Im bitchy, I moan, I groan.....anyway.
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Traci & Sheila, I have a case manager, also, with Tricare, and it was a Godsend, while I was going thru my 'active treatment'. But, Monica, my case manager, left, and I am SO SAD!! These other case managers really DON'T want to work, and they throw ALL the burden of responsibility right back on MY shoulders! It is SO UNFAIR! WTH do I know about how my insurance works, and HOW many visits I'm allowed for what type of treatment I am getting? My ps office has NO CLUE how to submit the claims, for all my reconstruction.
Sorry I got carried away and rambled, but I am just so frustrated with it all!!Linda, I hope your tests will show that everything is all fine, and....WTF? Why does it take FOUR weeks for bloodwork?? The results should be there in 1 or 2 days!!
A big THAT SUCKS to ALL!!
Harley0 -
Holy crap.....a TREMENDOUS "That sucks!" to everyone! I've got some suckiness, but I'm too damned tired to get into it...
You know, I think we need to find a big law firm and file a class action suit on behalf of all bc patients against numerous insurance companies that screw around with coverages/in- and out-of-network crap/various other BS. We certainly could get mental health professionals to testify just how mentally abusive these insurance companies are to people that are already under tremendous stress. Our doctors are choosing which tx to recommend NOT by which would be the best for us, but which one they are likely to get reimbursed for--they have families to feed, too. And, even though I agree that Loki's ps is a complete tool, his asshole behavior boils down to insurance coverage. Any OTHER company/merchant that treated us this way--by not delivering the services we PAY FOR--would be punished by the law and not allowed to do it. The fact that so many of the insurance company employees we deal with seem to be heartless, cruel, and without manners just adds insult to injury. I think every one of us can come up with at least one instance where something an insurance company did caused us to lose sleep. Many of us can come up with examples of having to accept sub-standard treatment or physicians because of insurance companies. Then, there are lots of us that have statements IN WRITING from our insurance companies that says they WILL cover a specific item from a specific provider.......and STILL they deny, deny, deny! Tell me how long Wal-Mart would be allowed to stay open if you paid for your items and they confiscated them as you were leaving the store....
One other thing: why aren't insurance companies pressuring pharmaceutical companies to find a CURE for this bullshit disease? It can only benefit them to NOT have to be billed $$$$ for cancer tx, right? Are they in cahoots with the drug companies so they can get us coming and going? WTF???
Now I need to go try to get through to the SS office. They sent me a letter that says "you have an appointment" and "you will lose your benefits"...but don't tell me WHEN the appointment is?? Like I can stand to lose that medicaid now that the really high dollar tx is about to begin for me.
THAT F-ing SUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
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badboob - Amen to your post! The medicaid thing sucks too. Dealing with government offices is about as bad as dealing with insurance companies!
I'm getting ready to start my phone calls. I hated that it was the first thing I thought about when I woke up this morning. This is just going to make for a sucky day, but I gotta get it started.
Hope for a less than sucky day for everyone.
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WOW, sucky insurance seems to be the trend around here! I'm so sorry for you ladies having to deal with all this B**S**. And a big "that sucks" to the ladies with great insurance who are STILL dealing with this terrible disease.
I agree with badboob-it's all about the insurance coverage. I looked up the going rate for breast procedures on the TriCare website and it's ridiculous. Anyone kind(or stupid) enough to take TriCare gets paid peanuts! I don't fault any PS for not taking TriCare, I just wish he'd turned me down a year ago...
IT also bothers me(whether it should or not) this guy spent 3 months last year in Cambodia repairing cleft palettes...it's not that these children he was working on didn't deserve it, and it's not that I feel as deserving of special treatment...but this act of compassion was a big deciding factor for me last year. I know that a child with a cleft palette is in much more need of attention than I am, but I can't shake the feeling that what I thought was a compassionate act was just a publicity stunt. Is that fair of me?
My other bitch for today....ME! I've been such a crab recently! I can't pull my head outta my A** long enough to see how many people have it FAR worse than I. I can't seem to find a comforting word for anyone else, and I have to work REALLY hard not to roll my eyes when people come to me with complaints about the weather, or their recent stomach bug, or whatever....don't they have just as much right to be heard?
Oh bitchy, bitchy me
megs
...I had to change my avatar. I missed seeing my daughter's little face. She always makes me smile;-)0 -
Damn, the dog just threw up all over the kitchen floor. . .nobody here to clean it up but me. . .what's next?
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Sheila, I have Aetna too, and I had to request an appeal. They did a full audit on my account and FINALLY started sending in payments for things they had rejected. They said that a change I made in my insurance (moving from a family to an individual setup) mixed up their system.
As it was, the year I was diagnosed, I had decided to change our insurance from a normal PPO to a 'high deductible' PPO (since we rarely needed to go to the doctor anyway). Boy, was THAT a mistake (*laugh*).... since even though I was the only one who went to the doctor, we had to hit the FAMILY deductible and out of pocket limits before they'd pay 100%.
Anyway, I've had several times I've had to pull the explanation of benefits off their web site and fax it to various doctors/hospitals to show proof of what was paid and what I owed (or they owed me). It's just a fact of life. I learned not to get upset, just look up the file and make some phone calls. And keep a log of the phone calls and who I talked to 'just in case'. (Only needed to use that once).
Good luck,
Janet
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Sheila, my dog threw up this morning also!!! Only I couldn't get her out of the living room fast enough! Fortunately for me my SO was here and cleaned it up! Yuck!!!
Megs, I'm a bitch too. I would bet the majority of us here are at times!
A hearty THAT SUCKS to all.0 -
Ok, I'm sending everyone the prescriptionfor Damnitol.
Sue, I'm sending you some "Buyagra" - a stimulant taken prior to shopping that increases potency, duration, and credit limit of spending spree. Buy lots of chocolate, shoes, and purses!
Loki007 - You need the prescription for "Jackasspirin" to relieve the headaches caused by your fongool doctor.
A big THAT SUCKS to all that are fighting the insurance gods.
Otter and Deb - Sucks about the bald heads. My sister made me laugh when I was first bald. First she said it looked like the surface of the moon, then said that she was really just relieved that there wasn't a 666 on the back of my head!
Gotta go take a pill,
Marsha
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Marsha, your meds are hilarious. . ROFLMAO
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Well, my bald head is about to become decorative.....we are planning a henna tattoo party and the artist is going to do my head! It started as a kind of goofy thing my kids wanted to do. Then we got the idea of making it a party and having people donate money to relay for life if they want a tattoo. Now they have the newspaper invited to come do a story about it! We just have to set the date, either the 23rd or 24th. I am actually kind of excited about it....
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Way to go Deb, getting decorated and raising money for the Relay for Life at the same time.
Sheila
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Oh, geez, I'll never get caught up on reading. We're leaving for Charlotte tomorrow (my grandson's 3 year b'day party Satuday), and I need to wash a few clothes and START packing. It's not that I need a bunch of clothes, but you ladies know what all we have to take with us...all kinds hair products (mousse, hair spray, hair styling spray, blow dryer (I'm used to my own), brushes and combs, deodorant, facial cleansers, moisturizers, make upS, tooth brush, toothe paste (yes I know I could use theirs but don't want to go hunting), oh, and my own bath soap cuz I don't like there's, meds...I don't know if I left anything out. I can't pack those things til tomorrow cuz I'll be using them. I'm tired just thinking about it.
So, my bitch is packing! Poor Traci. I should just leave stuff up there that I normally use...hmmm...that's sounds like a great idea!
My other bitch is I forgot to watch the Idols Tuesday night. Yes, I'm addicted. So, I had to go on Youtube and watch the contestants. I'm really losing my mind.
I'll be back to read. If not tonight, then Monday cuz I know I'll have NO private time while at dd's.
Shirley
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Shirley, um, ...
"...you ladies know what all we have to take with us...all kinds hair products (mousse, hair spray, hair styling spray, blow dryer (I'm used to my own), brushes and combs, ..."
Oh, that hurts! I put my hairbrush and blow-dryer in storage a month ago, knowing I would not use them again until, when--maybe next Christmas?
My bitch is that I am up here on our boat, having a great time being totally lazy ... and my dh is pissed off about that. I actually didn't want to go--I was sort of enjoying my hermit/recluse status, lounging around the house doing nothing at all. But he begged and pleaded and reminded me yet again that we've only been on our boat once since my dx in January.
So I agreed to go along (bald head and all, Shirley), with one condition: I get to do anything I want to do, and I don't have to do anything I don't want to do. I can read books, or watch TV, or play on my computer (like I am right now). He has lots of maintenance things he wants/needs to do (Ever own a boat? You know what I mean), but he is not allowed to fuss at me or try to make me feel guilty. I am here to have fun, because it's my only truly "good" week out of each 3-wk chemo cycle. And the date of my next tx is rapidly approaching--it's next Wednesday. I wanna have FUN!
He said, "OK, sure," but he didn't mean it. He's been grousing around ever since we arrived, and he just complained that I am not listening to him because I am always talking to my "computer friends."
Sheesh. OK, it's time to fix dinner. I'll be back if I get a chance.
otter
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Otter, I had to come back here and check. You will get your hair back soon enough. Then, you'll be moaning and groaning about taking a bunch of stuff with you when you go out of town. When I was bald all I had to take was shampoo and my wig or thingys I put on my head. I wouldn't walk around bald. I couldn't! I hated looking at myself in the mirror!
I'm sorry your next chem is soon coming. Have a great time. Tell your dh that you are taking chemo and he's not to expect ANYTHING from you. Tell him to cook!
Shirley
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Oh, Shirley, thanks... He really is a dh, ... really. In fact, he has been doing nearly all the cooking except during my "good" weeks. He brings me things so I don't have to get up, and he goes to the store for things. He has really been over the top, as far as helpfulness.
It's just this boat thing. We just had a blow-up a few minutes ago, over ... what the heck was it over? Oh. The relative ability (or inability) of spouses to read minds. Or something like that. He wants to go somewhere tomorrow in the boat, and I'm wanting to hang around and not get out on the water too far. He has somewhere in mind--I just know it, because he's been studying the lake for days now, trying to pick out places. So he told me he was going to go to WalMart for some things, and I should look at the map and pick out where I want to go tomorrow. No, I said, you pick out the place--you are the one who wants to go out on the lake tomorrow. Well, that was all it took--BLOW UP!
It didn't help that he forgot his entire suitcase/duffle bag with all his clothes etc. and that's why he needs to go to WalMart. He was so pissed at me this morning because I was slow getting ready to leave, and then he went and forgot to put his own stuff in the car. And 3-1/2 hours later, we're unpacking the car, and he says, "Hey, where's my suitcase?". Yeah, that didn't help matters at all.
No major bitches from me, I guess. Just a general simmering grumpiness in the air, left over from the storm that blew through here as we were unpacking. Drove 3-1/2 hours from home, only to arrive in the middle of a tornado warning. Luckily there wasn't one--just a big wind.
But, to everyone else here, for whatever you're suffering today: Wow, THAT SUCKS!
otter
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Deb - What a great idea. Glad you've figured out a way to give your bald head a purpose. . .you go girl.
Shirley - The best thing I invested in last year was DVR. Worth every penny, I never miss the shows I like. I'm an Idol fan too.
Otter - Hope you'll end up enjoying your time on the lake. My dh is so antsy to get me to our place but knows not to push it. He's been down there twice since my surgery last month but knows the almost 2 hour drive is just too much for me now.
Well, ended up not being too much of a sucky day. I've got the rad onc and my bs writing letters for me to put in the package to Aetna. They both assured me it would get paid, that there's no way Aetna can legally deny it. I feel better after talking to them.
I think the suckiest thing I experienced today was reading about the loss of Marin's cat. It's so sad. Losing our beloved pets definitely sucks.
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otter---that sucks!!! MEN!!!!
Deb--send pics of the tat
Shirleyma--we'll miss you--that sucks!!
Aetna sucks!!!
(I don't have it thank god I have DOUBLE great ins. coverage) It is GOOD to be a federal employee!!!!!
I went back to work today and had a really great day, lots of hugs and fun. I am surprisingly okay about the hair, I did wear a hat (my son's black pin-stipe fedora) but took it off because I got hot!!! (I also worked a LITTLE BIT).
Anyone I missed, THAT SUCKS!!!
(Traci, moving SUCKS!!)
Love,
Sue
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Boy......all the insurance woes suck bigtime! Enough to drive you wacky!
Otter....that's a sucky way to start a getaway......hope the boat rocks you gently to sleep and make sure you avoid bad weather out there!
What's with all the dog puke??? I had to race this morning to once again clean up dog puke before my ride came......ugh, lovely way to start the day.........really gets the morning appetite going...NOT!
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Sue, I would hope thath my moving wouldn't suck for you!! Aren't we getting together??????????\
My roomie and I are starting to sorta freak out in a good way about me moving in LESS THAN THREE WEEKS! Holy shit, things are about to change in my life!!!!!
I've had too much vino. I'll see y'all tomorrow.
Hugs, ((((((((((((((((everybody))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Traci
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Traci,
Moving sucks no matter what. I am glad you are moving here, and if you need help, call me, but I hate moving. My husband is a pilot, which means he's gone about half the time. Do you know that TWICE I had to move without him there to help? And it was when our kids were still little, so add that to the moving suckiness, and it SUCKED!!!!!
Cleaning up dog puke sucks!!!!
Back to work again today. I feel good. I found a silver lining to this whole chemo thing--it feels SO good when the side effects go away!!!!
CHEMO SUCKS BUT I'M GLAD IT WORKS!!!!
Hope everyone has a great day,
Sue
(Added in editing--I forgot to bitch!! Wearing a foam foob all day SUCKS!!)
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Holy crap....
So, I went for a prosthesis/bra fitting last month and decided to go ahead and order a wig too because I'm going to be doing Taxol at some point. It was a freaking circus act at the onc's office, trying to get the scripts. The new "patient navigator" got ahold of me and I ended up spending several hours there and missed my first pros. appointment. The navigator gave me the name of a local lady which sounded much better than the hour plus ride to the other provider. I was supposed to get an LE sleeve, too but the local lady doesn't do that....
Anyway, it was a month ago that I was fitted and the bras, pros, and wig were ordered. I get a call that the wig is in, so I went to pick it up....Not only will she NOT bill my insurance for the wig (even though it is 100% covered), she hasn't ordered the bras/pros because she "isn't in my insurance"! WTF???? I have bcbs and medicaid as my secondary; the bcbs is an out of state plan with endorsements that make EVERYONE "in network" for us! So, I paid $100 for a damned wig I don't need yet (and won't for a VERY long time if the XELODA does its job!) and NO BRAS or PROSTHESIS! Now I have to start searching again for a provider and bare my mutilated chest to yet ANOTHER complete f'ing stranger. AGHHHHHHHHH
Oh, and what's with these supposed "professional" people (fitters, etc) who have ALSO gone through bc themselves not being able to grasp what stage IV means?!?!?! Both the pt. navigator and fitter seem completely clueless about what that means and keep saying ridiculous things to me. GRRRRRRR
THAT SUCKS Y'ALL!
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Diane, all of that, does suck.
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Ugh, I just wrote a long post and it disappeared into cyberspace. This is why I don't like using my laptop without a mouse -- but it is so comfy here on the couch! What I was trying to say was...
Sorry to hear about all the dog puke - yuck! Last night I was too tired to even put the dinner dishes into the dishwasher, I would have cried if I had to deal with a nasty smelly mess.
Deb, that is so cool that you're getting henna art on your head! If I had the guts to go "topless" I would totally want to do that. I rarely take my hat off, even at home unless I'm really hot (or taking a shower).
Otter, floating on a boat in the middle of a lake sounds heavenly to me! I'm sorry dh is being difficult, though. It must be nice to be retired. At this point, the way things are going I'll be 103 before I can afford to retire (and yes, I do plan on living that long!). Oh well, these non-profits where I work don't pay so hot, but I am fortunate to have excellent health insurance, so it's a reasonable trade-off. A hearty THAT SUCKS to those of you who aren't so lucky.
I am feeling crappy today but no big complaints -- yesterday was my FINAL chemo tx. Yay! I'm hoping that in a few weeks I'll start to feel like myself again, so I can get my body stronger before surgery in June (mast + reduction on the other side). And I can't WAIT for my hair to start coming in. I asked myh 7-year-old son to be my official head-checker and let me know when the hair starts to grow -- he agreed that would be his job.
Best wishes for a good day - or at least a relatively non-sucky one.
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Otter,
Sorry your time on the lake has to be disturbed by a grumpy husband. We had one week (on my chemo off week) vacation last summer too. DH said we would just be lazy, kids and I were fine with that, he wasn't (he is a go go go person). Kids playing game cube all day drove him CRAZY!! I ran 101 fever all that week so it was a very trying vacation in some ways but was still good to have a change of view. Made getting back to dull old home better for all.
Hoping that after the WalMart trip things are better. Where are you located that there is a lake that big for a boat that big? Sounds like a nice place to me if it isn't too hot.
Hang in there,
Wink
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thought you all might enjoy this quote about the "medicinal powers of shouting and complaining":
Anne Lamott, in her book Grace (Eventually) writes:
"What can you say when people call with a scary or heartbreaking prognosis? You say that we don't have to live alone with our worries and our losses, that all the people in their tide pool will be there for them. You say that it totally sucks, and that grace abounds.
You can't say that things will be fine down the road, because that holds the spiritual authority of someone chirping "No worries!" at Starbucks, or my favorite, "It's all good!" at the market. It's so not all good. And I'm worried sick.
It's fine to know, but not to say, that in some inadequate and surprising ways, things will be semi-okay, the way wild flowers spring up at the rocky dirt-line where the open-space meadow meets the road, where the ground is so mean. Just as it's fine to know but not say that anger is good, a bad attitude excellent, and the medicinal powers of shouting and complaining cannot be overestimated."
count me in your tide pool.
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That, was awesome.
I am so ordering that book. 0 -
Glad its the week-end. I can come bitch and moan all I want to without being rushed cause of work.
Diane: I cant believe that whole situation. The breast cancer navigator is supposed to make things easier. You would think they would refer you to people that do have some compassion. If I were you, I would let the hospital know their how you were treated by someone they referred you too. Sucks big time.
Lorena: Congratulations on yesterday being your last chemo. I remember that day very well. I laughed outloud with your son being the official hair checker.
Otter: I swear men will make us crazy if we would let them. Its miserable to be around a grumpy husband - especially when your getting chemo.
BBL
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I have a male friend who must have read that book. He has NO PROBLEM to yell and rant over the phone when upset and then hang up on me before I can say anything. One time he did it and was way over the top and I knew that there was NOTHING I could say to him at this point so I just stayed quiet. That made him even HOTTER!! Then he said "DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?" I said "yes, I did" and then he ranted some more and I let him finish and then at the end he paused and I'm sure he was expecting a different response from me, but I said "You have a nice life Bob!! GOODBYE!!" He was a bit shocked. Then said "Huh,ahhh,....... Goodbye". Then I clicked the phone off. Honestly, Men, Sometimes.!!!!!
Have a good Weedend Ladies.Congrats on your last chemo, Lorena, It must feel great
Kerry
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Deb, I'd love pictures of the henna-head and Wink, thanks for that quote! To all the ladies I haven't read up on yet, here's a preemptive " that sucks!"
I hope my bitch will help lighten the mood...
I have designer taste, but a Wal-Mart budget, so I buy most of my favorite things at second hand boutiques or ebay... I have a fantastic pair of Seven jeans I bought years ago at a thrift shop, and this week I was able to get back into them(just barely, but still)!!!
I wore them today when I volunteered in my son's first grade class. I bent down to tie the shoe of the *CUTEST* little girl before walking the kids to recess and ripped my pants...across the butt AND up the center seam( I didn't know pants COULD rip that way!)...revealing not only my tattoo, but the shiny, bejeweled(and at the time, slightly off-center) thong I wear when I REALLY need an ego-boost.
What do you say when a 7 year old asks why you have a necklace on your bum?
"It's opposite day!"
The lesson for today is:
-There's a difference between broken in and broken down,
-I'm NOT a size 4 anymore, and
- Mason's mommy is a little bit trampy.
Sincerely,
Megs
* Proud Member of the Idiot Girl's Adventure Club*0 -
Megs....OK, first I LOVE that you have a jeweled thong....we all need a little bit of tramp in us. Oh, and I think the last time I was a size four I was 7-years-old. Too funny about opposite day! And I LOVE Laurie Nataro (Sp?) I am a long time memeber of the idiot girls. Her books never leave my pile of things to read when i need a laugh
Deb C
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