Brain MRI Finally Result Arrived!

First of all all who might have been wondering again... I DO HAVE A BRAIN!
And there is photographic proof!
So there! (I am sticking out my adult tongue out to all of you! HA!)

I knew in my heart of hearts that it wasn't bad, since all bad ones were flagged by the tech and then examined immediately by the radiologist.
Although, their excuses too were legit at the MRI place that they are short handed for radiologists.
And sadly anxiously waiting patients have only doctors with that ability to tell them if there is anything bad going on.
So when the nurse Angie called I was relieved and I knew that I was stable and that amounts to NO NEW LESIONS!

But apparently my same left nostril/sinus was inflamed and clogged; the one that I had had surgery on a few years ago, odd? My ENT doc retired, the one that did that surgery.

Well, my new internist will have the same report and perhaps have a suggestion when I see him next week about my sinus?

Meanwhile, I suppose I am no different than anyone else with too much screen time causing my blurry vision, albeit the MS causing occasional double vision on my too easily tired eyes... whew!
I bit that bullet! And YAY!

HAPPY!
Why not?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM

Happy good night and next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

I seem to be a day off lately.

Any-who, yesterday, see, a day off, anyway we had to go for our fasting blood work, but that was rather late and Hubby wanted to stop at his barber shop for his haircut first, and so we did.
Really the phlebotomist I told him only looks at our ruby gold fluid they enjoy pulling from our beings like Vampiras, hair does not matter there, ha!
Yes, our local Labcorp where we go have all women vampires so VAMPIRAS!
And so logically I determined that they must like what they do or they wouldn't be doing it, hmm?
All this was for our new doctor whom we see next week for those results, I hope they will be ready!
PS my MRI is still not.
Yes, I did call the Advanced Imaging where they have that high tesla equipped MRIs, two I was told.

After we had brunch at IHOP, all you can eat pancake day that coincided with senior discount day.
Hubby got the works: eggs (2), sausages (2), hash browns and two pancakes to start, he had two more after!
I on the other hand had their lite breakfast of egg whites (2), turkey bacon (2), fresh fruit and two slices of whole wheat toast.
Both with coffee.

After brunch we did our general shopping at Publix with our list, and only a few deviations, plus a couple of prescription items; one stop there for all, $270, priceless.
Then home.

Today, whoa back on track we were home all day.
And yesterday I had received our landline and WiFi bill in an email, it had increased again by over six bucks through CenturyLink and we had not made any odd calls or changed a thing.

So I called and questioned them and they said since it did not reflect our discount, and so I asked for our discount and they said we were not entitled anymore to the discount.
What? I said, and the woman Shirley said yes that it is no longer available.
So I said then I guess I have to pay you this amount and I told Hubby and I paid it online that day electronically that will be paid actually tomorrow.
I told the woman we might get rid of the landline like everyone else and then asked how much, ten dollars less was the quote.
I said well that I have a month to find a better price.
And so when Hubby and I started looking today, Xfinity was cheaper by twenty bucks a month just for the WiFi.
So we called them, and they said that we did not exist!
Since we never got cable from them, huh?
They are Comcast.
We said we only want WiFi and they wanted all personal info besides just an address, so we shut them down!
And that is how Hubby tried our CenturyLink once again.
This time for some unknown reason they did give him the discount!
So he handed me the phone after the female supervisor Taquawana in Miami too got on the line, and I asked her why was that?
Gender preferred?
He was angry, while I was not originally, but now hey yeah!

And so now, all of a sudden they will be giving us a differential credit for this month for application to next, got it?

Not good!

Every time these things happen I rack it up to the SOUTH mentality, about women being second class citizens I cringe, repeat myself and then sadly yell!
It reminds me when we first moved here in 1986 and I went to register our sons in school here in Florida on the other coast they needed the father to be present too, and sign off on every thing.
I almost said I was a single parent I was so angry!
Then what would they have done asked my dead father for permission to allow his grandsons to enter their elementary and middle schools?
I didn't of course, but this NJ gal was pissed.
But I said that I would bring them back the signed copies to the woman requesting Hubby's John Hancock, yup women doing that to women.
I wanted to leave right then, but I didn't... nearly thirty-two years later it is still going on...it's gotta be cause of the GOP, and me being still and always a liberal in this GOP land! I was fooled by the Democratic governor that was in office when we originally moved here.
Cheap ploy.

Ha, but true.

Happy good night to all and to all count those blessings or not?

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

Humana RX the truth about their billing

I had no say in medication sent to me for a ninety day supply for a mere co-pay of $8.
My new doctor, neuro, ordered it without my knowledge for the new year at my lower dose we had discussed of Gabapentin going from 300 mg. capsules down to 100 mg capsules so it would be easier for me to lower the dosage of this quite dangerous medication if not tapered off appropriately by weekly reductions.

 And the usual cost when not in the donut hole that Medicare calls not meeting your deductible yet for the new year the co-pays are $3.30 for a three month supply of this generic medication of Neurontin called Gabapentin, like all of my other generic medications, see two and a half times higher in cost although many might argue still a bargain, okay agreed!

The problem was not only that they billed me, they actually charged me on my credit card that they were TOLD SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE NOT TO USE OUR CREDIT CARD WITHOUT ASKING ME FIRST!
And this is where the actual problem lies, yup lies.

So I called when I saw the charge on our joint charge account online and that set off my alarm to call them.
I did not even know what it was for, if they had called they would have known I was still using my 300 mg. Gabapentin and at that time I was not in need of additional medication nor at the higher co-pay, although not a financial burden, it was the principle of the thing and I let them know that!

And they had been guilty of this infuriating flagrant misuse of our account before, and they do know that they were never given carte blanche or to feel that they could access the credit card account at their will!
NO! And they had been told to call and ask first numerous times.
Now they better since we now have a new account number with that card due to a complete stranger trying the same thing! HA! On them if they do do it again!

Any-who, so the eight dollars was billed and when I called they said that the medication was on the way and me staying true to form I said they will be having it returned since I did not want or need it!
So they emailed me a label and when it arrived, the next day I believe it was... I used my clear packing tape and slapped on their emailed label after making two copies one for me and the other on the package I mailed it back on 1-10-18!
 I received the -$8 refund on my account, yay!

Speed forward to yesterday 1-29-18 when I received three more ordered with my permission medications at their higher price due to that damn donut hole again, three for $46.11, normally all three generic ones will be later this year only, $9.90 that done by me out of frustration I knew since this time I was party to the order and figured that I too was in the do-nut-hole of misery!

So when they were ordered this time I did allow them to use our credit card, and immediately it could be seen going through on our online bank site that I check.
Alrighty now!

You would think that all was right with the world, and if it was anyone else but these magical mystical financial magicians who do make money disappear, i.e. yours!
YUP!
The new medications came in with a balance due of, drum role please...........................................................................$54.11, yes they were now charging me again for the $8 + $46.11 that they billed me for and went through immediately last week!
So I called again, and after waiting for periods being put on hold numerous times until I got to the right person in billing finances!
Who saw that they were trying to double bill me on the $46.11 and THEY HAD TRIED TO RECHARGE ME FOR THE $8, BECAUSE THEY REFUNDED IT TWICE!
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT?????????????
Yup on the 1-8-18 and again on the 1-20-18!
And yes they did see that they already were paid the $46.11 on 1-23-18 the day of the order!

So this article is a buyer beware of even Humana RX mail-order, a so-called reputable company and they are in my opinion, just careless with their billing policies.
I mentioned to the young woman that if I wasn't so meticulous about checking our accounts due to them being previously compromised or if I was less able to remember paying them already as some other elderly clients may be they, who might very well accept what they have been shown or told bill wise, and that they were doing a disservice to their client base by not being more scrupulous with their bookkeeping!
That is all, and now I was assured all was corrected as well it should be.
If not you can be downright sure that I will be letting them know!

On the other side of this MISTAKE, for that is what it was, a human mistake, was the  double $8 credit/refund to our account, and this is where a company can eventually feel the problem in their financial billing department with losses!
An eight dollar one here or there, times thousands of accounts, and you see where I am going with this, hmm?
And I told her this too, so I said I think you know how to fix this and she said that she would.
Let us not forget that double billing is nothing more than fraudulent behavior too when done on purpose, but I am giving them the benefit of the doubt that it was just another careless mistake.

However, I do feel that as a company their size this is NOT a good way to handle billing with too many mistakes that have happened to me personally with them for this time was not the first time!
Enough said!

Although, it is prudent for all of us to check our accounts regularly for bogus charges and be aware that some companies are not worthy of your trust with your credit cards or any bank accounts access without permission first!
Be aware and careful!

Happy night to all!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

       

No answers.

Called the MRI place and the neurologist doctor's office, and then after leaving a voicemail I heard back from the nurse in my neuro's office who told me that they are waiting on the report, but the films came in, she could see them in the bin, doctor hasn't seen them yet. Oh, this is for my results of my brain MRI done on 1-19-18.
She told me that they wait for the report to call the patient.
Apparently, this time the snowbirds cannot be blamed the MRI is in the one that does the high tesla place that I always go to for the MS MRI scans these last several years, and I usually got back my reports within a few days, in a timely manner. They have not gotten back my report due to their large amount of radiologists leaving the group and they are the ones who read the MRIs and CATs and everything else there! They are one of the only high tesla equipped facilities that specializes in these things even having a 3D Mammogram that I was going to access in March, since they do prevent false positives! I previously went to my old internist doctor's, but no more.

They have one person doing all of them at this high tesla place!
Geez! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT???????????
Now what?
The nurse from the doctor's office said she was going to call over there too; after I confessed I had been calling there also, so as not to bother them first. She said no bother; see nice.

In my opinion... from my personal experience...
Neurologists and their staffs I have found are very delicate in the psyche departments, how ironic, truly!
Many, I have found are arrogant.
And these are NOT the NEUROSURGEONS, just neurologists, perhaps failed surgeons?!
NAH!
Maybe?
Most women though in the field seem more understanding to a point.
But none like being pushed when you prove they have people on their staff that are incompetent with ordering medications or such in wrong dangerous doses!
I have definitely had a one, ha, yup a one.
They protect them as if they are their children, no matter what, right or wrong!??????

So far it appears I have a good one this time, and so I am walking on eggshells not to rattle her or her wonderful competent staff!
Who truly try to help no matter what.

So now I wait for all the medicos to get their acts together, here in old folks retirement land!
With more offices of medical types, including urgent care, continuing to open and one hospital within my two mile radius changes hands several times over the many years that we have lived here, but we have two and that one is constant.
I feel more options should emerge?

Meanwhile, I went there to that particular one and due to their previous personal reputation with me that had me on good faith, perhaps new radiologists doctors will be hired there?
Who knows, who cares, I do.

That's it for tonight... tomorrow my latest BAD experience with screw up billing with Humana RX!
Stay tuned.

Happy good night!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

Cabin Fever! So we made a great escape!

So we released the hounds, in other words Hubby and I went out of our mini manse for a day of fun and pleasure! Onward to the premier, first effort and an excellent one I might say of Englewood's Seafood and Music Festival on W. Dearborn Street on the Sarasota County side, not the Englewood in Charlotte County side, got that?!

 You can see the men/boys, and women/girls dancing up front, yay for our generation!

 Act 3: https://www.act3live.com/ were incredible sending us off into so many familiar tunes from Motown, Bruno Mars, and Michael Jackson music that makes you want to sing and dance to, and so we did in our seats, but others got up and swayed or danced in front of the stage, like a geriatric Dick Clark's American Bandstand dance troupe! I use the term geriatric, although most were our age of baby boomers, but they were all in fine health or perhaps the music caused the effect? Loved them the band as well as the audience participation!

West Dearborn Street is a wonderful mishmash of antique shops, being green shops, recycling art galleries, restaurants, and blues music, in other words delightful!

A street entertainer was plucking an oldie tune out on his guitar as we left that amazing free parking lot with plenty of spaces, even a toilet facility, as well as a specific designated section for free recharging of your battery automobile!

 We will definitely return, it's been years since we visited this gem that is only a mere twenty-three miles to our north.

Info on historic Dearborn Street.

This volt is getting some voltage as I write.

Happy good night.

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

Same song another day later!

I suppose Hubby and I am about the same in how we feel, although... he made the effort to go pick up dinner tonight via Subway, sub shop not transportation.(For my NJ and NYC etc. peeps)

Any-who, all I can say is we do both have our appetites back, a good thing.
Although, oddly enough I never really lost mine, and I had Hubby eat too, something, anything, keeping up strength.
Now for the last few days the news has said that older people, not just sweet young children have been dying from heart attacks within ten days after the flu, due to having compromised immune systems from chronic diseases such as high blood pressure (Hubby), diabetes (me only pre), and asthma or autoimmune disorders such as Multiple sclerosis (me), CKD (me), Lupus etc. or just being older, over fifty!
Even with our flu shots on mine 9-6-17, and Hubby's 11-10-17 and thankfully even not heart disease hoping that makes a difference, and we did have those pneumonia shots forever also should be helpful too!????????

Scary just the same.
Remember folks DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN FOR THE FLU, REYES SYNDROME WILL HAPPEN TO ADULTS AS WELL AS CHILDREN!!!!!!!!

Love to all be well... keep those fluids and rest and Tylenol for fever happening!
Vicks vapor rub and vaporizers too are very helpful for congestion!
Keep out of reach of children for safety, in rooms, but high away from them and cords hidden all to be careful. Will still be beneficial.

Happy good night all.

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!
  

Feeling not so great

Hope whomever reads this is feeling okay without any flu symptoms.

Be well.

And if not.
Rest.
Drink plenty of liquids.

And call your pharmacist for some over the counter ideas, if real bad call the doctor; try not to go to the hospital or urgent care facilities, more sick people there to make you worse and waits also to make you sicker!
Don't forget to tell he/she pharmacist/doctor if you have high blood pressure or asthma or any other health issues that might not allow you take certain medications.
Remember pharmacist work longer hours and many pharmacies deliver.

Good luck!
AND
Good night!

 TTYT!