"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." ~Randy Pausch



Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Dialysis Day 39

I forgot the latest GOOD news!

On Saturday we got a message from AirTran. They wanted us to call them about our request for a refund. I was nervous but anxious for the situation to be resolved, so I called them back right away. They were great...they said they would fully refund our flight (fees, taxes and all)! BUT, we had to call Traveloicity and tell them to call the airline for some sort of waiver code. That wasn't as easy. However, after 30 minutes on the phone with Travelocity we had success! We will receive a full refund...all $1400 of it. We're super excited. Of course, as quickly as it comes in it goes back out. We had to buy bedroom furniture for Alli since the baby will be getting her's. We were going to have to do that anyway...

Scheduling

I'm surprised it took this long for me to make a mistake. I arranged an echo and an OB appointment on the same day and time. I've got to make some phone calls today to straighten that out.

Medicare...it's not just for old people.

Did you know who is eligable for Medicare? "Generally, Medicare is available for people age 65 or older, younger people with disabilities and people with End Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant)." How about that! That means we (people with kidney disease) don't pay for dialysis treatments. Our financial responsibility hasn't been that great so far. I think it's only been the $250 when I was in-patient and $20 for the copay to start my OB appointments.

The real financial struggle will begin in August. Jason is quitting hit job at the bank to start Student Teaching. That will be rough for a while. I am also going to start negotiating with school to see if I can work part-time next year (only mornings) so I can continue my dialysis treatments. Since I will have to continue treatments for 5 days a week until the baby is born my only other option is to quit my job all together. I don't think I should have to do that...school really should work with me on this one.

More Wires

How about three more...for a heart monitor. I've been coming in with an elevated heart rate for about a week. Since I've had the cramping with it the nurse called my doctor. He wants my heart monitored and for me to get and EKG. Another test, another appointment! It could be because my potassium is low, so they are going to check that again, too. My potassium has been low all of my life, really. I think it was high in May when they brought me in the first time, and it's common for people with kidney disease to have high potassium. They tell me to stay away from potassium-rich food. Maybe that's causiing the problems.

2 comments:

  1. I reviewed for pharmacy requests for Medicare Part D for a long time. If you end up needing Procrit, Epogen, or Aranesp for low hemoglobin counts, Medicare Part B will cover it since you are on dialysis with ESRD.

    Having either a too high or too low potassium can cause cardiac arrythmias, so checking an EKG sounds like a good idea.

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  2. I am on Epogen. But I found out yesterday that Anthem is paying 100% off my dialysis and medications that I receive when I'm here. Good deal!

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