[8-05-08] Wednesday Oncology Appt.

[8:59am]
     Good news! I have an appointment with Dr. Cecchi on Wednesday at 2:45pm (labs) and 3:30pm (doc). So, my evil plans for more ICE treatment on the 13th are still in-place. Mwa ha ha. Er, ok, I'm still half asleep.
     Becky had me agree to a quick lab check-up on Monday the 11th before re-admit.

     On a side note, this whole "get the ICE treatment done every two weeks" thing makes me feel like I have some power in all of this, ya know? Like I'm cheating the system. The secret they don't tell you in school: cheaters win. :P

     Mwa, oh yeah. Time to turn in my completely terri...I mean, my complete term paper!

[3:26pm]
     More good news! After consulting with my school's social services person, we have outlined a plan that will enable me to have school insurance for the Fall and get a tuition refund! The downside to this is that I will be ineligible for any financial aid whatsoever for Fall 09. Still, things are looking good today!

     On the school front: I talked to my professor, and got everything worked out. It was a bit scary because I half expected him to say, "Well, you might as well just drop the class..." But he worked with me, and outlined a pretty rigorous schedule (since next Tuesday will be my final day of class). Final Presentation: This Thursday. Final Paper: Next Tuesday. So at least I should be busy this next week!

Currently Eating: A giant heap of blackberry frozen yogurt.

[8-04-08] Insurance and School

[10:31am]
     It is both dreadful and invigorating to be back on my feet again! There's all these challenges to be solved, appointments to schedule, hurtles to overcome...it's life! On the other hand, there's a ton of challenges with unknown solutions, appointments unscheduled, and all sorts of tedious hurtles...I just want to crawl back in bed.
     *Ahem* Such is the way things are.

     First on my agenda was to get my prescriptions. I got my handy-dandy bottle of ativan last night, and it has served me well. However, to get all the really expensive meds, I needed to go to the UC Berkeley pharmacy. (They classify chemotherapy related meds in a basically "unlimited" category, unlike my other insurances.) Unfortunately, they were all out of Zolfran and Emend -- my two strongest anti-emetics. I'll have to wait for tomorrow to get them. Hehe, the pharmacist knew me and why I needed the meds, and he looked a bit concerned: "I'll hold this prescription on stand-by, if things get worse, give me a call and at least you can be set up at another pharmacy out of pocket." This is one of those aforementioned challenges... no problem. I'll just have to use what I've got for the time being. :P

     Next on the agenda, was to try to figure out the insurance dilemma. After talking to the UC Berkeley insurance rep, I was given the curt answer: "Sorry, you're out of luck. If you're not a UC Berkeley student, you get no insurance, and we don't have COBRA or anything." Bah.
     After a quick talk with my DSP (Disabled Students Program) advisor, I learn that the solution is quite simple: Enroll in classes, and either drop right after the 5 week deadline, or withdraw on the last day of class. I believe both lets you keep financial aid, withdrawing on the last day may be safer. I have an appointment with my Social Services liaison tomorrow -- she knows how to work the system.
     So, yay! I'm not screwed! Well, at least insurance-wise. Pulling these stunts does mean that I will not receive financial aid for my last semester at Cal. Hurdle: overcome (mostly).

     Last in line, is to schedule my appointment with Dr. Wexler so that I may get more ICE! I need my fix within 10 days. Bah, no one there, appointments: not yet scheduled. [Revision: They will get back to me]

     Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad. Now to work on my term paper... ergh, gimme another ativan.