I've given up hope on getting an insulin pump before school starts because I'm 99% sure the doctor won't sign off on it before we meet with her on the 22nd. After the last conversation with the pump rep, Nick, he said the insurance company was at a stand still because they needed the doctor's approval before they would even look at numbers.
The bad thing about my office is that my cell phone reception isn't the greatest. I did manage to set up an appointment with Ellee's new teacher to go over my "plan of action" for managing her T1D while at school. Shortly afterwards, I get a phone call that for some reason my phone drops, but does send it to voice mail!
It was another rep from the pump company telling me that they were able to get the cost information from the insurance company and wanted to share the cost break down with me! Really?!?! I immediately called back only to get his voice mail, so I'm anxiously playing phone tag with him!
I'm nervous and excited at the same time! I'm sure this will be quite a bit of out of pocket cost, but it will be worth it. You make sacrifices for your kids and this is no exception! And thank goodness for Health Savings Accounts!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
School Prep
It's hard to schedule doctor appointments 3 or 6 months in advance because you just don't know what is going to be going on. I lucked out with both the Dentist and Endo and happen to schedule them before school started. Okay, by the skin of my teeth I lucked out on the Endo appointment because it's 2 days before school starts! Since I was taking the day off of work for the dentist, may as well try to schedule Ellee's eye exam for the same day.
The girls have been running fevers off and on all last week with no other symptoms. I figured Dani's was from her teeth, and even felt around to confirm it, but it didn't explain why Ellee was the same way. To my surprise, the hygienist that worked on the girls informed me that Ellee is cutting her 6 year molars! And just when I thought I thought I was done with teething kids, I was proven wrong! But it's exciting to see that the girls keep growing up before my eyes!
We had to wait for Dr. Dan to finish up with another patient so he could check Dani, and needless to say, the girls got a little rambunctious, and goofy!
Before heading over to our afternoon appointment with the eye doctor, we went to Ellee's new favorite place to eat... Cracker Barrel! I think it's only because she loves playing checkers!
The eye doctors was a mad house when we got there! Very busy and it was going to be a few minutes before they got to us. I had Ellee look at frames and see if there was one that she liked. She was acting very sleepy, so I had to check her sugar to make sure she wasn't low (160, so she was just tired).
The eye exam didn't go so well. I could tell during the initial check of reading the chart that she obviously was struggling with her right eye. After Dr. D finished up, she showed me the results and it made my heart sink. Her right eye doubled the script strength and was becoming lazy. She wants us to patch her left eye once a day for the next six months to see if that strengthens it any.
Is this diabetes related, or just bad luck in the genetic draw? I don't know. I'd like to think that if it were the diabetes, that it would effect both eyes, not just the one. At this point, I guess it doesn't matter. What matters is to work on it and try to prevent any further damage.
I'm glad I had her pick out a pair of glasses before we saw the doctor. We had to wait our turn to order the glasses, and both the girls were obviously tired. Dani tried to curl up in a chair and fall asleep, but I was afraid, she'd roll off and Ellee was already curled up in my lap. I adjusted Ellee over to one leg and had Dani crawl up onto my other leg. Both girls fell asleep with their heads on my chest and were out! I did get quite a few "awwww!!!"s. It was a great feeling to have both girls snuggled up against me sleeping, I just wish we were at home in our chair and I was able to kick back and take a nap with them!
The gal that ordered our glasses for us was great! She was very sympathetic and told me that I could sit there and let them sleep as long as I wanted to. She did everything she needed to do on her end before she needed Ellee away to take measurements.
2 appointments down, one more to go!
The girls have been running fevers off and on all last week with no other symptoms. I figured Dani's was from her teeth, and even felt around to confirm it, but it didn't explain why Ellee was the same way. To my surprise, the hygienist that worked on the girls informed me that Ellee is cutting her 6 year molars! And just when I thought I thought I was done with teething kids, I was proven wrong! But it's exciting to see that the girls keep growing up before my eyes!
We had to wait for Dr. Dan to finish up with another patient so he could check Dani, and needless to say, the girls got a little rambunctious, and goofy!
Before heading over to our afternoon appointment with the eye doctor, we went to Ellee's new favorite place to eat... Cracker Barrel! I think it's only because she loves playing checkers!
The eye doctors was a mad house when we got there! Very busy and it was going to be a few minutes before they got to us. I had Ellee look at frames and see if there was one that she liked. She was acting very sleepy, so I had to check her sugar to make sure she wasn't low (160, so she was just tired).
The eye exam didn't go so well. I could tell during the initial check of reading the chart that she obviously was struggling with her right eye. After Dr. D finished up, she showed me the results and it made my heart sink. Her right eye doubled the script strength and was becoming lazy. She wants us to patch her left eye once a day for the next six months to see if that strengthens it any.
Is this diabetes related, or just bad luck in the genetic draw? I don't know. I'd like to think that if it were the diabetes, that it would effect both eyes, not just the one. At this point, I guess it doesn't matter. What matters is to work on it and try to prevent any further damage.
I'm glad I had her pick out a pair of glasses before we saw the doctor. We had to wait our turn to order the glasses, and both the girls were obviously tired. Dani tried to curl up in a chair and fall asleep, but I was afraid, she'd roll off and Ellee was already curled up in my lap. I adjusted Ellee over to one leg and had Dani crawl up onto my other leg. Both girls fell asleep with their heads on my chest and were out! I did get quite a few "awwww!!!"s. It was a great feeling to have both girls snuggled up against me sleeping, I just wish we were at home in our chair and I was able to kick back and take a nap with them!
The gal that ordered our glasses for us was great! She was very sympathetic and told me that I could sit there and let them sleep as long as I wanted to. She did everything she needed to do on her end before she needed Ellee away to take measurements.
2 appointments down, one more to go!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Still Waiting
If the customer service after you get a pump is anything like their customer service during the application process, then I believe that we made the right choice to go with the Ping! Yesterday afternoon, the Animas rep called me just to touch base!
I wasn't expecting a call any time soon since I forewarned him that the doctor was probably going to drag her feet until we meet with her on the 22nd. But he called to let me know that the insurance won't take any paperwork until they have the doctor's paperwork. That means that they won't figure up how much they will cover and what our co-pay is yet. I'm disappointed by this because I was hoping that if we could get everything covered on the insurance end and in place, then when the doctor signs off, we could get the pump that much sooner... but no dice.
I think Ellee is starting to come around to the idea of the pump. She knows that we can do away with the Lantus shots which she wants more than anything. While we can't get it through to her that it's less shots and less pain, I think she's starting to process it a little bit. I don't expect that to come right away since it took me a while to accept it. But I'm hoping that once we are on this for a month or two, that she will realize that this is all for the better.
In the mean time, it looks like it will be a week and a half wait till our doctors appointment before anyone can take the next step.
I wasn't expecting a call any time soon since I forewarned him that the doctor was probably going to drag her feet until we meet with her on the 22nd. But he called to let me know that the insurance won't take any paperwork until they have the doctor's paperwork. That means that they won't figure up how much they will cover and what our co-pay is yet. I'm disappointed by this because I was hoping that if we could get everything covered on the insurance end and in place, then when the doctor signs off, we could get the pump that much sooner... but no dice.
I think Ellee is starting to come around to the idea of the pump. She knows that we can do away with the Lantus shots which she wants more than anything. While we can't get it through to her that it's less shots and less pain, I think she's starting to process it a little bit. I don't expect that to come right away since it took me a while to accept it. But I'm hoping that once we are on this for a month or two, that she will realize that this is all for the better.
In the mean time, it looks like it will be a week and a half wait till our doctors appointment before anyone can take the next step.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
A little closer!
I can't explain how excited I am right now! I just had an Animas Pump Rep call me! I submitted the paperwork Friday before I left work to get the ball rolling and didn't really expect to hear anything till the end of the week.
I'm still not holding my breath, but he said every thing looked good so far! They have to check with the insurance company about a program to see if we are enrolled, and they have paperwork that has been submitted to the Endo's office.
That's where I'm not holding my breath. I've not had to make as many phone calls to the Endo's office over the entire 2 1/2 years since Ellee was diagnosed as I have in the past 3 months dealing with this insulin pump. The pump rep told me that he had to wait to hear back from the doctor's office, so I briefly explained that if he gets it in a few days, great, but I wouldn't be surprised if Dr. C holds off on it till she sees us on August 22. I'd love to get into the office with a pump before school starts, but knowing my luck nothing will happen that fast.
Never the less, I am still excited! I know the first few months will be rough, but I hope that by Thanksgiving or Christmas Ellee will realize how much better this is than our current "Daily Injection Therapy".
I'm still not holding my breath, but he said every thing looked good so far! They have to check with the insurance company about a program to see if we are enrolled, and they have paperwork that has been submitted to the Endo's office.
That's where I'm not holding my breath. I've not had to make as many phone calls to the Endo's office over the entire 2 1/2 years since Ellee was diagnosed as I have in the past 3 months dealing with this insulin pump. The pump rep told me that he had to wait to hear back from the doctor's office, so I briefly explained that if he gets it in a few days, great, but I wouldn't be surprised if Dr. C holds off on it till she sees us on August 22. I'd love to get into the office with a pump before school starts, but knowing my luck nothing will happen that fast.
Never the less, I am still excited! I know the first few months will be rough, but I hope that by Thanksgiving or Christmas Ellee will realize how much better this is than our current "Daily Injection Therapy".
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