Dex Day

Today begins week 4 of treatment. I will have 7 days off my cancer drug, Revlimid, but will continue to take the once a week dose of my steroids, Dexamethasone. So today was a Dex only day.

Today was also my once a month infusion of immunoglobulin, which restores some of the immune system my cancer has destroyed. It won’t completely protect me from illness, but it will especially help protect my lungs from pneumonia. Normally, I would have 4 mg of Dex infused through my IV just prior to my treatment. That was not necessary today as I already had 40 mg on board. It was interesting, however, being tethered to an IV for 6 hours today when I would normally be doing something much more active with the energy it gives me! My daughter, Jen, spent a couple of hours with me this morning and we chatted away like magpies (or was I the magpie on steroids?!) After going for these infusions for over a year now, everyone at the infusion center knows me well and they each stop for a chat sometime during the day. I always bring lots of things to do to keep me busy, but I usually have so many little visits that I don’t accomplish much. It does make the time go by quickly, however, and I do enjoy my new friends.

I’m feeling much better this week since I’ve been on antibiotics for the sinus infection, and am pleased with how well things have gone for me during this first cycle of treatment. I hope I can maintain good health once I finish taking the antibiotic. The numbness in my feet has continued to come and go and move from place to place. Hopefully, it will clear up during my week off.

On Wednesday I had to re-order my drugs for next month. You can only get a one month supply at a time and each month I have to answer the same questions and listen to the same instructions before the order will be filled. Also, the doctor has to complete a survey and write a new prescription each month. When I called, I let them know that I never received a receipt for my credit card purchase for the prior month and all of my voice mails and emails had been unanswered. The pharmacy tech connected me directly with a billing rep and she faxed a receipt to me. She also gave me her number and extension and the name and extension number of the person handling my account. So this piece of the puzzle will go smoother from now on I hope. I found it quite interesting that over the next 24 hours I received 2 more faxed copies of the bill from different people at different billing locations, an email, a phone call, and a copy by snail mail! Guess I finally was able to rattle a cage! So, this is a praise for answered prayer!

Now that we have the official receipt we have submitted it to our insurance company who handles our specialized cancer policy. This is a defined benefits plan and pays only certain things, some of those items are things our regular health insurance doesn’t cover and some of those items are paid in addition to our regular health insurance.

We will make the long trip to Stanford this week, as I will see the doctor on Thursday. My oncologist is out of town, but his associate will see me. I’m looking forward to meeting her and meeting the nurse coordinator who I have been working with over the phone for the past month.

Prayer focus for this week: 1) the numbness in my feet to clear up; 2) that our cancer policy insurance company will interpret the cancer treatment reimbursement in such a way that the benefit would pay 80% of my meds; 3) safe travel for our trip to Stanford;
4) for a good report on my labs.

Each of you is so special to us! We so appreciate your prayerful focus each week and for standing with us through this trial.