August Health Wrap Up

I don't think I ever closed the door, so to speak, on the results of my thyroid surgery pathology report.  It was thyroid cancer on the left side.  Which was interesting because we were only concerned about the nodules on the right side because they were the ones changing from cold nodules to warm.

The endocrinologist told me that he was confident that since the cancer was so small (under 2 micrograins) and still encapsulated, he considered me cured.  So it turned out to be the perfect decision to do a total thyroidectomy.

My brother had a cancer of 4 cms and it had broken through the capsule so he was rewarded with aggressive radioactive iodine treatment.  I avoided that.   Because of his situation, I had a yearly ultrasound of my thyroid for the last 6 years.  The changes were noted in the January 2019 ultrasound but it wasn't until August that I was able to have my surgery.

Frank developed a hernia at some point and we felt it was important to get him fixed before working on me, since both me and Sawyer would depend on his ability to pick up more than 10 lbs!

I am doing well, got discharged from my surgeon a couple weeks ago.  I see the endocrinologist in another couple weeks checking on the thyroid meds.  I feel like I am doing fine with the dosage, but there are times I feel short of breath.  Of course that could be because I need to lose some weight, but we won't talk about that...……..

My shingles continue to plague me.  I am still unable to see clearly out of my right eye with shingles inside the eye.  Next week sometime I have an appointment with another specialist, this time a cornea guy.  I see him yearly to measure a mass inside my right eye.  Poor eye!

This is really aggravating, my eye.

But my hair looks great!

Something is working!

We are planning a trip to see Nephew Shannon in Washington State soon.  I can't wait to meet his kids and see him again.  The last time we saw him was at his dad's funeral when he was 17.  A lot of time has passed, he is in his 40's now.

Of course I am bringing each of them a quilt!  I have finished two and need borders and quilting on the third.








This is for his 13 yo son, and is finished, even though it is just a top here.  Too dark to take photos right now.

















This one is for Shannon.  I got the binding done this week, even though I really can't see.  I wanted to hand stitch it down because it is such a nice finish, but I ended up just running it on the machine.  I did some improv quilting on the top, with a chrysanthemum in the center of the beige and a squiggle in the bars.

I can't find the photo of the top for this next one, it is probably on my phone rather than the camera.  Wow, I need an organizational thing for my photographs!

The sashing is a dark grey solid and looks fabulous! I took a bucket of solids and just invented blocks with the colors.  I originally thought I would use the bucket of scraps for a 100 blocks in 100 days challenge, then I just make all the blocks in a few days.

 I need to put borders on it and then quilt it.  Which should be fun with my eye like this.  It is for his 9 year old daughter.  I think she will love it!

This Is a Test

This is the first test of the insurance in 2015.  I have an ultrasound every year before I see my general surgeon, Kenny.  I babysat him years ago......

My brother had thyroid cancer a couple years ago and they found similar things in mine.  However, they are not cancer. And it is working perfectly well, we just make sure no changes have occurred.

I generally go to the Imaging Center and pay anywhere from $90 to $400 for the same test in the same place once a year.  So  with the new rules in the same insurance, I talked to the insurance company this morning.  And they can't tell me how much I will have to pay.  They said they have a contracted price, but the center has to do the service, not charge me anything, bill the insurance, THEN collect the difference from me.  Which no  one knows what it will be.

This does not sound easy.

Then I go to my surgeon's page on my insurance, they say my portion now is $71.  It was a $50 co-pay before. Geez.  I have that appointment next week.

So before I complain (too much!) I will see what they are going to charge me today.  I cannot imagine them not asking me for money and just seeing how much the insurance will pay.  I am pretty sure, even though the insurance compay ASSURED me just this moning that I would not have to pay anything!

The changes in the insurance we have had for 26 years now are so indescribable.  I say that because they really can't describe what they will do.   Frank's company is self insured but they have Cigna administrating it.  They made changes according to the changes in the Obamacare laws.  I am here to say, it is not a good thing for us.

In addition to that, this is considered a "Cadillac" plan and we are being taxed 40% of the value of the insurance.  Talk about a redistribution of wealth.  Get your education, get a good job, move up in the company and make a decent living.......then share it with those who didn't work as hard.

And yes, it got more expensive for the premiums as well.

We shall see.