What a Difference a Day Makes!

Some of the twinkle in Kelley's eyes is beginning to shine again. She was smiling again, although it hurt when she did. I took her to her post-op visit today. The O.S. said everything was looking good. He added some more bands: two diagonal bands and one front and center. This was the first day that she didn't have that dazed over look. She still has some pain, but is taking plain Tylenol because the Tylenol w/Codeine was upsetting her stomach. I am still concerned that she is not eating enough. I know when you are in pain and dont feel well you dont wait to eat. I had to come home today, but she and her sister promised me that she wont forget to take her meds and eat/drink well. The Doctor said for her to get up and move around some. I went to the store and got her about a week's worth of groceries before leaving, so hopefully she will be ok.

Coming Home

Kelley went home on Friday at about 6 p.m. She kinda wanted to stay the night, they had been giving her morphine for the pain and was pretty sleepy, but the Doctor came by about 5 p.m. and told her she need to go home, that there really wasn't much more they could do for her and she would be more comfortable at home. He also said and another Doctor who had visited Kelley earlier, when I wasn't in the room said that they didn't want her exposed to bacteria that was resistant to antibiotics. That was a little unnerving. The Hospital looked old but clean. I have been very busy taking care of my patient. It seems by the time I get all her meds in her, coaxs her to have a little soup or ensure, refresh her water, get either the cold packs or heat pad, wet wash cloths, etc. It is time to do it again. She is in some pretty good pain, her nose is stuffy and her throat hurts alot. Her Post Op Dr. appt is on Tuesday so I have decided to take her to her appointment then go back to Houston. Hopefully she can be self sufficient by then or I will feel bad leaving. Her sister will be here, but she is in summer school and is busy. This is when it stinks to be far away. My son Clay (12) and I went to pickup some of Kelley's meds today, so we stopped at a health food store and got some supplements, something called 100% Protein (from Whey) and Source of Life liquid vitamins. The Doctor said that she really needed protein (in the form of animal protein) and she is borderline anemic.
Since she is a vegiatarian I think she need to be extra wise about her diet, especially during recovery, they also said that she should cousult a dietcian (would'nt hurt). Christina and I went out and got an inexpensive juicer, hopefully the two of them will get creative and prepare some healthy drinks. I would like to thank all of my Blog advisor panel members, what would I do without the advice I get from all of you.
Mo-Mo

What a Day!

Well we got Kelley to the Hospital by 6:30. They got her ready for Pre-Op by 7:30 and took her away at 8:00, by 9:45 the Dr. call my cell phone (we to the Cafe to get some breakfast) and said that they were finishing up and everything well beautifully. We headed back to the waiting area and and Dr. Leibold came out and said everything went as planned, about 45 min. later Dr. Largent came out and said she did very well and that she could go home today!!! I told him no, I didn't think I wasn't ready for her to come home (I was scared,kinda like leaving the hospital with a newborn) Well she didn't leave recovery and get into a regular room intill about 2:30. I'm am so glad that she didn't come home. She felt nausea so they gave her medication. She was very sleepy. The shift changed at 3:00, by the time the nurse did her rounds by 4:00 Kelley got sick, Scary (Dark red blood) they gave her, her antibiotics, pain meds and stuff for swelling. By this time Kelley's swelling had doubled! I asked for some ice packs (they didn't have a order) but they got it eventually. In and out of sleep, I gave her some ice chips and some water through a straw. I went to get something to eat a 7:00 p.m. (Her roommate was having an enema so I thought I should go) by the time I got back she thought a sprite was a good idea (they didn't have any so I had to find a vending machine) She was a couple of sips through a straw (not sucking by buy putting a finger over one end) She felt sick again atleast it was as bad as the first time, but it started her nose to bleed. The Doctors made their rounds about 5:00, and they said let them know if there was any bright red blood. Well the blood from the nose was bright red. The nurse call the doctor and they didn't seem to concerned since it was just tricking and not gushing. By the time I left at 8:00 p.m. we got the bleeding to stop and he fell asleep. She has bands in the back but did not get wired in the front and she did not need the splint. So my question to Blog Land is all this normal? I hope she fells better tomorrow. Mo-Mo

Calm Before The Storm

With the Tropical Storm out in the Gulf hopefully staying to the south we will be heading to San Antonio to be with Kelley during her surgery. Kelley spoke with the Dr.'s office and they said the insurance okay'd the surgery. I had to double check with the insurance company. I had called them on Monday and it still was being reviewed. But, today I did get the confirmation, surgery is a go for Thursday. I have magazines, a book and some things I think she might need, a hand blender, microwave neck heat pad, ice packs that have long ties (From my son's foot surgery... they are clean) some soups I think she might like. We had already shopped some when I was out there a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure there will be more things to pickup later. I will keep you informed about the surgery until Kelley is ready to blog. Keep us in your thoughts.
Mo-Mo

Jargon

I took Michelle's advice and call the insurance company this a.m. All I got was a lesson in jargon and patience. First I get automated menus, so I soon as I can in my best robotic voice I ask for a medical representative. OK, I get connected to an representative that can't help me, but she does inform me that the "status is pending", What the heck does that mean? So she gives me a ref. # and a phone number and sends me on my way. So with this info I call the ph. # and speak with someone else. I say I'm calling for a "predetermination" (since this was the jargon used previously, I always thought it was "preauthorization") the person on the other line says this is the wrong number for "predetermination" and she tries to send me back to the first ph #. So I say well this is the # they gave me. She looks up the ref # I give her and "OH" this is for "precertification", What ever!!! don't they all mean pretty much the same thing? So she also tells me that the "status is pending" and that the nurse is reviewing it. She tries to connect me with the nurse...I wait (they were playing some pretty good music so I'm not to irritated) after about 3 songs, the rep comes back on and tells me that she didn't answer (No kidding!) Then she says well we have 15 days to do this (which she said was past) and 15 more days to do this (we are at -9 days) So she suggest I call back on Friday. So what do I know now, not a whole bunch but some insurance jargon. I will be calling them back on Friday, I will keep you all informed.

P.S. Cure for Overcoming Panic (previous blog) Mikes hard lemonaide and soak in Hot Tub. It worked!

Overcoming Panic

It funny how human nature is. Kelley calls me all upset, which of course gets the Mom feathers ruffled. The Doctor visit didn't go well, she didn't get to ask her pre-surgery questions that she had, and the Dr's office ladies haven't heard back yet from the insurance company. So what do I do? Well, first I try and calm Kelley down, then I try and get at least half the story straight, then I hang up and PANIC! I'm thinking what kind of surgeon is this! He can't even file some molars without slipping. What if he slips during surgery. Let's just call this whole thing off! I'm 200 miles away what can I do? I dont tell Kelley this because I dont want to make her more upset, it is just irrational thoughts. I remember one time I was scuba diving and my rented mask keep flooding with salt water, my eyes were burning, I felt like I could'nt breathe and what my mind was telling me was go to the surface now! But I kept it together and just keep clearing my mask and remembered to breathe with my mouth and not worry that my nose was filled with water. Thats kind of what I did today. Just remembered that everything will be ok. I did call the Doctor's office and spoke with them and they said that the insurance company should respond within 42 to 72 hours. I will call back on Friday and see if there is any progress.
Thanks for listening (reading)
Mo-Mo

Stress

I know that any type of surgery causes stress on the patient, but it also causes alot of stress on the family. Not to get to personal but...this is stressful! I get calls from daughter #2 that is having the surgery, calls from daughter #1 who lives with daughter #2 and how they are having communication problems (arguments). I know that this is not normal. I really think everyone is getting stress out and everyday stuff is getting blown up. I know that I'm worrying about all this, every mom worries about their children and this is pretty major! Plus we get to worry about the financial part also. Every time I start to get wound up, I try and get distracted in something else. Let's all take a deep breath together. Ok I feel better.

Talk w/Insurance/Dr. office

I call our insurance company because Kelley gave me some bills that were rejected from the insurance company. Comes to find out the insurance company said they had no record of those bills. They surmise that they were sent in under dental instead of medical. So I call the billing phone number on the bill and they said that the reason they got back was that she wasnt covered. (which would make sense if they did try and file with dental. Since we have a different company for dental) Well she is a covered dependent, they suggest I call the Dr. Office. So I call them and they say the same thing. So... they determine they better resend the bills to the insurance office again. So I ask if they have heard back yet on the predetemination/preauthorization from the insurance company. And they have not... all this 2 wks before surgery! (Heart Attack) The insurance is suppose to pay for (85%). No way I could pay the whole thing! 15% is stretching things. They said they should know by Monday. When I was there and spoke with the office lady on Tuesday (7/8) she acted like "oh yeah we work with them all the time..." Hopefully, no problems this time. Sorry but just need to vent!

My Own Blog Site

My daughter Kelley know as blogger "Kam" suggested since I have so much to say, I should get my own Blog site. So here I go...not sure if I'm doing this right but I will find out I'm sure.