Minor updates

 There is a lot I want to write about, but I'm not quite sure where to start!!

It was my love's birthday. So that is awesome ;)

My niece is due to have her baby in about 3 weeks. That's super exciting and I can't wait !!

Work - is work. Not sure what is interesting about it right now - just the normal frustrations and good stuff.

Medical - now this subject matter is more tedious than anything. 

WLS - Still losing, sorta. I'm in a stall (but honestly I'm stalled between 193 and 194, so that's an awesome place to stall at) and I will focus more next week and breaking the stall and getting losing again.

Medical Billing - good gods the medical billing can be frustrating. I literally paid my portion but for some reason 1 Dr's office is like - we see that payment amount but it says that I still owe so therefore you still owe. I'm not paying it twice fuckers. So I called my HSA card people and my Insurance people and hopefully all this new lovely documents will help them understand math better. Thankfully though, all my other ones have been good and nothing too outrageous.

Hysterectomy - this is coming up in December. I am excited to have this done. I am a wee bit stressed about the recovery. Mainly that it may take longer and I am trying to go back to work after 2 weeks. I took off 4 with my last surgery, and 2 surgeries in 1 year, it just seems like a lot. I am also trying to do more research into HRT because I am going to want the hormones. Instant menopause (is waaaay better than the typical 7-10 years of that shit) means that I'll want those hormones sooner rather than later. Peri sucked and I don't want that again and nor would I wish that on any woman.

I also think about the fact you should not have sex for 2-3 months, that recovery means months in general and I really hope it doesn't cause me to stall the whole time in my weight loss. It's a lot. But the long run is, with my genetics and whatnot, I will be healthier. And that is important. Focus on the goal!

So in a nut shell, life is good, nothing bad is going on and there are a lot of changes coming up. 

Submitted and waiting

 Completed the last step in requests for the insurance requirements! I contacted my bariatric office today and they are submitting it to the insurance company for approval. I am so damn excited. This is a very impressive tool in handling not just weight issues, but in giving my body a very much needed hardware reset - mainly because of my PCOS. I am staying focus on the course and the long perspective. I don't want the negative health issues of my parents or siblings and losing weight will greatly assist in that. Not to mention, having required diet changes will make a further impact. 

Also, getting old sucks and I will take advantage of anything that will help me in the long term. 

Am I nervous about the surgery? Honestly, no. I've never had surgery so I don't know what I'm in for, but I know there will be pain after. That I understand, I also understand it will be temporary. Am I excited to only to be able to sip liquids at first and eventually be able to eat? Not so much, but again, it's just part of the process of shifting into a better version of me. And really, that's the whole of it. A healthier me, where I can do more and continue on this path of happiness.

 

Testing and Covid-19

Ok, so I read an article on NPR talking about how some people are getting billed for being tested for Covid-19. Which should be free. (btw, it ended up being corrected, but it's still scary how this can happen and can still)

So I was curious and my health provider has this on their website:

Find a COVID-19 Testing Location Near You

Use this online tool to find a COVID-19 testing location in your area.
The testing locations listed are updated each day and are based on the most current information available.
We will continue to update as we get new information.

Some testing locations may not be in your plan's network. If it is appropriate for you to receive a COVID-19 test,
we will cover the test at any location. Get the latest coverage information for COVID-19 testing services at UHC.com.opens in new tab

• Only your health care provider can order a COVID-19 test.
• If your health care provider determines you should be tested for COVID-19, they will order the test and confirm the location for testing.
• Call your health care provider right away if you believe you might have been exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms such as fever, cough or trouble breathing.
• Get the latest information, including how to protect yourself and what to do if you are sick, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. , opens in new tab

What is interesting is that I literally have Meritus Health that I can get tested at, 2 locations, each within 3-5 miles of where I live.

Back story. A family member who lives in the house had to get tested, due to have a fever for a day and cough. Family member goes to Meritus as the following listed:

Meritus Health Expands COVID-19 Testing for the Community

Meritus Health is now offering COVID-19 testing to all residents showing symptoms as designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Fever greater than 100.5 degrees and/or a dry cough, shortness of breath or sore throat.

No appointments or referrals are needed to be tested.

So family member got tested, was told the next evening it was positive and the following steps to take. I tell my employer, have to call the corporate nurse. I was told to call my PCP, because work would like me tested, but to get guidance from my PCP. My PCP says they do not give out referrals or orders and to call the Covid hotline, because they had no guidance for me. I call the hotline and tell them my employer wants me tested and they are like, 'unless you have symptoms, nope'. To which I tell my employer. Luckily I am still symptom free.

Anyway, back to my healthcare. I was curious to see what they have on their website (and yes, I get that they can only do so many updates? And assume they have a lot of data to be updated and are probably behind...but still...)

1. 1

   WellSpan Health-Franklin County

   • Monday
     24 Hours
    
   • Tuesday
     24 Hours
    
   • Wednesday
     24 Hours
    
   • Thursday
     24 Hours
    
   • Friday
     24 Hours
    
   • Saturday
     24 Hours
    
   • Sunday
     24 Hours
   12.31 miles away

   Phone: (877) 724-3258

   501 East Main Street

   Waynesboro, PA 17268

   Notes: Testing sites may require preregistration or a doctor's script in order for a test to be taken, so please check with your health care provider before going to the testing locations.

   
   

   Do not go directly to the testing site without first talking to your provider.
   Find more information at https://www.wellspan.org/offices-locations/wellspan-waynesboro-hospital/ , opens in new window
2. 2

   Berkeley Medical Center

   • Monday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Tuesday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Wednesday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Thursday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Friday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Saturday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Sunday
     10am-4pm
   16.74 miles away

   Phone: (304) 598-6000

   2500 Hospital Dr

   Martinsburg, WV 25401

   • Provider Order required

   Notes: When calling select option 4

   
   

   Do not go directly to the testing site without first talking to your provider.
3. 3

   MedExpress Urgent Care Martinsburg

   • Monday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Tuesday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Wednesday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Thursday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Friday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Saturday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Sunday
     8am-6pm
   18.71 miles away

   Phone: (204) 264-9730

   83 Retail Commons Parkway

   Martinsburg, WV 25403

   • Drive-up Available

   
   

   Do not go directly to the testing site without first talking to your provider.
   Find more information at https://www.medexpress.com/location/wv/martinsburg/mcw/ , opens in new window

Those are the first 3 locations listed for me to be tested, if I needed to be, per their site. And this Provider Order required BS? I mean, my PCP said they have yet to do that and that they do not do that. So, if I needed to be tested, it's obvious Meritus is way ahead of the curve and probably has better funding to get tested in my local community. Whereas my PCP was somewhat clueless and my insurance doesn't have local resources.

In the article, it had some key phrasing: "The law prohibits insurers from charging patients for testing, but it does not block medical providers from doing so" (NPR, 2020).

Which is kinda evil with what is going on.

Just be aware of what you are responsible for and be prepared. All of this is probably still evolving, but damn.

Link to the NPR Article: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/29/847450671/covid-19-tests-that-are-supposed-to-be-free-can-ring-up-surprising-charges

Coffee is Divine

Ok, so I could not exist without coffee, in some form or fashion, in the morning. I just couldn't. It's not ALL about the caffeine, though that really helps. It's about the yummy taste and warmth. The creamy goodness and sometimes (only with Dunkin' Donuts coffee), that sweet sugary taste.

Insurance - it's really a pain in the ass. Right now, trying to figure out which is best for the Kid, mine or the Ex's. It's almost like comparing apples to pears. Similar, but slightly different verbiage and rates and vagueness. The joys - NOT.

I did not get a whole lot done last night. I really really wasn't in the mood. Tonight, however, I will be a cleaning Mama with a mission.

So, the Great Cell Search of 2013 is still in effect. Sometime during the weekend, more than likely at some point on Sunday, the Kid misplaced his phone. He didn't realize it until Monday and since he was off on Monday and Tuesday, I had asked him to look. Now, him "looking" probably wasn't that intense. So last night I helped him, especially since I had thought I heard it dying Monday night as I was going to bed. Well, that fucker isn't in my room. Nor my bathroom. If it's in the office, gods only know if we will find it.

Part of tonights mission, while cleaning the house, is see if we can locate his damned to Hades cell phone.

On the agenda:

• Sweeping (SHOCK! Who knew!!)
• Vacuum and scrub the rugs
•  Vacuum upstairs
• Move things not using from office & hallway to Attic
• Go through the piles of paper in the kitchen, dining room and sort/set on pile to file (damn it, at some point in this life I WILL FILE!!)
• Dishes
• 1 load of laundry

And that's really enough for one night. Jeez. Though I might try to go ahead and replace the screen on my old phone...

I have been slowly, very slowly, starting to read again. Without smoking.

Oh and yeah it's been like 5 weeks, still no wanting/craving/needing of cigarettes. Wow. All I can say is WOW. I mean, damn. Wow.