3.18.2012
Drawing winner tomorrow-still time to enter giveaway!
Sorry for the delay on the giveaway! I will do the drawing tomorrow (I want Charlie to draw the name and he is already asleep). That means anyone wanting to get in on it, its not too late! :)
3.15.2012
The Price of HCG and Robin Hood
I often like to use my blog to post little lessons learned along the way as I navigate through fertility treatments and the process of being an out of town patient of Dr. Hilgers. I mentioned in my last post that I have benefits for hcg, but not through pharmaceutical benefits. Injectibles are only covered through medical on my plan (boy did I go round and round with them before getting someone to admit that!). That means I could go to the doctor every time I need a shot (hardly convenient considering my cycle doesn't conform to weekdays) or I can find a pharmacy that bills my drug as medical. To date the only pharmacy I know that can do this is the mail order pharmacy assosicated with my insurance. And I am grateful to have them-they never screw up the billing, they deliver to my door, and I get all the lovely extras like alcohol pad, a sharps container, etc.
Today C.igna Te.l Drug contacted me regarding the hcg order I placed the other day. I think, originally, she was calling to get my credit card information for the balance. I was wrestling AJ into a diaper and pjs when she called, and surprisingly I had my cell phone on me and chose to answer an unknown number. Another thing I love about the mail order pharmacy? She asked, so would you like to receive that tomorrow? Um, heck yeah! (I never pay anything for shipping and today is Peak plus 3!). During the course of her verifying information, she gave me the amount of the hcg. $152.63. I was a little surprised-our insurance coverage is worse (and costs more!) this year, but that much?! Then probed more and found out that was only one month's worth, as opposed to the 90 days they typically fill and I became very nervous. As Anthony interupted our conversation, yet again, the nice woman asked the question I can't stand from insurance companies. Is this for fertility? she asked. Shocked at how easily it came out of my mouth, I didn't think twice before I cooly denied it. She said, "I didn't think so, I can hear your little one, but that is how it is written down." I told her hormones can mess up a lot more than infertility, and asked if it was written that way from the doctor because I was shocked and she said no, probably the woman who received the fax wrote it up that way because it didn't say either way from the doctor's office. How annoying that they assumed something that would negatively effect my coverage! What if she hadn't asked me again? Well, turns out, I would have paid $152.63 for one month of medicine. And now that it isn't for fertility? I pay $0. That's right. Nothing. Nothing for 90 days worth of hcg. That is exactly what I've paid for it in the past. And exactly why I stockpile it like a hoarder and then give it away when I don't need it again. (Robin Hood reference).
What's the moral of this story? Um, let's just say I am struggling with that a little bit. I almost called this post, liar liar pants on fire. I mean, I know that I have a deficiency of hormones. I know that I am treating that problem and it results in my fertility to be better. I know that Dr. Hilgers calls it what it truly is and that is why he sees better coverage with his more accurate diagnosis codes. But tonight, what she asked and what I answered, it didn't like in the past. I don't know if that was because the exact question was worded just differently enough...?. Normally I feel like what I am saying is more accurate. And tonight, tonight it felt like I was lying. So I will have to think about that one. Part of me wants to say that insurance companies are evil and that there should be coverage for this and they deserve it. But then I see the parental eyebrow raise and I lower my eyes to the floor in order to avoid eye contact and I don't feel like its justifiable. I am interested in your all's thoughts...
Today C.igna Te.l Drug contacted me regarding the hcg order I placed the other day. I think, originally, she was calling to get my credit card information for the balance. I was wrestling AJ into a diaper and pjs when she called, and surprisingly I had my cell phone on me and chose to answer an unknown number. Another thing I love about the mail order pharmacy? She asked, so would you like to receive that tomorrow? Um, heck yeah! (I never pay anything for shipping and today is Peak plus 3!). During the course of her verifying information, she gave me the amount of the hcg. $152.63. I was a little surprised-our insurance coverage is worse (and costs more!) this year, but that much?! Then probed more and found out that was only one month's worth, as opposed to the 90 days they typically fill and I became very nervous. As Anthony interupted our conversation, yet again, the nice woman asked the question I can't stand from insurance companies. Is this for fertility? she asked. Shocked at how easily it came out of my mouth, I didn't think twice before I cooly denied it. She said, "I didn't think so, I can hear your little one, but that is how it is written down." I told her hormones can mess up a lot more than infertility, and asked if it was written that way from the doctor because I was shocked and she said no, probably the woman who received the fax wrote it up that way because it didn't say either way from the doctor's office. How annoying that they assumed something that would negatively effect my coverage! What if she hadn't asked me again? Well, turns out, I would have paid $152.63 for one month of medicine. And now that it isn't for fertility? I pay $0. That's right. Nothing. Nothing for 90 days worth of hcg. That is exactly what I've paid for it in the past. And exactly why I stockpile it like a hoarder and then give it away when I don't need it again. (Robin Hood reference).
What's the moral of this story? Um, let's just say I am struggling with that a little bit. I almost called this post, liar liar pants on fire. I mean, I know that I have a deficiency of hormones. I know that I am treating that problem and it results in my fertility to be better. I know that Dr. Hilgers calls it what it truly is and that is why he sees better coverage with his more accurate diagnosis codes. But tonight, what she asked and what I answered, it didn't like in the past. I don't know if that was because the exact question was worded just differently enough...?. Normally I feel like what I am saying is more accurate. And tonight, tonight it felt like I was lying. So I will have to think about that one. Part of me wants to say that insurance companies are evil and that there should be coverage for this and they deserve it. But then I see the parental eyebrow raise and I lower my eyes to the floor in order to avoid eye contact and I don't feel like its justifiable. I am interested in your all's thoughts...
3.13.2012
The Unmedicated Me
In case I forgot how sad my fertility was without medication, I got a reminder today. The blood the lab accidently held onto was finally sent and analyzed to PPVI. A quick recap, cycle 1 post nursing I was unable to get a P+7 because that was the day I started my period. I think that is very telling. Short post peak phase is common for me unmedicated, due to my Lutenized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome S(LUFS).
So, without further ado....(drum roll please):
Cycle 2 progesterone was 1.1 and estradiol 2.7. Yes, you read the right. Its a wonder I am female at all with those puny numbers! Cycle 3 progesterone was 8.4 and estradiol 12.1.
Some of you comparing may see the estradiol is in different units than you are used to. They want it to be 12, while they want progesterone to be around 13. I was glad the estradiol went up so much because estrogen pills is something I will no longer be taking due to my clotting disorder (Factor V Leiden). Hcg used to be enough for my est and prog, but following my 2nd miscarriage I was supplemented with estrogen pills. I hope that hcg will keep everything where it should be. They put me on 2000 units on P+3, 5 ,7, and 9. I was a little surprised at that (an error?), given my history of allergic reaction (my hands swelled and were hot). However, when I got back in touch with the nurse said since it had been awhile it was okay to try again. So, I've been having peak type CM for a few days now. Post peak (if we can get the meds in time) I will take the hcg and repeat the labs (we are still avoiding-we have to get the meds in line first). Then next cycle we will add the clomid (better to do one at a time given the reaction). And if the blood work is good then, we will be given the all clear to TTC. (It would have been sooner if the lab hadn't forgotten to ship the blood etc).
So for now it is back to the crazy world of injecting myself in the belly. I only did this very few times before since I got pregnant with AJ so fast and before that it was intramuscular like the progesterone. I don't mind needles at all, but sticking myself is something it takes getting used to for sure!
Also, I am praying we have the good fortune we did in the past with insurance. One thing I have learned is to use the home delivery pharamacy attached to my insurance. The main reason is my insurance covers the injection under medical, not pharmacy benefits, and so this is the only way to get it covered. Secondly, its pretty cheap. You get 90 days worth instead of 30. They also send alcohol pads, sharps container, syringes, everything you could possibly need. It was nice to be so well equipped-literally! I hope that tidbit helps some some of you out there. That was the original point of my blog-for girls that are doing Napro to learn from my errors so you all get it right the first time :) (The second purpose was to spread the word about Napro and encourage women to truly heal rather than to treat the symptoms, as well as to morally treat infertility).
One last thing-the giveaway is still going on so please read my last post to get entered!
So, without further ado....(drum roll please):
Cycle 2 progesterone was 1.1 and estradiol 2.7. Yes, you read the right. Its a wonder I am female at all with those puny numbers! Cycle 3 progesterone was 8.4 and estradiol 12.1.
Some of you comparing may see the estradiol is in different units than you are used to. They want it to be 12, while they want progesterone to be around 13. I was glad the estradiol went up so much because estrogen pills is something I will no longer be taking due to my clotting disorder (Factor V Leiden). Hcg used to be enough for my est and prog, but following my 2nd miscarriage I was supplemented with estrogen pills. I hope that hcg will keep everything where it should be. They put me on 2000 units on P+3, 5 ,7, and 9. I was a little surprised at that (an error?), given my history of allergic reaction (my hands swelled and were hot). However, when I got back in touch with the nurse said since it had been awhile it was okay to try again. So, I've been having peak type CM for a few days now. Post peak (if we can get the meds in time) I will take the hcg and repeat the labs (we are still avoiding-we have to get the meds in line first). Then next cycle we will add the clomid (better to do one at a time given the reaction). And if the blood work is good then, we will be given the all clear to TTC. (It would have been sooner if the lab hadn't forgotten to ship the blood etc).
So for now it is back to the crazy world of injecting myself in the belly. I only did this very few times before since I got pregnant with AJ so fast and before that it was intramuscular like the progesterone. I don't mind needles at all, but sticking myself is something it takes getting used to for sure!
Also, I am praying we have the good fortune we did in the past with insurance. One thing I have learned is to use the home delivery pharamacy attached to my insurance. The main reason is my insurance covers the injection under medical, not pharmacy benefits, and so this is the only way to get it covered. Secondly, its pretty cheap. You get 90 days worth instead of 30. They also send alcohol pads, sharps container, syringes, everything you could possibly need. It was nice to be so well equipped-literally! I hope that tidbit helps some some of you out there. That was the original point of my blog-for girls that are doing Napro to learn from my errors so you all get it right the first time :) (The second purpose was to spread the word about Napro and encourage women to truly heal rather than to treat the symptoms, as well as to morally treat infertility).
One last thing-the giveaway is still going on so please read my last post to get entered!
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