STEAM ROOM FOR ANGER

nanette7fl

Alice I'm sorry about the passing of your friend.

Wanderingneedle

Alice, so sorry about your friend. 😔 That 57 number hits home - I turn 57 in about 3 weeks.

Micmel

💔🥺 I am deeply sorry. Deeply.

bcincolorado

Oh Alice how sad. Condolences to the family

AliceBastable

Thank you. She was a wonderful person and leaves a huge hole in so many lives. 💔

bennybear

Alice I am sorry, cancer sucks. I had two friends diagnosed last year at the same time as my reoccurrence and they are both gone. It just sucks!

Meow13

My SIL was 55 when she passed from damn cancer.

nanette7fl

whew I passed 55 trying now to enjoy 56 maybe I'll just pass on turning 57 this year

Sorry didn't mean to sound distasteful here. I lost my Mom 9 years ago to ovarian cancer that was never treated ending with colon cancer that had already metastasized to her lungs, liver and brain when it was found. She lived 6 years but didn't have good QOL (her decisions were not the best). I was allowed to make the last month of her life very comfortable by bringing in Hospice. At least at the end of her life she allowed me to do something good for her and there was nothing but love between us for the first time in over 35 years.

Rosanne7

RaiderGirl -- Yes. Love your image of gratitude as the House that holds, or contains, so many emotions. Our emotions count, too -- & sharing them here (& discovering new outlets) is a good thing.

candy-678

Just need to vent---

I saw my MO on March 26th and she ordered my every 3 month CT scan that we do to monitor things.  I called the office April 2nd, 1 week later, to see if they had approval from the insurance company for me to schedule the CT.  They had not.  I called the office again today, April 8th, 2 weeks from my office visit.  Still no insurance approval.  So I called the insurance company.  It is still in review.  But get this, the insurance company said they did not receive the application for prior authorization from the doc office until Friday April 5--10 days after my doc appt.  I know the office is busy, but don't they understand that the patient may be apprehensive about the tests and shouldn't they try to get things done in a timely manner.  My last CT 3 months ago showed an area of question and we are going to revisit that area this time.  So I am more anxious for this test to be done.  Also, we have been doing the CT EVERY 3 months for the last year, and will continue the 3 month regimen if everything is ok this time.  So should it take so much time to get approval??  The insurance company should just say " Oh this is the lady we are scanning every 3 months with MBC" and let the application slide on through.  Rather than jumping through every hurdle each time we order the test.  COME ON PEOPLE !!!!!   YOU ARE MAKING MY ANXIETY WORSE!!!!  

nanette7fl

Candy, I'm sorry your Dr.s office isn't helping you out more. They should have remembered that your insurance needed pre-auth before ordering your CT. Most insurance's need this. Hopefully all will get their acts together and you can get your test asap for your own mental health.

(((hugs)))

Castigame

I get me easily irritated these days. It could have been 2% reduction in Attivan or hubby getting influenza and pneumonia or freaky lightening zapping tv, brand new microwave and brand new clothes dryer or fighting different companies to pay for repairs. Had tummy ache all day which felt like my inside is getting twisted. Finally able to clear it late afternoon. Next thing was sudden chills coming over literally made me crawl I thought I needed to go to ER. I am so pissed off I got sick and so scared over a bad burger considering I am the one took BMX w no recon. 8dose dense chemos, 33rads, total hystrectomy, elbow lump removal, Colo noscopy w endoscopy, plenty of PTs, series of cardio check ups. I had total of 240 medical claims in 2017. I think I became a chicken shit. Thank you for listening to chickenshit

candy-678

The plot thickens.  See my post from yesterday.  I received a letter in the mail yesterday evening from my insurance company that they denied my 1 year reauthorization for my Lupron injection.  Says it is denied.  They have been paying since I started the med over a year ago.  It was too late to call the MO office so I starting calling the insurance company.  4 calls later with 3 disconnects on their end I still didn't have any answers.   So this morning I called the MO office when they opened.  I was told that the auth was submitted wrong and they are resubmitting and should hear a determination later today.  So once again I called the insurance company myself.  3 calls later I finally spoke to someone that truly listened and believes we can get it all straightened out.  This is not a small financial issue---this injection is over $3,000.00 a month. And I need it for ovarian suppression with my Aromatase Inhibitor.  I was talking with a friend about all this and she said the insurance companies want us to give up and not pursue things when there is an issue.  She said she knew someone once that stayed on hold with her insurance company for 2 HOURS.  She just sat the phone down, on speaker, with the mood music playing, as she worked.  When they finally came on the line, they were surprised she was still holding.  I WILL NOT GIVE UP.  THEY WILL PAY FOR THE LUPRON.  

jaycee49

Yup, that's what they do. When I was denied LTD about 20 years ago, I wrote to the company. I said, "I know you place obstacles in my way because you want me to give up. I know you COUNT on me giving up. I'm not giving up." I got approved right after that. You have to call them on it. You have to gather your best verbal skills (and you DO have them when you write here) and use them to explain to them what you have explained to us. I was going to respond to you yesterday and say just call and yell at them to let off some steam. (Works for me.) But I get the impression you are too nice when you are on the phone with them. You need to get nasty. It works. You will never meet or interact again with the same person you get on the phone. Sometimes it works to solve your problem but at least you can improve your mental well-being. I'm surprised you actually get someone of the phone from your insurance company. Next time you do, give'm hell.

They also make things as difficult as possible for the doctors thus yours submitted a form wrong. Doctors and their employees are controlled by insurance companies. My former MO told me once that he spends 90% of his time dealing with insurance. I assume he is exaggerating but maybe not.

candy-678

Thanks Jaycee.  I could feel my blood pressure rising as I talked with them.  And when they disconnected me I called back and said in a sweet voice " I guess I got disconnected".  When really I was thinking "Damnit I will keep calling you no matter how many times you hang up on me".  And I am thinking, someone will be paying for that Lupron and it won't be me. I will hound them until it is resolved.  Just crazy we have to be like this AND fight the cancer.  What concerns me is if/when I get too sick to do all this. Then what?    But for now, give'm hell. 

mysticalcity

So sorry for your loss AliceBastable--prayers for your friend and you.

bcincolorado

And they still keep complaining about healthcare in Washington!!! I think most of those people know no one with cancer or they would not even consider cutting coverage for pre-existing conditions. Seems fighting insurance is the norm now since they are greedy corporations.

marijen

candy, youmight want to read this article I saw today:

Invisible Middlemen Are Slowing Down American Health Care

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/04...

bcincolorado

Wow. Something has to be done somewhere. Hard to believe all those people are that uncaring.

nanette7fl

Marijen thanks for the article... opened my eyes to what is going on behind the scene. My Herceptin costs $6000 every 21 days and my insurance right now covers it AFTER s rebate from the manufacturer. My out of pocket cost before my deductibles were met was $235 per treatment!

mara51506

Wow, I don't know how you do the health care in the states. It is so expensive even for coverage. I may have to wait a long time but I don''t have the additional worry that insurance would deny my treatment. I would not be able to afford premiums or coverage for anything in the US. Its too bad they can't figure out a system for everyone. Would be one less worry on top of everything else.

jaycee49

New vent. I had a vaginal culture at my gyn LAST Monday, April 1. The doctor gave me an rx for a steroid creme. It worked for a few days then the burning got worse. I called and also let them know on their portal. Heard nothing. Called THIS Monday and Tuesday. They said they would call back. I heard nothing. Finally, last night, being in extreme pain for the third day, I wrote a semi-nasty (thank you, candy) message on the portal. This morning, the culture results are posted. Positive for BV. I call and get intense with the nurse. I need a new script TODAY. Now she is calling me hon and dear (which I hate) and making excuses while saying she is not making excuses. I will get the new med today but only thanks to me getting nasty. I tell you, it works.

I'm also looking for a new gyn practice. When my sister was diagnosed with rheumatism a few years ago, she looked for a rheumatologist. There were none in her town. A doctor friend of hers said doctors only want to do "procedures" because that is where the big money is. Seeing patients for regular office visit type stuff is not enough. The gyn's I see are always wearing scrubs. Procedures.

VLH

Grrr, Jaycee49! You shouldn't have to snarl at people to get help with a painful condition. What is BV?

Lyn

jaycee49

VLH, BV is bacterial vaginosis, a bacterial infection in the vagina. I've only had a few. I've had many more UTI's (urinary tract infection) and yeast infections. The symptoms are about the same, at least for me. That's why I have to have a culture. I have very severe vaginal dryness and atrophy from chemo so this just exacerbates the symptoms. And now the applicator for the BV med is also making it worse. When the BV is gone, I will still be sore. It will take even more time to fix that. The 48 hours extra I had to wait for the culture results (the gyn office received them Monday 8:30 AM, I finally got call Wed. late PM) is that much longer I have to suffer this pain. Their fault. The nurse I talked to told me how she was covering two jobs that day, "not that I'm making excuses." Yes, actually, you are.

candy-678

Thanks all for letting me vent about the insurance company.  YES we need the United States Healthcare System overhauled.  So to let you know what happened.  After getting the run around from the insurance company and talking with my MO office -- who was also getting the run around from the insurance company--- I think the Lupron issue is taken care of.  The insurance company FINALLY said that Lupron doesn't need prior auth and is covered on my formulary plan.  The woman at the docs office charted the time, date, and name of insurance person who she talked to on the phone when they said it was covered and I called the insurance company and requested a letter stating that it is covered be sent to me (we shall see if they send that).  So I have appt to get the injection next week and I WILL NOT PAY FOR IT, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.  

Jaycee--- No excuses is right.  We are the patient. We are the reason they have a job.  So sorry you are in pain.  

mara51506

Good luck Candy678.

Lita57

So sorry for your pain, Jaycee (.

I am absolutely NOT EXCUSING them, but some of these nurses work their as%^s off. They are literally RUNNING back and forth between patients in the onco/IV suite. They are doing the best they can. And then there are the ones who don't give two sh#&'s

But it's the INSURANCE BC's (rhymes with "witch" and "shunts") who really irritate me...AND the people in the records office when you want copies of scans,

Incidentally, I had a HORRIBLE experience with a UTI 30 years ago. I had private insurance, came down with a UTI - it was brewing since late afternoon, and I was literally PEEING BLOOD. Called my Dr,, got reception and was told she could NOT squeeze me in until morning. I went in first thing in the next day after CRYING all night on the john (oh, the pain). The doctor was NOT PLEASED. She excused herself for a minute, went to the front desk, and I could HEAR her dressing down the receptionist...telling her why it's crucial to get UTI patients in immediately (it can go up into the kidneys, shut them down... and TMALSS, you can literally die from a bad UTI if it goes septic) Dr said she could have at least Rx'd something over the phone until the culture came back. Thank God you can now go into Ride Aid or CVS and get that AZO stuff to help tide you over, but that wasn't available here in the mid 80's.

Hope you get this cleared up; I have the vaginal dryness/itchiness, too.

It sucks, L

ctmbsikia

The bozo's down in Washington are covered with "Cadilac" healthcare plans.  Obama should have left the insurance industry alone, and the current president doesn't have a clue how to repeal it because no one wants to write a new plan.   Pathetic.   AHHH  that felt good.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

buttonsmachine

F@$# this S!&%.

I am so sick of this cancer and the side effects from treatment. I hate having one breast, I hate the joint and nerve pain, I hate the weight gain, I hate the loss of my fertility and my youth, and I hate the lymphedema. I hate it that my plans and hopes are ruined.

I hate the patronizing positivity and false sense of control peddled by some healthcare professionals. I just want to scream. I hate dealing with insurance companies, more than words can say.

As I sink farther into this haze of treatment and side effects, I really wonder sometimes whether it's "worth it." My body is not a comfortable place to be anymore. I don't want to die, but I sure as hell don't enjoy living like this. Isn't there another option? No?

Trishyla

No words of wisdom, button. Just a hug and shared anger that you have to deal with this at such a young age. I'm so sorry.

Trish