Round 3

Overall, Syed’s second round with chemo was without significant issues, which is fantastic. His energy level has been exceptional. He still goes to the movies from time-to-time, walks to town for coffee, and shopping at the farmer’s market—as expected, when Syed was in the hospital, turns out a vendor at the farmer’s market was thrilled to see him after about a months time. When she learned of his cancer, she’s been “filling him up” with really good veggies—not surprising that Syed has people that care about him wherever he goes :).

Just before starting his third cycle, Syed did start to experience slight toxicity. It started showing in very subtle ways. His skin has started darkening and then the tips of his fingers and toes have slightly discolored and then he’s experienced some irritation in one of his toe nails that is now going away. As Syed puts it, “my doctor says these side effects are more of an inconvenience and that’s exactly how it feels to me.” The great news is, nothing that Syed is experience is serious or in any way will impact his health long-term. His doctor continues to be wonderfully surprised at how well Syed is doing overall.

Wednesday, Syed started cycle 3 with an infusion. Since the infusion, Syed has been doing great. He’s just run into a complication with Medicare, an issue Linda has been working tirelessly to resolve. Medicare is refusing to cover the chemo pills (the pills Syed takes after every infusion for 2 weeks) because Medicare shows that Syed was never released from the nursing home. Not sure if everyone recalls but Syed stayed in a nursing home for about 2 weeks after he was released from the hospital.

Linda discovered that the nursing home never provided Syed official release papers from the facility. In order for Medicare to cover the chemo prescription, they must receive proof that Syed was officially released from the nursing care facility.

Well, at the second round of chemo, Linda took charge of getting all of Syed’s medication. In the process of picking up his prescription, she learned that Medicare required these papers before they would approve the prescription of chemo drugs. She spent two days or more working to resolve the issue. Medicare seemed to be satisfied with the paperwork that she faxed. They approved the prescription and Syed started taking the pills.

Well, this past week, Medicare once again denied coverage for the chemo prescription. They stated to Linda once again that they needed proof that Syed had been released from the nursing home. Since Wednesday, Linda has been working tirelessly to resolve this issue—talking with the nursing home, talking to Medicare, contacting the doctor’s office and overall, just running around in circles. Linda almost has this situation resolved. Monday, Syed’s doctor from the nursing home will sign the “official” release papers, give them to Linda. Linda will then fax them to Medicare, and then she can finally pick up Syed’s medication.

I share what’s happened with all of you so that everyone is aware in case you run into a similar issue—hopefully you never have to experience any of this. This is a true example of the red tape that one must follow in order to get the coverage due from Medicare or probably any insurance company for that matter. My hope is for everyone to understand the issue and learn from Linda’s experience. Of course, I’m just providing highlights. Linda can provide more details if anyone is interested.

That’s about it for now. I’ll post the final results from the Medicare issue shortly.

All the best to everyone!

Caroline

A Get Well Card with a message

Compassionate and caring people do not wear leather, wool, or fur.

http://www.peta.org/feat-fatalfashion.asp

For those who had not been kept up with my cancer saga

For those who had not been kept up with my cancer saga.
This is just to bring everyone up to date.
To my friends and relatives who have not been on Caroline’s mailing list where she had been sending out my health bulletin when I was in the hospital and nursing home.
I am now in my own home.
I did spend over a month, and it was quite an experience, since I had never been hospitalized before.
After my surgery on June 10th to remove my tumor a complication had developed. I started losing lot of blood to the point I was put into Intensive Care where I stayed for a week or so.
At the time I started losing blood, my blood pressure went down to 50, and it was still falling. I could see doctors and nurses frantically pumping blood into my veins and first time I felt I was so close to the state on annihilation which some people call “death.” But interestingly enough the brush with death didn’t seem to bother me a bit. I felt being in between two states “existence and non-existence.” I could go either way.
The closest way I can describe, it was a very profound experience, and I felt I was in a twilight zone.
Right now I am going through chemo therapy. My second therapy was on August 25. So far, I haven’t encountered any serious adverse reaction, other than general weakness that lasts only a few days after the therapy. My next therapy will be on September 15.
And thank you everybody who expressed so much concern and wished me good health and quick recovery. Keep sending positive thoughts. Good thoughts have power of healing.
Syed Rizvi