am very happy with the outcome.
Out of pocket expense for the Titan was about $200 and for the RP a little less than $100.
I have Medicare which paid the most by far and BCBS that picked up the rest.
HANG in there mate.
P.S. I got to pick the doctor for both procedures.

[williamb]

Eveready & Reggieman, Like Donnie said not long in hospital either. But I must be tougher because only about 6hr in hospital then to motel in taxi and removed the catheter myself the next day. Yep, I was apprehensive about removing it and went very, very slow and had no pain or problems.