tyro

Thank you to EVERYONE who has replied to this thread! FreshFluff and Lookin, thank you for the very logical suggestions. I have seen both an oncologist and a cancer surgeon out-of-network, out-of-pocket AND got a procedure done by an out-of-network provider. (Un-ironically enough, it was the EUS done on January 6th -- the only procedure that yielded something "real" rather than images described as "unremarkable.") The aforementioned procedure was supposed to be authorized beforehand and was not (that's its OWN story...) resulting in a bill totaling 65% what I grossed last year. My insurance seems to be taking care of that now, but it was a pretty major stressor for a bit.
 
As far as getting support, my dad has been driving 100+ miles to my place to take me to most of my appointments. Because of the dizzy spells, I don't want to drive more than 15 miles one way if I have to. He has been my extra set of eyes and ears, which has been great. My sister hooked me up with a health advocate organization who helped me get through to insurance about the previously unapproved PET scan. I doubt it did any good because it took a new request from a totally different doctor, but it is good to know organizations like that exist. Speaking of organizations, Imerman Angels is supposedly finding me a support mentor around my age with a similar type of cancer, but I don't know how successful they'll be; I'm a bit of a unicorn. I will ask my palliative care specialist about any/all local support groups too.
T

Thank you to EVERYONE who has replied to this thread! FreshFluff and Lookin, thank you for the very logical suggestions. I have seen both an oncologist and a cancer surgeon out-of-network, out-of-pocket AND got a procedure done by an out-of-network provider. (Un-ironically enough, it was the EUS done on January 6th -- the only procedure that yielded something "real" rather than images described as "unremarkable.") The aforementioned procedure was supposed to be authorized beforehand and was not (that's its OWN story...) resulting in a bill totaling 65% what I grossed last year. My insurance seems to be taking care of that now, but it was a pretty major stressor for a bit.
 
As far as getting support, my dad has been driving 100+ miles to my place to take me to most of my appointments. Because of the dizzy spells, I don't want to drive more than 15 miles one way if I have to. He has been my extra set of eyes and ears, which has been great. My sister hooked me up with a health advocate organization who helped me get through to insurance about the previously unapproved PET scan. I doubt it did any good because it took a new request from a totally different doctor, but it is good to know organizations like that exist. Speaking of organizations, Imerman Angels is supposedly finding me a support mentor around my age with a similar type of cancer, but I don't know how successful they'll be; I'm a bit of a unicorn. I will ask my palliative care specialist about any/all local support groups too.
T

Thank you to EVERYONE who has replied to this thread! FreshFluff and Lookin, thank you for the very logical suggestions. I have seen both an oncologist and a cancer surgeon out-of-network, out-of-pocket AND got a procedure done by an out-of-network provider. (Un-ironically enough, it was the EUS done on January 6th -- the only procedure that yielded something "real" rather than images described as "unremarkable.") The aforementioned procedure was supposed to be authorized beforehand and was not (that's its OWN story...) resulting in a bill totaling 65% what I grossed last year. My insurance seems to be taking care of that now, but it was a pretty major stressor for a bit.
 
As far as getting support, my dad has been driving 100+ miles to my place to take me to most of my appointments. Because of the dizzy spells, I don't want to drive more than 15 miles one way if I have to. He has been my extra set of eyes and ears, which has been great. My sister hooked me up with a health advocate organization who helped me get through to insurance about the previously unapproved PET scan. I doubt it did any good because it took a new request from a totally different doctor, but it is good to know organizations like that exist. Speaking of organizations, Imerman Angels is supposedly finding me a support mentor around my age with a similar type of cancer, but I don't know how successful they'll be; I'm a bit of a unicorn. I will ask my palliative care specialist about any/all local support groups too.
T

My insurance is crap, to put it bluntly. No oncologists from University Hospitals or the Cleveland Clinic are in my HMO, let alone anyone out of state. Of course, when I had to renew/choose my insurance plan on December 15th, no one had even mentioned the word cancer. The theory back then was that maybe I had Chron's and MS (which would explain the stomachaches, small intestine irritation, ulcers, dizzy spells, and double vision.) What a difference a few months makes......
T

My insurance is crap, to put it bluntly. No oncologists from University Hospitals or the Cleveland Clinic are in my HMO, let alone anyone out of state. Of course, when I had to renew/choose my insurance plan on December 15th, no one had even mentioned the word cancer. The theory back then was that maybe I had Chron's and MS (which would explain the stomachaches, small intestine irritation, ulcers, dizzy spells, and double vision.) What a difference a few months makes......
T

Thank you so much! Big long-distance hug.
T

Me toooooo!
T

Oh geez. Big sniff. Thank you.
T

Thank you, O Fluffy One!
T

The forum's Chicago meetup was a blast. Everyone was so welcoming and fun. Thank you for the good wishes.
T

Thank you. Will do.

Thank you so much! Big long-distance hug.
T

Thank you, O Fluffy One!
T

Me toooooo!
T

We do put the fun in dysfunctional, that's for sure. Thank you for the good wishes.
T

Yep. Here's her whole program from the Olympics in 88. Doing the backflip was nearly an automatic loss for Bonaly, but she didn't give a shit.
 
... She had the crowd
 
 

I started to write "AWS" but thought it might be obscure for some.
 
Shall we debate whether a proper noun made of several words is in some sense also "one word"?

Oh geez. Big sniff. Thank you.
T

Thank you so much.
T

Hey (mostly) gents and (a few select) ladies!
 
It has been a LONG time since I've posted here and even longer since I've posted consistently. There have been a few very big changes recently. On January 6th, cancer cells were found in a lymph node near my liver. Further scans showed a tumor in the bile duct area. (Medical folk, they're calling it a "Klatskin.") We don't know yet if the cancer began in my gallbladder or inside my intrahepatic bile duct or what. March 6th, I'm getting a PET scan that will supposedly help pinpoint the primary site. For those of you who don't know, cancer cells in a lymph node = stage 3 almost all the time. A diagnosis of any cancer in the gallbladder/pancreas/liver/bile duct area = shitty prognosis. I'm meeting with my oncologist on March 9th to discuss the results, and it's not exactly an appointment I'm looking forward to.
 
Back in 2015 when my life upended itself, people from this fellowship -- only a few of whom I'd met in person -- sent flowers, encouraged me, and got me through a very rough time. This is another one. I have no idea how many of you folks even remember me, but I would appreciate any positive energy you could send my way.
 
Thank you so much in advance,
T

What a sweet thing to say. The VAST majority of folks here are very easy to be sweet to.
T

Hey (mostly) gents and (a few select) ladies!
 
It has been a LONG time since I've posted here and even longer since I've posted consistently. There have been a few very big changes recently. On January 6th, cancer cells were found in a lymph node near my liver. Further scans showed a tumor in the bile duct area. (Medical folk, they're calling it a "Klatskin.") We don't know yet if the cancer began in my gallbladder or inside my intrahepatic bile duct or what. March 6th, I'm getting a PET scan that will supposedly help pinpoint the primary site. For those of you who don't know, cancer cells in a lymph node = stage 3 almost all the time. A diagnosis of any cancer in the gallbladder/pancreas/liver/bile duct area = shitty prognosis. I'm meeting with my oncologist on March 9th to discuss the results, and it's not exactly an appointment I'm looking forward to.
 
Back in 2015 when my life upended itself, people from this fellowship -- only a few of whom I'd met in person -- sent flowers, encouraged me, and got me through a very rough time. This is another one. I have no idea how many of you folks even remember me, but I would appreciate any positive energy you could send my way.
 
Thank you so much in advance,
T

Hey (mostly) gents and (a few select) ladies!
 
It has been a LONG time since I've posted here and even longer since I've posted consistently. There have been a few very big changes recently. On January 6th, cancer cells were found in a lymph node near my liver. Further scans showed a tumor in the bile duct area. (Medical folk, they're calling it a "Klatskin.") We don't know yet if the cancer began in my gallbladder or inside my intrahepatic bile duct or what. March 6th, I'm getting a PET scan that will supposedly help pinpoint the primary site. For those of you who don't know, cancer cells in a lymph node = stage 3 almost all the time. A diagnosis of any cancer in the gallbladder/pancreas/liver/bile duct area = shitty prognosis. I'm meeting with my oncologist on March 9th to discuss the results, and it's not exactly an appointment I'm looking forward to.
 
Back in 2015 when my life upended itself, people from this fellowship -- only a few of whom I'd met in person -- sent flowers, encouraged me, and got me through a very rough time. This is another one. I have no idea how many of you folks even remember me, but I would appreciate any positive energy you could send my way.
 
Thank you so much in advance,
T

Hey (mostly) gents and (a few select) ladies!
 
It has been a LONG time since I've posted here and even longer since I've posted consistently. There have been a few very big changes recently. On January 6th, cancer cells were found in a lymph node near my liver. Further scans showed a tumor in the bile duct area. (Medical folk, they're calling it a "Klatskin.") We don't know yet if the cancer began in my gallbladder or inside my intrahepatic bile duct or what. March 6th, I'm getting a PET scan that will supposedly help pinpoint the primary site. For those of you who don't know, cancer cells in a lymph node = stage 3 almost all the time. A diagnosis of any cancer in the gallbladder/pancreas/liver/bile duct area = shitty prognosis. I'm meeting with my oncologist on March 9th to discuss the results, and it's not exactly an appointment I'm looking forward to.
 
Back in 2015 when my life upended itself, people from this fellowship -- only a few of whom I'd met in person -- sent flowers, encouraged me, and got me through a very rough time. This is another one. I have no idea how many of you folks even remember me, but I would appreciate any positive energy you could send my way.
 
Thank you so much in advance,
T

Thank you, R. It's good to know you're thinking about me. You were so supportive when things fell apart a few years ago. I've never forgotten that.
T