Tales from the Flight of the Phoenix

Today is the day after chemo.  I woke up and and started my day by driving to hospital for my follow up visit with Dr. L.  As soon as I get to her office, the financial lady pulled me into her office and gave me some saddening news.  My insurance only covers 50% of my services at their hospital.  Now I've met my $750 deductible for the plan, but the tier that the hospital is on requires me to pay $5000 out of pocket before the insurance will begin covering the rest of my services.  So, I was required to sign up for a payment plan with the office, since my balance has reached over $1000, not including the port surgery I had in March.  I had to put down $70 today and am required to pay $100 a month.  If I miss 3 payments at any time, they can send my account to collections and Dr. L. can refuse to keep seeing me until I pay the balance.  Needless to say, I broke down crying in the office - not like anyone cared. 

An hour after my appointment time, I finally got to see Dr. L.  She did a quick check of my port site and asked if I had any problems with it.  She examined my lump and said she couldn't note any differences without a sonogram, which I'll come back for in 6 weeks (and pay another $70), after my next chemo treatment.  The only good and productive thing to come from this visit is that she said she will continue my hormone replacement therapy, which my other DRs had stopped 2 years ago and have been squabbling with each other as to why/why not I can't be on it.  She said she'd contact a DR she knows and finally get me some relief.

After we left Dr. L's office, a man approached Jeremy and I in the hallway and asked us about Dr. L.  Apparently, his wife has just been diagnosed and, of course, he is frantic and unsure if they chose the right DR.  I told him some of my story and told him I think Dr. L. will be a great DR  for her and help her find the right oncologist.  His wife was there for her consultation, so he said they were just getting started.  When we finished talking, he actually hugged me and Jeremy.  After we left, I felt bad I hadn't given him our number or email to stay in touch.  I got a feeling we'll still see him and his wife in the office sometime.

After Dr. L., I went back to the infusion center to get my WBC booster shot.  Last time it really worked to shoot up my WBC count, which will help protect my immunity and help protect against infections.  We'll see how it works this time.

On the way home, we made a stop at the Russell Stover's outlet.  We splurged a little - Jeremy bought me some chocolate to make me feel better.  Although I don't feel much like eating it now, I know in a few days to a week I'll be craving it.

How I feel when I go to the doctor now....