CGM Drama

I'm just gonna copy-and-paste about these CGM shenanigans which I posted about on FB...

About a month ago I went through the process of obtaining a continuous glucose monitoring system, I device which makes controlling my diabetes far easier by reading my glucose levels 24/7 through my skin, rather than requiring me to draw blood to be read on a glucometer 6 to 8 times a day. Part of that process entailed the company that provides the device, Dexcom, to make sure that the device is covered through my insurance company (you might see where this is going). I was told it was, and paid the copay over the phone, got my device and have been really excited and happy with it for the past three weeks. I just receive "payment details" from Blue Cross Blue Shield, informing me that my medical facility will be billing me $5,511.08. I called BCBS and sure enough, the device is not covered by my insurance company. There's nothing quite like bursting into tears while on the phone with a complete stranger. Merry Christmas to me! Apologies for the rant. I am grateful for the existence of health care in our country, and that my troubles are few, but this little "hassle" is quite a shitshow.

The medical device (Continuous Glucose Monitoring System - CGM) frustration continues. I'm posting about it with hopes that one of you may have a suggestion on how I should proceed. I paid $450 for the whole CGM starter kit (6 boxes of various things). Once I received the device and used it for 3 weeks, I was told insurance doesn't cover it (Edgepark, the pharmaceutical device provider had cleared it with insurance, then insurance back-tracked and said "oops! Just kidding! We don't cover it!"). Of boxes 1 through 6, I can return boxes 1 and 2. I will be charged $315 for box 3 because it was opened. Boxes 4, 5, and 6, *might* be returnable if Dexcom, the maker of the device allows it. While I understand I've used something that cannot be reused (from Box 3) I think it's complete crap that I should be expected to pay $315 for using a fraction of a starter kit that I got for $450 when the denial of coverage was not my fault to begin with. Suggestions? Contact the insurance company and make them pay for it since they approved, then denied the device to begin with?

UPDATE - I just spent over an hour on the phone with BCBS. They were pretty helpful actually. It appears that Boston University cherry picked what is and isn't covered within the BCBS plan they offer their employees. Certain pharmaceuticals are on that very long list of denied items. Edgepark will be appealing to BCBS to essentially waiver the cost of the items. If the appeal is denied, I might be billed over $2K, though the rep I spoke with doubts the appeal would be denied considering the ground of misinformation (BCBS saying they covered it and then retracting...or rather, Edgepark assuming it was covered then learning later about the cherry picking specific to BU). Fingers crossed I don't get billed and I also get refunded what I've already paid.

Tonight on my way home from work it occurred to me that the box of sensors have been opened. Whether one is missing for five is missing, it's all the same to Edgepark - it's been opened. So, I went home and hooked back up. May as well use it while I have it if I'm not opening any new boxes, right?

2017

So, I'll try and list the good stuff of 2016, and ignore the bad (which includes the horror that was and will continue to be, the change in our political situation). I'm not ignoring the things that hurt, I just want them to not be in the forefront for once. I need to be better about pushing that sad shit back and focusing on the good.

A super birthday celebration with Meg! Turning 40 was fun!
A family trip to DC
A visit to hang out with Shannon in western MA
Multiple visits with the Badens
My annual FL trip for fun, sun, and street "painting"
An amazing Girls Trip to Europe!
I took watercolor painting classes which I really loved and plan on continuing to do.

I don't believe in resolutions. As my friend Shannon pointed out in her New Year's blog entry today, you can make changes any day. I also feel that resolutions are a great way to fail...or rather, FEEL like a failure if you don't stick to them. I don't need any more self-criticism in my life, that's for sure!  While not too much has been added in the second half of the year (do to lack of interest, not lack of interesting things) into my Good Things Jar, I did remember an aspirational list I filled out last year and will now see how much I accomplished this past year

BREAK A BAD HABIT
I stopped drinking cocoa every night. Now I just have to tackle the ice cream habit.

VISIT A NEW PLACE
Paris, Brussels AND Barcelona!

READ A DIFFICULT BOOK
Again, I cheat in this area because I do so much audio listening, but I've listened to a few that were a challenge for me - Between The World and Me by Coates is one.

WRITE SOMETHING IMPORTANT
A respectful, succinct email I sent letting someone know how much they hurt me.

TRY A NEW FOOD
Socca in Nice, and Escargot in Eze (France)

LEARN SOMETHING NEW
watercoloring

DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE WHO CANNOT THANK YOU
Purchased and donated sleeping bags for Syrian refugees, purchased gifts for a family in need via a reputable gifting campaign

TAKE AN IMPORTANT RISK
I was brave last year and asked a lot of questions knowing the answers would hurt but needed to be asked.

OKPsycho

I've rejoined OKCupid, and have gone on a few dates. One guy was very nice but the conversation didn't flow at all. Another guy was interesting, but had no sense of humor and had lied about his age on the site, which I think, though not a deal-breaker, is a bit silly. None leading anywhere. No biggie.

Work is slow as the holiday approaches, and in a very unusual move, I messaged back and forth a lot with this one guy, Jason (that's his real name because I don't care about anonymity) yesterday. This is unusual because I think people can be on way online, and different in person. So, messaging a lot before meeting them is silly since you may have a nice online banter, but know within 30 seconds of meeting them for a drink that there is zero chemistry.

That's a lot of wasted time messaging a complete stranger.

Still, I wasted a lot of time with this guy just yesterday because the banter was fun.  I asked him out for coffee, and a few hours later, in the evening, I got this psycho message...

I did respond, saying I wasn't even on the site last year, and his nasty email makes it clear he's saved me some time. And good luck with your nice lady.

I have disabled my account. Not for good, but holy crap, I need a break from this ridiculousness. D-bags abound and sadly, it's not always obvious. To spend the day chatting with Jekyl to suddenly get Hyde (or is it the other way around?) doesn't instill much confidence in others.

Decorating the Tree

I went to Avon Street last night to help decorate the the massive tree Dad and I picked-up a few weeks ago. Here are two little interactions that made me laugh.

Mom was out so Dad and I got started by hauling up the labeled boxes from the basement. Ornaments and lights. Ornaments did in fact exist in the box labeled "tree" but alas, the lights were not in the box labeled "lights". Go figure.

We did find some other lights and Dad sat in a chair next to the tree regarding the box, considering whether he wanted to open it or not. I commented that they weren't the right lights - the bulbs were too big and I recommended we keep looking for the little twinkie lights. Dad considered this for a moment, and then read the fine print "But it says right here that this is the brand I trust!"

When Mom came home later, she decorated the mantle with cuttings from the tree while Dad navigated the lights onto the tree. The two went back and forth a bit about the extension cord being used. Mom was sure it had more than one outlet in it, and Dad thought that maybe it only had one. When he pulled it up from the floor to take a closer look, he realized that Mom had been right. He admitted as much and like a proper hip 74 year old, added "My bad"

To which my Mom replied, "Yes you are"

MacGyvering

Last night I covered an event for BU. It was basically a professorship reception. Young professors were granted professorships and this was their holiday gathering. Since it was set-up through the president's office, it was a big deal, the kind where I have to dress extra-presentable for.

I went to The Castle, which is on campus, for the event. I arrived early to set up lights for the group photo I knew would be shot. I started to unpack my lighting gear when I spotted someone who looked like an event planner. She was, and as I talked with her about lighting, it became very clear from her confused expression that I was at the wrong event. And that's when I realized I do not remember when I actually LOOKED at the paperwork regarding this assignment and as such, I'm not sure I actually ever knew where it was taking place.

Don't panic.

I pulled the assignment up in my phone and after much waiting and then searching through assignments in our online scheduling app, I found that the event I was supposed to be covering was two blocks away in the building which houses the office of the President of the university.

I called the organizer of THAT event and let her know what happened, and that I was on my way.

I arrived in plenty of time, and after seeing the space, knew I wouldn't be needing to set-up lights anyway.  The gajillionaire who funded the professorships was already there, but the event itself didn't start for another 15 minutes or so. I organized my gear to start photographing the set-up (food, flowers, etc).

Giant coat tucked away and now-unneeded lighting equipment in a closet, I pulled out my flash to attach it to the top of my camera. It would not fit. IT WOULD NOT FIT!  My brain went a million miles a minute - could I shoot this event with the available light in here? No, not really. Am I using a Nikon camera body and a Canon flash somehow? Is that why they don't fit? No. I don't have any back-up gear in my car and my car is three blocks away anyway. Is the lock on the flash locked down? No.

IT WILL NOT GO ON THE CAMERA! WHAT IS CAUSING THIS?!

And that when I looked closely and found that the track on top of the camera which the flash slides into before locking into place had been bent in somehow, preventing the flash from fitting in there.

Oh god, Oh god OH GOD!  Then again my brain starts going.
I have to MacGyver it. I have to MacGyver it!  How do I MacGyver it?!

I need a screwdriver. I don't have a screwdriver. I'm not gonna find one here either. I need something metal to bend the piece back again. I looked at the buffet table and spotted only sterling silver tongs. Those won't do. I went over to the bar which was run by two doe-eyed students. "Do you know where I can find a utensil?" I asked, likely a bit wild-eyed.

They said they had none, but the buffet table had forks. And so they did!

I grabbed one and discretely as possible, used it's tine to bend the part back. Then I said a little prayer as I reattached the flash.

PLEASE WORK
PLEASE WORK
PLEASE WORK

And it worked.   Evening saved!  Phew!

Stealing from Meg

This is a FB post from Meg. Since I love her and her kids and they bring me joy, I'm sharing it here.

The elf was found this morning slow dancing with the angel on top of the tree (I'd include a pic, but I'm not that fancy). Here's the convo that ensued:
S: "Are they gonna marry?"
E:" No! He is a magical elf who lives at the North Pole (said with wonder in her voice) and she is just a plastic angel-doll that lives on our Christmas tree for 2 months (said with disgust). "
According to her, they are from totally different worlds. It would never work. Obviously.

Super Bionic Woman Now

No, I am not sharing a photo of my belly for attention. That's silly.  I'm sharing it because technology is amazing and I am grateful for it.

The device on the right is my pump. I've had it for many years now. I draw blood from my hand (I use the heal of my palm but some people use their fingers - because they are masochists) and my glucometer tells the pump where my sugars are. So, basically every time I want to eat something, I'm supposed to check my sugars using the glucometer. I average 4 to 8 checks a day.

This device on the left now does this for me. In the morning and at night, I calibrate it by hcecking my sugars with a blood draw and the glucometer, but other than that, it checks my sugars through my skin, and sends that number to an app on my phone, every five minutes. Pretty amazing.

Now I don't have to guess where I am if I don't have my glucometer on me, and I can see how certain food effect my levels, because I can watch my sugars go up or down.  It alerts me if my sugars are too low or too high - it woke me this morning around 4 actually when I dipped too low.

I would have woken up eventually, but the dexcom did so before I felt completely miserable.

What's one more object hanging off me anyway?  

Dress 'em Up

Since I'm a titch mopey these days I'll share a story I got from Meg this morning. I often call Meg on my way into work between 8 and 9. She has usually dropped all the kids off at school and is free for a chat.

She told me that last week she sent Miles upstairs with a collection of clean laundry to put in Stella's room for her. Later on, Stella came home and hollered from her room "Mamaaaaa!"

Miles had taken all of the clean clothes and dressed each and every one of Stella's stuffed animals with them!

I asked her why he may have done it and she wasn't sure. I joked, "Do you think he got upstairs and forgot what the task was, and saw the clothes in his arms and figured he'd dress the stuffed animals?"

I love that kid.