Health Insurance

When I lived in NY I never gave much thought about going to the doctor or having health insurance. I had it always through my job I paid my co-pay and went along life.
Fast forward to 2010 when I had no insurance and was pregnant..I knew that I would have to have a c-section since I had on with Tyler. I was starting a new job and in NC a pregnancy was considered a pre existing cause. Okay what do I do now? So I went down to DSS my very first experience. It was okay but not very pleasant. They told me they could give me insurance through Medicaid and would also cover Tyler. I was very grateful to have insurance again but now it was time to find a doctor who would accept Medicaid for me. I did find one eventually and was able to be seen by the doctor. My pregnancy at that point turned into a miscarriage and I stop the Medicaid for me but for Tyler he would be covered until I got health insurance on my own. Since I had just started a new job I knew that would not be much longer.
Insurance has changed over the years and I was not that knowledgeable at that point I picked an insurance company and instead of co-pay I now had a 20% coinsurance and a deductible. I had no idea what this meant.
Fast forward again to 2012 I am very grateful that I had insurance when I found my lump. But it also meant that I would have to pay out a lot in co-pays. Thousands of dollars. I will be paying for a very long time. I am trying to work with the many different labs and doctors for the co-pay’s.
Now in 2013 I am much for insurance savvy (not really) My Company offered a high deductible plan with a $5,000 deductible for the family. Okay this would be good for us. Knowing already that I would reach that with my first chemotherapy treatment, the cancer center where I am currently at has given me financial aid for anything that my insurance does not cover.
That being said it took me 17 days! Yes only 17 days to reach my deductible for the year. I am so happy about this and it has been a great relief for me. Every day I thank God I have insurance. I am also very grateful for any financial aid I have received so far. I still have a very long road ahead of me and there will be many doctor appointments over the next five years but it will be all worth it in the end. I am here.

Surgery Booked

My first appointment of the day yesterday was with  with the new radiation oncologist. Dr. Horton was really nice and I liked her.. She states that I would start radiation about 6 weeks after my surgery. The radiation will be at Duke in Durham and it is every day for 6 weeks 5 days a week so it will be a little rough and going to work afterwards but it will all be worth it in the end.  
The second appointment was with the breast surgeon Dr. Greenup . We went over the surgery and I signed the consult papers for February 27th. So it is all set. They will do the left breast mastectomy and the hysterectomy on that day and should be in surgery for about 4 hours so it will be a long day. I will only be in the hospital overnight. I am happy for that. At least I get to come home and recover here. I will have drains in me for about 7 to 10 days. I will be out of work for about 6 weeks.
The third appointment was with the plastic surgeon Dr. Holienbeck. He said I can have the TRAM Flap surgery. I am happy about that. Yes it will be a longer recovery time about  5 days in the hospital and then about 6 weeks at home. The reconstruction will not be until about 6 months after the end of radiation so I am looking at end of October early November for the reconstruction. That will be about a 6 month time frame from start to finish.
So it looks like this whole breast cancer thing will last about a year and a half time in total. It is going to be a long road to recovery but it will be all worth it in the end.
Two more Chemotherapy treatments and then my preop stuff at Duke. February will be a very busy month for me between appointments and work but I am ready.

Chemo # 6

At yesterday's treatment I saw the doctor beforehand. He was very pleased with the results of the chemo so far. I have of course have new side effects this time my hands are peeling from the chemo not just my feet anymore. They got me in so late yesterday though so I was pretty far behind. I did pretty well on the treatment and no issues.
Tyler has been having problems in school this week. He asked me a couple of times over the weekend if I was sick and we kind of blew him off but I think it is time to tell him. He has also been asking when my hair will grow back long. I spoke to Richie about it today and we are going to come up with a plan to tell him. Was not looking forward to this day but I knew it had to happen soon. There is only so much you can hide from kids.
I have been learning new things on Twitter and Facebook this week too regarding my cancer and how to make sure I have all my health records when I leave the doctor’s office. Something I never thought of even though I have all my labs from the Cancer Center. I never got my medical records from my first breast surgeon so I am picking up those today. I do keep everything though in a big 3 ring binder. I also need to get back my disks from Duke. So I will ask for that tomorrow.

Getting Nervous

I can't believe how well I did on Taxol. I really wasn't at all too tired. So that was a good thing. Wednesday I have treatment #6 and on Friday I go back to Duke Cancer Center for my appointment with the radiation oncologist, breast surgeon and plastic surgeon. Looking forward to those appointments to see when the surgery will be and also find out about the reconstruction. So lots to do this week.
It will be a busy but productive week.

#5 and the start of Taxol

The holiday's were okay my MIL came in for Christmas and left today. I am feeling somewhat better since the blood transfusion but it did not raise my levels enough so I may have to have another one.
I seem to be the queen of rare side effects. but what can I say I strive to be unique and different!
On Wednesday I started my first Taxol treatment and it went okay very long and the bones are achey from it. To be expected.
I am almost done with Chemo and have 3 treatments left. So far I have a tentative surgery date for 2/27 looking forward to that and starting the new chapter in this battle.

Halfway done with bumps in the road

Last weekend I took Tyler to see Santa at the mall. As we were standing on line waiting another woman walked up behind me and said I sported that same look a couple of months ago. That is when I realized that I belong to a club I never wanted to be part of. But talking with her was good and it was her second time with breast cancer.
On Wednesday I had my 4^th treatment of Chemo so that makes me halfway through treatments only 4 left to go. This one though was a little harder. I had to get a blood transfusion this time around. So that was interesting. I am hoping that this makes me feel better and less tired, but so far it has not. I guess I do need to give it some time though.

Chemo # 3.......

Last Wednesday the 28th I had my 3rd round of chemo. Or as I like to call it the one that kicked my ass. They started late. i had to get the blood draw from my hand instead of my port because they were backed up. Once that was done I spoke to the PA and she informed me that my HGB counts are very low and if it continues on this path then I will need to get a blood transfusion after the next round. I guess it is par for the course with me. If it can go wrong then it will.
I went to work on Thursday and Friday I was pretty tired but got through it.
Then came Saturday I was tired I slept until 9 am and thought I could go to the mall but was barely able to get myself dressed without feeling tired. I wound up going to sleep most of the day and then slept through the night. I was still pretty tired on Sunday so it was another relaxing day and in bed by 9.
If it wasn’t for Richie I don't know what I would have done throughout all of this. He has been there for me for everything and taking care of everything.