I am ticked.....totally and utterly PO'd. I just got a recent statement from our insurance, BCBS(blue cross blue shield) and have found out that the plastic surgeon I went to is not in network!!!!!!!!
Now I have several thoughts about that and since this is my blog I get to voice them...
1-When I came in and the secretary took my insurance card and my co-pay....why did she not mention that they don't take my insurance??????
2-When I met with the Dr. and the nurse...why did they not say something to the effect that this surgery was going to cost us several thousand dollars out of pocket????????? Especially since the nurse mentioned how they had a patient who recently had the surgery and then found her insurance wouldn't pay and now was having all sorts of problems trying to get them to cover it!?!?!?!?
3-Isn't mentioning the fact that they don't take your insurance(especially when taking your co-pay) something a responsible Dr.s office would do for something that was going to cost lots of money?????? Especially since we have already paid quite a bit in co-pays and medication and other deductible costs already this summer!
4- And why the heck in this town where there are only a few major insurance carriers does she not take BCBS????????
That one office visit, where I sat around waiting for her, and then got measured and looked at some pictures is being billed to us for $300!!!!!!!!!! She didn't even do anything. Now I don't know about you, but I am incensed that is the charge for talking.
And yes I do realize that I should have double checked about her being covered, but when I called and told them my insurance and they said nothing I figured I was good to go b/c everyone takes BCBS......I guess I was wrong.
So now I have to find a new plastic surgeon......and I went online and checked who was for sure in network this time and of the 95 doctors in the St. Louis area....only 3....3, are women...which makes me a bit nervous. That and the fact that my onocological surgeon recommended her so now I have to go back and see if they work with any of the other surgeons on the health plan.....
This was soooooo not stress I needed.
I mean its not like I am going in for a boob job for criminy sake, its kind of the opposite, an anti-boob job........this should be universally covered no matter the doctor because it is a preventative step so they won't have to pay for chemo again and I won't have to go through it again.....
I hate this...really, really do. Most of all I hate worrying about this now....I like being in control and now it has spiraled out of my hands and on a holiday weekend no less so I can't do anything about it until Tuesday when I am in chemo all day.....HA.....it is funny how my summer started and is now ending with me having to wait out the two long holiday weekends before being able to deal with my medical issues.....
Other than that, we went to the pool yesterday and it was quite lovely. We have BBQd and will continue to as the weather is just wonderful and watched several fun movies with the girls. So it has been a mostly relaxing holiday weekend. And no worries, my bp is fine even though this made me mad....
Hope you all are having a wonderful Labor Day and enjoying the nice weather before Gustav wreaks havoc.
Blog ya later-
K
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Latest Lesson
That when they say days 3-5, they really mean to not even start counting the "days" until you finish the chemo round, which most likely means actually parts of days 3-6.....
However, the pain was not as bad this time around. Partly because I had drugs to deal with it and partly because I knew what to expect! I have always found that the unexpected, especially in relation to pain, always makes it worse. Once you know what will happen and can formulate a plan on dealing with it(drugs, breathing, sleeping, etc.) then it is much more manageable:)
So this was not the worst weekend on that scale. We had a pretty normal, lazy Sat. and Sun., nothing too big, just hanging out with the family and trying to recover from the first full week of school. The girls cleaned up all the various messes they had created over the week and then put on a wonderful weekly update newscast for us. It was quite entertaining and wonderful fodder for when they are teens and we want to embarrass them:P..kidding.....mostly:D
Hope you all are enjoying the last days of August.
Blog ya later-
K
However, the pain was not as bad this time around. Partly because I had drugs to deal with it and partly because I knew what to expect! I have always found that the unexpected, especially in relation to pain, always makes it worse. Once you know what will happen and can formulate a plan on dealing with it(drugs, breathing, sleeping, etc.) then it is much more manageable:)
So this was not the worst weekend on that scale. We had a pretty normal, lazy Sat. and Sun., nothing too big, just hanging out with the family and trying to recover from the first full week of school. The girls cleaned up all the various messes they had created over the week and then put on a wonderful weekly update newscast for us. It was quite entertaining and wonderful fodder for when they are teens and we want to embarrass them:P..kidding.....mostly:D
Hope you all are enjoying the last days of August.
Blog ya later-
K
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Round 6
Is over and done with..yipee!
It went well. I didn't pass out from the benedryll(not a surprise to me of course) but it did make me out of it enough to slur my words a bit and force my eyes to close, although my brain wouldn't shut off from the steroids so I just sat and listened for a while, but that was about all. The only other side effect(besides the three days of pain from beyond that are headed my way) seems to be that I get flushed a lot more. Like today..definitely didn't need blush unless I was planning on being a circus clown...which I'm not......at the moment anyway:P And it also happened after we went to the pool on Sunday, which was a tad strange since it was after 4 by the time we got there and I had on sunscreen but I think it was just the heat as I didn't actually get any kind of sunburn at all....go figure! But that is about it and I am sooooo very happy for that because I was tired of being tired and nauseous.
So as my mind raced from the steroids last night, I thought about how very screwy this whole thing is. In May before I knew about the big "C", I was the picture of health. If you had seen me, or did, you would totally agree. I looked fine, I had wonderful hair(I know, I know, it will grow back....sigh) I was tan from spring break and for all intents and purposes I was healthy as a race horse. Now....the medicine that they are giving me to cure this disease I have makes me feel, and sometimes look, like I have been hit by a freight train! That just seems a tad twisted to me, at the very least incredibly ironic, no? But if it is what will get this out of me and keep me healthy for many, many, MANY years to come, so be it and let's get it done!
Which reminds me...my time table for finishing treatments has changed slightly...I forgot to factor in Labor day! So since the next round will have to be on the Tuesday after that, the last round won't be until two weeks from that which will put the very last treatment on Tuesday, Sept.16th....one day later than I had expected but what can you do about national holidays interfering! LOL
So anyway, all is well in K's world. The girls are doing well back in school, and soon will be starting up their various extra-curricular activities. Ed is back full time and his school will get into full swing next week and everything is well there too. And I am doing fine, chugging along on my various web interests and slowly but surely writing my book.
Hope you all are fine.
Blog ya later-
K
PS...who else is sleep deprived from staying up late to watch the Olympics? And who else totally thinks it was worth it to watch Michael, Nastia and Shawn? It has been a truly amazing games so far I think:)
It went well. I didn't pass out from the benedryll(not a surprise to me of course) but it did make me out of it enough to slur my words a bit and force my eyes to close, although my brain wouldn't shut off from the steroids so I just sat and listened for a while, but that was about all. The only other side effect(besides the three days of pain from beyond that are headed my way) seems to be that I get flushed a lot more. Like today..definitely didn't need blush unless I was planning on being a circus clown...which I'm not......at the moment anyway:P And it also happened after we went to the pool on Sunday, which was a tad strange since it was after 4 by the time we got there and I had on sunscreen but I think it was just the heat as I didn't actually get any kind of sunburn at all....go figure! But that is about it and I am sooooo very happy for that because I was tired of being tired and nauseous.
So as my mind raced from the steroids last night, I thought about how very screwy this whole thing is. In May before I knew about the big "C", I was the picture of health. If you had seen me, or did, you would totally agree. I looked fine, I had wonderful hair(I know, I know, it will grow back....sigh) I was tan from spring break and for all intents and purposes I was healthy as a race horse. Now....the medicine that they are giving me to cure this disease I have makes me feel, and sometimes look, like I have been hit by a freight train! That just seems a tad twisted to me, at the very least incredibly ironic, no? But if it is what will get this out of me and keep me healthy for many, many, MANY years to come, so be it and let's get it done!
Which reminds me...my time table for finishing treatments has changed slightly...I forgot to factor in Labor day! So since the next round will have to be on the Tuesday after that, the last round won't be until two weeks from that which will put the very last treatment on Tuesday, Sept.16th....one day later than I had expected but what can you do about national holidays interfering! LOL
So anyway, all is well in K's world. The girls are doing well back in school, and soon will be starting up their various extra-curricular activities. Ed is back full time and his school will get into full swing next week and everything is well there too. And I am doing fine, chugging along on my various web interests and slowly but surely writing my book.
Hope you all are fine.
Blog ya later-
K
PS...who else is sleep deprived from staying up late to watch the Olympics? And who else totally thinks it was worth it to watch Michael, Nastia and Shawn? It has been a truly amazing games so far I think:)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Back to School
Well....today was the day. They headed back for their first day of school in 2nd and 4th grade...where did the time go? And I don't just mean this summer, but time in general, it seems to fly by faster every year. Although the minis were quite ready to head back I have to admit I am a tad melancholy today. I missed having this summer with them, more than I have wanted to admit. It had usually been the time when we girls bonded at the pool and at home doing crafts and projects and being girls....and I know they have actually had a great summer with the camps and spending time at the lake with Nana and Papa.....I just wish that I ...well you all know what I wish, that "C" was not in the picture.
Now don't get me wrong...I know it is just a small segment in time in my life and soon....very soon, this will be but a memory of what I have survived and it will have made me stronger.....but right now...I'm melancholy....and hot, have I mentioned that I am having hot flashes? BTW...they are not fun per se b/c it's sooooo nice out and I am sweating like a dog....and nothing fixes them, there is no pill I can take for these! Sooo anyway, the pain subsided starting on day 6, which is good but the hot flashes have increased.....
I hope your kids have had wonderful first days back or will have if it applies....otherwise...enjoy the end of summer while the pools are still open:)
Blog ya later-
K
Now don't get me wrong...I know it is just a small segment in time in my life and soon....very soon, this will be but a memory of what I have survived and it will have made me stronger.....but right now...I'm melancholy....and hot, have I mentioned that I am having hot flashes? BTW...they are not fun per se b/c it's sooooo nice out and I am sweating like a dog....and nothing fixes them, there is no pill I can take for these! Sooo anyway, the pain subsided starting on day 6, which is good but the hot flashes have increased.....
I hope your kids have had wonderful first days back or will have if it applies....otherwise...enjoy the end of summer while the pools are still open:)
Blog ya later-
K
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Owwwwie
Ok...this week has been nice as we have gotten to visit with the Italian relatives and the girls have really enjoyed playing with their cousins, but........
ouch.
The nurses warned me that the new chemo drug would hurt my bones.....and yes sirree bob, it certainly does. It kind of crept up on me. I felt great on Tuesday, which was a nice change of pace for sure. Wed. wasn't too bad either, we toured the AB brewery and I did quite well. Thursday I started to feel a bit achy and so we hung out at our house as they explored the malls and then met up for dinner. Yesterday.....it totally sucked. I mean it was great fun, we took the kids to Riverchase and they swam around all afternoon while I sat, which in itself was fine, but.....the achyness really started to escalate at that point.
Now, I deal with joint pain whenever the weather changes due to my past injuries, but this was/is 1000 times worse. My whole body aches, every single bone, to the point where I can barely stand, let alone walk, I feel like I'm 90.....and I'm not sure that today is better per se or if I just haven't moved enough for it to really be hurting! (I'm hoping its not the latter cause I would like to move at some point!) They did say it was usually in days 3-5 that this happened and since it is day 5, I really think tomorrow will be better, but I am a little worried. This is just round one of this......if I am in this bad shape with round one....is it going to get worse? Will it be a cumulative effect to the point where I just lay in agony for days 3-5 of the next three rounds? How is that going to work with life starting back up again? How is that going to work with my keeping my sanity and some perspective on this whole thing? Will I turn into a raving lunatic due to the unbearable pain that I feel and the fact no medicines will ease that pain? Or will my eyes just glaze over and I'll slip into a different state where reality ceases to exist because my brain can't handle the firing of pain receptor neurons anymore? Ok....I exaggerate a bit.....but not much, it really hurts and I am close to curling up in a little ball and crying mommy.......
Anyway, I know I only have three left, but I am tired of it.....and yes I know I can make it, but $%#&#%$&$*#^#*#&@^@^@^ I don't want to anymore....this is not fun anymore and I wanna quit! Ok, enough whining.....for now anyway:P
Next week will be bad enough as I again lament the fact that this summer has slipped through my grasp and flown by without me participating at all.......but....at least the girls will get some structure again!!YAY!! And we are quite happy with the teachers they got this year, the list was posted last night. And with only one minor snafu, B's bff is not in her class, but as I said, she can still hang out all the time and she will see her everyday and at CCL and at Brownies......hopefully it will not be as bad as she fears(of course I know it won't, but its hard to convince a 7 yr old that it's not the end of the world ya know:) )
Soooo...to all who it applies to, enjoy your last weekend of summer and I will....
Blog ya later-
K
ouch.
The nurses warned me that the new chemo drug would hurt my bones.....and yes sirree bob, it certainly does. It kind of crept up on me. I felt great on Tuesday, which was a nice change of pace for sure. Wed. wasn't too bad either, we toured the AB brewery and I did quite well. Thursday I started to feel a bit achy and so we hung out at our house as they explored the malls and then met up for dinner. Yesterday.....it totally sucked. I mean it was great fun, we took the kids to Riverchase and they swam around all afternoon while I sat, which in itself was fine, but.....the achyness really started to escalate at that point.
Now, I deal with joint pain whenever the weather changes due to my past injuries, but this was/is 1000 times worse. My whole body aches, every single bone, to the point where I can barely stand, let alone walk, I feel like I'm 90.....and I'm not sure that today is better per se or if I just haven't moved enough for it to really be hurting! (I'm hoping its not the latter cause I would like to move at some point!) They did say it was usually in days 3-5 that this happened and since it is day 5, I really think tomorrow will be better, but I am a little worried. This is just round one of this......if I am in this bad shape with round one....is it going to get worse? Will it be a cumulative effect to the point where I just lay in agony for days 3-5 of the next three rounds? How is that going to work with life starting back up again? How is that going to work with my keeping my sanity and some perspective on this whole thing? Will I turn into a raving lunatic due to the unbearable pain that I feel and the fact no medicines will ease that pain? Or will my eyes just glaze over and I'll slip into a different state where reality ceases to exist because my brain can't handle the firing of pain receptor neurons anymore? Ok....I exaggerate a bit.....but not much, it really hurts and I am close to curling up in a little ball and crying mommy.......
Anyway, I know I only have three left, but I am tired of it.....and yes I know I can make it, but $%#&#%$&$*#^#*#&@^@^@^ I don't want to anymore....this is not fun anymore and I wanna quit! Ok, enough whining.....for now anyway:P
Next week will be bad enough as I again lament the fact that this summer has slipped through my grasp and flown by without me participating at all.......but....at least the girls will get some structure again!!YAY!! And we are quite happy with the teachers they got this year, the list was posted last night. And with only one minor snafu, B's bff is not in her class, but as I said, she can still hang out all the time and she will see her everyday and at CCL and at Brownies......hopefully it will not be as bad as she fears(of course I know it won't, but its hard to convince a 7 yr old that it's not the end of the world ya know:) )
Soooo...to all who it applies to, enjoy your last weekend of summer and I will....
Blog ya later-
K
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Only 3 left
YAY!
Well I am in the home stretch now and have started my last four rounds of a new drug-Paclitaxel. And I must say, so far so good. Not nearly the same side effects as far as the follow up nausea and tiredness...of course that I specifically attribute to the fact that I was pumped full of steroids yesterday, so much so that the mega doses of benedryll that they gave me as well didn't knock me out. Which surprised the nurses some.....not me, I believe I have mentioned that I don't do steroids well and that is definitely still the case since I was also only able to sleep in short spurts last night and not do my usual pass out for 12-13 hours!
Anyway, as I said, feeling pretty good really, just waiting for the cool front to come through and make stepping outside an activity that won't bowl you over! That and waiting on Ed's sister's family to get into town. His parents arrived yesterday for the week but his sister's family got delayed in Detroit where their plane was grounded due to mechanical failure!!!! They spent the night there and then had to get up and fly to Atlanta early and then connect to fly here. At this point in time we hope they are on the ground here and headed to the car rental place and then the hotel to relax. And then meet up with us as our girls are literally bursting at the seams with excitement to see their cousins for the first time in four years!
So I may not get a chance to post again until later this week but thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts sent my way, they continue to help and mean so much.
Blog ya later-
K
Well I am in the home stretch now and have started my last four rounds of a new drug-Paclitaxel. And I must say, so far so good. Not nearly the same side effects as far as the follow up nausea and tiredness...of course that I specifically attribute to the fact that I was pumped full of steroids yesterday, so much so that the mega doses of benedryll that they gave me as well didn't knock me out. Which surprised the nurses some.....not me, I believe I have mentioned that I don't do steroids well and that is definitely still the case since I was also only able to sleep in short spurts last night and not do my usual pass out for 12-13 hours!
Anyway, as I said, feeling pretty good really, just waiting for the cool front to come through and make stepping outside an activity that won't bowl you over! That and waiting on Ed's sister's family to get into town. His parents arrived yesterday for the week but his sister's family got delayed in Detroit where their plane was grounded due to mechanical failure!!!! They spent the night there and then had to get up and fly to Atlanta early and then connect to fly here. At this point in time we hope they are on the ground here and headed to the car rental place and then the hotel to relax. And then meet up with us as our girls are literally bursting at the seams with excitement to see their cousins for the first time in four years!
So I may not get a chance to post again until later this week but thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts sent my way, they continue to help and mean so much.
Blog ya later-
K
Sunday, August 3, 2008
August
Can you believe it is August already?!?!?!?!
I can't...seems like I haven't done anything all summer. Ok...I have had lots done to me, but I haven't actually done much at all besides go to and from appointments. So I can't really accept that the girls have only one and a half weeks until they head back to school! Fortunately it will be a fun last hurrah for them as their Italian cousins and Ed's parents will be in town that whole time and it will keep them occupied and hopefully bypass that last week of summer whinyness that seems to happen when they are antsy to start back and see friends but still want to extend summer as long as they can:)
As for moi...I will start the new chemo drug on Monday and we'll see how that goes and just what I am up to doing with everyone this week, but at least it will mean I have less treatments to go than I will have done...a very nice feeling that will be:)
So, I hope you all are enjoying the start of August and not dying from the stifling heat we are getting now. And I hope you enjoy the last few weeks of break with your kids......they will be back in school soon enough and even though it's hard to envision at moments, you will miss them when they are gone:P
Blog ya later-
K
I can't...seems like I haven't done anything all summer. Ok...I have had lots done to me, but I haven't actually done much at all besides go to and from appointments. So I can't really accept that the girls have only one and a half weeks until they head back to school! Fortunately it will be a fun last hurrah for them as their Italian cousins and Ed's parents will be in town that whole time and it will keep them occupied and hopefully bypass that last week of summer whinyness that seems to happen when they are antsy to start back and see friends but still want to extend summer as long as they can:)
As for moi...I will start the new chemo drug on Monday and we'll see how that goes and just what I am up to doing with everyone this week, but at least it will mean I have less treatments to go than I will have done...a very nice feeling that will be:)
So, I hope you all are enjoying the start of August and not dying from the stifling heat we are getting now. And I hope you enjoy the last few weeks of break with your kids......they will be back in school soon enough and even though it's hard to envision at moments, you will miss them when they are gone:P
Blog ya later-
K
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