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Post by Rune Lai on May 30, 2019 19:34:06 GMT -5
I'd mentioned before in threads here and there that I was having health problems that started earlier this year, but I didn't really want to go into them while various doctors were doing various tests because no one knew exactly what happened. For a few months there really wasn't much to go on and I still think that there were multiple factors at work that caused me to pass out in January (prompting the hospital stay), but one substantial problem emerged, and I'm finally okay talking about it with you guys.
I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. It's early enough that the doctors hope that by giving me a hysterectomy will remove it entirely, but there's no way to be certain until after the organ is removed and dissected to see how widespread the issue is. Even after its removal I'll still have follow-up visits for the next five years to see whether or not it comes back.
Honestly, I was pretty devastated by the diagnosis. Not because of the cancer, but because I'd still been hoping to become a biological parent. My surgery is scheduled six weeks from now, and with medical assistance, that's just enough time for me to freeze a small batch of my eggs, which will require hormonal treatment for a full menstrual cycle. It's going to be painfully expensive since insurance doesn't cover this and I'm going to have to break the bank to do it. With luck, I'll get help from a non-profit, which will ease some of the pain, but I'd rather do this now rather than years down the line regret not doing it at all.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know since I've been mentioning, but not elaborating a lot. My surgery is set for mid-July and I might disappear for a while afterwards while I recover. Any good wishes would be much appreciated.
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Post by Solana on Jun 1, 2019 14:50:47 GMT -5
You have all the wishes, prayers, good juju, and asking my grandmother to round up guardian angels on your behalf. Cancer sucks and I want to see it completely obliterated, which is why I work so hard in my biohazard room. If you want me to pass on questions to my nurse mom, including the freezing, let me know here or PM me. (My brother had prostate cancer and did the freezing, and I think she said my cousin had uterine cancer.) If you need any book recommendations, let me know, mon amie. We're all here for you. (Hugs if wanted.) Now let's make cancer feel foolish!
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Post by Rune Lai on Jun 1, 2019 17:39:03 GMT -5
Thanks a lot. I don't think I have any questions at the moment. I've got a plan already in place for the egg freezing. Most of my fretting at the moment is just making sure my finances are in order by the time I need to pay. On the bright side, the non-profit thinks they can fasttrack my approval for the injections I need. It's just a matter of the doctors filling out the forms in time. Hugs are welcome. Thanks again.
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Post by Roas on Jun 1, 2019 18:32:57 GMT -5
Wow.
I mean...wow.
I hope you manage to navigate this with all the success that is needed. We're all here for you.
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Post by Solana on Jun 1, 2019 19:27:22 GMT -5
If you need the forms quickly, go to the nurses. They're the ones who go to bat for patients and get it done. My brother also works for the billing for a hospital and is always happy to answer questions, too, if need be. (Lots of medical or transportation folk in my family.) He's very good at coming up with financial solutions.
If you just need a listening ear for a good rant, consider mine an open offer.
Is there anything you need now? Gift cards for books or certain titles? Help researching non-profits? (Also open offers.)
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Post by DarkKnight on Jun 1, 2019 21:23:35 GMT -5
::hug::
You, the Shrine, and this community have done a lot for me over the years, more than I've let on and more than I'll ever be able to repay - and I'll always be grateful for that. If there's anything I can do on my end, please let me know.
All the best, and here's to as good an outcome as possible and a speedy recovery.
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Post by Ambrienne on Jun 1, 2019 23:08:05 GMT -5
I'm glad that you were able to get some answers about what was going on (even more so that it's early enough to do something about). Maybe it's just me, but knowing the enemy that one is up against is a lot easier to get a person's fighting spirit up for.
I've been praying for you since you first posted this and will continue to do so. I understand how important family is and will definitely tack on something specific about the doctors being swift in signing in all the right places.
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Post by Rune Lai on Jun 3, 2019 1:27:20 GMT -5
I mathed out my bank account and expenses vs. my paychecks for the next two months and it'll be tight, but I think I'll make it through, particularly if I can put some of those charges on a card. I'm not currently carrying a balance, and putting it on a card will buy time for my paychecks to come in. I am incredibly grateful that one of my publishers came through in a payment they've owed me, since that's almost $500 and it's going all to medical. Fortunately I have a solid job so if I squeeze tight for a couple months and don't have any unexpected expenses I should be able to manage and start rebuilding my emergency fund around August/September. I'm actually not sure who's a nurse at my oncologist's office versus just staff since they're all wearing medical scrubs whether they're in the exam room or at the front desk. I had the option to fax it to the oncologist's office, so I did, but I'm going to follow up with them on Monday to see whether they got it. I already know the reproductive specialist got it since the clinic has a coordinator assigned to me and she already responded saying they would take care of it. Thanks everyone for the good wishes. I actually think I'm pretty well stocked with books right now, but thanks for the offer, Solana. That's how I've been able to mow through so many this year.
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Post by Zero on Jun 3, 2019 14:32:52 GMT -5
Landlady, I am so, so sorry to hear this.
I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts.
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Post by Rune Lai on Jun 4, 2019 15:36:32 GMT -5
Just want to update that all my forms have been filled out now and the non-profit has approved sending my medication. It's provided by a donation so I won't have to pay for any of it. With this, all variables as to the baseline egg freezing cost have been removed and my financials should proceed as expected. If something goes wildly wrong of course there could be additional expenses, but the retrieval itself is expected to be a simple procedure and I don't have any known allergies that should complicate this. Fingers crossed no surprises come up.
Also got my pre-op appointment set for the main procedure in July. I had a lot of phone calls to deal with this morning, but the last few variables things are starting to settle into place, which is good.
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Post by skylark on Jun 4, 2019 16:02:12 GMT -5
God... No matter how many times I read it, I still can't believe this happened to you. *hugs* I know it's been said already, but we're here for you.
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Post by Rune Lai on Jun 21, 2019 19:15:38 GMT -5
Ugh... got word from the egg freezing people that my insurance is refusing to pay for the final bit of bloodwork for the freezing (because if I use the eggs later, they'll have to go into a surrogate, so I need to be screened for potential diseases that could be transmitted), so that's an extra $750 down the drain.
And on top of that, it seems the hospital where a lot of my testing has been done has been trying to send me bills that weren't arriving somehow, so I now have a "final notice" bill for procedures done back in March and April that I wasn't expecting. My insurance is covering most of that, but still that's another $300 out of my pocket.
Fortunately, I picked up a quick one-off job as a sensitivity reader for an author acquaintance. (She needed someone Chinese to read through her book to make sure it wasn't wildly offensive to Chinese people and that it was culturally accurate. So I guess you could call it a consult fee.) The job was supposed to help rebuild my emergency fund, but all that's just going to be paying more bills now. It's not enough to cover this latest round of fees, but anything's welcome.
I ran the numbers again and I should be able to hold out through the end of July (as long as I put everything on my card, to give myself time for paychecks to come in), but August is likely to hit hard. I think I should be able to weather that too, but it's too far out to get an accurate projection at this point, and my paycheck is going to get weird once I'm on medical leave second half of July since I'll only get 40% right away and the remaining 60% will be backpay through California disability, and that's going to mess with my income flow for at least a couple weeks.
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Post by skylark on Jun 21, 2019 20:48:51 GMT -5
Oof.
You got this Landlady.
*Reika props up a couple of pillows for Rune while Kalia hands her a glass of juice and a straw, with Lark massaging her shoulders.*
You GOT this.
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Post by Roas on Jun 21, 2019 22:56:18 GMT -5
I do not and cannot fathom what it is like to have to deal with medical bills like that, but I do know what it's like to have no money, a mountain of bills, many late, and no way make ends meet without letting the bills go into default. Hell, my credit score got ruined over it because I had to use my cards to live.
Aside from the standard keep your spirits up pep talk, I can only say do the best to manage the bills and save where you can. It is surprising what one is able to give up when things get tight in order to survive and make payments...course for you it's a literal thing here.
You know what the battlefield looks like, so plan, execute, and fight the smart fight. You clearly know what you need to do, so I have faith in your judgment to get through this gauntlet.
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Post by Solana on Jun 22, 2019 7:33:30 GMT -5
My true thoughts on insurance companies pulling this kind of nonsense would probably violate the rules here, but they can go (do something biologically improbable) with (something pointy with splinters) covered in E. coli and Staph from work.
Also reiterating if you want me to pass on any numbers to my brother who's an expert in medical billing. My mom asks him for a lot of advice, even for her patients.
It sounds like you have a good plan, and you're still in my prayers. All the hugs.
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