Why we have healthcare...

I just received a bill in the mail yesterday from the hospital. One month of chemo costs $25,465.40 so the four months of chemo treatment would total $101,861.60!!! This doesn't include surgical costs, radiation treatment, or hormone treatment. I received this invoice because my insurance company only made a partial payment so the hospital is looking for me to cover the remaining $18,846.10 - so much for that new car. Each single Neulasta shot is billed out at $9,423.05 - this is for one single 6 mg injection and I had 8 of them. I called the insurance people and have them looking it for me. The rep I spoke to seemed to think it's an invoicing glitch. Man, I hope so.

Update on the crazy eyebrows. I plucked them. Couldn't take it anymore. New baby brows growing as I type.

And, I've been off the sleeping pills for over a week now. I ran out of the pills and was going to call in a refill but thought I'd give it a shot on my own instead. It was very rough the first couple nights but now not so bad. I still wake up a few times a night but seem to be able to get myself back to sleep fairly easily. Yay.

5 down 28 to go.

The first week of radiation was pretty uneventful. I have a great time slot, 7:45 AM, yay! My morning consists of getting myself and the kids up between 6 and 6:30. Making sure they're dressed, then getting myself out the door by 7 AM. James takes care of breakfast and bus, nice. No more detentions for tardiness on his watch. Parking at 7:40 AM is a breeze at UMass. I walk from garage to hospital and go straight down to B-level. Check in at the front desk of Rad Onc, pick up parking voucher (awesome) then go down to change into a gown. Wait and read the paper for a couple min in the patient waiting room before they come and find me. We head in to the treatment room. A couple minutes of small talk while positioning properly using tattoo dots then the nurses leave the room and radiation begins. I lay in place, the equipment turns around me shooting from 3 angles, 4 opening sizes so zoom in on the treatment location. The entire thing takes 5 minutes at the most. Then I go back to changing rooms, slather myself with some Aquaphor, dress, and head back to the garage. I'm to work anytime between 8:30 and 9 AM. Not bad. I put Vitamin E and Aquaphor on again after a shower at night. No reactions on my skin so far and energy level is good.

Every Friday I'll be seeing the Radiation Oncologist after treatment. Yesterday was quick as it's early on, all looks good, no questions. I checked in to make sure my immune system is back up to speed and not at issue with radiation. I've had people concerned about being around me if they're ill. Dr. T. said all should be fine. Don't hug anyone that's obviously ill and wash hands often. I'd say this should be the rule for everyone. I think the problem is that I still look like a chemo patient so people are extra cautious around me. It still shocks me when I look in the mirror. My hair is really just starting to grow back. It's such a tiny amount of fuzz with my scalp still glowing through. The kids like rubbing my head, maybe it'll bring good luck.

I'm starting to see something happening around my eyebrows as well, thank God. I think I missed those more than the hair on my head. I had a few that didn't fall out but they're my crazy long eyebrow hairs, the ones I'd normally pluck or trim. I contemplated pulling them all out but don't think I could face myself with completely naked brows.

I worked a full week last week. The great morning appointment time helps. I left a bit early yesterday afternoon. We raced to see Ironman (Phoebe's new favorite movie) then to the school for Girl Scout Family Bingo. This morning was Sander's first baseball game. It was FREEZING out. Lack of hair is seriously easier to deal with in warm weather than cold. I wore a baseball cap to keep the heat in but needed fleece for ears and neck. I spent most of the game wrapped in a blanket or in James' truck with heat running. After the game it was back to the house for a long hot shower. Ahhh, much better now. Today Phoebe has a massive project in the works and I may clean the kitchen then head in to the studio. The kids want to see Ironman AGAIN with James. Tomorrow we go in to West Roxbury to help Susie celebrate her birthday.

Happy Birthday Sue!

Lazy Days... or Not

I'm taking the week off from work and would love to say I'm just lazing round the house. But, project dealines are up at work so I'm putting a few hours in from home each day. Good to meet deadines if possible and nice to be able to work from home with gas prices the way they are!

It's been beautiful outside so I've also been enjoying yardwork. My big plan (ha) was to clean up inside of the house. Although I've made a couple clean spots it's no where near what I was envisioning.

I'm feeling back up to speed from the surgery last week. The incision is healing nicely. It's in the same spot as the previous port scar. Nice not to add a new one. I had taken the dressing off after 2 days because it was beginning to blister under the tape edges. What is up with me and surgical tape? A bit sore and red at first (the incision, not the tape marks) but I've been slathering it with antibiotic so much better now.

The house is feeling very quiet with Sander away at Nature's Classroom for the week. I'm hoping to dig into his room tomorrow. Love to have it clean and organized for when he gets home.

I feel like I'm having a nice reprieve this week from doctors and hospitals, 'til Friday. 1st (fake) radiation on Friday (full set-up with x-rays rather than rads.) Next week it starts for real. Mondays-Fridays for 33 (week)days. What fun. The countdown begins...

Home Safe & Sound

Writing from home, shocking to be able to have surgery and come home again same day. Quick and easy, the way day surgery should be!

Goodbye to Port!

Hello -- this is Lisa writing. I just talked with Beth at the hospital and she is happy to let you all know that the port-a-cath removal was quick and easy. She's in the surgical recovery area and expects to go home soon. She sounded upbeat and relieved that the surgery had gone well. We love you, Beth!

Nothing

The new surgical oncologist felt nothing! So it's a go for Thursday port removal. Wahoo!

I would be overwhelmingly happy but I'm too exhausted. The appointment was scheduled for 4 PM and we didn't see him until close to 6 PM. He was stuck in surgery... fitting place for a surgeon I guess. Mom met me at the breast center to keep me company and be a second set of ears. Great to have the company for appointment, walk to cafeteria while waiting, treated by Mom to yummy pomegranate/pear juice and parking fee, thanks Mom!

What was most interesting to me beyond no lump was being informed that the breast center surgeons will no longer perform port-a-cath surgeries. It'll all be done by radiologists now. The new surgeon (who really is a very nice guy) said this is to protect the surgeons from all the excess radiation. Hmmmm...... that's my "ask a bitter woman" thought of the day.

Off to a quick Girl Scout leader meeting then sleep.... back in the saddle tomorrow but no Dr's appointments. Wahoo again!

Appointment Update

Testing complete for the port removal on Thusday. It'll be done in the interventional radiology suite through the surgical unit. I won't know the time until they call on Wed. I can't eat or drink after midnight so hopefully it'll be early in the day. The paperwork they'd given me is to prepare for an angiogram. I'll need someone to drive me home (James or Mom), bed rest for 6 hrs then limit activity including driving for 24 hrs. Hmmm.... I was planning on working Friday (and some of Thursday if I could) then taking next week off during the kids vaca to clean the house. Plans may change.

The radiation oncology appointment yesterday afternoon went fairly smoothly. Man, I will NEVER get a tattoo. The did 6 itty bitty spots on me as markers and it was quite painful. I'm all set up and ready to go. First appointment on Friday April 25th they'll test the set up with x-ray instead of radiation. Then we go for real on Monday the 28th every weekday morning for 6 1/2 weeks. None of these scheduled yet but I did stress to them that I have to schedule in the AM. Yesterdays 2 PM appointment took 2 laps around the huge parking garage to find a free space and that was after following someone walking to their car. That happening every day would add a bit of stress to my life.

Today I go to meet the new surgeon and hopefully have him tell me this thing under my arm is all related to surgical healing and nothing to worry about. Work first and getting the kids out the door on time for school so they don't have any more detentions. Bye for now!