Surgery – What if I can’t afford it?

Person writing in a checkbook

 So I was hit in the face with an astronomical Estimate of Benefits from my insurance carrier after my June 30, 2014, surgery.  The breakdown was: surgery, anesthesiology, pathology, etc. was approximately $71,000! (Insert double-take here) After the insurance company applied their deductions and waivers, the remaining bill was $13,000.  The insurance paid for a little over $12,000 of that bill and my my out-of-pocket costs were $800.  Which I readily paid!  (It really is a depressing sign of the inflated costs of American healthcare)

BUT what happens if you need a robotic laparoscopic excision surgery for Endometriosis and you cannot afford the hefty bill?  It’s a question I’m concerned about given the fact that women with Endometriosis routinely require multiple excision surgeries.  What happens if my insurance denies the next one? Or my insurance plan changes? Or I suddenly become unemployed?

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Liebster Award!

The Liebster Award logo

Hehe now this is a bit of fun! I was nominated by Elizabetcetera  for the Liebster Award! And…I ACCEPT! (Thank youuuuuuu Elizabeth!)

Liebster Award: What the Heck is that?

It is said that the Liebster award was created to recognize and/or discover new bloggers and welcome them to the blogosphere.  It’s sort of a fun way to welcome the newbs (like myself) and to pass it on…like a chain letter.  Some may hate that idea, so if I’ve nominated you and you don’t want to do it, feel free to not to it 😀 No harm, no foul.  But it will be a fun way to recognize those new blogs that you’ve enjoyed reading, as well as getting their name out there for others to see.

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My uterus is bloomin’!

Bloomin' Uterus logo that reads: I will endure. I will flourish. And I am still beautiful.

For any of you who are new to the page, and THANK YOU for following my musings, I wanted to explain a bit about this whole Bloomin’ Uterus thing. 🙂

I was diagnosed with Endometriosis after surgery this past June.  My nurse once described Endometriosis like crab grass…it just lives there and grows and grows and grows, despite how much you cut it out. So I felt disgusting and gross on the inside…until I created the Bloomin’ Uterus! It’s a graphic that helps me feel better about what’s growin’ and goin’ on with my body.  It was designed before I learned that the uterus likely doesn’t have anything to do with Endometriosis…But, it’s done. And I love it still.

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Dead at 27

A young woman and her dog

A Swedish friend of mind sent me an article about a Swedish gal, Emelia, who died in 2011 due to complications of Endometriosis, and (more importantly) the neglect of her physicians.  Google translate gave me the gist of it.

Emelia was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 21 years old, among the usual places it was also found on her intestines.  In 2010 (she was approx. 26) she had been suffering from severe constipation (sometimes for periods of up to 10 days) which we well know is a symptom of Endometriosis.  Over the next nine months, Emelia saw 32 different doctors. That’s right…thirty-two.  Nobody could resolve her constipation, symptoms, or her pain. She sought referrals to an Endometriosis Clinic at the Uppsala University Hospital in the hopes they could help.  But her referral requests were denied.

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Liquid Crazy Injections Update

a syringe of Lupron Depot

For anyone who read my Liquid Crazy Injections post, you’ll know it’s all about Lupron Depot injections to help treat Endometriosis.  At the time, I had posted about the horrible body aches, etc.  I’m now 2 weeks into Month Four of my injections (2 left!!) and wanted to let anyone know who may be reading this that the body aches haven’t reoccurred since Month Two.  It was two months of agony, and so far these past two months have been bearable.

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Feel Good Fridays!

Crocus buds in snow

Today’s quote is by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a Swiss psychiatrist:

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

I absolutely love this quote.  May it bring a bit of light to your day.

Yours, Lisa.