Great saying about depression
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Kate: I did see your post on the other thread and I am just thrilled that you are going to be able to have this revision!!! BTW: I also feel like a baby: I only just started doing my old workouts that had me in top shape maybe ten years ago! Don't beat yourself up--it's a long journey to get yourself back. Also, I thought about going to work for a PS--that might be a great job for you. Maybe a reconstructive PS. We all become experts after this journey and you certainly would be an asset. Whenever I decide to change carreers, I start writing down all of the things I am good at, pros and cons, benefits, etc. Good luck ironing out the details regarding insurance. Big Happy Hugs!!!
Barbara: Just checking in to see if there is any news for you. Thinking about you today!
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barbe- OMG, this week has gotten away from me. Didn't realize your procedure was yesterday. (Thanks MBJ!) Hope everything went o.k. and that you get the results back SOON and that everything is all well. Keep us posted!!! (((hugs))))
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Kate can't wait to hear your results must be so nice to know your decision is made. Sorry about the other junk! How is your hubby doing?
Barbe hope it went ok.
DiDel do something really nice for yourself you deserve it!
Wish someone would tell me what to do about my revision!!!!!!!!!
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Thanks everyone for the support. As always much appreciated. Gosh Monday is my nip recon and I am sooooooo nervous. I am taking what you said MBJ and keeping it in the back of my mind everytime a glimmer of doubt appears. I do think this will make me feel a little better about myself and give me the oomph to really get out there again.
Kate i'm sorry you are feeling bad too. You know months ago I had sooo many aches and pains from chemo and chemopause I tried acupuncture. It was the best $80 I ever spent. I am telling you every joint in my body ached I could barely move and felt 100 years old. I did 5 sessions but by thr 3rd one I was feeling great by the 4th I felt 100%. I also threw my back out before my exchange surgery and God bless my friend (acupuncturist) she packed up her table and came over and gave me a treatment. When she got here I couldt even get myself on the table by the time she left I was about 80% better the next day 100%. At the time it was a last resort but now if I have an ache I am calling her right away. Kate maybe that would help relieve some of your FM pains. Worth a shot. Kate where are you staying in Miami for your surgery and how long are you staying?
Barb hope you are feeling ok, thinking about you
Good night all!
Diane
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Determined- My DH has an appointment with the neurologist May 11th- two days before my surgery. Going to be a stressful week all around. Don't know if they'll DX him on the spot but I'm almost positive it's Parkinson's. He just has so many symptoms I don't think it could be anything else. I feel so guilty spending all this time, money and energy on my revision when I feel like I should be focusing on him right now. Really hoping the revision makes a big improvement so it'll all be worth it. I can certainly understand your indecision. I think I would still be a fence sitter if I hadn't talked so much with one of Dr. Khouri's patients- "leeinfl". Being able to meet her and see her results (yes, she showed me!) made me feel a lot more sure about deciding to move forward. I say if you can't decide then do nothing for awhile. I kind of had to get it done now as I'm not sure what our medical insurance situation will be if my DH stops working. When the time is right you'll know. (((hugs)))
barbe- where are you? You're always on here! Hope everything is o.k.
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Sorry, ladies, didn't realize I had posted my procedure on this thread. My bladder is okay. The first question he asked is if I still have my ovaries. We looked at each other long and hard. Yep, I said. I want to get you an ultrasound he said. I want a CA-125 blood test I said. We both nodded.
I was kinda hoping if it was going to be anything that it would be bladder. Ovarian is not good news....sigh. I just don't have any more parts down there to worry about!
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barbe- Sorry! Glad your bladder is o.k. but sorry you have to endure more tests. I just went through the whole pelvic US/CA-125 tests, too, so hope your results are just as positive. So tired of my parts being poked, prodded and worried about, too. (((HUGS)))
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barbe so sorry for more tests. It just doesn't seem to end does it. Thinking of you
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Barbe: So glad your bladder is okay and hopefully your dr. is just being thorough with the other tests and they come back clean, too.
I read something very interesting about Fibromyalgia in my Chiro's office yesterday. This book is by Dr. Brownstein and he states that most people with Fibro are deficient in Iodine. He says if you just remove regular processed salt from your diet including all processed foods, and add a 1/2 a tsp of Celtic Sea Salt (about $5 a bag at Whole foods for the unbleach, grey stuff) in warm water twice a day it should help to relieve symptoms. Of course, he also adds that balancing the hormones is also helpful, but I thought that this is an easy one to do. I had already been doing the Celtic Sea Salt in the a.m. but I also started taking it in the evening so I will let you know if it helps. The name of the book I read in his office was: Salt: your Way to Health by David Brownstein, MD. He also recommends the book The Miracle of Natural Hormones.
(((Kate))): This must be such a trying time for you, but you are right, you should do all you can now to take advantage of your insurance. So sorry you have to go through all of this heartache. Hugs.
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Kate the timing is perfectly RIGHT! Do not delay!! Can you imagine if your DH's position changes and you can't get the coverage. You will have time to worry about him once you have taken care of yourself.
Why would Celtic Salt have iodine in it? I'm pretty sure I'm iodine deficient as I've taken added salt out of my diet for 17 years now, ever since I've gone on blood pressure meds. Can't get the supplement right now as there is a world shortage.
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OK, I got my revision surgery scheduled today. Am pretty nervous but it has more to do with the doctor's office being a total cluster f*** than with the surgery/surgeon. (Total incompetence on the administrative end.) Anyway, just made the hotel reservations for my 5 days of post-op. My DH discovered it's graduation weekend for University of Miami so had to pay out the wazoo for a room. And the doctor's office wanted all the money up front so that went on the credit card today, too. And they are requiring I have all this pre-op testing (EKG, chest x-ray, blood work, etc.) done by my GP this week. Yikes! By the time I'm done with all this BC **** I will be one expensive chick! SO hope this will be all worth it because if not......well, point me to the nearest cliff! (JK!)
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Why is nothing ever easy? An hour after I got my surgery scheduled (and paid the $3600 over the phone) I got a call from the PS's office saying that my insurance company will pay for the revision but supposedly won't pay for the new implants and they need an additional $1500. WTH? I am having these implants swapped out to smaller ones due to issues with pain. Why wouldn't insurance cover that? So I've already paid for my surgery, 5 nights in a hotel room (non-refundable), rental car and my DH has already taken his vacation time. (Not to mention the hotel/car rental when I went out for my consult.) Where am I supposed to come up with an additional $1500? I have been on the phone for the entire day with the PS's office, billing office and insurance company getting the run around and had had to tell my story 5 x today. Afterwards I had a complete and total breakdown. I think the past year finally caught up to me. I'm just so GD sick of all this. I don't want to do it anymore. It sounds crazy but I felt like a rape victim that had to tell her story over and over again to total strangers. I had a MX. I had recon. They screwed it up. Fix me! What more do they need to know? I thought it was a law they had to pay for recon- no matter what. I was barely keeping it together before this but now I don't know what to do. I sent an email to the surgeon hoping he can help me appeal this but by the time it gets straightened out it will probably be too late to do my surgery. And I had a small window to get this done as it is. I just feel so depressed and sad and mad and completely overwhelmed right now.
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Aaaw Kate I am sorry you are so overwhelmed with the incompentencing and inefficiensies of your PS office. Sorry for any typos i am high as a kite on demrol had nip recom today.
Anyhow that doesn't seem right that your insurcance company isnt' covering it. That sounds like a coding screw up at the doctors office. I had 3 revisions and i didn't get charge a thing. I think my PS said it was a capulectomy (sp??) being corrected and some other lingo aside from wants smaller implants. I have a friend who has a condo in Miami (south beach area) I will ask her if she could loan it out to you and if it is available. What are the dates you will be in Miami?? I'd be happy to check it out for you to find a cheaper solution than a hotel at peak time. that sucks.
When i went to the hospital today I totally expected to write a check but they didnt ask for a dime ...shhhhhh maybe they will forget ..not. I am sure that bill will be coming soon. I refused a chest xray 1. for the cost 2. radiation 3. i just had an MRI so they were about to use that. See if you've had an MRI in the last 6 months you may be able to avoid the chest xray.
Once you get your revision you will be in a better place to focus on your husband.
Barb glad you bladder was ok, now sending positive vibes you way for healthy ovaries.
OK Demorol kicking in and i feel like i am not making any sense..
Good night all!!
Diane
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(((Kate)))): Call your insurance office and see if you have a case manager especially for BC patients (someone suggested this on Ex. City). Crossing my fingers for you that this gets cleared up pronto!!!
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Oh Kate...don't you hate that everything seems to be a fight? It's never easy, is it? I HATE that and would often just back down and pay or do or not do as the case may be. That's when I expect my DH to step in and go to bat for me. Is there an advocate at the insurance company that can get this passed? If they're accepting the surgery they have to accept the implants! Doi!
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Kate - I'm so sorry - just detest things like this and dealing with them - makes me want to jump back in bed and pull the covers up. What about the Doc's office can they help you? That just doesn't make any sense - about the same as those job interviews!
Barb - gosh what can I say. Glad about the bladder but talk about someone not needing something else to worry or even think about. When do you have these other tests? I'm so sorry.
MJB - Wow - great information. I agree I think a woman's hair is so important to her and I'd also agree for many woman more important in feeling feminine and pretty rather than breasts. I have started the Biotin - would love to know more about other supplements. Anything for frizzy hair? Hate that.
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DiDel- Glad everything went well. Hope you're feeling good today! Everyone I talk to says what you did- that their revisions/new implants were covered. This whole thing makes no sense. Thanks for the offer of the condo. Might take you up on that if my surgery date gets changed. Right now I have 5 nights in Miami May 12-17 that is non-refundable.
MBJ- I'm going to go check on the case manager thing. Never even realized I had one of those. Thanks!
barbe- You're right- no logic there. They'll pay to take them out. They'll pay to put them in. But they won't pay for the thing they are putting in?
Stanzie- The PS's office is absolutely no help. It is a total cluster ****. After my consult where I had to wait 3 HOURS to be seen I was ready to walk out and scrap the whole thing. Then I met the doctor and absolutely loved him. He is the one that pioneered this procedure so he is the one I want to go to. But his office is a total joke. (Everyone who goes to him says so.) He is such a great surgeon but deserves a better staff. They're a bunch of idiots, I swear. (Example: His PA needed my billing address and asked me how to spell "Mesa" and what the abbreviation for Arizona was.)
Off to fight with the insurance company some more.....
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Oh dear that office staff really does need some help. How can Doctors not realize what impression their staff makes.
The two surgeons I went to about my nose - night and day difference on the office staff. Actually liked both doctors but the second one has much more experience and gave clearer explainations however had a few practices which were not particularily steril which gives me pause. And they disagree on some parts so not sure what to do. The second one also has to have all the money upfront and then see what insurance will play for - the first broke it down where I'd pay half myself wouldn't even try for insurance coverage - since it was for a break didn't make sense to me. I finally just had to quit for a while as it was nuts. However breathing would really be nice.... Kate, hope they get this worked out. If it helps, it is so ridiculous it should work out. However when I was having my nips done, the nurse was telling me how long ago she worked for a heart dr and he was doing a heart transplant - they would pay for removal of the hearts, and all that goes with that but not actually putting the new heart in so??? HUH? No wonder it costs so much, they have to think of these totally nonsensical loop holes. Let us know how it goes.
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Thanks Stanzie! 2 hours on the phone this morning with still nothing resolved. They said someone is going to call me later. Another member on here has the exact same coverage plan with united healthcare and her revision/new implants are being covered. Makes no sense. I'll keep you posted! I've decided to go ahead with the surgery although God knows where we'll get the money. (Sell my first born child?). (Oh wait, better not. He's my only one!)
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Just got the results back from all my pre-op testing I had done. I have a UTI that I didn't even know I had. Weird. So they're phoning in an anti-biotic. Hopefully won't delay the surgery. Day 4: Fighting with the insurance company/PS's office/Billing Office continues. They are wearing me down.
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Well you can not let them wear you down cause they have no reason at all not cover the implants - just ridiculous. I mean it isn't like this isn't what this doctor does for a living..... He wouldn't get very far if insurance didn't cover his procedure. Glad you found out the problem. My son ended up with a UTI from camp - hard for boys to get. Had to take him to the Doctors twice and once to the emergency room for them to figure it out. You should be done with the antibotics by then I'd think.
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I've been reading up on UTI's as this is my first. I've been having a lot of issues with low back pain that comes and goes and now I'm wondering if it's related. So afraid this is going to mess up my surgery date if it doesn't get better.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! My whole family is going to my Mom's house for the day for a Mother's Day/Belated Easter. She lives here in Phoenix, too. My Mom said in honor of Easter days gone by we all have to show up wearing a hat- even the guys. Can be any kind of hat you want but you have to have one on. What a riot! Gonna have to get creative with this one.
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Kate, UTI's respond very well to antibiotics. I've gone through years of them which is why they looked at my bladder so closely lately. People with FM are prone to UTI's! Go figure! I also now have kidney damage - now which came first, the kidney damage or the years of UTI's????
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Nicole: I have a friend who's daughter is bipolar-runs in her family on her father's side. Medication is her lifeline and her life is changed just because of her meds. Yes, I think there is hope--sometimes it is just time as a healer, sometimes it takes the right meds, sometimes it is a combination of many things. Please don't lose hope-come here and share and get some support. I have found that just this is very, very healing. Hugs!!!
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Barbe: Have I mentioned Milk Thistle for the kidney's on here before? That and drinking tons of water is always helpful.
Kate: I cannot believe you are still getting the run around with the insurance/dr office. It would give me pause--I hope this dr. can deliver you from pain and also give you the cosmetic outcome you desire. His office sounds horrible!!!
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Stanzie: I have had success with a few products for frizz. This is my routine: After I wash my hair with Nioxin 4 Shampoo & Conditioner and towel dry, I use a generic rogaine and I also spray on 183 Topical Solution and then wait a few minutes before drying it. I then use Paul Mitchell Skinny serum-one pump is plenty-and comb it through my hair- then I add my regular hair gels-I use a combination of Pantene Thickening Gel & Nioxin Thickening Gel--blow dry it and if it's still frizzy (which can happen in high humidity--I also spray it with Sexy Hair Anti Frizz Sealer and flat iron it. Then I spray it with Nioxin Strong Hold Hair Spray and if it's still frizzy, more sealer. Whew, that's alot of stuff but it's the only way my hair looks like real hair and not chemo frizz. It does get better with time but the frizzy hair continues after a year and a half.
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Didel: I hope everything went well with your nipple recon. I just had my recheck yesterday and mine has finally healed and my PS gave me the go ahead for tattoos. Heal up and let us know how you are doing. Gentle hugs!
Kate: Your mother's day sounds like it's going to be fun--like a royal wedding with crazy hats!!!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!!!!
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MBJ tell me you don't do THAT every day!!?!?!?!?!?!?
I won't take a supplement without my doctors okay. I can't risk my kidney. If he thought it would do me good, he'd tell me.....but thanks for thinking of me! I have had bad reactions from natural products before and when my Dad was in Toronto's major cancer centre there were posters all over the place warning people about taking/adding anything "natural" to their diet without telling their docs. They showed list after list of complications from simple things like St.John's Wort (gives me edema).
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Barbe: I agree, always check with your dr. but I disagree on dr's being informed about natural, inexpensive supplements. I found out about Milk Thistle on BCO under natural supplements. I think it is worth looking into at least
BTW: Yes, I do this every day. You try and have real hair after chemo-not a good time! I'm vain-whatever works.0 -
I wash my hair ONCE a week. I have shiny healthy hair. Surely doing that every day is stress on your hair! Isn't there a dry-conditioner that you could put on the between days?
Natural, inexpensive supplements can be dangerous! They interact with many medications and treatments. Even food can do that. For instance I can't have grapefruit as it interacts with my heart medication. Who'da thunk it?
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