Small Talk: 7th Floor Nurses Station

[BestestAuntEver]

Sorry to hear all the crap you're going through, Scorpiosrule. I'm a nurse and the different requirements of insurance can be mind boggling. some things I understand, others make absolutely no sense. I hope you are able to get everything resolved soon and have your surgery.

[GHScorpiosRule]

Thanks y'all. I think, ALL of this could have been avoided, if when I ASKED to see the CARDIOLOGIST, the guy who was going to write the clearance letter, stating I was okay to have this surgery, instead of 'pooh-poohing' me and making assurances that wasn't necessary by techs, admins and nurses, they should have just let me SEE him and let him examine me.

 

But I told them, they better not charge me for tomorrow's visit, because they screwed up and I have take time off from work AGAIN just so I can fix the mess that could easily have been avoided.

 

I'm also seeing my breast surgeon--I'm hoping she has time to drain the excess fluid around the expander to give me some relief until we can reschedule. I'm not kidding when I call it

MUTANT BOOB. The thing has increased 3 times the normal size and it's fucking painful to sleep on that side

 

Spoilering due to TMI and only something women would understand. 

[Chairperson Meow]

Omg dude that sucks. That's like some Figure 1 type stuff. I hope you get it fixed up soon.

[Sake614]

Oh for the love of...talk about inane stupidity! I'm so sorry you have to endure this endless runaround. Maybe you should bill the doctors for YOUR time traveling and waiting. And some extra for your pain and suffering (literal and figurative). Hope you get this resolved soon and that your breast surgeon can give you some comfort.

 

Keep us posted and rant away whenever you feel the need.

[GHScorpiosRule]

Thanks Sake.

 

And it will be a continued rant for the next, what seems foreverwhile.

 

I love my breast surgeon. She is the best--concerned for what is best for me.

 

Turns out both she and my oncologist are concerned (would have been nice to have known they had concerns before today, but whatever) enough, that with the complications I had with the expander (fevers, increased size due to fluid build up), and that two course of antibiotics hadn't worked, that instead of having the implant put it, just remove the expander and let the site heal of whatever infection caused this. Even though the culture from the buildup was negative, which was good; Then of course there was trauma--I'd been half asleep one day, and walked right into the wall, and believe it or not, IT, bounced me back toward the opposite wall. First thing I checked for was any breaking of skin; there was some swelling the next day, so I went straight to my plastic surgeon, to make sure everything was okay.

 

But my plastic surgeon nixed that.  And both my breast surgeon and oncologist want me to get a second opinion. Which of course, I agreed to. As much as I want this final surgery, I want to be healthy, and not have unnecessary/multiple surgeries, if the site isn't free of the infection.

 

Soooo, if the second opinion doctor agrees with my current plastic surgeon, then final reconstruction hopefully can be done within a month...if not, then I'll be switching doctors, and it will look like two surgeries! I don't know if my body will be able to withstand all that trauma.

 

So now....just waiting to hear when I can see the second opinion doctor.

 

Oh! And guess what? The cardiologist (who was super nice and apologized for what I had been through yesterday and the day before), cleared me for surgery! At least I don't have to worry about that aspect. 

 

So just a waiting game at this point.

 

Just kill me now.

[WendyCR72]

Thanks Sake.

 

And it will be a continued rant for the next, what seems foreverwhile.

 

I love my breast surgeon. She is the best--concerned for what is best for me.

 

Turns out both she and my oncologist are concerned (would have been nice to have known they had concerns before today, but whatever) enough, that with the complications I had with the expander (fevers, increased size due to fluid build up), and that two course of antibiotics hadn't worked, that instead of having the implant put it, just remove the expander and let the site heal of whatever infection caused this. Even though the culture from the buildup was negative, which was good; Then of course there was trauma--I'd been half asleep one day, and walked right into the wall, and believe it or not, IT, bounced me back toward the opposite wall. First thing I checked for was any breaking of skin; there was some swelling the next day, so I went straight to my plastic surgeon, to make sure everything was okay.

 

But my plastic surgeon nixed that.  And both my breast surgeon and oncologist want me to get a second opinion. Which of course, I agreed to. As much as I want this final surgery, I want to be healthy, and not have unnecessary/multiple surgeries, if the site isn't free of the infection.

 

Soooo, if the second opinion doctor agrees with my current plastic surgeon, then final reconstruction hopefully can be done within a month...if not, then I'll be switching doctors, and it will look like two surgeries! I don't know if my body will be able to withstand all that trauma.

 

So now....just waiting to hear when I can see the second opinion doctor.

 

Oh! And guess what? The cardiologist (who was super nice and apologized for what I had been through yesterday and the day before), cleared me for surgery! At least I don't have to worry about that aspect. 

 

So just a waiting game at this point.

 

Just kill me now.

 

OMG, your LIFE is a medical soap. Good luck, GHSR.

[dubbel zout]

My cancer was a piece of cake compared to all of this.

[GHScorpiosRule]

My cancer was a piece of cake compared to all of this.

 

Hell, after my diagnosis last September, the actual surgery and follow up and preparing for and getting chemo was a piece of cake in comparison. And that's saying a LOT, considering how the fucking chemo was beating my ass.

 

But, got the appointment for the second opinion, and have decided to just get my firm's insurance, which is a PPO, just with a deductible that is a little higher, but everything else is the same. But I'll wait till after the surgery, because I can't afford the deductible right now.

 

I had the pleasure of calling my primary's office this morning to request a "multiple referral good for the rest of the year for multiple visits" so that I am covered.  Even though I'll be getting my firm's insurance probably June 1, assuming the final surgery is done by then.  Crossing Fingers.

[Sake614]

I'm so sorry for all you're going through, but I completely agree that your health, both physical and mental, is the most important thing. I know you want the reconstructive surgery, but just let your body heal completely and get your mind at peace. Or at least as much peace as you can find with this bullshit. And rant away. That's why we're all here :)

[GHScorpiosRule]

If it weren't for the stupid breast feeling like I'm carrying around a rock, I would have stuck with my original plan to have the surgery after my course of Herceptin was complete. This would be November. I'm hoping that the second opinion won't be, yes, take out the expander, wait for the implant. Because that would be two surgeries.  Then again, if there is any chance the stupid fluid build up could happen again, even with the implant, then, I have no choice but to have two surgeries. Question is how long is the wait in between. The point of the expander I think, was to maintain the shape, so if that comes out, what happens?

 

Naturally, these are questions I'll be asking the second surgeon.

 

Worse comes to worst, I'll reach out to my parents to help with the deductible, should it turn out to be two surgeries, and I change insurance companies.

 

Blah. I need a drink.

[dubbel zout]

It really says something about the American health system when trying to wrangle insurance issues is a bigger time suck than cancer treatment.

[testardo]

GHScorpiosRule I said a prayer for you. You seem to be having ten times the trouble I had with a Quardruple heart bypass surgery, and Ulceritus colitius.  I do see the doctors a lot, now six months for the heart, three for regular doctor, and once every five years the urologist. .Mamagrams , colonscopy ,I never realized how lucky I am, my regular doctor makes the appointments for me. They did want to know when I had my last ecko when I had the colonscopy. They are covering their own asses, so to speak.I hope it all goes well now, and we all have only good thoughts for you. It will be over soon and it will all be just a memory.

[jennifer6973]

The devil is in the details. (meaning I had to get the devil's number off my screen)

[sunnyface]

{{{GHScorpiosRule and your docs}}}  }}}}insurance companies{{{{

Edited April 29, 2015 by sunnyface

[Gigi43]

GHSCORPIOSRULE, how are things going?

Today was the first GH I've seen in 3 days (been reading the board though) and I haven't posted about it yet because I got distracted by Stella, the dog in my new icon, who is now my new sister! So many of you were so nice in January when my Duran (also a boxer) passed suddenly I had to share :)

[twoods]

Congrats Gigi43! That's awesome to hear.

GH Scorpios, sorry about what you are going through. Usually cardiologists will write a letter if they've reviewed everything and it's normal, but some want the copay and to bill you for it. Good luck with your surgery.

Edited May 1, 2015 by twoods

[Chairperson Meow]

You guys! We got a new girl kitten. She looks just like a baby version of my Tiger that passed. We're going back and forth between names. It's between Iggy and Det. Benson. She's so cute. Casper likes her, but then again, he's a pretty chill cat.

[Sake614]

Congrats Gigi and Grrpants! I'm sure Stella and the new kitten will bring you tons of happiness. Grr, we want pictures of the new baby!

[GHScorpiosRule]

Update:

 

Some good news on the GHScorpiosRules Drama Train --I'm able to jump onto my firm's insurance June 1...cancellation letter from MD Health Exchange should arrive by next week;  and the other, is the Second Opinion Doctor, agrees with my Plastic Surgeon--Mutant Boob looks fine, not infected, doesn't feel like there is any excess fluid...or build up, so I"m good to go with just the one surgery! Which I called and asked for June 26; surgeon's scheduler is checking to make sure the hospital has that date available as well.  I told her that July 17 N0--cuz the 18th is TTP (Turn The Page Bookstore--Nora Roberts signing, Nalini Singh, who lives in New Zealand is also going to be there). 

 

Once I get the confirmation, I'll let my sister know, so she can take the day off and take me there. Even though it's outpatient, I'll be under general anesthesia, so not in any condition or bidnez to be driving. Fortunately, this hospital is only 10 minutes away from where I live.

[magnolia11]

Glad to hear you've gotten everything straightened out and the bureaucracy part of things has finally been dealt with, and you can now concentrate on the surgery/healing process!

[OnceSane]

I'm so glad things are looking up, GHScorpiosRule.

[GHScorpiosRule]

Thanks y'all.

 

It also helps that my parents are helping with the deductible and final bill.

[testardo]

great news GHScorpiosRule. Just being able to know its going to be OK takes a lot of pressure off you. Will say another prayer and hope all goes well..

[tvgoddess]

Yay for some good news finally, GHSR! Wishing you all good things with your surgery and continued recovery.

[Tiger]

Yay for some good news finally, GHSR! Wishing you all good things with your surgery and continued recovery.

Can't say it better myself, so I'll just quote my fellow Ava/Maura fan : )

[GHScorpiosRule]

ARGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

The hospital doesn't have an OR for the 26th. Soooo, my doctor's office is looking into Thursday, the 25th, which means I'll have to take another unpaid day off, or Friday, July 10.

 

Why can't hospitals be like General Hospital, in that , whenever a surgeon needs a room, there's always one available?

[magnolia11]

Ugh, I'm sorry for the delay!  Look on the bright side, though -- if your hospital were like GH, the room would be available but your surgery would probably end up being done by a cardiologist, a neurosurgeon or a pediatrician.  :)

[BestestAuntEver]

Ugh, I'm sorry for the delay! Look on the bright side, though -- if your hospital were like GH, the room would be available but your surgery would probably end up being done by a cardiologist, a neurosurgeon or a pediatrician. :)

And if Jakeson is there, you wouldn't have any nurses available to take care of you.

[dubbel zout]

And if Jakeson is there, you wouldn't have any nurses available to take care of you.

 

Even if he weren't there, your nurse would probably run out in the middle of the shift to deal with personal business. 

[GHScorpiosRule]

Thanks for the laughs, guys. You are SO right. 

 

Good thing about this hospital (I've been there before), the Nurses are AWESOME. So I've got one leg up over this fakakta show's patients, heh.

[dubbel zout]

The nurses do all the hard work and get none of the glory. They are amazing.

[BestestAuntEver]

The nurses do all the hard work and get none of the glory. They are amazing.

As a nurse, I thank you for noticing.

[GHScorpiosRule]

Update:

 

oooookay....July 10 is the day! But it's at 7:30 in the am, which means I have to be at the 'pital by 6:00 am! My sister is texting me all this nonsense like what about June 25? Why so early? They never prep on time, blah, blah. I'm like "I don't KNOW! 25th wasn't available. 7:30 was the ONLY availability. Sometimes I wonder why she asks me questions she knows I don't have the answer to?

 

And yepppp, I have to get ANOTHER Echo before this AND see the Cardio AND get another clearance letter. This TIME I will ask for the hard copy in my hand thankyouverramuch.

 

And the reason why plastic surgeon wanted to go with Shady Grove instead of Medstar Montgomery General (where I had my mastectomy)? Apparently the scheduling of surgeries is "easier."

 

Me: uh-huh, yeasureriiiight.

Edited May 13, 2015 by GHScorpiosRule

[Tiger]

I started a new job last Monday, and one of my responsibilities is to review expense reports over a certain amount. Well today I got a report from a "Liesl" in one of our European offices, and she told me to "quit [my] whining", told me some bizarre story about when she was a little girl, and I'm pretty sure she cused me out in German when I asked her, very nicely, to justify over $1200 for dinner for TWO people!

Edited May 13, 2015 by Tiger

[General Days]

Thank you. And I'm very sorry for your loss. Losing a parent is really hard and I know too many people who have gone through it recently. 

 

Yeah, we had a pretty hard time on Thanksgiving, it wasn't great on Christmas either but it was a little better. Then in February, we went out to dinner on what would have been my parents' 45th wedding anniversary and that was pretty hard on my mom. I'm just really dreading Father's Day and his next birthday. We got to celebrate one last birthday with him while he was in the hospital in September. 

 

It's just hard for me because I'm a baseball writer/blogger and I write because my dad's the one who introduced me to sports when I was a little girl. I've had such a tough time writing anything sports related since he first got sick and especially since he died. The Friday before Opening Day (4/3) will be the 6 month anniversary of his passing and I'm hoping that by then, I'll have something to write about. I almost feel like my ability to write about baseball died with him even though I know he wouldn't want that. He was proud of what I was able to accomplish (I was published in three magazines last year and he was very proud of me) and would tell me to stop being so silly. 

 

Oh boy. I need to stop because I will bawl at any second. Thanks for letting me vent. 

 

 

I turned 40 in August (a week after dad was admitted into the hospital). He kept asking the nurses what day it was and telling them that my birthday was coming up and that he didn't want to miss it. Turns out we both missed it because I was sick with vertigo and couldn't leave the house for a few days (my birthday included) and he was having trouble breathing that morning so they sedated and intubated him. 

 

Now, over six months later, my cousins want to throw me a party because they feel bad that I didn't get to have a celebration of any kind but I don't even want them to bother because it won't be the same without my dad. 

Box, once my father died, I had zero interest in my birthday (for different reasons, but still), and nobody has ever understood that, until now.

I'm so sorry for your loss. You're too young to have lost a parent (as was I, at the time). Regarding your writing, I propose that you fake it until you make it. Maybe that will help you. That first year after a death is a bitch. We mark every milestone (holiday, birthday, etc.). A year after my father's death, while I missed him even more, I also coped with it better, because I felt a sense of accomplishment that I'd made it through Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthdays, New Years, etc. I hope it is so, with you. All the best to you and your mom.

GHScorpiosRule, I am so sorry for your insurance odyssey. Just... in my experience, here is the thing with insurance companies, even before the ACA: they are run by a bunch of middle managers who are only concerned, each day, about said day's bottom line. They find it better to reject or deny claims, even those with merit and which fall within the rules, because some patients lack the tenacity to pursue an issue until it is fairly resolved. Think about it. If I deny 100 claims and only 33 people fight back, money-wise, I win. That is the mentality of insurance, these days, and has been for 30 years.

I am most sorry about your cancer, but trust that your health is on the mend, and that currently, it is this bureaucratic nightmare that is making you want to cut a bitch. I hope you are and continue to be well. Don't let the bureaucracy beat you.

[GHScorpiosRule]

Thanks General.

 

Okay, I know of at least 2 of y'all who watch Outlander.  Who's ready for tomorrow? Or the finale?

[isalicat]

I watch Outlander! Felt like an eternity between the two halves of the season and now its going to go away again...sob! Although I have read the first six books, it was long enough ago that a lot of the time I forget what will happen next so my advanced age and dwindling memory is serving me well, entertainment-wise.

 

A question for those of you who have had recent medical travails that involve cancer: What is the difference between an oncologist and a "medical oncologist"? My mom (age 89) was just diagnosed with lung cancer (apparently a very, very slow growing kind) - had a biopsy and has now been referred for radiation treatment. She went to an appointment this morning with an "oncologist" thinking that this was the visit (after 3 months of tests) that would set her up for the radiation (she is a feisty old bird who is ready to get cured and get on with life) but this doctor told her she has to see a "medical oncologist" first. Any idea of what/why?

[tvgoddess]

This should explain it. I didn't understand why I had to have a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist either. But they're very segmented when it comes to cancer. They work as a team to best treat each specific cancer.

 

http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/cancer-basics/cancer-care-team/types-oncologists

[isalicat]

Thanks so much, TV Goddess! Of course this is now further confusing me as my mom was told specifically that she was only having radiation therapy, not chemotherapy. I will find out more...but as she is 89 years old, she is getting the definite impression that the healthcare juggernaut just wants her to go away and die...:(

[dubbel zout]

My oncologist was also a hematologist, so I guess he was a medical oncologist, but my surgeon had no special oncological training. My port was installed by an interventional radiologist (and removed by my surgeon as sort of a favor to me).

 

It all depends on what kind of cancer you have—mine was colon—and how it's treated. 

[tvgoddess]

isalicat, even though I only had radiation and not chemotherapy, I still had to have a medical oncologist for my breast cancer. She actually ordered the test that showed that chemo would be of little additional benefit. I have to have 6 month checkups with them, blood work and monitoring of my drug protocol (to prevent recurrence).

[isalicat]

Thank you all for the useful info - I am a total newbie to all of this as my parents have up until now (and my dad is 94 next month) been insanely healthy for the most part. It turns out that, as you said TV Goddess, the radiation oncologist was doubtful about the treatment prescribed for my mom as it was coming from her pulmonogist (that did the biopsy and collapsed one of her lungs in the process), and said something to the effect that the cancer is so slow growing that they may want to recommend no treatment at all, but that is the job of the medical oncologist to decide. I did not know this when I initially posted as my mom is not absorbing information very well so I had to wait to hear all this from my dad - it actually sounds like pretty good news and smart medicine on the part of the radiation oncologist (whom my mom just thought was blowing her off).

 

okay, now back to the shew :)

[tvgoddess]

That does sound like good news. Obviously, I can't speak to lung cancer, but my mom had endometrial cancer and from that and just learning what I've learned in general I don't think they try to do more treatment than necessary for older people.

 

My good news for the day is the bill for my car repair was a lot cheaper than what was expected.

[dubbel zout]

Car repairs are almost as big a ripoff as medical expenses.

[isalicat]

Which is why, in both cases (car repairs and medical procedures) it is often a good thing to get a second opinion. My son drives the car he came home from the hospital in (he is turning 24 at the end of the month and the car was already 3 years old when he was born) - its a Honda CRV wagon - and he has had three different quotes on a tune up: $400., $200. and $75 (the latter from some shady character off Craig's List). Last time he took the car in for a problem he was told he needed a new alternator so he took it for a second opinion to another mechanic, left the car with a note to do *nothing* before telling him what was wrong and how much it would cost (he did not volunteer any information as to what could be wrong to the second mechanic), came back at the end of the day and the second mechanic had gone ahead and replaced the alternator without asking! So my son was able to negotiate a charge just for the alternator itself (not the labor) as the mechanic had clearly overstepped...now he doesn't trust any mechanics and the car really needs a tune up!

 

Anyways...

[Box305]

I had to put my beloved cat Jack to sleep this evening. I'm a wreck. Ugh. 

[Tiger]

:hugs: I'm so sorry for your loss.

[magnolia11]

I'm so sorry, too.  You've had to deal with way too much lately.  Hugs to you.

[Box305]

Thanks guys. I felt so bad because as it was happening, I got so upset that I was getting all snotty on his head so then was apologizing to him for getting boogers on him as he was going. It was sad and slightly amusing at the same time. 

 

Then I found out that my neighbor's girlfriend paints animals from pictures so I'm very excited because I am going to send her this shot of my boy: https://instagram.com/p/quxflWRrgC/

 

I think it would make a great painting. 

Edited May 20, 2015 by Box305

[isalicat]

Oh so sorry for your loss - I'm sure your Jack felt your love for him all the way...