Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Peggy, your sons are so tall! Was yourDH also tall?
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Poodles, DH was nearly 6'4". DSs are 6'2" to 6'3". I've also shrunk in my old age. I was shocked to find I've lost 1-1/2" over the years. It's so nice to look up to the boys. Geez, now I'm feeling all mushy.
HUGS!
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Dara, YAY! You made it! Great way to start the new year
Poodles, I'd get the documentation too!
Peggy, great Christmas picture! How wonderful you were able to get together.
We'll, I'm almost 6 mos post rads and I had a moment today. Thought I had got past them. I'm not usually an emotional person, especially at work, but I got emotional in front of my boss during my annual review, and it was a good review. I didn't totally breakdown thank goodness, and he's aware of what I've been thinking through. but it was still embarrassing. It was hard reflecting on the past year. Looking forward to a new year!
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Mustlovepoodles,
Wow, you have been dealing with a lot between your illness and the medical billing. Medical billing is so screwed up - I went to ER for a visit back in July, well I received bills not only from hospital but also several contractors who provide services for the hospital (they did tell me this at front desk) - the radiology group, pathologist, etc. It is difficult for me to keep them straight - finally, I received a call from the hospital in early November telling me that I still owed $$$ from that ER visit! Now when she told me what these bills were, I had received statements from these contractors who billed me separately from hospital! So, my amount was much smaller than yours and I did pay it. I received a statement from the hospital saying that my account was paid in full. Well, lo and behold, I received a statement from this contractor for radiology services from that same July hospital visit!! I have not paid this and will not because of the hospital statement that says my account is paid in full! I wonder how many people unknowingly double pay for medical services due to receiving multiple statements from different facilities! And yes, I do wonder about people who don't know that they can appeal these balances.
Now, I have received a bill from MO's office saying that my insurance has not paid this amount when my insurance statements say they have paid the MO's office bills - the contracted amount that they agreed to accept for services. Or is this the MO's way of collecting more than the contracted amount from insurance - in other words, collecting from patient above the contracted amount - I didn't think that this was supposed to happen!
As if our illnesses were not enough to deal with!
Celand
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tbalding,
I go back and forth emotionally, I never know when I will break down when talking to someone about my diagnosis. Had I known from the beginning that I would not have to take chemo, I may have been more discreet about my illness at work. But I did share it once I was past my surgery and well, word of mouth travels fast. I am so grateful that my co-workers and supervisors have been very supportive and understanding. The top manager told me that they would support me throughout my illness and not to worry about having to take time off.
Celand
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Well, the final verdict is in--I have a zero balance on all accounts with this hospital. I spoke with a customer service rep and his supervisor about it; I also requested written documentation. I was told that they gave me a "one-time charitable write-off." <insert eye roll here> How magnanimous! How gracious!
I'll tell you one thing, if I ever have to have chemo again it won't be with this hospital! I love my MO, but I will change doctors before I will go through this treatment again.
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Poodles ....as if you needed this craziness. Now that the bill collectors won't be looking for you sell the house and run.... Orange looks bad on most people.
Celand...I will check out that website..thx. Our medical in this country is crazy. My DIL is European and said why is our medical in the USA so odd?? I just shook my head. Getting bills a year later from someone who peaked at you is crazy!
Peggy...great family photo!
Molly... I am a SoCal girl but have been transplanted to Clovis in the CenCal area. What area are you from in LA?
Dara ..glad you are going to stick around to support the rest of us still finishing our treatments.
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I'm glad they were so "kind" as to give you the "charitable write-off". Yikes.
I honestly feel for all of you in the States dealing with any kind of medical condition. I'm in Canada and although our health care isn't perfect, at least I don't have to add worrying about losing my house to medical bills. I can't imagine knowing I have a medical issue and having to see if my insurance agrees with my doctor on how to treat it. You guys in the States have some of the best health care in the world...it's just a matter of if you can afford to access it. I mean, being off work and stuff is causing me some financial worry, but it's nothing compared to receiving a bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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Poodles, gosh what a merry-go-round with billing. I just got my final bill from City of Hope for all my chemo, labs, surgery, etc....$56! I get the statements from my insurance that shows what the hospital bills and what they pay. The last statement showed that every radiation treatment is billed at $956! And imagine that times 36 plus weekly x-rays! BC must cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Thank God for insurance but it all just seems obscene!
Peggy, last time I was measured at my primary care appt a couple of months ago, they asked me how tall I am. I said 5"6" which I've always been. Then they measured me and I measured 5"4"! My gosh, I've shrunk 2" !!!
Well, I feel like today is the first day of the rest of my life! Feel so free! I'm really looking forward to the ending of 2016 and the beginning of 2017!
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Poodles, I can't print what I'm thinking about that hospital. Have you checked your credit report to make sure your credit hasn't taken a hit because of their stupid ways? I'm just glad you won't be wearing orange and hope you get a letter stating that you don't owe a dime. I'd get one from the insurance company too if possible.
Trish, That's okay. You're entitled to meltdowns. It is a hard path we've had to take.
Dara, I was even luckier than you. I did not have to pay one penny for my BC treatments and care. Thank God for Medicare and good supplemental insurance. BTW, no one had ever insisted on measuring me until that day, they just took my word for it. I was shocked. I think it was when I got my DexaScan.
Please keep my Spokane DIL's family in your prayers. Her father is in hospice care and not expected to last 2 weeks.
HUGS!
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caligirl, I am in Northeast LA near Pasadena. My FIL used to live in Clovis. We should try to arrange a so Cal get together soon.
Poodles at least that monkey is off your back. I had a bill from City of Hope for my radiation therapy, my copay is 20.0 x I think it was 34 treatments. Still a good deal.
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DaraB - congratulations! I'm so happy to hear you are done with rads! You have so much to look forward to in 2017!!
ElizabethAM - I'm sure you're a bit nervous on starting rads on Jan. 3. I hope it goes quickly for you and all the tips you've learned from this community on how to treat the SE's will help you. Before you know it you'll be ringing the bell or hitting the gong like Dara!
mustlovepoodles - You simply have had to go through too much. With the DS stuck in the nest with no motivation and the medical billing issues on top of dealing with your cancer and all the treatments, I am impressed that you have stayed sane. I am so sorry and am sending hugs and strength to you. I have friend who had a similar situation with their older son who wouldn't leave home. They already had a vacation home in Galveston. In the end, the did sell their ranch in Oklahoma and moved to Texas partly to get to boy to fly the nest.
Question for anyone who has not gone through menopause yet. I started my period right after my first chemo treatment on 12/15 (as expected). It stopped after a couple days (as expected because mine are really light). But then it started up again a few days later and has lasted now for 9 days. Is this normal? My MO did say that chemo would put me into menopause.....Anyway, just wondered if anything similar happened to anyone else or if I should be concerned.
My hair has started falling out quite a bit the last couple days. My hair is very fine and was already thin, so I'm not having any discomfort in my scalp. I'm still not ready to shave it off but think I'm going to have to soon. So, I'm trying to decide if I should do that as part of NYE. I think my options, probably need to be one of these three - (1) shave it today sometime, (2) shave it when the clock strikes midnight, or (3) shave it sometime tomorrow as my start to 2017. I think for me it's going to be really emotional and I can't decide. Boy, I listen to myself talk about this and it sounds so pathetic.
ChiSandy - I did take your advise and went to Chrysalis Custom Hair. I picked up my wig on Wednesday, and the did do a tremendous job on color matching to my own hair.
Well, I am also starting to deal a little bit with insurance claim denials. I had an appeal on coverage for computer aided detection (CAD) to check my breasts. I am livid. This test was done when I got called back to have another mammogram/MRI, etc. and after that was diagnosed with breast cancer. Seriously, the insurance company is telling me this experimental or investigational service is an unproven service. How on earth can using technology (computers) to help diagnose cancer, be an unproven service? Oh but, if I have a life threatening sickness (one that is likely to cause death within one year of the treatment), the claims administrator may determine the unproven service meets the definition of covered health service. Seriously they are telling me if I was going to die within a year, they might cover my claim. Oh, and one last rant and rave, I received the insurance rejection on Christmas day which means it was in my mailbox on Christmas Eve but since I wasn't home I didn't get it until the next day.
Happy New Year everyone.....2017 is going to be a better year for all of us! When we get through our various treatments, we will all be stronger more resilient women!
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ILSunrise, Since I didn't have chemo, i'm no expert on hair removal. But my thought is do it tomorrow to start 2017 sporting your new look. Try to make it a positive experience (yeah, I know: dream on!) since it does mean the chemo is doing its thing which is what you want.
I'd be ready to throttle that damn insurance company. Don't hesitate to contact your state's insurance commissioner to get their help in having the company pay the bill. It's crap they are denying the claim.
Happy New Year!
HUGS!
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PontiacPeggy - thanks for you advice on waiting until tomorrow. I think I'm going to do that...since I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to the hair. DH and I are going out to dinner tonight with another couple for NYE....I'm just hoping I don't shed too much at the table - woudln't that be a sight!
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ILSunrise, well, it would be different! Hope that doesn't happen. If it looks like a possibility, then hack it off before you go out.
HUGS!
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ILSunrise, I go with Peggy. Kept the hair until tomorrow morning. Then, get up, fix yourself a mimosa, and get to work with the trimmer! Take control of 2017.
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I remember the day I had my head shaved. My hubby wanted me to wait and let it fall out naturally, but it was into everything. I decided to go to the day my hair came out in clumps in the shower. So I went to town and to a beauty salon in Walmart's. I told the gal what I needed and when she had finished all the client's in the shop told me how beautiful I looked. Just remember it will grow back... it may take a while for that to happen, but it will. We'll be thinking of you.
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Have a very Happy New Year, Ladies!! Wishing you all the best. Don't do anything I wouldn't do at your parties tonight.
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ILSunrise- chiming in about your hair- I also wrestled with what to do once it started coming out...actually, I never shaved it- the night before 2nd chemo, took a shower and gently just washed my hair off. Though a bit weird, it helped me feel more in control of it, I think. Also, got a great wig- and, only wore it once. My chemo was in the summer so the wig was hot and itchy. Found some "cute" hats and wore them. The good news for some is that insurance may pay for the wigs. Of not, you can still deduct them as medical expenses. Please let us know what you decide to do about your hair...in your pocket as you go through this.
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Just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!! I'm so busy these days it is hard to keep up but I do check in to see how everyone is doing even if I don't comment. Cheers, Mary-Jo
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Dara, so glad you are done done done!!!
Elizabeth, I think January will go by quickly and you will be done too.
Celand, my story with birth control pills is similar to yours. I took them my whole life except for a two year period when I was trying to get pregnant and then was pregnant. My bloodwork did not show menopausal until 59. Then my gyn yanked me off the pills which caused big hot flashes, so I went on hormone replacement pills for about a year, until I got the cancer dx. Did my lifetime of pills cause my cancer? Could be, but my early onset menses and later in life first (and only) baby could have contributed also. And some women have none of those risk factors and still get cancer. I stopped wondering why, because it's too late to matter. Going forward I'll do everything I can to reduce my recurrence risk.
Meanwhile, my estrogen still tested high on arimidex. The new MO switched me to letrozole. I will have estrogen tested again in another month. If it's still high I will go to Tamoxifen. There is no known reason my estrogen should still be high!
Poodles, congrats for getting rid of the bill. I think all hospital billing depts are screwed up! Ours keeps sending us a bill for something we already paid. I think they applied the payment to a more recent thing. I might volunteer at the cancer center in 2017 just so I can inform new patients about the need to closely watch the billing and payments. I know it was the last thing on my mind when I was undergoing treatment. And of course the insurance is no better. Twice they've told me on the phone I did not need a pre-auth for something, then sent an EOB saying denied because of no auth. I have straightened it out but it took several phone calls and lots of waiting on hold. I submitted a claim for the wig I bought, and the insurance sent the payment to the hospital!! I finally got that one sorted too. I'm having a routine colonoscopy next month and I plan to watch all the insurance stuff like a hawk.
Dara and Peggy, I have also shrunk from 5'6" to 5'4 1/2"
All Californians, I am ready for a get together almost any time. First Saturday in February is already booked however.
Happy New Year, everyone! May 2017 be a good year for all of us!
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Alice, interesting about the birth control pills. I'm old enough that I started on the first generation of them: Enovid 10s, then Enovid 5s. Eventually after 2 years off for each child (got pregnant quickly and breastfed both for over a year), I went back on the pill but Enovid had gone by the wayside. I didn't like how I felt on the newer ones and after several years, convinced hubby to get a vasectomy. I wasn't an early started for my periods and menopause by 45. I was 24 and 27 when the boys were born. I also quit trying to figure out why I got BC. Doesn't matter. I got it.
Happy New Year!
HUGS!
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HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! Let this be the Best year yet!
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happy new year, health and happiness to you all in 2017
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I too want to wish everyone a happy & healthy 2017! I'm over this year and looking forward to a more positive outlook
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Dara!!! Yay!!! So happy to see you ringing the bell!!
Poodles, I am happy you have one less stress with those bills being gone! Now just to get the household straight! My son is 26 and just moved out a month ago and in with his girlfriend. Well now she said having second thoughts and he is devastated. He and I are so close and Ithurts me so much to see him like this. He has a fantastic new job and will likely be coming home for a few months and then share a place with a friend. It's a commute from here so he may stay sometimes with his friend during the week. I just wish life would give him a break, seriously.
I knew something was going on with me when I was about 45 or 46. My periods would be every 30 days, then every 17 and back and forth and then stopped. I knew the 'magic' number was one year without and then it's menopause. I had gone 11 months when we got a new computer system at work and 5 of us female she were put in a room to learn it all to teach all the others over a period of a month. One day....I walked in and said "okay, which one of you is on their period" One girl looked at me sheepishly....after 11 months, I got mine and know it was from being with them...or her specifically! I always ended up on the same cycle as who I was around the most. Well we finished our training and I never got one again! My doc said it was early to be in menopause but I was happy and he was not concerned.
LOve the pic Peggy!
Elizabeth I am with you on being thankful of not having to worry about medical bills. I was off work on disability for 9 months and if it weren't for my family helping me with food and gas I'd be in bad shape. I can't imagine having medical bills too. It's already less money and More expenses when you have to pay hospital parking, gas for back and forth and all the over the counter things for chemo side effects.
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and let's continue to kick ass in 2017!!!!!
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Happy New Year everyone!
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Oh, how how I envy you who went through menopause in your forties. I thought I would never stop having periods. I didn't go through menopause still 2013 at age 57. Of course I didn't start having periods until I was 15. Had my first baby at age 30 and my last baby at age 40. I really thought that was going to be the thing that would protect me. But I guess it wasn't enough to overcome a terrible family history and two gene mutations. Honestly, I was destined to get breast cancer.
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Sue, Happy New Year! Love the kitty!
Poodles, I must say it didn't break my heart to go into menopause at 45
And yeah, your family history was definitely against you. HUGS!
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hi Poodles, how are you doing on Femara? I am going to stRt it tomorrow
Happy New Year everyone Wishing you all a safe and wonderful 2017
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