Both doctors gave me passing grades!!! First I saw the butt doctor (Poor Dr. Nelson, she deserves a better nickname....but it works for me!). She did a gentler job of scraping and cauterizing, packed it with gauze and told me it looked really clean and healthy....and thinks it is getting smaller. She didn't seem concerned at all that it bled last week, and thought it may even have been a good thing. So we will see. Don't have to see her again till March 23, when I go back for my quarterly CT scan and see the oncologist.
I was in and out of that appointment in about 20 minutes and decided I would check in early for the 3:30 appointment and see if I could get home early. So we went down two floor and I checked in telling them I was hoping to get in early, and sure enough I didn't wait long at all. Dr. Chow (no nickname yet) said that my kidneys are working great....no problem there, but he doesn't think my bladder is emptying fully, and I also don't get the message that I am full when I am....so I get to catheterize myself 3 or 4 times a day. He says after a while, I can go down to twice a day. The nurse that taught me the procedure said not to worry and I missed a day or wasn't able to do it as often as ordered....as it is just a precautionary measure to protect my kidneys from any future damage.
So they sent me back out to the waiting room to wait for my instructional session on how to do it. That didn't take long and I was done with that by 2:40....but then I had to wait for the prescription to be signed by the doctor....so I was back sitting in the waiting room again. After 20 minutes, I decided that that was long enough.....so I went up to the counter and asked about it....and sure enough the nurse walked out with it. The thing that bugs me is that the other nurse said as soon as it was signed she'd bring it out to me.....so I could have been out of there even earlier....but anyway....it was still 1/2 hour before my scheduled appointment and I was done.....well almost done....cause then I had to go down to the Mayo store and buy the months supply of catheters and the surgical lubricating gel. I was then informed that Medicare wouldn't pay for it for the first 3 months! What?!! I guess I wouldn't be upset, but the month supply was $156. Evidently Medicare wants to make sure it is a chronic problem. I can't believe it! So I said wouldn't my supplemental insurance cover it, and they said if Medicare won't pay usually your supplemental won't either....so today I guess I'll get on the phone and find out if there is somewhere else I can get it any cheaper.
I did get home early...or a lot earlier than I thought I would, and was able to greet my guests and had everything (snacks etc.) set out and ready to serve.
It was a fun evening of cards.....all though I think I ended up in the hole! I didn't really care as I didn't get a prize anyway. But we did a lot of laughing, and talking, and I think a good time was had by all!
Today I have several phone chores to take care of, and then I need to shop for food for the wake and after the funeral gathering at Jimbo's. So I guess I better get moving. Love and prayers, m
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