Illinois ladies facing bc

Budder - Does your insurance know that your referral request is for ONGOING, REGULAR physical therapy treatments? Is it possible they simply think you need a consultation appt and then a follow up visit or two? I will be making some calls for you on Monday - as we talked about.

Budder asked me to post this for her. These are her arms as of today:

Hi Buddy.  Count me in on being one of your drivers if you decide to go that route.  I am not working and could easily help out.   Now, if having a group of us gals help you out does not feeli comfortable, I understand.  How about calling the American Cancer Society for assistance.  They might just have someone in your area that could help with transportation or better yet have some professional advice on how to get around this HMO referral stuff.  And one more thing.  If you do get a chance to have insurance cover a out of network therapist I have name for you of a gal that works out of the Provena network(St. Joes/Joliet)  I saw her after BMX and again after exchange.

Keep bugging your HMO for what you need.  Don't be afraid to ask to speak to management and document who you talk to, what was said and when.  And when all else fails use the big word: NEGLIGENCE!  Sometimes that can get people hopping.  By the way......I usually try the sweet approach first but sometimes you just gotta let them know that they are not dealing with a wimp!

Happy Mother's day to all of you.

Navy

Budder - I'm sure Navy will chime in - in the meantime I found this about St. Joe's:

Lymphedema Treatment Program

The Provena Physical Rehab and Sports Injury Center provides a new, highly successful approach to lymphedema treatment called Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT).

CDT is a comprehensive approach to lymphedema treatment. The goal of the treatment program is to educate and teach each patient the skills needed to manage their lymphedema condition and improve their quality of life. Our staff therapists are certified in lymphedema treatment.
CDT consists of four primary components:

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
Performed by a specially trained physical therapist, MLD is a manual technique that improves the lymph vascular system and reroutes the protein-rich edema fluid from the blocked area to a healthy region for transport/absorption.

Compression Bandaging
Following MLD treatment, the physical therapist bandages the affected limb(s) with short stretch bandages to help prevent re-accumulation of the lymph fluid and improve the efficiency of the muscle and joint pump.

Exercises
Once the extremity is bandaged, the physical therapist instructs the patient with special exercises designed to increase the lymph vessel activity and lymph circulation. The exercises are light and easy to learn.

Education
· Each patient receives ongoing education regarding skin and nail care, self-bandaging, exercises and massage. Family members also receive education, if needed, so they can assist with their loved one's treatment.

Getting Started:
All patients must have a referral from their physician to participate in the Lymphedema Treatment Program. Our physical therapists work closely with each patient's physician to determine the best treatment plan for each individual, based on the severity of the lymphedema and each individual's specific needs. During scheduled appointments, patients should wear loose clothing to accommodate compression bandages.

For more information on lymphedema treatment, call the Provena Physical Rehab and Sports Injury Center at (815) 741- 7114.

To My Mother
For all the times you gently picked me up,
When I fell down,
For all the times you tied my shoes
And tucked me into bed,
Or needed something
But put me first instead.
For everything we shared,
The dreams, the laughter,
And the tears,
I love you with a "Special Love"
That deepens every year.
Author Unknown 

My mother has been gone now since October 6, 1998.  She spent her last 16 days of life in the hospital.  She still remains to me one of the finest women I've ever known and I am so thankful she was my Mom. 
Just as I'm sure most of you think of your Moms, she was perfect for me.  Everything I ever needed for sure and taught me about life, love, laughter, learning, and at the very end she taught me how to let go and slip away from a life that had lost all meaning.  She is with me always, just about a heartbeat away.  I am so proud this woman was my Mom and I hope she is proud of me.  Just in case....I keep trying. 

I hope all of you will enjoy Mother's Day ---  even if your Mom is gone.  Just know she is not very far away and knows every time you think about her. Love you Mom.

Hugs, Jackie

Hello there.  It's been my 'off chemo' week and I spent the best day before mother's day ever today.. At home with all three kids just hanging out and playing..  And.. got a letter from my daughter's school.. and it was a letter she wrote to me for all the things she appreciates, including my strength in dealing with all this.. It was quite a tear-jerker.. but made this probably the most memorable Mothers' day EVER!!   Granted I appreciate and look at things with different eyes these days.. but this has truly been an amazing day.. Tomorrow off to my Mom's for lunch.. It's also V-Day tomorrow for WWII.. 65 years and my Grandma was a nurse in the war so it will be a very special day of celebrating....

Have a great evening everyone.. I've been reading a few times today and am so impressed with all your support.. Once I'm well my goal is to be able to be right along with all of you offering more than just moral support!!

Marina

Hi everyone - just dropping in to wish you a Happy Mother's Day. Enjoy your day doing whatever you like! My family and I went out for a delicious dinner yesterday, and also went to the cemetary to put flowers on my mom's gravesite (as well as my dad and aunt who recently passed away). I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family, including all of you!

Today I plan on spending some time doing flower gardening, and then watch the Blackhawks game with my family! (So nice to have the boys home from school.)

Good Beautiful Sunny Sunday morning....brrrrrrr!!!  Chilly!!!!!!  Gonna be a chilly week too with lots of rain off and on.  Glad I still have one heavy coat upstairs....

Happy Mother's Day to all you ladies.  And thanks too Jackie for your post of yesterday.  Quite beautiful.  Both your quote/poem and your words.

Funny thing happened....I have been quite good and saving money since I refused to just automatically pull out the plastic.  Saved well over $2000. just me alone and have been pondering how to spend my little secret windfall.  Maybe a surprise little trip for DH???  And then...wouldn't you know it...remember that terrible wind/storm from Friday night?  Well...I go out this am to get the paper and there in the middle of my front lawn is a roofing shingle.  Just a small piece but it matches our color of roof.  I can't see anything missing and true ...it could have blown from another house but.....with my luck....

 Guess I know what I will be spending that extra money on.....

Have a wonderful day ladies!  But put on a coat for heaven's sake!

Good morning.  It is chilly here as well.  Rain tomorrow and maybe a couple more days ( Major Sigh ) and not at all what I was hoping for -- but then, I seldom do get what I am hoping for. 

Double Wow. Wendy -- saving  so much money.  I hope it is not one of you roof shingles.  Roofs should last in the area of at least 20 years --- so if it is/could be yours, could you not just replace it or only a very small section.  Either way of course, it costs.  Then again --- hope, hope, hope, it came from somewhere else.  It is alway something, isn't it???? I will gripe for you. 

Gripe, gripe, gripe....there now I bet you feel better. 

Hope you are all going to have a really wonderful day.  I noticed that Michele changed her avatar ( so very, very pretty ) after posting your message this a.m.  I think that is your stained glass piece.  I like it.  I get antsy and change mine....along with the signature line though I left what I had there on a long time. 

I am griping about the weather myself -- gripe-gripe-gripe.  I know it is a tad early, but I want a summer this summer.  Just hope I am not so busy that I miss it -- whatever we have.

Again, hope you all have a most marvelous day.  I'll be checking back in later.  See you then.

Hugs, Jackie

It sounds like a special day, Marina.

Paul and I babysat  the two babies last night while their parents had a special dinner out.  It was so nice.  It felt like the old days except I kept putting off Adeline's bedtime because I love playing with her so much.  Her sister loves her mom and dad so much that I was happy she just slept as she would not be happy to find they were not around. Today they come for the day and Paul is making his beer can chicken.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful day, whether it be with mothers, fond memories and/or kids.It looks great here (sunny) but I know it is chilly.

Susan 

Good morning,

Gosh, Wendy, how's by you!!!!  Our report indicates rain for the next week -- a couple days thunderstorms...the rest just rain.  Am I going to be an un-happy camper by the end of it.  We are supposed to be having May flowers -- not April showers.  Oh well.  I have to remember when I woke up this morning my chest was moving in and out -- a hopeful sign if ever I saw one so I think I shall just have to make the best of it -- today and the whole week. 

Hope you all had a splendid day yesterday.  Was good for me, but then my philosophy for quite some time is that every day is a holiday of some kind -- and that takes the production burden out of it for me and for others around me. 

Rita, you sound like you had such a good time.  Little kids are the greatest -- they know how to make living so much fun and everything is an adventure for them.  Wouldn't it be great if we could un-learn our holding back and feeling shy about our expressions of joy and wonderment.  Makes you wonder when our carefree no holds barred abandonment slipped away.  At least we can be around little ones so we stay reminded that it is there and available. 

I'll be checking back in later.  See you all then.  Hope the rain is not headed your way.  If it is, have fun until it gets there and try and stay dry after it does. 

Hugs, Jackie

p.s.  Forgot to say -- Donna has a new avatar and it looks great. 

Hello, Ladies~!

Buddy- I was going to tell you about the Provena St. Joseph, Joliet, as I was reading all the posts and Navy already mentioned that place and that's the place my Onc told me to go for LE PT and they have few other locations too, so check it out.. I got my mx surgery and radiation and yearly mammo there too..

Laura- The flowers are beautiful~!!!  Thanks for sharing..  and glad you don't have to ware the bandage sleeve anymore.. good...

Navy- Is baby here yet???

Donna- Your avatar looks great~!!

Wendy- What did you decide to spend the money?? 

Jackie- I love your avatar too, it's lovely..

I went in to see the dentist for my filling he did few month ago because still giving me a pain and he is gonna do a root canal..  In the mean time I was sitting down with the numb in my mouth and one of the nurse showed me how much it will cost for the root canal and I broke down with the tears..  Because out of pocket money was over $500 after the insurance and I still have balance with the fillings he did, which is $400 and she told me if I want the root canal, I have to pay all the balance before the next follow up, which is 2weeks...  What the ****  There is no way I can pay off the balance and I still have lot of medical bills to pay... The other option was apply for Care Credit, some kind of payment plan you can apply to get a card and use it like a credit card but I know for sure I couldn't get approved due to foreclosure of the house.. So I asked him to pull the teeth out which was a lot less and insurance will cover most of them....   That was 10 days ago and I am still in pain and taking antibiotic and vicodin to manage the pain...  The dental office called me to see how am I doing and told her I am still in pain and gum looks still swollen too..  She told me she is gonna tell the doctor and call me back tomorrow...  

It's always something...  Can I just say life SUCKs, sometimes...

I think I need some drinks to cool off..  ARHHHH...

Congratulations to all of us BC survivors and mothers on this our day! (A little late but still counts!)

<a href="http://www.abreastcancerstory.com"&gt;</a>

Donna-I love what you say about chemo curls - screaming Life is Back!  I felt the same way

Well, I am still waiting for the "your a Grandma" call.  Poor dear is 3 days over due.  Dr. says that he will induce her on Sunday.  So I am hoping the little fella gets outta there in the next day or so with out anybody forcing things. 

Buddy, I had my appointment with Deb today and she is indeed a certified LE therapist.  I go for range of motion and scar massage.  So far so good as far as LE goes.(none)

Sorry to hear you are havng so many dental problems, Elf.  It is amazing how expensive medical/dental care is.  Did you ask them if they would consider a payment plan?  Just a thought.

Have a good night everyone

Navy