Author: kathleen

  • Irritated with Texas Retirement System

    Got a letter from a third party on the behalf of TRS.  They wanted me to check my status to see if I was eligible for disability.  Well, I was pretty sure I wasn’t though there online questionnaire says I am.  My part time pay is too high.

    I am always get Medicare mail, and I’m pretty sure either TRS or Texas Retired Teacher Association has sold my information, though I am voting highest for the Association.

    I have logged a complaint with TRS.

  • New insurance is going well

    Just got three months worth of Neupro — on it for Restless leg.  $30 for three months after insurance and savings card

    I'm close to getting the two monthly prescriptions at the same time — Victoza and Dexcom.  They are about $100 a month, but that was true when I was doing the old insurance.

    My part of my doctor's visits are averaging less than the copays I was paying.

    I'm about $2500 from meeting my out of pocket.  

    The key is not to use the mail order pharmacy because they can't accept savings card from the manufacturer.

     

     

  • Update on Previous Post thank you @rubenhealth

    Here's the previous post:  http://www.kweaver.org/blog/2018/01/new-endocrinologist-thanks-to-rubenhealth.html

    Basically my second Endo ever can't get his act together and be in network with Aetna.  Sad because my new Endo is.

    The good news: no bills since I wrote the letter firing them, though I did get an invite to the new clinic.  I do occasionally see them try to rerun the initial office visits which still show them out of network.

    I'm also $2500 from meeting my out of pocket. 

    Interesting news is that Dr. Lyde is in Aetna's network as of 3/15.

     

  • Need to follow my own advice

    Last night, I ripped off a Dexcom sensor.  I kept wanting to call them and see if they would replace it but I didn't.

    Finally the receiver and iPhone app were behaving badly this evening, so I did feel the need to call, because I didn't understand the non-message I was getting.

    Long story short, a new sensor is on the way.  

    As soon as this transmitter ends, I'm switching back to the two remaining Medtronics sensors and building up a buffer.

  • Dexcom Receiver problem solved

    My biggest problem with the Dexcom receiver is locating the blasted thing 😉

    Seriously. 

    I lost one because it fell out of my pocket into a suitcase when I was packing for a cruise. I think I found it when I got to the ship. 

    Well, CVS/Caremark is forcing me to go to the One Touch meter. The case that comes with the Vario is perfect, it holds the meter assembly, a Tile, and the Dexcom meter perfectly. It's because of the form factor of the test strip holder. 

    I am not too broken heartened over the Countour Next loss as I am going off the pump when I am out of supplies and I like the way the One Touch app works on the Apple devices. 

  • Kathleen Weaver

    I have lost a lot of weight with Jenny Craig but I have been stalled this year. A Facebook post reminded that JC is expensive, $140 a week.  With mystery shopping I can eat healthy and get a lot of lunches free.  This week I have two lunches scheduled. I like eating out, it makes me feel special and the whole Jenny Craig messes that part up in my head.

    I am starting with dinner tonight.

    Beef Stew and some kind of bread. That will make Rich happy.

     

  • My Dexcom Receiver arrived today

    It’s been a frustrating week. Few things have gone as smoothly as I would like. 

    We put in the script for Dexcom last Thursday. Transmitter and sensors arrived Friday and I got everything working but no receiver. 

    They reordered and finally heard back Wednesday that they were back ordered.  Came today. Super easy to hook up, just had to put my transmitter SN and it’s up and running. 

  • Finally going down in my insulin usage and interesting letters

    First, when I went on the VIctoza, I had some lows, so we went the wrong way in adjusting insulin usage.  Reducing insulin usage too much in this case was better than too little because I hate lows.  Smile

    First we have the basal and dropped the bolus dosage.  I even tried going off pump for a few days.  Didn’t work, my blood sugar was way too high.  So I decided to try halving the bolus dosage and that really helped. I still had to bump up the basal a bit, but I started waking up with blood sugars under 120.  This is a good thing.

    Lately I’ve seen fasting blood sugars in the 90-110 range, so I’m really glad.  The last couple of days I woke to blood sugars in the 90s, so now I’m bumping down the basal dosage a bit.  I’m also going to start watching after meal dosages more closely.

    The goal is to get off the pump when I run out of supplies.

    I’m thinking of turning off the USPS Informed Delivery.  Yesterday I got a letter from each diabetes doctor’s  office.  I knew the new doctor would be sending me a “thank you” for joining the practice, but since I had written a letter terminating services from the other diabetes doctor’s office, I was afraid this was a letter of protest.

    No, it was part of a mailing they had done to all their patients, inviting us to come to the new office. Don’t think so.

  • Good cornea news and good insurance news

    Had an appointment today with my cornea specialist.  She said I didn't need to come back unless I had another tear.

    Office visit was $14 with the new insurance – was $25.  Plus they over charged me last year and will be sending me a check. 

     

  • Things are looking good insurance wise

    I got on a “kick” today to make sure everything was straight insurance wise with my pharmacy since I got call that they were trying to get the doctor to respond on a prescription.

    So Freestyle Libre is cancelled everywhere.

    I picked up my Dexcom Transmitter and Sensor Friday and numbers are quite good since.  Let me tell you when that high blood sugar alert goes off, you stop eating.  Zero out of pocket.

    Met deductible on the 12th of January with my Victoria.  There was a huge out of pocket on that since I was still had not met. 

    The doctor’s appointment costs are interesting since I now pay 20%. 

    My costs to the endocrinologist has been $39.72 for office visit, where I paid $25.00 before.  My labs are another $40.00 so far.   That was usually $25 and $25 each.

    So far, it is all looking manageable.