Illinois ladies facing bc

lago

BTW any of you LE gals on Aetna Insurance. I need to replace my sleeves and Ballert Orthopedic on Erie by Northwestern screwed up again (that makes 4 times altogether, would have been my 2nd time purchasing from them.) Now because of their screw up I can't get my sleeves before my deductible runs out this year. I refuse to work with them but looking for another place in-network.

joan888

Lago, I am not on Aetna, but want to echo my complaints about Ballert. I have never used them for LE sleeves and never would after the same office screwed up 3 times on my back brace after my back surgery last summer. Geesh! I told my back surgeon's office that I would never go back there! I know that they cost United Healthcare a lot of money with their screw ups. I have a GREAT place in McHenry that is really not in my network, but they use something called GAP from UHC that allows coverage on out of network if I cannot get good service anywhere else within a 50 mile radius of my home. They are so good at Benchmark Atlantic Healthcare that I would not ever go anywhere else. All they really service is breast cancer victims.

zap

Lago, I will be in Evanston tomorrow, but if the storm hits and you need a place to hang, I will be back by five...not kidding!  It is pretty obvious they think this will be a big one. You have my cell

I would like to let readers know that there will be a walk spearheaded by people who love Maggie Daley, wife of former Mayor Daly of Chicago, who died of breast cancer.  I went to the Mexican American Art Museum  in Pilsen (a neighborhood in Chicago) and it had a special tribute to Maggie Daley.  She organized a program of after-school programs in Pilsen as well as other Chicago neighborhoods.  She promoted many areas of learning and lhriving, but art among young people was her greatest love!  I will post updates on that walk/run as it comes in. She fought a 7-plus year battle with cancer.  She really is admirable.   This  may be affiliated with Komen and I know many are disappointed with how that went, so perhaps we should keep that in mind if matters to you.

Keep warm and cozy!

Susan

lago

Thanks Joan. I do have a good place in Chicago but they are out-of-network. Since I know what I need and it's off the shelf this should be a no brainer. (Of course Ballert didn't have them in stock so they couldn't figure out that they should order them) There has to be some place closer.

And thanks Susan. I don't think it's going to be that bad but if we get a blizzard I may be borrowing your couch.

KittyWinnie

Lago: Not sure if this in your network, but I've had good success with John Holland at Absolute Medical in the west loop. It's on Jefferson, not too far from Union Station. 

Hope everyone has a safe commute tomorrow!       

lago

Thanks Kitty I'll check them out.

IllinoisLady

Faith is a sounder guide than reason. Reason can go only so far, but faith has no limits.

~ Blaise Pascal

lago

Pretty slushy heavy stuff falling in Northbrook today but going south it got better. Best commute home I ever had. 45 minutes! I'm sure the lack of airport traffic helped.

Other good news: Both Invisible and Char informed me that Aetna and Rush have agreed to another 3 year deal! Yay! linky 

Hope everyone is doing well and keeping out of the weather.

Yeda

IllinoisLady

Lago....great present for this time of year.Yay for all of you getting your services through Aetna and Rush. 

Hugs, Jackie

camillegal

Good Morning Ladies--everyone is busy and where I live not much snow just wind. Plenty of that too.

Lago credit big time for u making that grulling trip everyday--when I worked I worked across the street could walk when it was nice. I'm an adventurer.

I am so happy about so many being with families for the holidays--it just make them perfect--gifts or no gifts--that is the greatest gift of all. So I'm sure everyone will enjiy the week-end getting ready which to me is fun. So enjoy everyone.

IllinoisLady

Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.
Chinese Proverb

IllinoisLady

Terrific wind here all yesterday too resulting at days end in a light covering os snow.  My daughter was not thrilled having spent her life since the age of 3e mos. in southern California.  Ah, she will get there -- time is a patient teacher.

Hope you all have a fantastic day.

Hugs, Jackie

ritajean

Hi gals!  I might not be on much this next week so I wanted to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Enjoy this special time of year with your family and friends. If you are traveling, travel safely!

We only got about an inch of snow yesterday and it hasn't snowed at all today but the winds were horrendous with terrible visibility.  We lost power last night for about four hours.  We just made a fire in the fireplace and relaxed!  Today the roads are clear and I've made a trip into town for a few last minute things.

We're going out for a sandwich in a little bit and then finishing our packing.   I looking forward to seeing my grandsons again!

mahometmom62

Have not been on here for a while trying to be normal for a while. 2 questions. Who was unable to do the 5yr. Tam/aromasin/arimidex. Etc.... What is your story? Anyone new close to Champaign?

lago

Hi mahoetmom62. Nice to see you. I'm still doing the ESD (estrogen sucking drug/Anastrozole). Coming up on 2 years this March. It's eating my spine though.

spunkyboobster

Lago-thanks for the Aetna news, I hadn't been notified.

Probably won't be on much from now until after Christmas-so a Happy Christmas, Merry Yuletide, etc.  Much love to all. xoxo

doxie

mahometmom62- I may be running out of options with AIs and I'm only 8 months into them with 2 months off recovering from vision problems.  Looks like the vision problems are returning with exemestane.  Probably a low estrogen issue rather than the exemestane or anastrozole in particular.  I'm a solid Luminal B so Tamoxifem is not a good drug for me since it is not as effective as AIs in preventing a recurrence.  Not sure how I'm going to proceed here.  

I'm closer to Champaign than lago and some of our northern suburban ladies, but still 2 hours north.  

lago

Doxie stop it. You're on the S. Side of Chicago… Keep us posted on your ESD situation.

Timbuktu

I did 7 months of arrimidex before I just gave up.  

Did a few weeks of Femara and same problems occurred

Took 3 weeks off and felt SO good!

Now I've been on aromasin for 2 weeks and I feel awful.  

I didn't take it today.  Just slept and slept.

Really between a rock and a hard place!

virginiab

MahometMom--

Hi! I'm in Champaign. Just finished radiation last week at Carle. Nice to meet you.

doxie

lago 

Yay! virginiab for connecting.  I'm sure there are a few more of us near Champaign, but they may be off the boards because of holiday activities.  

kjiberty

Lago:  Great news!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my Illinois sisters!

joan888

Gosh, I just discovered why this group was soooo quiet lately. Somehow, this thread was no longer one of my "favorites"s. And I thought everybody had gone shy or something.



Busy time here with the kids and families in for the holidays. Seems we keep running to the grocery store to resupply. Yes, lots of eating going on. Fortunately, for the rest of the family, they could all use a little extra weight. Me on the other hand, well, I am trying to keep my mouth shut.



I got all good reports from my ROC and MOC last week. Blood tests all okay, including my tumor marker tests. I have to repeat my DEXA in the spring as I tested -2.4 last spring so I am sitting on the cusp of osteoporosis (-2.5). I may have to consider taking some action on that front. Boo!



Hope all those in treatment are coping well. Stay warm.

IllinoisLady

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
-- Lao-Tzu

IllinoisLady

Joan....congrats on all the good test reports.  Good feeling, huh!!!!  Something to celebrate this holiday season. 

Karen.....that hair is sure looking good.

Having a great time here.  So nice today.....40's with sun and no wind.  Makes it so, so nice.

Hugs, Jackie

camillegal

Joan great news for the holidays for u.

Jackie I'm glad all is going well, I knew it would, u'r even writing happy. but this weather thing it's not that nice here--no snow or chilly and not much sun either.

lago

Just wanted to wish Merry Christmas to all that are celebrating (repeats from facebook postings:
1 of my fav Christmas songs: linky
Funny Christmas song: linky

And Happy Chinese & a movie to "the members of the tribe" :
linky 

And a Happy Festivus for the rest of us.

IllinoisLady

"If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well."

Martin Luther King

IllinoisLady

Beautiful again here today.....sun and will be in the 40's again....sounds like some snow could be coming but not sure if it will be all around us or not.  Maybe some dusting here....we are never quite sure with our weather report.  Nice to be this far along in the year, but so many things I have enjoyed this yr. I'm almost sad that we will start another one so soon.  Well, I'll look on the bright side about all the magnificent things that will be happening in 2013. 

Hope you all have a fantastic Christmas Eve.

Hugs, Jackie

IllinoisLady