INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

Pawprint

Oh man...I'm so far behind on reading these posts. Got up at 4am because my dog Annie Mae has her surgery today and has to eat before 5am and get her insulin shot. Her appointment is at 10 am, the pre op includes shaving the fur on her face so they can remove both of her eyes. And of course I'm a worried mom, but she's wagging her tail happy for the new day. 

Got my blood work results back and in spite of all the expesive prescription iron medication, my iron saturation level has continued to drop. Back to infusions again, ugh. Tired of being tired and anemic.

We have wildfires going on here in Southern California. The air is yucky, weather hot and windy. 

Love all the pics everyone is posting, sorry to hear some of you are really struggling with health issues. It's nice we have each other to lean on. Hugs to you all. 

4sewwhat

Morning girls,

On the run so don't have time to talk to everyone by name,so just gonna say have a great day and the weekend is almost here!!!!!

Teka

4sewwhat

Chevy,

I have seen what kind of shrooms you grow and now you are playing with a bullet?  Isn't that like a cousin to PHylloWithThePocketRocket???

Nettie1964

Good Morning to all!!  Hope you have a good and pain free day!  I'm working on it!

susan3

Better her than me...lol

Blondi, have fun at lady gaga. We always get a copy of a cd if we want. I actually asked my doc who he wants to read them and we set them up that way. Maybe he can help you out with a better radiologist . That is if u love him. Good luck with pet

jWoo. I am on an iPad..don't think I can do a document thing.But I can stay on same page and scroll,up to the different posts and type blindly..lol. Then I have to re read and decipher what the heck I typed..lol

Smarty..good luck with booby hangers...I go mostly bra less these days. Little cami tank and my shirt. A little  lymphodema    under the arms so more comfy with no bra

Chevy..you funny..lol when I left my job of 20 years at one salon, I got all kinds of notes from people. I read them aloud to my hubby..they were things like...you r always in a good mood, never say anything bad, such a joy to b around....and on and on. Like being alive for your  eulogy  My hubby wanted to know who they were talking about..ha ha.  I said you see the other Susan. 

I know how to paint the barn pretty on the outside!!! Only you get to see the inside.. Oh well...I think that door is starting to slip open..ooopppps

Pawprint ..good luck with today. Let us know how everything turned out. We r here for you...sending extra hugs for you and fur baby

Have a good day everyone...gotta get ready for work..ta ta

FierceBluebird

Jwoo, your head art is awesome!  What  a cool thing to have done!  Beautiful sunset. Sorry to hear about your lymphadema problems. I have two sleeves from LymphaDivas and I love them. 

Pawprint, good luck with Annie Mae. (love that name!)   I also had anemia and iron issues before surgery. They tried to do an iron infusion but I was allergic to it. Went into anaphylaxis when they started infusing. (NOT fun.) But I came around pretty quickly when they gave me something to reverse it. 

But I did have good luck with an iron water supplement called Spatone. It's sold in Walgreens around here. It is a mineral water that comes from England and after a week of using the packets, it raised my hemoglobin. 

http://www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en-gb/uk/our-brands/spatone/spatone

Sas, you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the look on the doctor's face. He did exactly that. Had a slight tilt of his head and a small smile when he said it.  I was pretty devastated to think that everything  I thought I had been doing to help myself, may have just caused the cancer to avoid the chemo.  For the most part I'm pretty good about keeping myself together, but when they say something that blindsides me, I get speechless. 

Teka, love the NO Conjecture!

 I am breathing in the good chit and out with the bullchit while I ride my unicorn! 

Cleaners are here today and life is good! 

Teka

Smaarty

ok, so here's my bra. It fits. But I don't like the way it feels. Maybe because it's been a year since the last time I wore bras. I need to figure out what doesn't feel right before I make another one.

Jwoo, is it ok to share your head with a friend? She's had 2 tx of the red devil, 2 more to go and her hair is going fast.

Smaarty

For those still having issues.

FierceBluebird

smaarty, your bra is amazing! I am in awe that you can make your own bra. i'd make fuzzy chenille ones for winter, cool cotton ones for summer. Lacy ones for Chevy to use on her pole.... 

Teka

Pawprint

My dogs vet just called and the eye surgery is called off. The vet lives in an area affected by the wildfire and she can't drive in. So now it's rescheduled for Monday. Thank you for your kind words. Thanks FBB for the iron information. Have a great day everyone.

Nettie1964

Nettie1964

I love the guardian angel pic and the zippity doo dah!  Both seem to fit for me!

And that bra looks like it could be store bought!  I could only wish for such talent!  Hope you find what is making it uncomfortable and can fix it!  I can't seem to find a bra that doesn't "ride" up or bunch up and both make them uncomfortable so, lately I have joined the braless club, I just wear a simple tank under my shirt! 

sas-schatzi

Morning Owlettes, catching up on reading. I got to Cami's post "I wish everyone no pain or fear always---". I immediately started revising the topic box     Then I read Chevy's post that says it should be our motto      Well, I guess it is  

I love you guys. Everyone here is so wonderful, shucks............

Chevyboy

Smarty!  I love your bra!  VERY GOOD!  It hooks in the back, right?  Or can you make one to hook in the front...  ??

Little Paws&Annie!  I'll be thinking of you both all day today!  Just let us know later.... okay?  Can she see anything now?  Or just mostly hear you?   And why do they have to remove her eyes?    Just tell me again, because I'm a little "slow."   Anyway....  I'll say a little prayer for you guys...

Wren44

Smaarty, It could just be that you haven't been wearing a bra. BS told me not to wear a bra for 6 weeks after uni mx. When I started again, my leftover felt really betrayed. I think it thought no bras forever.

sas-schatzi

Pawprint blessings for your babies successful sx. So, much is happening, but one word jumped---expensive. It was going to be a short note. Got going and......... had to do a chapter. I have been editing ( Ziggy in the one for spamming-not here )  for an hour. I'm going to post this on some threads. May even get Mods permission to Spam.

The link www.needymeds.org is too a web site started by a Social Worker and a doc. It is a tricky site to use. The first page leads to a several hundred resource pages. But I think this first page is not projecting the wealth that lies beneath.   Be patient when following the breadcrumbs (links for Cami). There are sections that are disease and drug specific. The specific page then links to lists of organizations that provide monetary or other types of assistance.

Register first and do the request for assistances form. Reason: the request for assistance form is filed. If you apply to 1 or 20 organizations. The forms don't need to be repeatedly filled out.  The system is designed to pull the one original form. There may be a few particulars that need to be added to a companies/organizations form.

All the pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs. All the drug manufactures are listed there

The other way to reach drug manufactures is 1. call the manufactuer patient assistance number(goolge keywords: drug name and manufacturer, then to webpage>>>patient assistance. Very time consuming.

There is so much more on www.needymeds.org. It took a bit of time to wander through the whole site. I've shared a telephone walk through with many friends and relatives. I even called healthcare facilities to tell them about this link.

For completeness, there are many ways to get financial assistance for whatever you need. There are organizations that will do things for you i.e volunteers that buy groceries, drive, install handrails, build wheelchair ramps.

How to find the info besides from the link above?  FIND the SOCIAL WORKER(SW).  It's there job to know these things    Talk to all of the following 1. cancer center SW,  2.hospital SW,  3. Insurance companies SW, 4. County SW.

I requested from my insurance carrier a consult with a Social Worker. That one appointment with the insurance carrier Social Worker led to grants totaling $10,550. The meeting with the cancer centers SW led to coverage of neulasta $4000.00.

Hope this helps  L&H&P's sassy

Anonymous

Ok, trying to catch up, but here's the problem: 

(Cat butt photo removed)

Can't the mouse because there's no space!

Pawprint, you get some relief today, hoping your nerves will hold up. Can you see smoke in your area?

Smaarty, you are AMAZING! Smart and amazing too. How did you learn to make bras of all things? I thought fitting clothes were a problem, can't fathom how to measure, cut out or sew bras to fit (and that's the key of course - proper fit)

Susan, speaking of amazing, glad you figured it all out. Fun to be able to post pictures?

Nettie, was going to ask you a question, but forgot.  Need to go back and read, when Snowball will let me use the mouse

Anonymous

Nettie, oh, yeah, a couple pages back. Did you ever figure out to change your signature line?

Jwow, BEE-YOU-TEE-FUL! Wish I had known about henna back in the dark ages when I lost my hair, that is so pretty! About hair growing back in: besides being curly, it came back dark which I didn't care about because it can always be dyed. And about the curly part: after showering, it's really more like wavy, not the ringlets but super wavy. I use styling products for curl and scrunch. Will try to take some pix to show you what I mean. Since my hair used to be stick-straight, this extreme-wavy is curly to me. I call it my permanent-permanent (without the disgusting smell), my chemo-induced permanent. I think the chemo changes the genetic code somehow so the hair doesn't change.

Whoever else I missed: I'm trying to play ketchup but want you to know I'm thinking of you. Especially those living in the San Diego area with the fires - praying they get it all under control soon, that this hell-hot weather cools down (and this includes any lurkers). Need to go outside (in the heat) and see if we have any smoke here.

sas-schatzi

Dear Owlettes--storing this here. Going to ask Mods if I can spam this.

Hi, popping in. I was posting with another member. I thought sharing the below information may be helpful to you .

The link www.needymeds.org is to a web site started by a Social Worker and a doc. It is a tricky site to use. The first page leads to a several hundred resource pages. But I think this first page, does not project the wealth that lies beneath. Be patient when following the links within the site. There are sections that are disease and drug specific. The specific page then links to lists of organizations that provide monetary or other types of assistance.

Register first and do the request for assistances form. Reason: the request for assistance form is filed. If you apply to 1 or 20 organizations/companies, the forms don't need to be repeatedly filled out.  The system is designed to pull information from the original form. There may be a few particulars that need to be added to a companies/organizations form.

All the pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs. All the drug manufactures are listed there

The other way to reach drug manufactures is 1. call the manufactuer patient assistance number(goolge keywords: drug name and manufacturer, then to webpage>>>patient assistance. Very time consuming.

There is so much more on www.needymeds.org. It took a bit of time to wander through the whole site. I've shared a telephone walk through with many friends and relatives. I even called healthcare facilities to tell them about this link.

For completeness, there are many ways to get financial assistance for whatever you need. There are organizations that will do things for you i.e volunteers that buy groceries, drive, install handrails, build wheelchair ramps.

How to find the info besides from the link above?  FIND the SOCIAL WORKER(SW).  It's there job to know these things   Talk to all of the following 1. cancer center SW,  2.hospital SW, 3. Insurance companies SW, 4. County SW. 5. church outreach leader.

I requested from my insurance carrier, a consult with a SW. That one appointment with the insurance carrier Social Worker, led to grants totaling $10,550. The meeting with the cancer centers SW, led to coverage of neulasta  for $4000.00.

Anonymous

Sassy, hoping you post that under W&F

sas-schatzi

madd2ta, okey dokey. BBl LOL workin

Anonymous

Been on the phone all morning trying to get health insurance matters cleared up. Here's what a major part has been:

The rep had no idea what I was asking and I don't speak Spanish 

sorry if this offends anyone.....

sas-schatzi

Went to post SW stuff. Got diverted on Constipation thread. Linking b/c the answers will help here. Go lord, thankfully, I'm ADD. I ping pong all over the place. A regular ping ball, pong ball , or would that be ping pong ball.  Amazingly, I am still able to get back to the beginning. Of course, that may just be my delusion.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/6/topic/781867?page=14#post_4018729

Smaarty

fit is important. I took an 8 hour class when the bra lady came to Sacramento about 6 years ago. I never had an easy time when shopping for bras that fit me.  And I hate underwires. I'd always rip them out after I bought them. Since I sew anyway I figured a class would be the smart way to go. The teacher helped with the fitting and made the first pattern. I've modify it when I gained weight, now I need to change it since I'm losing weight and the girls are totally different.   I'm going to email my PS and see which way is better. To let the girls continue to stretch out as much as they will since he's going to do a revision in the fall or try to stop them from stretching. 

I have one cat who now likes to be close to where I'm sewing. She'll climb in behind one of the machines then follow me when I go try something on. She the one who hasn't come near me in about 8 months.

Have a good rest of the day.

Anonymous

Okay Sassy, are you speaking in code again? Why didn't someone translate for me? "Went to post SW stuff", okay what is SW and is it something important I need to know?

Spending my day trying to get this medical insurance crap completed. They nicely accepted my money weeks ago with no problems, say we have coverage but no insurance cards issued because no member ID # assigned.  Everyone pointed to the other party. Blue Shield no less, not some no-name. Grrrr.......

Yup, Smaarty, this is the same rescued cat we didn't see for years. Then only came out at night to sleep on my chest. Lately (13 years later) all of a sudden in the past couple of weeks, it's like she can't get enough of me. Concerned there's something medically wrong with me (like cancer has returned) or her. She's totally not behaving like she usually does. 

PS Hey where is everyone today? Usually Chevy, Cammi, Nettie, Ziggypop,.... all chatting (and I get dozens of emails notifications) away and I can't play. Today I'm here and everyone is off playing?

sas-schatzi

2nd  the Social Work--- SW post and link to www.needymeds.com.  Low and behold, I left the s out of the link. There is a needymed.com web link. I had to go and correct it on all the threads I posted it on. The MODS caught it and let me know. LOL. Lots of extra work.. Maddy, pay attention to the cat. Like you say," it's you or her". Somthing's up.

sas-schatzi

Just had a great phone call from the Hartford.

Jan7th 2013, I had a claim. The Hartford made it very difficult. I was to ill to follow through the way I should have.

Sometime since the first of the year, I posted a very negative review of my experience on the AARP page. My homeowners, car, and flood policies are through the AARP partnering program with the Hartford.

The review was sent to the compliance division at the Hartford. I now have an assigned person, that is going to oversee the resolution of my claim.

I asked her how anyone can get help if they are unhappy with a claim. She said to use these words "I would like to escalate this". This phrase requires the contact person to contact the next person up the chain.  She said to repeat it at each level until your claim is successfully resolved.

Nice