When They Don't Tell You Everything

After my last post, I was thinking my cancer was at bay.  This week was my scheduled Oncologist visit, Falsodex and Zometa treatments.  When I told the doctor what had been relayed to me from my GYN, he then asked what radiation treatments and chemotherapy was recommended.  I replied, none.  I could see from his head shakes and demeanor that something was wrong.

One thing my GYN didn't relay was the blood test taken at the Oncologist's office.  She didn't receive the results when we were discussing my MRI results.  Now at the Oncologist office he told me the normal range for ovaries is between 0-35.  My blood test results were a scary high number, too high to share.  My cancer is in my ovary.


Regan, IV Nurse

He began to tell me about chemotherapy.  It would be 8 treatments every three weeks and can't remember the name of medication.  I will lose my hair and become nauseous.  I have been going to my IV infusion treatments with Zometa monthly.  Now these visits will become weekly with blood tests, treatments and doctor appointments.  He also scheduled a PET scan so we would have a base line prior to treatment.  I will have those results next week.

Since I have trouble with my IV, Regan my IV nurse, talked about getting a IV port installed.  It is all so real and unwanted, a place I was hoping not to be.  I am so tired of being poked in my hands because of my deep veins.  I resign myself to having one installed.  I also found out that I will be on Zometa for the rest of my life instead of the 12 treatments mentioned at my first appointments.  Regan said it was like taking your vitamins for your bones.  They could only get approval for 12 months of treatments at a time with health insurance.  Oh boy!

At this point I am scared that I may be at the point of no return which is why they recommended no ovarian surgery.  That question will be asked at my next appointment.  I am thankful that I switched from an HMO to a PPO healthcare plan this year because it would take weeks before getting any testing or chemotherapy treatment approved.

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I have setup a GoFundMe page for donations to help with my medical bills.  Your generosity is humbling and appreciated.

Be genuine, share yourself and have a fabulous day!  Susan (aka SuzzzyGal)

Disclaimer:  I am not a medical professional and any information contained here is an opinion.  Seek advice from a professional. 

Massage Therapy Is Not A Luxury ...

An Alternative Medicine, massage therapy is beneficial to anyone looking for relaxation, reduction from stress, headaches or any other ailments.  Enjoyed by the elderly to babies.  It is now considered a luxury by some individuals since health insurance companies no longer cover it.  I see it as a necessity in your overall wellness.  When your budget allows for it, I say go for it.

Message therapy has always comforted me in the past and relieves the tension or stress from my day to day activities.  It helps drain toxins from your lymph nodes, aids the digestive tract, promotes better blood flow and so much more.  I don't see massage therapy as a sexual release but an emotional release.  Tension or stress comes in all our lives everyday.  Each of us has different things affecting our emotions and our bodies.

A licensed professional will take your medical information and listen to your current stress levels.  Massage therapists will apply pressure to your comfort level providing you the best muscle relief and relaxation.  Speak up if the pressure is too deep, it is all about relaxation and comfort.  Drink plenty of water before and after to help remove the toxins.

Never had a massage before, ask for a gift certificate on your next occasion to your local massage center or a referred massage therapist.  Some massage schools have a discounted program for students to apply their skills, but it will not be the same as a licensed professional.  Keep this in mind when using schools. 

Save your receipts and use them for out of pocket medical expenses or health savings account.  My motto is try things once and if you like it incorporate it into your life.  You will be glad you did.

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I have setup a GoFundMe page for donations to help with my medical bills.  Your generosity is humbling and appreciated.

Be genuine, share yourself and have a fabulous day!  Susan (aka SuzzzyGal)

Disclaimer:  I am not a medical or accountant professional and any information contained here is an opinion.  Seek advice from a professional. 

Skilled Nursing ~ Rehabililtation vs. Rehabilitation

At my age I always expected to have an experience with a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility if one of my parents needed one.  I lost my father in 2004, then my mother in 2013.  Never expecting that I would need a rehab facility, the hospital gave me a long list of them.  Making phone calls to facilities close to me, family and friends, cost was essential.  I would be required to pay out of pocket and 30 days in advance.  Another Ka-Ching!

There is a difference between skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities and I realize that it must meet your budget.  But I also understand that the environment you place yourself or a loved one is important in recovery and happiness.  Because it was me needing a rehab facility, I couldn't go to inspect the facility.  Fortunate to have my step-father here in Florida at the time, he was great at visiting and bringing me things I needed.  Now I had to rely on his opinion.

General questions to ask when looking for a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility:

• How many Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA's) to # of patients?
• How many residents to a room?
• Is there a TV and phone?  How many TV's?
• Food:  How many options are given and how many substitutions?  Do they accommodate special need meals?  Where are they served?
• How much is physical therapy?  If it is self pay or isn't covered under health insurance.
• What are visiting hours? 
• What activities do you offer?
• Is there security on site?

Being released the first time from the hospital to a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Clearwater, FL, I was truly nervous.  I wasn't able to stand on my own, requiring assistance in every aspect, scared to say the least.  At first, I arrived and was required to be weighed.  I was severely obese and had lost about 20+ pounds while in the hospital.  I needed to be placed in a wheelchair.  It was the first time, I had been transported there by a stretcher and I was anxious about how they would handle me.  Initially, the CNA's that afternoon were cautious with me.  It was over time that I felt my care was in question. 

Meals were served in the dining room or in your bed.  A menu was provided so you could choose, lunch and dinner.  You had the choice of two options and your substitutes were a grilled cheese or another sandwich.  I was there for a week and in that time, I had 3 grilled cheese sandwiches.  One night for dinner, corned beef has was served.  Not my cup of tea!  Plus I had a salad with my meals and they only served ranch dressing.  I was advised that if I wanted Italian dressing, I could purchase a bottle and place it into a refrigerator (that I would have to purchase also). 

My roommate was a senior who couldn't hear and kept to herself.  The room had 1 TV for the both of us and lacked decor.  Fortunately, she spent her time up and around through the day and I was bedridden.  I had control of the TV, yippee!  My nurses were great, coming in to give me my medication.  It was a time when I started refusing some of the medication the hospital had me on.  Because I had pain, on morphine, steroids and more.  I had been diligent with being alert so decisions were made without cloudiness. 

Some of my CNA's were great, but there were a few that handled me roughly, uncaringly.  One afternoon, two put me in the bed, then I said wait a minute.  They walked out and left me there, I was weak and couldn't get myself correctly in bed and still needed help.  I could see how skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities get a bad reputation.  These two instances, food and care is where I believe cost should be key in deciding a facility.  It was later discovered by the physical therapist that I had an acute fracture in my left hip and they couldn't work with me.  I was sent back to the hospital.  Thankfully, I would not return there.

Once at the hospital and second stay without health insurance.  I was advised I needed a hip replacement.  This was my first surgery requiring me to go under the knife.  It wouldn't be long before I was released and had to choose again a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility.  Luckily, I kept my notes on them from my last hospital stay.  The facility I liked best was financially out of my reach before, but my HMO health insurance would go into effect soon and was one of their facility choices.  The Largo, FL facility ended up being the right place for me.  Menus offered a variety to choose including alternates.  Yes, they had Italian dressing as well as others.  The staff was pleasant and caring, never being handled roughly and the physical therapy was great.  Their décor pleasant and comfortable, each resident had their own TV too.

The difference in cost between the two skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities was $135 per day/room & board.  I truly believe that a person's happiness is important in their recovery.  It is simple, but décor, location and meal selection is imperative for any individual.  I spent 54 days in the Largo, FL facility.  I felt happy and cared for even during the days I couldn't wait to get out and go home.

Again, it all depends on your budget when considering short or long term skilled nursing and rehabilitation care.  I also recommend getting an insurance policy while young and healthy.  You never know what life puts in front of you.

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I have setup a GoFundMe page for donations to help with my medical bills.  Your generosity is humbling and appreciated.

Be genuine, share yourself and have a fabulous day!  Susan (aka SuzzzyGal)

My Experience With An HMO

Once in the hospital I needed to sign up for ObamaCare and based on the information provided I was eligible for a bronze level HMO.  It would not be active until 4 weeks later.  I was released from the hospital again after my hip replacement surgery into a rehabilitation facility.  The HMO required that I pay the deductible up front.  The deductible was $6,300 and placed on a credit card.  Oh boy!!!

I knew I was in a good facility.  After being evaluated by the Occupational & Physical Therapist, I stood for the first time before entering the hospital.  What a great feeling, I had lost hope that I would be able to walk again.  I began my physical therapy and gained some strength.  The HMO required weekly updates and by my second week they were ready to release me.  They felt I wasn't progressing fast enough.  I was weak and so disappointed with the HMO.  How can you release someone who isn't able to take care of themselves.  The HMO did not have my whole story, only that I had a hip replacement. 

During this timeframe my facility doctor had weekly blood draws and it became a concern that my hemoglobin was too low.  I was lightheaded at times while in therapy sessions lately and it was decided I needed to go back to the hospital for another blood transfusion.  I had lost a lot of blood during the hip surgery, along with my immune system being compromised from breast cancer.  After the transfusion, I returned to the rehabilitation facility 2 days later.

After spending a total of 54 days in rehab, I was walking with a walker and able to get to the toilet on my own.  This is where HMO's have some deficiencies.  Once released, I was brought home by a friend who luckily had a walker and commode that sat above the toilet.  My HMO doctor had received my documentation along with the home equipment list needed.  My equipment listed a wheelchair, commode, home healthcare and physical therapy.

It took three weeks to get a wheelchair and I was only eligible for physical therapy.  The commode was considered portable and the HMO would only provide one transport equipment.  Thank goodness for my friends equipment.  I had been in contact with the HMO, the doctors office and the referral department daily, weekly.  It seemed the doctors office kept losing my orders.  The constant waiting for everything, such as equipment, radiation treatments became more frustrating with each request.

In my lifetime working for different companies, I had been exposed to different health insurance policies including HMO's and PPO's.  I never experienced this with a PPO.  There are a lot of individuals who praise the HMO system, but I would not want to be sick while on their health insurance plan.  I changed my plan to a PPO during open enrollment with ObamaCare and qualified for a gold PPO plan costing less than the HMO.  Go figure!!!

Share your experience with your health insurance plan, good or bad.  It may help another make a better decision in their healthcare.

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I have a GoFundMe page for donations to help with my medical bills.  Your generosity is humbling and appreciated.

Be genuine, share yourself and have a fabulous day!  Susan (aka SuzzzyGal)

The First Day of The Rest of My Life!

A challenge to say the least!  It's a road one must travel step by step to recovery.  It's never perfect, obstacles everywhere, each day.  Emotional, physical and spiritual awareness questioned daily.

My breast cancer journey started January 2014.  I had just attended an event for my coffee business and came home with back pains.  It was something I thought was about getting older.  My mother had back problems so it was only natural to think that was my course at age 52.  So after time and trying to fix myself I became physically weak and scared.  Made a doctors appointment, had an MRI a week later for my back and right knee and that's the day I learned it was cancer.

Confirmed later at the hospital with pathology reports and with no health insurance.  Each time the five+ different doctors came in to discuss my prognosis, all I could hear in my brain was Ka Ching.  You truly can't afford not to have health insurance in the USA.  After 2 separate stays including a hip replacement for a fractured hip, I had accrued over $225,000 in medical bills. OMG!!!

I have Hormonal Breast Cancer Stage IV with no markers in my blood.  The Oncology doctor with the hospital said it was the best one to have and had only metastasized to my bones and not to any major organs.  (Thanks to Ganoderma Lucidum / Reishi Mushroom).  He said his case team was puzzled by that.  It's not terminal, he said, you could be hit by a bus before this gets you.  Really!!!  It was treatable with Tamoxifen and be on it for the rest of my life. 

It has been a challenging road since the beginning of last year.  I am able to walk short distances with a cane.  I've also lost 130 pounds too, now a size 16.  Going through all the phases of denial and acceptance about life.  My personal pity party (PPP) ended last month with thoughts in the direction of health improvement, happiness and writing my journey with you and for you.  Over the next few months, I will be posting about my progress, weight loss, recipes, supplements or anything interesting.

I have a GoFundMe page for donations to help with my medical bills.  Your generosity to help is humbling and appreciated.

Be genuine, share yourself and have a fabulous day!  Susan (aka SuzzzyGal)