Author: /u/TheHtownRoamer

I would like to find new indoor seating, spacious, Wi-Fi and electrical outlet ample coffee shops to bring my laptop and work at in the city. I’ve been to Tout Sweet (EaDo) and the Coffee House at West End (Washington Ave) and those fit the bill, so I’m looking for that type of ambience/space. Agora is crowded/hard to find parking so I usually avoid. What are your favorites in the city?

I just went for a run and noticed a large stamped of people just walking around Louisiana St. and Tuam St. I’m talking groups of 40-50 people in addition to traffic and cars parked everywhere. Anyone know what’s going down? I also saw a few fire trucks coming and going. It may be Ida evacuees or perhaps a special event but my Google search didn’t return with any special news or events. Anyone know the scoop? No particular concern, just curious since I don’t normally see this many people walking around in the Houston heat, mid-day.

This happened a few months back, but I’m now racking up the bills.

So, I had a virtual/video physicians visit with an unnamed physician with a clinic here in Houston because I was experiencing pain similar to the likes of a UTI/bladder infection. The visit was virtual because I was unable to find a physician in Houston that would see me in person due to COVID and such. I described the symptoms in depth with the assumption that he would prescribe me some antibiotics, which is what I know I needed, and carry on with the day. Well, he basically said he could not diagnose me or prescribe antibiotics based on the symptoms and told me I needed to go to the Emergency Room. I said that is not an option because my insurance wont cover much. He then said that “he has no other suggestions”. I then scheduled a second virtual visit with another physician in Houston. This physician told me the same thing verbatim; that I needed to go to the Emergency Room because I could not be diagnosed.

By the time I was done with these virtual visits, I was in a lot of pain and could not wait around any longer. I needed antibiotics now!

I went to the nearest ER (MTHDST in the medical district) and waited NINE HOURS just for them to tell me that it was in fact a bladder infection. They prescribed me antibiotics and I was on my way.

So because clinics were closed for in-person visits, the GP’s refused to diagnose or prescribe medication and I was forced to go to the emergency room just to get antibiotics. This could have easily been solved at a GP’s office. Instead, I’m sitting here with a $30,000 ($40,000 total/$6,000 out of pocket) bill over something very miniscule.

Has this ever happened to anyone here in Houston? How could I prevent this from happening again? I should NOT have to go to the ER over something so small. The ER is for emergencies, not a stomach infection. What if I have a gap in my insurance and something like this happens again? I would go in debt trying to visit the ER without insurance. Sorry angry rant. I’m done now.

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Edit: The total bill was around $40,000. I’m paying $6,000 out of pocket.