I went to water aerobics at the YMCA tonight. I took a friend with me. I kicked his ass, nearly had to save him in the deep end. It was reminiscent of when we got caught in the riptide last April. He blamed the flotation device, not sure if he meant the float belt or well um…I’ll be nice. =) Sure fat floats, but that’s part of the skill of deep water exercise is using your core muscles to balance and control your movements.
After class, I went to the members’ desk and asked if I could get a refund for credit for my dance class. I filled out the form, stating my reason as “class above my skill level”. Hopefully, I’ll at least get partial credit.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
Tonight Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution debuts on ABC.
The series focuses on the people of Huntington, West Virginia. In 2008, Huntington was named the Nation's Unhealthiest City.
I am particularly interested in watching because I grew up just an hour down river from Huntington. I would guess that my hometown was used in calculating the over all tri-state area level of health. A sad reality I've noticed when I grocery shop at home is that the healthier foods I buy cost more in my hometown than they do here in Miami. Only recently has the WIC program covered fresh fruits and vegetables. I look forward to see what progress Jamie was able to make, and how many eyes across the nation will be opened.
The series focuses on the people of Huntington, West Virginia. In 2008, Huntington was named the Nation's Unhealthiest City.
I am particularly interested in watching because I grew up just an hour down river from Huntington. I would guess that my hometown was used in calculating the over all tri-state area level of health. A sad reality I've noticed when I grocery shop at home is that the healthier foods I buy cost more in my hometown than they do here in Miami. Only recently has the WIC program covered fresh fruits and vegetables. I look forward to see what progress Jamie was able to make, and how many eyes across the nation will be opened.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
So you think I can dance?
Well, I did at least try…and that’s what counts, right?
Last night was the first night of my Beginner Adult Ballet/Modern dance class at the YMCA. This is the class I mentioned being excited about, but has to switch sessions because I was sick and was going to be out of town and didn't want to miss two classes of the last session.
So it was me, woman who minored in dance, and the instructor.
There was a kid’s movie event in the next room so we had an audience through the windows…and yes one kid stood with his face against the glass staring at us almost the entire time.
Things started out well. Warm up stretches seated on the floor. Pass.
Then she brought out the bar. Plies, position 1, 2 and 3…foot ON the bar. Total PASS!
Next…jumps. This is where the beginner part ended and I felt like WTH? Total modification time. Just bounce instead of full jump…and it was still a FAIL.
Ballet over time for Modern…Skip jumps! Diagonal across the entire studio. So we’re jumping and running. OMG
So I reach back into my kindergarten days and remind myself how to skip. And I give it the old college try. My 4 jumps would barely get me ½ across the studio while they made it all the way across. But surprisingly I wasn’t any more short of breath than they were.
Ok now skip jump forward, and kick slide backs. Near collision. FAIL
And finally choreography time. Because this is session II of Spring, they have already been working on this during session I and for Fall the YMCA rented a theater and all the classes performed.
Uh, I don’t think so.
While class is wrapping up, I see my normal Friday night water aerobics crew head to the outdoor pool and I thought “why the hell am I in here when I’d rather be out there?” And I could have taken my bathing suit and joined the other class late, but for the first night I wanted to just see how things went.
As I’m walking out I notice the “sponsor” of studio.
Not sure if I will return. Not their fault. Just doesn’t seem to be the right fit.
Last night was the first night of my Beginner Adult Ballet/Modern dance class at the YMCA. This is the class I mentioned being excited about, but has to switch sessions because I was sick and was going to be out of town and didn't want to miss two classes of the last session.
So it was me, woman who minored in dance, and the instructor.
There was a kid’s movie event in the next room so we had an audience through the windows…and yes one kid stood with his face against the glass staring at us almost the entire time.
Things started out well. Warm up stretches seated on the floor. Pass.
Then she brought out the bar. Plies, position 1, 2 and 3…foot ON the bar. Total PASS!
Next…jumps. This is where the beginner part ended and I felt like WTH? Total modification time. Just bounce instead of full jump…and it was still a FAIL.
Ballet over time for Modern…Skip jumps! Diagonal across the entire studio. So we’re jumping and running. OMG
So I reach back into my kindergarten days and remind myself how to skip. And I give it the old college try. My 4 jumps would barely get me ½ across the studio while they made it all the way across. But surprisingly I wasn’t any more short of breath than they were.
Ok now skip jump forward, and kick slide backs. Near collision. FAIL
And finally choreography time. Because this is session II of Spring, they have already been working on this during session I and for Fall the YMCA rented a theater and all the classes performed.
Uh, I don’t think so.
While class is wrapping up, I see my normal Friday night water aerobics crew head to the outdoor pool and I thought “why the hell am I in here when I’d rather be out there?” And I could have taken my bathing suit and joined the other class late, but for the first night I wanted to just see how things went.
As I’m walking out I notice the “sponsor” of studio.
Not sure if I will return. Not their fault. Just doesn’t seem to be the right fit.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
March is DVT Awareness Month
My personal experience with DVT occurred in September 2004. I developed a severe case of cellulitis in my legs and was admitted to the hospital. Because the symptoms of a DVT are similar to those of cellulitis doctors typically ordered an ultrasound of my legs to “rule out DVT”. Now for those of you, who think the pressure of an ultrasound is uncomfortable, imagine that pressure when your legs are in burning pain. So during this particular ultrasound I hear the tech say “no venous flow”. I asked her if I had a clot and she replied “the doctor has to give you the results”. Well of course I knew enough that “no venous flow” meant there was a blood clot and as soon as I was taken back to my room the doctor came in can confirmed. I had both cellulitis and a DVT in my left leg. I was given heparin and antibiotics via IV and was in the hospital for 10 days.
That was just the beginning….
Two months later, I had been cleared to receive compression therapy for my lymphedema. One morning as I drove to my appointment the entire left side of my face felt numb. I told this to my occupational therapists and I could tell by their response something was wrong. They were concerned if I would be able to safely drive back to work. I assured them I was o.k. and promised to call my doctor. I called the doctor when I got back to my office. Her office partner told me to go the ER if the symptoms did not improve, but given my age and that I was on Coumadin, she did suspect a stroke.
The symptoms went away so I didn’t worry.
Until a few months later when I woke up and my right arm felt like it was asleep and nothing I did would make it “wake up”. I went to my doctor and she ordered a CT scan of my head. The scan showed evidence of a stroke, but in the right side of my brain, so since strokes affect the opposite side of the body it was still unclear what was happening. My doctor referred me to a neurologist.
The neurologist suspected the episodes were TIAs (Trans ischemic attack) or mini-stroke. Thankfully, this was after I had lost nearly 200lbs or I’m sure things would have been much worse. Next, the neurologist ordered blood work, ultrasounds of the vessels in my head and neck and a consult with a cardiologist.
I tested negative for Factor v Leiden, which I knew I would, my family are bleeders not clotters. After a full blood work up I tested negative for any clotting issue.
The ultrasounds all came back clear. My vessels were fine. However, the shunt study showed that tiny saline bubbles injected into my veins were traveling to my brain.
Tiny bubbles….
Were crossing through a hole in my heart, bypassing my lungs and going straight to my brain. Just like the tiny little blood clot did. This was all confirmed by the cardiologist, who did an echo cardiogram and also injected tiny saline bubbles and saw them cross from one chamber of my heart to another.
I was 28 years old and they were just discovering that I was born with PFO (patent foramen ovale) a hole in my heart.
Thankfully, after further consultation among all my doctors the hole was easily closed with a tiny screen via a catheter.
It took nearly a year for the hole to completely heal over. I have several more bubble studies, until finally one day there were no more tiny blips on the screen which indicated bubbles. I was so relieved I broke in tears. It had been a nearly 18 month ordeal.
I am thankful that today everything is “normal”. I will always be at higher risk for blood clot and the numerous infections have damaged the vessels and valves in my legs. However, my neurologist and cardiologist have given me a clean bill of health and say I’m at no higher risk of a stroke than any other person of my weight and age…wait is that good?
I take a daily aspirin, stay hydrated, and take extra precaution when flying or taking long car rides. While the ordeal was quite scary at times, I now look at it as a blessing in disguise. Had I not had the DVT and TIA, the PFO would have not been discovered and closed.
Ri-FRICKIN-diculous
Originally posted on my HealthInsuranceBitch blog.
It has been more than a year since I got my last pair of compression garments for my lymphedema. One pair. I should get two pair every six months. Since I should have a pair to wash and a pair to wear each day and the elasticity begins to wear out after six months. But as hard as it is to get one pair I have NEVER gotten four pair a year. Instead I wear the one pair I have over again for several days and then wash them and hope they are dry by the next morning. At least at this point in time I have some old pairs that I can wear, even if it means the worn out elasticity will allow my legs to swell, it’s still less than swelling than if I wore no garments at all.
I bring this up because I’ve had my garments for a year and yet my DME provider has yet to be paid. I’m past due for a new pair and yet I how can I get another pair when the provider hasn’t been paid from last year?
Oh sure, I could just pay out pocket. However, I’m currently paying COBRA out of pocket because I’m out of work. It’s more difficult to find a job when you have a chronic condition affecting your legs. If I could go work at Target or Home Depot and be on my feet all day I would. But I cannot.
The better option would be if my insurance company would follow their OWN policy and pay the claim.
Here’s the issue…and your lesson for the day, so get a pen and paper.
NETWORK GAP COVERAGE
Since my insurance company has no in-network provider within a 50 mile radius of my home that can provide the medically necessary treatment my doctor prescribes my insurance company has to cover an out-of-network provider at my in-network benefit level.
Understand? I do. Obviously they don’t. Despite going over it EVERY YEAR…they still don’t seem to understand.
Due to the size and shape of my legs, my compression garments have to be custom fitted. Once made custom fitted garments cannot be altered. So if the measurements are not taken correctly, the $300 pair of garments are a waste of time and money. For this reason, the company only takes orders from certified fitters whom they train. So if a provider has no employees who are certified fitters, they cannot provide my garments for me.
My search begins with cross referencing the garment company’s list of certified fitters with my insurance company’s list of DME providers within a 50 mile radius of my home. That list indicated there were no DME providers in my network that could provide the garment I needed. To double check I called every DME provider on my insurance company’s list. I documented who I spoke with, and asked if they were able to provide the specific custom fitted garment I need. They all said no.
So then I contact my insurance company and request that I can go out of network at in-network benefit level. This process has gone different ways. A previous insurance company agreed and my out of network provider filed the claim and was paid. My current insurance company would not authorize, and the provider was leery of accepting direct payment because of past issues with the company. So I paid out of pocket and with the assistance of the provider filed the claim with all my documentation for reimbursement from the insurance company.
Last year, well about 13 months ago, in the hopes of saving the round-a-bout hassle that every time comes back to “there is no in-network provider”, I asked if the insurance company would just pre-authorize me to go out of network. I was told I would have to file the claim and appeal.
An appeal only costs me time and a stamp, while it costs the insurance company time and an hourly wage to pay some to process it. When in the end I will win, it’s been established, I am right in this matter. So since my employer is self-insured I asked if the Benefits Administrator could order my insurance company to give the pre-authorization. I was told yes.
So I spoke with the Benefits Administrator about the issue. She knew me well, as I have filed and won other appeals. She knows I know my stuff and I’m not asking for anything unnecessary. She said “send me and e-mail”. I sent her the details. And within a few days I had a case manager calling me to set things up with authorization and wanting to make sure I got exactly what I needed. I should have known NOTHING IS THAT EASY.
That was March 2009, fast forward to February 2010, I get a phone call from my garment provider stating my insurance had denied the claim, and all their appeals…even though they had an authorization number.
I was pissed.
I immediately call the insurance company and was told that the claim was processed as out of network and therefore I would owe my out of network deductible. I corrected them and explained the authorization from the Benefits Administrator indicated it had to be processed as in-network. The woman claimed the authorization never specified in-network. WTH, there would be no need for the Benefits Administrator to intervene in the matter if this was a normal out of network claim.
So I e-mail the Benefits Administrator, recap the entire situation. She replies back the next day and cc’d someone from the insurance company. The next day the woman from the insurance company replies and apologizes for the mistake and states the claim will be reprocessed correctly and the provider paid. That was February 2, 2010.
I wait a couple weeks and checked my claims online. No changes. I call the provider; they state they did receive the information but still no payment.
So today, I check my claims online. No changes. I call the provider. No payment.
I fired off yet another e-mail to Benefits Administrator and woman from the insurance company. I remind them that by wearing my compression garments I SAVE them money because the garments have reduced my hospitalizations due to cellulitis.
Ri-FRICKIN-diculous
It has been more than a year since I got my last pair of compression garments for my lymphedema. One pair. I should get two pair every six months. Since I should have a pair to wash and a pair to wear each day and the elasticity begins to wear out after six months. But as hard as it is to get one pair I have NEVER gotten four pair a year. Instead I wear the one pair I have over again for several days and then wash them and hope they are dry by the next morning. At least at this point in time I have some old pairs that I can wear, even if it means the worn out elasticity will allow my legs to swell, it’s still less than swelling than if I wore no garments at all.
I bring this up because I’ve had my garments for a year and yet my DME provider has yet to be paid. I’m past due for a new pair and yet I how can I get another pair when the provider hasn’t been paid from last year?
Oh sure, I could just pay out pocket. However, I’m currently paying COBRA out of pocket because I’m out of work. It’s more difficult to find a job when you have a chronic condition affecting your legs. If I could go work at Target or Home Depot and be on my feet all day I would. But I cannot.
The better option would be if my insurance company would follow their OWN policy and pay the claim.
Here’s the issue…and your lesson for the day, so get a pen and paper.
NETWORK GAP COVERAGE
Since my insurance company has no in-network provider within a 50 mile radius of my home that can provide the medically necessary treatment my doctor prescribes my insurance company has to cover an out-of-network provider at my in-network benefit level.
Understand? I do. Obviously they don’t. Despite going over it EVERY YEAR…they still don’t seem to understand.
Due to the size and shape of my legs, my compression garments have to be custom fitted. Once made custom fitted garments cannot be altered. So if the measurements are not taken correctly, the $300 pair of garments are a waste of time and money. For this reason, the company only takes orders from certified fitters whom they train. So if a provider has no employees who are certified fitters, they cannot provide my garments for me.
My search begins with cross referencing the garment company’s list of certified fitters with my insurance company’s list of DME providers within a 50 mile radius of my home. That list indicated there were no DME providers in my network that could provide the garment I needed. To double check I called every DME provider on my insurance company’s list. I documented who I spoke with, and asked if they were able to provide the specific custom fitted garment I need. They all said no.
So then I contact my insurance company and request that I can go out of network at in-network benefit level. This process has gone different ways. A previous insurance company agreed and my out of network provider filed the claim and was paid. My current insurance company would not authorize, and the provider was leery of accepting direct payment because of past issues with the company. So I paid out of pocket and with the assistance of the provider filed the claim with all my documentation for reimbursement from the insurance company.
Last year, well about 13 months ago, in the hopes of saving the round-a-bout hassle that every time comes back to “there is no in-network provider”, I asked if the insurance company would just pre-authorize me to go out of network. I was told I would have to file the claim and appeal.
An appeal only costs me time and a stamp, while it costs the insurance company time and an hourly wage to pay some to process it. When in the end I will win, it’s been established, I am right in this matter. So since my employer is self-insured I asked if the Benefits Administrator could order my insurance company to give the pre-authorization. I was told yes.
So I spoke with the Benefits Administrator about the issue. She knew me well, as I have filed and won other appeals. She knows I know my stuff and I’m not asking for anything unnecessary. She said “send me and e-mail”. I sent her the details. And within a few days I had a case manager calling me to set things up with authorization and wanting to make sure I got exactly what I needed. I should have known NOTHING IS THAT EASY.
That was March 2009, fast forward to February 2010, I get a phone call from my garment provider stating my insurance had denied the claim, and all their appeals…even though they had an authorization number.
I was pissed.
I immediately call the insurance company and was told that the claim was processed as out of network and therefore I would owe my out of network deductible. I corrected them and explained the authorization from the Benefits Administrator indicated it had to be processed as in-network. The woman claimed the authorization never specified in-network. WTH, there would be no need for the Benefits Administrator to intervene in the matter if this was a normal out of network claim.
So I e-mail the Benefits Administrator, recap the entire situation. She replies back the next day and cc’d someone from the insurance company. The next day the woman from the insurance company replies and apologizes for the mistake and states the claim will be reprocessed correctly and the provider paid. That was February 2, 2010.
I wait a couple weeks and checked my claims online. No changes. I call the provider; they state they did receive the information but still no payment.
So today, I check my claims online. No changes. I call the provider. No payment.
I fired off yet another e-mail to Benefits Administrator and woman from the insurance company. I remind them that by wearing my compression garments I SAVE them money because the garments have reduced my hospitalizations due to cellulitis.
Ri-FRICKIN-diculous
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Disturbing.
I know my last post joked about the idea of being paid to eat.
But this woman's story is just disturbing...and disgusting.
From someone who has been over 500lbs, I would never WANT to do that to myself.
It's suicide.
Interview: NJ Woman Paid to Gain Weight - From MyFoxPhilly.com
A New Jersey woman weighs 550 pounds. She does not want to lose weight. In fact, she is gaining weight and getting paid to do so!
Fox 29’s Sharon Crowley interviewed Donna Simpson. She is a 42 year-old mother of two who hails from Old Bridge, NJ.
The Guinness Book of World Records claims she is the heaviest mom to give birth. Now, she posts her pound-packing-progress on her own website.
Her loyal followers pay to see her provocative pictures. They watch her eat. They send her food.
Donna is now going to try and get up to an astounding 1,000 pounds.
Her fans are excited and so is Donna.
Donna’s unique take on this all? “I’m taking it as it goes. I’m accepting myself as is.”
Hello? I'm accepting myself as it is too. And I'm taking the responsibility for my health. It's a battle to stay healthy, but I'm doing it. There is a difference of between being yourself and taking drastic measures to change yourself for the sake of publicity and money. The money issue of this gives me the creeps. I'm all for Google ads, and various ways to make money off a blog. But pictures of her eating, and various other poses for chubby chasers to pay to see and get their kicks....ewwww.
I can see as compared to site where men pay to see big breasted women what's the problem??? I guess where breast enhancement surgery does come with risks, not as many risks as being SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE. And this woman has kids???? How irresponsible as a mother.
My heart goes out to people who are SMO and struggle with their condition, I know how difficult it is to be SMO and to find help in losing weight. It's a tragic condition.
So I have little sympathy for someone who purposely does that to themselves.
But this woman's story is just disturbing...and disgusting.
From someone who has been over 500lbs, I would never WANT to do that to myself.
It's suicide.
Interview: NJ Woman Paid to Gain Weight - From MyFoxPhilly.com
A New Jersey woman weighs 550 pounds. She does not want to lose weight. In fact, she is gaining weight and getting paid to do so!
Fox 29’s Sharon Crowley interviewed Donna Simpson. She is a 42 year-old mother of two who hails from Old Bridge, NJ.
The Guinness Book of World Records claims she is the heaviest mom to give birth. Now, she posts her pound-packing-progress on her own website.
Her loyal followers pay to see her provocative pictures. They watch her eat. They send her food.
Donna is now going to try and get up to an astounding 1,000 pounds.
Her fans are excited and so is Donna.
Donna’s unique take on this all? “I’m taking it as it goes. I’m accepting myself as is.”
Hello? I'm accepting myself as it is too. And I'm taking the responsibility for my health. It's a battle to stay healthy, but I'm doing it. There is a difference of between being yourself and taking drastic measures to change yourself for the sake of publicity and money. The money issue of this gives me the creeps. I'm all for Google ads, and various ways to make money off a blog. But pictures of her eating, and various other poses for chubby chasers to pay to see and get their kicks....ewwww.
I can see as compared to site where men pay to see big breasted women what's the problem??? I guess where breast enhancement surgery does come with risks, not as many risks as being SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE. And this woman has kids???? How irresponsible as a mother.
My heart goes out to people who are SMO and struggle with their condition, I know how difficult it is to be SMO and to find help in losing weight. It's a tragic condition.
So I have little sympathy for someone who purposely does that to themselves.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Get Paid to Eat!!!
From MumbaiMirror:
Wanted: a pro couch potato who’ll get paid to eat more!
By ANI
Posted On Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 04:18:06 AM
London: A company is looking to hire a “professional couch potato” who will be required to do nothing but eat more junk food - and get paid for it.
The firm Proactol Ltd is inviting applications to test their fat binder, which allegedly absorbs up to 30 per cent of fat intake, the Telegraph reported.
Officials are willing to pay £23,750 to a “worker” who will eat 400 extra calories every day in high fat meals such as chips and pizzas during the initial in-house monitoring period to test the fat binding properties of a weight loss product.
“It’s the ultimate work-from-home-job,” the company said. The successful applicant will get to work from home, with supplies being delivered to their door.
The ad reads: “We know it’s incredible, but it’s true. We are willing to pay you £23,750 a year to continue doing EXACTLY what you do every single day, and all we ask is you eat 16 per cent more calories a week - or 400 more calories a day - whilst introducing Proactol to your diet.
“The ideal candidate should not already be on a diet but eat a healthy balance of carbohydrates, fats and proteins and be prepared to increase their existing calorie intake by 16 per cent a week by eating fatty foods such as Chinese takeaways, fish and chips, pizza. Essentially we want you to be yourself. No strings.”
How do I apply??? 400 extra calories a day really isn't that hard to do...this is a bit more amatuer than pro. Let's see I typically eat a balanced diet, with an occasional dining out or home delivered meal. Seriously, I could so do this job. Although the drug sounds a bit too much like Xenical aka Alli...and uh no thanks.
Wanted: a pro couch potato who’ll get paid to eat more!
By ANI
Posted On Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 04:18:06 AM
London: A company is looking to hire a “professional couch potato” who will be required to do nothing but eat more junk food - and get paid for it.
The firm Proactol Ltd is inviting applications to test their fat binder, which allegedly absorbs up to 30 per cent of fat intake, the Telegraph reported.
Officials are willing to pay £23,750 to a “worker” who will eat 400 extra calories every day in high fat meals such as chips and pizzas during the initial in-house monitoring period to test the fat binding properties of a weight loss product.
“It’s the ultimate work-from-home-job,” the company said. The successful applicant will get to work from home, with supplies being delivered to their door.
The ad reads: “We know it’s incredible, but it’s true. We are willing to pay you £23,750 a year to continue doing EXACTLY what you do every single day, and all we ask is you eat 16 per cent more calories a week - or 400 more calories a day - whilst introducing Proactol to your diet.
“The ideal candidate should not already be on a diet but eat a healthy balance of carbohydrates, fats and proteins and be prepared to increase their existing calorie intake by 16 per cent a week by eating fatty foods such as Chinese takeaways, fish and chips, pizza. Essentially we want you to be yourself. No strings.”
How do I apply??? 400 extra calories a day really isn't that hard to do...this is a bit more amatuer than pro. Let's see I typically eat a balanced diet, with an occasional dining out or home delivered meal. Seriously, I could so do this job. Although the drug sounds a bit too much like Xenical aka Alli...and uh no thanks.
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