I know that I have not been updating the blog over the past few weeks. We had some visitors over the weekend. Mom came to visit with my cousin Elizabeth. We celebrated my birthday and had a nice time. I think they enjoyed hitting the malls more than anything, which of course included a new pair of dress shoes for me and a new cell phone (both b-day presents). My birthday is on the 12th, but since they were in town and seeing that I am starting chemo today, we went ahead and celebrated. Mom brought up a king cake (happy belated mardi gras!!) and man was it good!
I also have had some interesting stuff happen with both my insurance carriers. First, blue cross has decided that they are no longer paying for services. We recieved bills for doctor's visits, as well as, for my ostomy supplies which states that they are refusing to pay until they can determine my eligibility (BS!!). On top of that, my student insurance lapsed a few days ago because I forgot to call the insurance office at school and tell them verbally that I wanted the insurance for the semester. They know what is going on with me and know that I have had it for the past two years, but I guess that is bureaucracy for you. After that was handled, including a call to the dean of the graduate school I still had more hoops to jump through. The reason that I found out my insurance lapsed was a last minute call from the office making sure that I was aware that I had a few hours before I was about to lose my insurance. I thought I had fixed the problem, then I went to get a prescription filled and the pharmacist said my insurance was no longer good (sigh!). Well, low and behold, they ran it through on the blue cross and they accepted it. That's right folks, they won't pay for my doctor's visits, chemotherapy, surgical oncologist visits, or my ostomy supplies; but they will pay for my cheap loratab (Bastards!). And if that was not enough, my medical oncologist's office called and said that my insurance was not good for my chemo visit today. I explained what was going on and that my information was still being updated in the computer at the insurance company (apparently the insurance company did not update everyone in the system, so I was not the only student whose insurance lapsed for a few days). She stated that it said my insurance was good, but that I was not approved for visits to my oncologists. The hoops I jumped through six months ago to get to the Cancer Center (look in archives) were not sufficient enough. My referral to see my doctors at the Cancer Center had expired. So I had to travel to Tuscaloosa yesterday to get another referral from the student health center to see the doctors that I have been working with for the past six months. When I tell you that I am tired of insurance companies I really mean it. We can do better as a society for those who are most sick. I should not have to be doing all this while I am still recovering from surgery and starting three months of chemo. I am a social worker and trained on advocacy (including self-advocacy) and I wonder what it would be like for people who would not know where to start, or those who are too sick or overwhelmed to follow-up on issues like these. It seems like something around every turn. We need something different...private for profit companies do not give two shits about my health and are primarily concerned with saving their profits which means less care for me.
Well, other than the insurance hoopla, I am feeling okay. I have been nauseous all week when I start thinking about the chemo. Hopefully it will not be that bad, and we will see what it is like with the ostomy. My pain is still present, and I am learning how to manage it. The ostomy has become second nature to me. I have learned how to work it and I know the tricks about going out and being away from home with it. Of course, just like they told me, as soon as I get used to it it will be time to reverse it.
Wish me luck today! Keep me in you thoughts and prayers. Hopefully three months from today I will be putting all this to rest and I can start worrying about my follow-up CT-scans. Also, I see my surgeon on Valentines day to talk about how I am doing and hopefully schedule my next surgery.
Hope to talk to you all soon! Peace.
Josh
