So...whats for dinner?

Kaara

joycek:  I don't meet many who have passed on the rads.  I was willing, but couldn't get the kind I wanted so I made the decision in spite of my MO's annoyance.  Sorry the weather isn't cooperating right now...it was raining in Ft. Lauderdale this afternoon.  Where do you live in W. Palm...my son lives there...actually in Loxahatchee in the acres near Wellington.

 We went east for our IV infusions with holistic doc, and then over to the Galleria Mall where we had lunch at Seasons 52..a great restaurant if you're ever down this way.  It's all fresh veggies, organic meats, fish and chicken, and very low calorie.  The have gluten free, low sodium, vegan, etc.  something for everyone.  I have to admit...I cheated and had a little dessert...one of those mini glasses that only give you a spoonful or so.  Mine was red velvet cake with cream cheese icing...my favorite.  How bad can that be!  After that we went shopping...boyfriend almost never agrees to do this without being dragged like a cat on a leash, but he was very cooperative today because we were buying for him!  He needs new clothes because his others are too big.  Me, I just enjoy shopping regardless of who it's for!

Tonight will be salads and leftover soup for dinner. 

LuvRVing

Joyce - glad you arrived safely. Looking forward to tomorrow night@ I am at the casino...DH is entertaining the customer this evening. I just are crabcakes and I am working on a piece of key lime pie. The crabcakes were free if I "liked" this restaurant on Facebook...LOL.

LuvRVing

Ugh....autocorrection!

Lacey12

You mean you aren't crabcakes?!

Laurie08

LOL!

deborye

I am glad you are having a good time in FL.

(((Debbie)))) 

bedo

Uhgg. Today wasn't a good day.  My work computer remains non-functional after being at my new job for 2 months and I finally started crying after talking to "IT" for at least 1 -2 hours a day for 2 months and one day for 5 hours and now being told that I should have put things into the system by "wireless" yesterday, which was impossible of course, because even the IT guys had to work on it for 2 hours today.  I don't believe that it is fixed because I have been told this about 60 times, plus I had to miss my first follow up with my  oncologist for the second time because of work.  (It was due 2 months ago) So I finally lost it and just started crying.  I'm glad for those tears.  My eyes are so dry because of the friggin med antihormonal sucking the estrogen out of me for the last 6 months.  I wonder if this is grounds for resigning "with reason" I am so stressed because I can't function without functional equipment.  And that includes my ridiculous blackberry. So it wasn't a good day.  I had grapes and carrots for dinner. 

PS, That's "Nellie" my daughter's dog.  Maybe I'll put Austin up again in the future.  

debbie6122

Michelle- i caught it- You are a crabcake? LOL!

So much catching up to do but too tired and need a nap after a long day and not sleeping all night.

I feel like we are back to square one basically, we got to the hospital at 8;30 am this morning, Meet Dr #1 and spend half the day there telling us about 3 different surgerys he could do and what the pros and cons were and how dangerous they were then told us about the gamma knife and how he never lost a patient to gamma knife but the surgeries he has wth?? He tells us that the surgeries he would be out at least 2 mos and in hosp 1 week plus no guarantees hearing would not be restored and loss of balance either.. Tells us the benefits of gamma knife and how even though its no guarentee is only one day in hosp and a couple days off work hearing may or may not get better but not lose it completely plus its safer he may be able to treat all the symptoms, oh and if that didnt help and if the tumor was still growing then he would still need the surgery but chuck decided to go with gamma knife for now mainly because of not being off work so long, so dr 1 sends us to another hospital that does gamma knife and meet dr 2 he gave us a tour of the hospital where he will do the GK and shows him the headgear he would wear, explains everything to us, and schedule for the 15th drive home in snow, and hail kind of feeling better b/c its less invasive and get used to that idea, get home after 8 hrs in hospitals get a call from the second hosp saying that chucks ins does not contract out to them only for hosptial #1 for surgery so now we will have to go back and talk to them again do all the paperwork all over again since he will stay at first hosp instead for surgery and talk about what 3 options of surgery he will have.....i could just cry and chuck is so upset we had our minds made up about surgery pre going there then had hopes on GK only to be told sorry no can do! Oh well guess there is not much we can do about it, sorry for rambling and making this so long we will get through this just wanted to let you all know. hugsssssss

SeasideMemories

((((( Bedo )))))))!



Being asked to do your job without functioning equipment is an impossibly bad situation. I feel your pain and, after dealing with this for so long, would have caused me some tears as well... I hope that they finally hear you....

bedo

Oh, Debbie, I am speechless.  What a lot to go through. 

SeasideMemories

Debbie,



OMG, That makes me very angry.... It upsets me to no end when insurance companies get to dictate what treatment you can get even though the treatment they are denying is the one that makes the most sence and is the one recommended! Did the insurance deny the specific treatment or just won't cover it at the facility you went to? Is there another facility that they will cover it at?



Sending you the hug that I wish I could give you in person!

Kaara

Bedo:  So sorry about your job problems...computers...ugh!  I hated them and I hated IT worse!  They always treated you like you were inferior because you didn't understand the computereze language they spoke!

Debbie:  What a terrible experience.  Do you think that you could appeal to your insurance company to allow the GK surgery to be done in the other hospital?  I would try that before giving up altogether.  It seems the GK is the least invasive and if this is the only place DH can get it, why can they not make an exception.  If not there, where is there a hospital nearby that would do the surgery that ins. will approve?  Is there a patient advocate that can work on your behalf?  This kind of stuff just drives me crazy...I can only imagine what you are going through right now.

Prayers that this all works out to your benefit.  I wouldn't give up so soon without giving them some hell to pay! 

Lacey12

Oh Debbie, what a terrible roller coaster day for you and DH....to carefully decide on a plan and later have the damn ins co rip it away. I may be foolish, but I wish that docs/hospitals would check that out before engaging you with a plan. So, I also wonder if it is the procedure, or the specific hospital that they won't cover.....so maybe there might be an option for the GK somewhere else. Wonder where else this doc might operate, doing that GK procedure. You must both be exhausted after such a day....get some rest so you can regroup tomorrow. ((((you))))



And Bedo, how totally frustrating.!!!!Yesterday I was unable to access my Z drive just as I was about to start massive report writing. Turns out they just "lost my documents" while doing routine maintenance....guess it felt routine to rid me from the system. Fortunately, they were able to right it, and I didn't lose anything important....close call! But you dealing with this for so long is outrageous, and certainly tears worthy!! Really hope tomorrow goes much better. ((((you))))



Had some kale and white bean soup for dinner, and am vegging in front of the Celtics, instead of writing the report that should get done tonight. This low energy thing is killing me! Wonder if it's going to be with me for a long time. Not much productivity from me at night anymore......

Best to all as our weather warms up fo the next couple of days!

Lacey12

Ditto Kaara' s suggestion re: Debbie's situation. Give 'em hell!!

MinusTwo

Ladies:  Can you believe Oreos cookies are 100 years old?  Here's a link with some Oreo recipes to celebrate.  Of course you can always say you're making them for the kids or grandkids.

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/100-years-oreo-recipes-facts-famous-cookie-194400045.html

Laurie08

Lacey I forgot to give a big YAY to your DH on the dinner!

Debbie- Huge hugs coming your way.  I already put my 2 cents in on facebook, I am so angry for you!  Keep us updated

Bedo-  or I should say ((((((Bedo)))))  keep your appointments!  I am so sad to hear how hard it has been for you.  You are more important than a job.  Try not to let it stress you out and do your best to get to your onc.  Hugs.

Lacey12

Thanks from DH, Laurie! He is still proud of himself for his weekday wonder (Jeeze!). He couldn't wait to ask me how delicious the leftovers were at work today. Too funny! He is actually trying to figure out if he could make that same dish w/o having it pre-packaged. Well, yes, honey! Let's see what happens.....maybe he could take some lessons from your DH!!



And yes, Bedo, really work hard to make those appts a priority....aka making you a priority!

Laurie08

My DH has his moments.  Tonight I made the Belgian stew, he ate, helped with the kids etc.  We finished and we did our normal thing, I went to get jammies for the boys and get them ready for bed while he cleaned up.  I come back down and there was a little left from dinner, he says :should I keep it?"  I told him , I don't know, did you like it?  He say's of course I did!  What do you mean?  I said you never commented....He felt like an ass.  I felt bad ( a little).  He says he's bringing it for lunch tomorrow, lol.  Ah- the give and take of marriage

Lacey- maybe your DH will get the cooking bug!  There is pleasure in feeding someone and having them enjoy it!

deborye

Trying to be good, sauted some chicken in EVOO seasoned with garlic powder, tyme and tarragon, put it over a bed of lettuce and tomatoes with Balsamic Vinagar.  It was pretty good.

debbie6122

Bedo- Oh im so sorry you have had to deal with this, why cant the IT guy fix it right? I would call him up and let him know he never fixed it right and you want it done asap!! As Laurie said you are more important than your job. Cute pic of nellie

Laurie-Saw you post on FB and i feel the same way! Thanks!

Seaside, Kaara and lacey- Chuck is going to tribal counsel and appeal it, there are only 2 hosp in oregon who do gamma knife and both do not contract out funny thing is the dr who is at the hosp that would do surgery is also working at the hospital that does gamma knife so i asked cant they just bill oshu since his ins is covered there was told thats illegal. Did find out after i posted my last post that they would pay out of network but would still cost him about 50 grand so still not good enough normally his ins pays 80% I told DH that if thats what we gotta do then we will and just make small payments on it, so we will fiqure it out and hopefully get it covered.

Minustwo- MMM on the oreo cookies use to love dipping them in milk

Hipline

Quinoa pasta with organic tomatoe sauce, turkey meatballs and sautéed spinach. Couple pieces of whole grain baguette with coconut oil. Would have LOVED a glass of red wine but I gave up alcohol for Lent!

debbie6122

Laurie-LOL You both are such a cute couple! I made pork roast the other day and tonight was leftovers he said to me i was going to ask you the other night did you put somthing different on here that you dont usually? I said why dont you like it? He said there is a spice or somthing im not crazy about,( he dosnt like rosemary or thyme) and i thought i could sneak it in and he wouldnt notice, i told him no i didnt do anything different, told him his taste buds were probably off because he was stressed, dont think he believed me though LOL!!

debbie6122

Hi hipline and welcome, your dinner sounds so good!

apple

Debbie, i too agree that you should request push your insurance to cover the surgery from the other hospital.  Sometimes I am good with companies, sometimes not.  Asking to talk with another rep or the name of someone higher up seems to work.. a letter to put things in writing.. Maybe surgeon #1 will have an opening. I usually am very kind and thoughtful, but occasionally a bit of b*tchiness unsqueaks the squeaks.  you must be going nuts and I am wishing you the best of luck.

Last nite i made some unhealthy nachos.. My appetite is virtually non existent so occasionally i will actually feed the big boys some meat, cheese, corn, jalapenos and salsa... rather than the sauteed brussel sprouts we are having tonite with salmon and tabouli.

carberry

Debbie  What a crazy ride they have put you on!  I agree with everyone here..fight like hell. Your husband deserves to get the best care possible and the least invasive.   BIG HUGS!

Joycek  I could join you on that soapbox....why do we have to fight so hard for the stuff that should be entitled to us (as in paying for our entire lives) when we are fighting for our lives? When I lost my job because i was out too long recovering, everyone told me to get a lawyer and fight, but at that point I felt like all my "fight" was gone, and I was tired of the bull. Things happen for a reason.

Bedo  hang in there, I know how hard it is to try to do a good job and not have the right equipment. As a nurse sometimes we wouldnt even be able to find a BP cuff that would work correctly or have one working thermometer for the whole office. Take care of yourself.

Back to food.....Got to look for that quinoa pasta, dont think my usual grocery store carries it , but maybe in the organic section?

Laurie08

Joyce- I am so sorry for you and your husbands loss.  I hope your DH is ok.

debbie6122

Joyce- Oh im so very sorry what terrible news to hear for you both. Have a safe flight back and you,DH and the familys involved are in my prayers. (((((hugs))))))

LuvRVing

Joyce - (((hugs))) from both of us to you and Bob.  Safe travels.

Debbie - thinking of you and Chuck, hoping that he gets the right treatment.  Be sure to check your out of pocket maximum...might be more with an out of network treatment but should still be within reason.

I managed to get in a walk, then sat at the pool bar and had lunch.  Finished just in time for the tropical waves of rain to come through.  I see a patch of blue sky now...might don the bathing suit and try to sit by the pool.  It's still so windy the palm fronds are blowing straight out!

Kaara

joycek:  So sorry about your friends death...that happened to us last year right after we got to NC for the summer.  It is difficult when it comes so suddenly and you've had no time to prepare.  Prayers to you both.

Michelle: The weather certainly isn't cooperating this week...it is windy and rainy where I am in S. Florida today.  Hope tomorrow will be better.  It never lasts very long.

Eye app't today went as expected.  I have advancing wet MD in my left eye, so have to begin injections right away to prevent further progression.  Right eye has dry MD so ok for now.  I have to do some research on the drug they are going to use, Lucentis, and see what SE's are, but whatever they are, it looks like I don't have a lot of choice unless I want to risk losing my eyesight.  This is a new treatment that's only been available since 2006, so I'm fortunate.  I'm so looking forward to having an injection in my eye once a month:( 

duckyb1

Kaara...........I have MD too.........after having the cataracts removed the surgeon told me I had it.......I asked how come no one ever found it before, and he told me that MD cannot be found while the cataracts are still there...........just some more good news.

Well they said it wasn't bad........after the cataract surgery I could see fantastic distance.....close was a tiny problem, but nothing bad......cheaters would do the job for things like small print, and phone books..............however lately I have noticed my right eye is not doing well with distance anymore, and also with the computer...................I had to go to the eye doctor for a broken blood vessel about 2 weeks ago, and he asked me to look at the Amsted Chart, I believe he called it, and also gave me one to take home.....................the day I used it in the office they did not explain how it should be done........................the other day I read the directions, and did it the right way ,  and I am losing vision in my right eye...............ok, just another problem right.  To add to the ones we already have..................have another appt. soon.................