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Post by SpringSummers on Sept 7, 2010 20:34:23 GMT -5
Huh. Well, y'all know I've got some lung issues. And my last 2 breathe into the machine tests have shown declining values. So I've got another round coming up in 2 weeks. But apparently my pulmonologist has been being pro-active because I just got a call from her office (well, earlier this afternoon) telling me that Dr. Whitlock has agreed to take me as a patient. Dr. Whitlock is a pediatric oncologist who is pretty much the only doc in the southeast who treats this disease in children -- using a combination of steroids and chemotheraphy; and with good results. I saw him several years ago to explore the possibility but at the time, since I was stable we decided that the treatment downside was worse than continuing as is. Thing is, he left Vanderbilt to practice in Toronto. So he has agreed to take me on as a patient .................. in Toronto! ==== Way jumping the gun, have to have the test in 2 weeks and then discuss options. Wondering if my pulmo doc has also run this by my insurance. Because I"m pretty sure he's extremely far "out of network" and 50% of all fees plus the travel ..... yikes. Maybe I could see him once but somebody local could actually administer the chemo. === Again, jumping the gun. Can you tell the phone call freaked me out just a little? Wow - Toronto?? I can understand the anxiety. Well, I can't remember the details, but I know your condition is a serious one - i.e., it is imperative that you keep your eye on it, and it is nothing to be trifled with. So if that's how far you have to go for truly competent, expert treatment, then that's how far you have to go. I would think that, as you say, you might be able to have treatments closer to home, even if the Toronto doc was the primary physician. Or you could come visit me every few weeks, spend the night here, and then continue toward Toronto - then come back by on the way home (if that's possible after the treatments). Good luck with all this, Sue. |
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Post by Sara on Sept 7, 2010 22:02:57 GMT -5
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Post by Sara on Sept 7, 2010 22:03:52 GMT -5
Sue, Julia, and whoever else might need one:  |
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Sept 7, 2010 23:59:14 GMT -5
Awake. I wish more than ever that I had a social secretary and/or communications manager who could figure out what I need to do and say next. Julia, no good at asking for help whatsoever. I would offer assistance, but I don't know that I'd be much help. I need local specialized information, which I'm not so much getting. Julia, argh. |
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Sept 8, 2010 1:32:09 GMT -5
OMG Tim Gunn on The Daily Show! YAY!  |
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Sept 8, 2010 2:54:30 GMT -5
#wavey#
#grouphug#
I has a grouchy. and an appointment for a haircut. And hair that's just sticking out every which way being a mess, but I tell myself this is why the appointment, you don't have to worry about the hairdresser seeing your hair at its worst.
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Post by Onjel on Sept 8, 2010 6:29:59 GMT -5
Huh. Well, y'all know I've got some lung issues. And my last 2 breathe into the machine tests have shown declining values. So I've got another round coming up in 2 weeks. But apparently my pulmonologist has been being pro-active because I just got a call from her office (well, earlier this afternoon) telling me that Dr. Whitlock has agreed to take me as a patient. Dr. Whitlock is a pediatric oncologist who is pretty much the only doc in the southeast who treats this disease in children -- using a combination of steroids and chemotheraphy; and with good results. I saw him several years ago to explore the possibility but at the time, since I was stable we decided that the treatment downside was worse than continuing as is. Thing is, he left Vanderbilt to practice in Toronto. So he has agreed to take me on as a patient .................. in Toronto! ==== Way jumping the gun, have to have the test in 2 weeks and then discuss options. Wondering if my pulmo doc has also run this by my insurance. Because I"m pretty sure he's extremely far "out of network" and 50% of all fees plus the travel ..... yikes. Maybe I could see him once but somebody local could actually administer the chemo. === Again, jumping the gun. Can you tell the phone call freaked me out just a little? Wow - Toronto?? I can understand the anxiety. Well, I can't remember the details, but I know your condition is a serious one - i.e., it is imperative that you keep your eye on it, and it is nothing to be trifled with. So if that's how far you have to go for truly competent, expert treatment, then that's how far you have to go. I would think that, as you say, you might be able to have treatments closer to home, even if the Toronto doc was the primary physician. Or you could come visit me every few weeks, spend the night here, and then continue toward Toronto - then come back by on the way home (if that's possible after the treatments). Good luck with all this, Sue.  And, I'm saying a prayer for you and for good results with all of the challenges involved. |
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Post by Anne, Old S'cubie Cat on Sept 8, 2010 7:12:14 GMT -5
Sue, Julia, and whoever else might need one: |
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 8, 2010 7:41:49 GMT -5
There is much extreme wetness here today. The parking lot is six inches deep in water, judging by the wetness of my pants. Water is beginning to cover the roads. Tornado watches, flood warning, tropical storm warnings (a little late there!) and stuff. I wish they'd send us home. Diane *From the dirty side of Hermine*[/color] I read this as "Diane, From the dirty side of Her mind."
And mostly, I was wondering why you capitalized "Her." 'Cause the rest is just a given.    [/quote] You're sick. I like that in my friends. |
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 8, 2010 7:44:43 GMT -5
Huh. Well, y'all know I've got some lung issues. And my last 2 breathe into the machine tests have shown declining values. So I've got another round coming up in 2 weeks. But apparently my pulmonologist has been being pro-active because I just got a call from her office (well, earlier this afternoon) telling me that Dr. Whitlock has agreed to take me as a patient. Dr. Whitlock is a pediatric oncologist who is pretty much the only doc in the southeast who treats this disease in children -- using a combination of steroids and chemotheraphy; and with good results. I saw him several years ago to explore the possibility but at the time, since I was stable we decided that the treatment downside was worse than continuing as is. Thing is, he left Vanderbilt to practice in Toronto. So he has agreed to take me on as a patient .................. in Toronto! ==== Way jumping the gun, have to have the test in 2 weeks and then discuss options. Wondering if my pulmo doc has also run this by my insurance. Because I"m pretty sure he's extremely far "out of network" and 50% of all fees plus the travel ..... yikes. Maybe I could see him once but somebody local could actually administer the chemo. === Again, jumping the gun. Can you tell the phone call freaked me out just a little? That's what we did for Charlie's care. Dr Putnam is with Cincinnati Children's in Ohio. We are in Houston. Beth would take him to Cincinnati at least once a year for a checkup and/or a scope. The rest of the time he was treated here under Dr Putnam's telephonic supervision. |
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Post by Sue on Sept 8, 2010 9:27:57 GMT -5
  I has a grouchy. and an appointment for a haircut. And hair that's just sticking out every which way being a mess, but I tell myself this is why the appointment, you don't have to worry about the hairdresser seeing your hair at its worst. Do we have an Oscar the Grouch smilie? Good luck on the haircut. |
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Post by Sue on Sept 8, 2010 9:30:46 GMT -5
Huh. Well, y'all know I've got some lung issues. And my last 2 breathe into the machine tests have shown declining values. So I've got another round coming up in 2 weeks. But apparently my pulmonologist has been being pro-active because I just got a call from her office (well, earlier this afternoon) telling me that Dr. Whitlock has agreed to take me as a patient. Dr. Whitlock is a pediatric oncologist who is pretty much the only doc in the southeast who treats this disease in children -- using a combination of steroids and chemotheraphy; and with good results. I saw him several years ago to explore the possibility but at the time, since I was stable we decided that the treatment downside was worse than continuing as is. Thing is, he left Vanderbilt to practice in Toronto. So he has agreed to take me on as a patient .................. in Toronto! ==== Way jumping the gun, have to have the test in 2 weeks and then discuss options. Wondering if my pulmo doc has also run this by my insurance. Because I"m pretty sure he's extremely far "out of network" and 50% of all fees plus the travel ..... yikes. Maybe I could see him once but somebody local could actually administer the chemo. === Again, jumping the gun. Can you tell the phone call freaked me out just a little? That's what we did for Charlie's care. Dr Putnam is with Cincinnati Children's in Ohio. We are in Houston. Beth would take him to Cincinnati at least once a year for a checkup and/or a scope. The rest of the time he was treated here under Dr Putnam's telephonic supervision. Now that I could deal with because, hey, Toronto. Thanks for everyone's thoughts and encouragement. I was in the middle of showing the house improvements to a neighbor who has been watching the workmen come and go and was curious so the phone call just sort of took me by surprise. Otherwise, there hasn't been any big change and it's just wait until the breathing tests. But, hey, it's not necessarily bad -- it's Toronto! |
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Post by Sue on Sept 8, 2010 9:32:10 GMT -5
There is a new show premiering to night on FX: "Terriers"
I mention it because it starts Donal Logue, from "Life" and I swear I saw Olivia Williams (Adele from Dollhouse) in the promo but she's not on the IMDB cast list so maybe she's just guest starring.
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 8, 2010 9:38:35 GMT -5
I has a grouchy. and an appointment for a haircut. And hair that's just sticking out every which way being a mess, but I tell myself this is why the appointment, you don't have to worry about the hairdresser seeing your hair at its worst. Do we have an Oscar the Grouch smilie? Good luck on the haircut. There is one, but I don't think we have it in our repetoire. You'll have to make do with  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  or  . I've offered to take over Smilies since the days of the reign of Queen Patti, but nobody's ever taken me up on it. |
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Post by Sara on Sept 8, 2010 9:49:57 GMT -5
Just got off a long weekend, and yet I still can't wait for Friday to get here...  |
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[/quote]