08-06-2008, 08:21 AM
Cheffie.......you are tooooooooo funny. I have a sense here that my dogs will enjoy more of the beans than I will as most likely they will end up on my kitchen floor!
Saw a gadget on SKY this morning, the computer cook book. Apparently they want them for schools and you can access all the information regarding any recipe/prep/cooking/plate arrangement etc all at the press of a button.....don't know how you deal with hands that are full of ingredients when you want to change pages? :jester:
Jen
Thank you for coming on to the thread and I am sure many here will be glad to hear how you are doing. :hug:
It is great to hear you too received only the best care. I think this is crucial for any one facing serious illness. I can remember back to April when first diagnosis my main concern was not the cancer, it was how we were going to pay for everything. We are with Discovery Health but only the hospitalisation option. I understood that only the hospital part would be covered and only 70% of the surgeon and other specialist fee's.
I cannot tell you how worried I was but I should have known that God would have His plan...... :cloud9:
I did lot's of research into both cancer and the options open to me. I then went to the Discovery site and looked at what was available to me. In SA the medical aid schemes by law have to cover 27 chronic conditions known as the Chronic Disease List. There are obviously terms and conditions but basically once I had my diagnosis, I was registered by Discovery on their Oncology Management Programme.
Getting the diagnosis was the expensive part (mammogram, body bone scan, 2 ultra sound scans, X rays, blood tests, core biopsy and specialists fee's). Non of this part was covered but as soon as I was admitted to hospital, then the medical aid kicked in. With my research I was able to negotiate fee's with my surgeon and anaesthetist to ensure they would charge medical aid rates.
Once I left hospital and was through the surgery recovery stage, then it's on to the oncologist who has to be registered with Discovery on their approved list and you must receive approved medicines under their oncology management programme to be in the situation where the medical aid will then pay for all your treatment under the legislated Prescribed Minimum Benefits. Things that are not covered are the prosthesis and wigs etc
So for me, information and knowledge was key to my feeling of being 'in control' of the medical aid system here in SA. Discovery have been amazing and a representative even visited me in hospital and brought me a teddy! Then I received surprise 'pounds' from family in the UK which when converted to Rands covered all my diagnostic costs...........so I should not have worried.
I am feeling good one week after my first chemo and whilst the past week has not been easy, I at least now know what the after effects are, I am learning how to manage them. I am learning to go and rest when the fatigue set's in. Whilst I am not looking forward to my second session which is on June 20th, I at least now know what to expect. What I keep finding myself doing is checking my hair brush because I have this '14 days after chemo, the hair falls out' thing in my head......but my wig awaits me....so all is fine:chorus:
Durban is freezing today so my mate is already knitting me a multi coloured beanie. She reckons I can colour co-ordinate it with my wardrobe........don't you just love it. :hug:
Saw a gadget on SKY this morning, the computer cook book. Apparently they want them for schools and you can access all the information regarding any recipe/prep/cooking/plate arrangement etc all at the press of a button.....don't know how you deal with hands that are full of ingredients when you want to change pages? :jester:
Jen
Thank you for coming on to the thread and I am sure many here will be glad to hear how you are doing. :hug:
It is great to hear you too received only the best care. I think this is crucial for any one facing serious illness. I can remember back to April when first diagnosis my main concern was not the cancer, it was how we were going to pay for everything. We are with Discovery Health but only the hospitalisation option. I understood that only the hospital part would be covered and only 70% of the surgeon and other specialist fee's.
I cannot tell you how worried I was but I should have known that God would have His plan...... :cloud9:
I did lot's of research into both cancer and the options open to me. I then went to the Discovery site and looked at what was available to me. In SA the medical aid schemes by law have to cover 27 chronic conditions known as the Chronic Disease List. There are obviously terms and conditions but basically once I had my diagnosis, I was registered by Discovery on their Oncology Management Programme.
Getting the diagnosis was the expensive part (mammogram, body bone scan, 2 ultra sound scans, X rays, blood tests, core biopsy and specialists fee's). Non of this part was covered but as soon as I was admitted to hospital, then the medical aid kicked in. With my research I was able to negotiate fee's with my surgeon and anaesthetist to ensure they would charge medical aid rates.
Once I left hospital and was through the surgery recovery stage, then it's on to the oncologist who has to be registered with Discovery on their approved list and you must receive approved medicines under their oncology management programme to be in the situation where the medical aid will then pay for all your treatment under the legislated Prescribed Minimum Benefits. Things that are not covered are the prosthesis and wigs etc
So for me, information and knowledge was key to my feeling of being 'in control' of the medical aid system here in SA. Discovery have been amazing and a representative even visited me in hospital and brought me a teddy! Then I received surprise 'pounds' from family in the UK which when converted to Rands covered all my diagnostic costs...........so I should not have worried.
I am feeling good one week after my first chemo and whilst the past week has not been easy, I at least now know what the after effects are, I am learning how to manage them. I am learning to go and rest when the fatigue set's in. Whilst I am not looking forward to my second session which is on June 20th, I at least now know what to expect. What I keep finding myself doing is checking my hair brush because I have this '14 days after chemo, the hair falls out' thing in my head......but my wig awaits me....so all is fine:chorus:
Durban is freezing today so my mate is already knitting me a multi coloured beanie. She reckons I can colour co-ordinate it with my wardrobe........don't you just love it. :hug: