This has turned out to be a busier week than I expected.
My pulmonary appointment got moved from Thanksgiving Week to this week, had an endocrinology appointment, and then a hurricane decided to come. This was all in addition to more drama with my wheelchair, election night and a typical work week. Here is a quick update:
Pulmonology
This was a follow-up because I have a new nodule on the lung along with my cough and shortness of breath being more prominent upon physical exertion. I was supposed to see a new doctor November 22 but they had scheduled any tests. So I called to ask about potential tests that I thought needed to be run to fully examine what was going on since I had been a pulmonology patient prior to the mesothelioma diagnosis. I was told they would send a note to my new doctor. When I didn't hear for almost two weeks, I called back and the nurse said the doctor had not returned her message. Within a day, I got a message that they were changing my doctor to the one who was part of the team that did my lung biopsy last year that didn't go so great. He pushed up my consultation visit to this week. Advocacy at its best because after talking things through with him, he will be running the tests I had recommended during Thanksgiving week. He has said this nodule and the symptoms could be a lot of things, including an infection or asthma. He is putting me on antibiotics and increasing my steroid. He is also considering adding an haler. He is well versed on sarcoidosis, understands my pulmonary issues, and the cancer. I think I am in the right hands. Things happen the way they are supposed too and we will have more answers in two weeks.
Endocrinology
This was my annual visit to ensure my adrenal gland insufficiency is under control. She was very pleased with how I looked. We talked about my prednisone side effects. She says I am doing a great job tracking the signs of adrenal crisis and medicating appropriately. All of my test results are showing things are under control. She commended me on knowing the right tests to request and asking the correct questions. She signed off on me for another year, unless I need her sooner. As part of this visit, I had to have one prescription refilled. After I got off the phone with her, I got a call from the pharmacy saying the prescription would not be filled and I had to call my insurance company. My doctor actually called in the order to my old pharmacy but regardless I needed to find out why the insurance company filled it last year but not this year. The pharmacy's response was, "Well that happens all the time." I called the insurance company and the customer service representative got me to the correct person who informed me it was a pharmacy mistake. She apologized because there was nothing she could do to fix but gave me the exact phrasing to tell them. I called the correct pharmacy, he transferred the prescription and updated the code to the correct code. It was filled within one hour and covered by my insurance.
Wheel Chair Drama
Monday morning 9AM....I am working and I get a phone call. It is a medical equipment company and the person says that she needs to come pick up my wheelchair because my insurance company has only paid for three months so they are taking it back.
Quick backstory: it took me over a month to get the wheelchair approved in April/May 2021. I finally got it in June 2021. Last November, I got a letter from my insurance company that they need an updated authorization from my doctor that I still needed it even though my initial letter was clear this was not temporary. My doctor immediately wrote a letter, which resulted in me being approved for a second wheelchair. It took about six weeks and lots of phone calls to my insurance company and two medical supply companies to resolve the issue. I declined the second wheelchair because I already had one and the original company told me everything was resolved.
We were back at square one from a year ago. At first, I told her fine and asked her what would happen next. She told me that I needed to call my insurance company and my doctor. That flipped my switch and I changed my mind. I assertively told her, "No I was not calling my doctor. I was not calling my insurance company." I explained the backstory and told her I was told it was all resolved. I said that it was not my fault their company dropped the ball and never collected their money for a year. I told her it was their problem and asked, "Are you really going to take a wheelchair from a person with a disability? Are you that kind of company? I want to talk to your supervisor." She immediately got me her supervisor. I told her the entire story. I explained that taking my wheelchair will virtually leave me home bound and again asked, "Is that what your company does?" She was very empathetic. She couldn't explain why we are here again but asked me to write a letter to try to put this back in the company's hands. That is where we are at right now. From the beginning, mom and i kept saying that we should have just bought the wheelchair myself but now I am not budging. When I picked up the wheelchair, I was told that after one year it would become mine. Well, I have had it for about 18 months. I cannot help that their finance department apparently is too overworked to track everything...sounds like a system issue. I would be happy to consult with the company to improve performance! Stay tune....
Hurricane Nicole
Mom and I got through this storm with no damage and we never lost power. We got less rain than Hurricane Ian but the winds were very loud. I was shocked with how many cars were traveling on I-95. Apparently, they did not get the memo. I was able to get a lot of work done today, which made me happy. I also made the best roasted potatoes for lunch today in the air fryer.
The cats used this time to find new spots to climb, in addition to the photos, Marmalade decided to climb on my dresser and end tables in my room. This is big because she rarely gets on furniture. It took me six months to get her to get on the sofa, recliner, and the bed. I guess she is watching Flap and Pan climbing on everything.
Tomorrow Pancake turns five. I cannot believe I have had her for four years. In the last two years, she has become super cuddly and sleeps with me a lot. I am glad I was able to give her a forever home. The three of them are inseparable. Aloft definitely does not define my cats.
For tonight . . . I'm just sayin' XOXO
XOXOXO
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