SCORPION TREATMENT $6 PANAMA-$83,000 ARIZONA

Mostly when I am at the lake house, I often think about mosquitoes, bees, ticks and snakes.  I am outside a lot when at Lake Anna, so I keep lawn and bug spray close by for the yard as well as Off bug spray for me.  While researching Panama,  I started reading about Panamanian bugs.  Bloggers were posting about what bugs were being seen when and where (the yard, the dogs, the mountains, the ocean all throughout the year).Then they posted pictures of the unusually large creatures.  I have been taking notes on having the house sprayed monthly for pests or what to do with the ants that show up in the house and drop from the ceiling (I think nothing can be done). 

The first time I read about the scorpions in Panama (or just about scorpions, period) was in the blog, Along the Gringo Trail.  Seems the writer’s husband, Clyde, had slipped his foot into a shoe and a scorpion stung him.  After paying a visit to a doctor, he was prescribed a pain killer and Allegra (in case of an allergic reaction).  The doctor confirmed that he had been stung by a poisonous scorpion.  The cost for this visit was $6. 

In RichardDetrich.com (he has a blog as well), he writes that scorpions in Panama are “generally harmless” except for the horrible sting! 

I was reminded of these posts this morning when I heard a story on the radio about an Arizona woman that was stung by a scorpion in June.  She was taking air conditioner filters out of a box in the garage and was stung.  She went to the emergency room of the nearby hospital. She was told about an anti-venom drug called Anascorp that would relieve her symptoms.  She was never told the cost. The article doesn’t address the type of scorpion or what her symptoms were, but after agreeing to two doses of the medicine, she then received a bill for $83,000.  Her insurance paid $57,000 and the hospital is asking for $25,000 from her. Seems that the Mexican-made anti-venom was an “out of network” drug! 

I researched some scorpions, and I like the Panamanian one’s a little better.  If this was an Arizona “bark” scorpion (found in homes), she would have experienced a sting from the most venomous of scorpions in North America.  She would get numbness and tingling at the site for 24-72 hours.  She could have experienced temporary immobilization or convulsions and in extreme cases, loss of breath.  But fatalities in adults are rare (two in Arizona since 1968).  First aid that is recommended is cool compresses, elevate the area and take ibuprofen.  Seek medical treatment if a child is stung or if experiencing extreme pain (she might have been in severe pain). 
 Did the doctor take the time to discuss with her (and here they both speak the same language, English) the symptoms of a scorpion sting and that most are generally harmless but painful? Maybe he was just reacting to the scorpion sting in that he wanted to get medicine into her right away to get her comfortable? She states that he didn't discuss fees were her or have someone check with her insurance company to see if there would be coverage.

From this woman's story, I should write that this is one other thing I have learned about Panama.  There are bees, bugs, gnats, roaches, mosquitoes, scorpions, ticks, ants and so much more there.  Anywhere.  Everywhere.  Need to expect it.  To be ready for it. This is what Ray and I are doing—getting ready for it, all of it.