To Be or Not To Be...Reconstructed. THAT is the Question

Well, I met with the reconstruction surgeon today for my follow up appointment.
He had ordered a duplex ultrasound to check the viability of my blood vessels to see if I was a good candidate for the surgery.

So, I went in and he had the results and yes, my blood vessels are okay, so now we are faced with some decisions. First of all, though, I have to be finished with the chemo for one month before the first surgery.

The first surgery will be a literal slice across my lower abdomen.

The surgery is called a “delay” and it is to “retrain” my blood vessels to work and go the direction the full surgery will require in order for the tissue to live.

So, I would have that first surgery and then two weeks later, the actual reconstruction.

I will be out of work for two and half to three months.

There is a bit of transitioning going on at my place of employment. I basically will be working for another company but won’t have to leave my desk. If you understand government contracts, then you know what I am talking about. If you are clueless about government contracts, then maybe they will be hiring. LOL

Anyway, if I am on short-term disability before I transition to the new company, they do not have to hire me...and why would they? I cost a fortune as far as insurance and medical liability go. Sad but true. Now, if I wait until after I am with the new company, then my insurance will change and I will have a significant out of pocket for this surgery.

Bilateral reconstruction is the one and only surgery of the day for the surgeon.

It also requires a three day stay in ICU. I think I mentioned that before…and was sure that I was wrong about it. No, actually I was right. Three days. ICU. Lots of drugs. Astronomical cost.

So, an operating room for 12 hours followed by a 3 day stay in ICU, well, you can easily see why I need to have this procedure AFTER I have met my out of pocket for the year.

I met my out of pocket maximum a couple of months ago... For those who don't know, this means anything else I have done, outside of office visit co-pays, I am not financially responsible for. Tests, scans, MRI's, surgeries, labs, chemo, etc.

The reconstruction surgery will probably cost around one million dollars.

I will owe 20% of the total cost unless my out of pocket has been reached.

20% of a million is a lot. Now, I’m no math major, but if I am still paying bills from my hospital stays from last year at LESS than 1 million, well, you get the picture.

I had really hoped that all my surgeries would be over and done with by the end of this year, but that just isn’t going to happen.

I am one of those people that use and deeply loves an itinerary…when it is kept to.

So much for plans, huh?

As my chemo wraps up, I probably won’t have anything terribly expensive in 2012, so I am not sure how I will meet my out of pocket in 2012.

Sounds like it would be good news, doesn’t it?

I cannot begin to tell you how much I was wanting this all finished by the end of this year.

Expense free surgery vs. job...that's what it boils down to. There is no way I am saddling my family with 20% of a million dollar hospital bill. No. Freakin'. Way.

Even writing it over and over and over and over and over and over…you just don’t know.

*sigh*