Illinois ladies facing bc

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited October 2014

    If any of you ladies are looking for a good local place for LE sleeves I highly recommend VanDriel Medical in Mt. Prospect. Yeah I drove all the way out there but worth it. Not only are the covered by my insurance (Aetna…has very few local preferred providers for sleeves) but they seem to specialize in all things LE. They are not a prosthesis place that fit for medical devices. 

    contact me offlist if you want the name of the person I met with.

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    I do know that for me, gratitude has made my life much happier.  It also has acted as a magnet for blessings:  The more grateful I’ve become, the more I’ve had to be grateful for. . . . Our blessings depend in part on our labor:  We shape ourselves, our world, and our history.  But all, finally, is a gift of God, and we ourselves are the finest of his gifts.  Our gift to God is our gratitude.
     
    Lyn Klug

  • dltnhm
    dltnhm Member Posts: 420
    edited October 2014

    lago and everyone,

    Van Driels is where I go. They are simply wonderful. My needs are on the prevention side - but in that first year plus it seemed my body was balancing on a precipice. 

    My LE therapist highly recommended that I go to Van Driels. The fitter I have seen, whose name escapes me at the moment, is so professional, thoughtful and caring. She is thorough and I have never felt rushed. 

    It's not too far from my oncologist (and all my team for that matter) but that's still more than a hike from Gurnee and it is well worth it. 

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    The most difficult thing is the decision to act,
    the rest is merely tenacity.
    The fears are paper tigers.
    You can do anything you decide to do.
    You can act to change and control your life;
    and the procedure, the process is its own reward.
    - Amelia Earhart

  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 836
    edited October 2014

    My workplace at the area 911 center is right up Northwest Hwy. Van Driels is very convenient, but I dont think is covered by my BCBS. I havent had to look in to it since my bmx year ago, tho if I ever fly anywhere, sleeves are recommended for me.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited October 2014

    Aviva I would be surprised that BCBS excludes Van Driels unless you are on an HMO. Aetna is pretty fussy. That's why I ended up all the way out at Van Driels instead of some place in Chicago. 

  • dltnhm
    dltnhm Member Posts: 420
    edited October 2014

    Check your plan. I had BC/BS HMO and my plan covered everything & I mean everything: sleeve, gauntlet, glove, swell spot, even a night sleeve (can't recall what it's actual name is & only wore it a few times). But I have it if needed. And remember I don't even have a lymphedema diagnosis. But my arm was definitely wanting to go that way and I would have a heaviness feeling on my left side toward the back where my bra hits (hence the swell spot). I wear my sleeve and gauntlet whenever I fly.

  • mjsgumbas
    mjsgumbas Member Posts: 323
    edited October 2014

    I have BCBS PPO and they too covered everything LE related including bypass surgery. Had no issues even with custom sleeves & gloves

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    If we pretend to be more enlightened than we really are, we will miss an opportunity to heal ourselves.  Admitting our limitations can make us feel vulnerable, yet it is very freeing.  We just have to be ourselves as we are now, accepting the mixture of enlightened awareness and human limitation that is in each of us.  Through this self-acceptance, we find a deep peace and self-love.
     
    Shakti Gawain

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    We may have different religions, different
    languages, different colored skin,
    but we all belong to one human race.
    - Kofi Annan

  • termite
    termite Member Posts: 238
    edited October 2014

    I haven't been on this site for awhile but have lurked often. Will try to get back to posting here.

    I have never been told to wear a sleeve and we fly every year a few times. Now wondering if I should get one. Have an appt. with oncologist Tuesday and will be sure to ask.

    BTW--Congratulations on the race.

    Have a great day

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited October 2014

    Termite wearing the sleeve while flying to prevent LE is supported by some and not others. I know many they have had more nodes than I and radiation that don't wear a sleeve for flying and don't have LE. Not all MDs are knowledgeable about LE. Even my MO does not support the wearing of sleeves even for those of us that have LE (and my LE MD and the woman who fitted me for my sleeve both know it).

    If you would like to read up take a look at this linky

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    We are given a life—a precious commodity—and are placed on this earth for a short while.  We are surrounded by incredible beauty, strength, and love along with incredible violence, hatred, and prejudice.  Every time a person becomes happier, they are moving one step away from prejudice and violence and closer to love and compassion.  So think of your personal joy as a contribution to peace on the planet as well as food for your spirit.
     
    Charlotte Davis Kasl

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    I continue to love recess.  I have learned along the journey how important play is to our lives as long as it is our minor and not our major.  We were designed to work and to work heartily.  I don’t think there is any sweeter sleep than that which follows a diligent day’s work.  But without respite, work will wear us to a frazzle.  Recess keeps the dazzle in our footsteps.
     
    Patsy Clairmont

  • fgm
    fgm Member Posts: 448
    edited October 2014

    Iago-Thanks for the information about wearing sleeves,etc on a plane.  My LE specialist not only encourages her patients to wear a sleeve and glove on a plane but also on car trips longer than 3 hours.  Although, I drove to Michigan and forgot to bring them and didn't feel any difference.  

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    In learning to embrace your being, don’t look at your mistakes.  It is a given that we will all make some mistakes in life.  It is a given that you will make inappropriate choices for inappropriate reasons.  They will in no way affect your worth.  No matter what you say or do, nothing can minimize the worth of your being.  Your worth is a gift from God.  Your worth is a gift of grace.
     
    Iyanla Vanzant

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited October 2014

    fgm everyone is different. I once didn't wear my sleeve on a short plane ride (2.5 hours) on my at risk arm. I did notice a difference. Like I said I know others that have many node remove like you and never had an issue. It's a personal choice. For me a risk I don't want to take given I already have it in one arm that didn't get rads and only 10 nodes removed. I don't want it in both arms.

  • fgm
    fgm Member Posts: 448
    edited October 2014

    Iago- I don't blame you!  I always wear mine on planes.  I just thought it interesting that I didn't feel any difference on my road trip. Enjoy the sunny day!

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    How will you use the years God gives you?  Will you be remembered for being a fault-finder?  Or will you be known for your quick smile, the laugh lines around your eyes, and the twinkle deep within?  After all, the Lord gives you your face, but you provide the expression.
     
    Barbara Johnson

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    Beautiful Fall morning here -- wishing you all the same beauty.

    Blessings

    Jackie

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    Choose Inner Peace. Nothing is worth losing your inner peace. Take action as circumstances require, but never surrender your inner peace. Stop. Breathe deeply.  Close your eyes and breathe deeply again.  Then, and only then, take action - from a peaceful heart.
    - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    An oldie but a very good one.

    Jackie

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited October 2014

    Hey termite, I will be interested to hear about what your onc says about wearing a sleeve.  I have never worn one and I've travelled quite a bit. I also golf and do lots of activities.  My onc has never even suggested it so I'm anxious to hear what your onc says.  Maybe next time I go I'll ask, too and see why some suggest them and others don't.

    Jackie, so glad to see that you are faithfully posting the quotes.  Maybe now that summer is over and the outside activities are winding down, I will have more time to chime in on the threads.

    Hugs to all of you  who are in treatment or struggling with some aspect of this journey.

    Rita

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    The loving energy that I radiate into this world
    is a gift beyond my own understanding.
    - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 700
    edited October 2014

    Lovely day outside today.  Went for a run with morning sun glowing through the autumn foliage.  I hope everyone can get out for a bit.  "Winter is coming...."

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    A rousing Happy Birthday to you Irene.  I hope your day is wonderful.

    Photo

    Blessings

    Jackie

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 39,794
    edited October 2014

    If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue.  Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge.  Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time.  It's very important to be aware of them every time they come up.
     
    Deepak Chopra

  • MimiL55
    MimiL55 Member Posts: 84
    edited October 2014

    good morning ladies! a beautiful fall morning here, hope you get to enjoy it. I have been absent for a while now but reading and following nearly every day. I had my hip replacement on 9/15 was moving along with home therapy, then ended up I ER with a bad case of C-diff! spent 5 nights in hospital sicker than I have ever been! so that put my rehab back about 2 weeks. just now starting to walk with cane instead of walker. hoping to be able to get back to work soon. when in ER they did a ct scan of abdomen, saw sclerotic lesions in some bones which led to bone scan last week. see MO this week for results-wish me luck girls. hope all are doing well, having pain free, peaceful days!

    Mimi

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited October 2014

    Hi MimiL55 Stu

    Sucks about the c-diff but you are on your way now. Fingers crossed for you on the bone scan. Granted they always do scans if there's anything that isn't perfect now that you've been diagnosed. I had liver scans for 2 years till they finally agreed those internal zits were just cysts. 

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,423
    edited October 2014

    Good luck this week!  What is C-diff?

    Why does it  seem that when one thing goes wrong everything else does too?