This is apparently my 401st post on my blog. Jeez that’s a lot! Especially since I officially moved over to this current WordPress blog in April 2010! 😉
So anyway, some updates…
Blood Pressure
I have an appointment with a primary doctor Thursday, August 11th at 11:30am. This will be for a general physical as well as figuring out more long-term plans with the blood pressure and medication. I’m going to definitely ask to switch off of Labetalol which I hate and possibly try a calcium-channel blocker instead. I was reading that several of them are used in migraine prevention as well, so that sounds like a win-win. (Not that the migraines have been too bad; with being in “menopause” I’m not getting the hormone flux that was a common trigger of them for me.)
The Labetalol is still just kicking my ass. I’ve actually had to change from 2x/day to 1x/day because I literally couldn’t function. Even at 1x/day I can’t walk up my 3 flights of stairs without stopping, but at least I don’t feel like I’m dying. The BP has still been managed on 1x/day so I’m doing that until I can get the primary doctor to give me something different.
Fundraising, Money and How the Costs Break Down
My PCIP insurance started yesterday. Still waiting on the insurance card but technically, it’s active. It doesn’t really change the total goal of how much I need, just changes how it gets spent and what I get for the money.
– $1,000 deductible (means I still will be paying for office visits but they will go towards the deductible from now on.)
– $588 due my OB/GYN (this is a balance on my account from previous services including in the ER which must be paid before surgery.)
– $237/month premium (with a minimum of 4 months and most likely more, at least another $948 just to maintain coverage.)
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Total: $2536
That doesn’t include any prescriptions (which has it’s own deductible), and doesn’t include the $10,000 in bills I owe the hospital, ER physicals group, radiologists or labs from my ER stay.
The $953 I’ve spent to date on office visits and tests does NOT count towards the deductible either as it’s all for services before the active date of the insurance.
The $588 balance I owe the OB/GYN is NOT part of the deductible for the same reason.
The GOOD part about the insurance is that it not only helps pay the OB/GYN, but also the hospital and other services like radiology and anesthesiology which I otherwise would have had to pay out of pocket had I been cash-only. (Basically, it would have been like the ER stay – tens of thousands of dollars in separate bills.)
But you can see why I’m still so desperate to keep the fundraiser going; why I can’t relax or rest on my amount raised so far. There is always MORE expense and MORE cost due! I’m still asking ANYONE with a facebook, blog, twitter, digg, stumbleupon, reddit, or any other social networking account to PLEASE post my link. Even if you have in the past, please consider doing so again. People lose interest and attention wanes but I’m still in the middle of this fight. It’s a marathon, not a sprint so I’m doing everything I can to keep interest up and keep my sales going.
Two months with no income we’re barely keeping our heads above water, let alone are able to save towards the medical costs so your help is desperately needed to keep this going. Thanks to all those who have helped so far.
Hysterectomy Fund
Donation Shop: http://PhoenixFunds.etsy.com
My Shop: http://PhoenixFireDesigns.etsy.com
Tags: blood pressure, blood pressure medication, charity, donation, fundraiser, help pay medical bills, help paying doctor bills, help paying hospital bills, high blood pressure, high blood pressure medication side effects, hypertension, hysterectomy, medical assistance, medical bills, medical fundraiser, support, surgery, trying to raise money for medical bills, upcoming surgery
