[Jodylee]

My mom starts radiation and chemo therapy today, yay!!

It has been a real hassle with her health insurance company (Health Assurance) and her first oncologist.

It took Health Assurance nearly two weeks to approve a PET scan for her! I called them a couple of times and pretended to be her to help my parents through the maze of crap.

Her original oncologist would not start any treatment without a new mri (she'd just had one about a week before the visit with him) and a PET scan. We waited about a week. During this time my mom got new symptoms including a severe headache, nausea, the inability to swallow anything but small amounts of liquids.

I made the executive decision to take her to the er last Wednesday. She was dehydrated and needed an iv. We spent 11 hours in the er before she was finally admitted because their were no open beds available!

I'm so glad she went! We got her a new oncologist and within a day, he looked at her ct scan and discovered that the tumor was crushing her esophagus! I cannot understand why noone saw this before.

They've inserted a feeding tube temporarily until they can shrink the mass enough to allow her to eat again.

She should be released from the hospital Wednesday or Thursday if all goes well.


I also want to thank everyone for all of the support! Special thanks to Kelly for posting for me while I was gone.

If anyone has dealt with this issue in their family, I would be grateful for some pm's with any information. Especially lung cancer.

[AfterMyNap]

Thanks for the update, J, it sounds like this new team will do everything possible for your mom, good!

Still praying in MI, and keep us posted, please.

[DM]

Been praying all along for your Mother, Joellee~~~

Please take care of yourself too.... Your NT family is here for you, so keep us updated....

[hollym]

Oooh don't get me started on Health Assurance. I hate those people. We had that insurance a few years ago and they are the worst. They are known for the runaround. They told me I couldn't see the MS Specialist at UPMC but that I could go to Cleveland Clinic or Johns Hopkins. Then, when I decided to go to Cleveland Clinic, they said no to that, too. They would never, ever approve Provigil. They do whatever they can to not approve things hoping that you will just go away. I have found that all of my docs pretty much hate dealing with them.

I found you have to have a forceful doctor who can bully them into getting what you need quickly. They don't care about you calling, but a doc writing letters gets action.

Luckily, we decided to switch insurance here a couple years back and went with Highmark. Life is so much easier.

It sounds like taking your mom to the ER was God's way of putting her where she needed to be. I'm so glad she ended up with a better oncologist. I pray that she responds well to the chemo and radiation. Is her doc with UPMC's cancer institute? They took good care of my FIL a few years back.

The best thing I can say about cancer is that treatment really is so much better now.

[tante]

TG she has you to make those "executive decisions," and that one decision led her to better care.

Thoughts, and prayers, wll continue for all of you.

[Kitty]

Joelle, please keep us updated on your Mom's progress. I have a good feeling that with the new oncologist and treatment she is receiving that she will improve enough to come home later this week.

I know this has got to be such a tremendous weight on your mind. Anytime we are not in control of a situation that involves our loved ones and their well-being it can cause all kinds of anxiety and stress. I won't tell you not to worry 'cause that'll never happen! I'm the same way - I would rather it be me that was sick than someone I love.

Good for you for taking her to the ER when you did - like Hollym said that was God's way of intervening and getting her a new oncologist and finding out what was causing all of her new symptoms. I'm hoping the new doctor will be aggressive in his treatment and in his dealings with the insurance company. Insurance companies play God everyday and they have no right to. It's all about the mighty dollar to them.

I'm praying for you and your family - I know this is hard on everyone. Take it one day at a time - and I'm glad you're following up with your TY and your Neuro appointments. You gotta take care of yourself if you're going to be able to take care of anyone else, too!

Call me anytime you feel like talking.

[tkrik]

Thanks for updating us.

I agree with what the others have said. You mom is fortunate to have you to help make these decisions.

I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

[SandyC]

Joelle, I just pm'd ya about my step dad. Hugs.

[Jodylee]

Originally Posted by hollym

Oooh don't get me started on Health Assurance. I hate those people. We had that insurance a few years ago and they are the worst. They are known for the runaround. They told me I couldn't see the MS Specialist at UPMC but that I could go to Cleveland Clinic or Johns Hopkins. Then, when I decided to go to Cleveland Clinic, they said no to that, too. They would never, ever approve Provigil. They do whatever they can to not approve things hoping that you will just go away. I have found that all of my docs pretty much hate dealing with them.

I found you have to have a forceful doctor who can bully them into getting what you need quickly. They don't care about you calling, but a doc writing letters gets action.

Luckily, we decided to switch insurance here a couple years back and went with Highmark. Life is so much easier.

It sounds like taking your mom to the ER was God's way of putting her where she needed to be. I'm so glad she ended up with a better oncologist. I pray that she responds well to the chemo and radiation. Is her doc with UPMC's cancer institute? They took good care of my FIL a few years back.

The best thing I can say about cancer is that treatment really is so much better now.

Hi Holly!

I have heard from others that Health Assurance is a nightmare too. Her new oncologist is with UPMC's cancer institute. He is much more proactive than her previous doctor.

It was definitely a great thing that she got to the hospital when she did. She is in so much pain and was trying not to let us know. That's how mom's can be .

[Carolina]

I just don't understand how or why insurance companies take their time for diagnostic tests and/or treatments when the condition warrants immediate attention.

Waiting two weeks with a cancer diagnosis can be the difference between life and death especially if the cancer is an agressive type. It's not as though this is treatment for an ingrown toe nail!!

Thankfully, your mom's new doctor is very proactive and just as importantly, she has you.

I agree with what Kelly and the others had to say. And I will continue to keep you and yours in my prayers.