Hey Mr. Postman...

Got my approval letter in the mail today for my intermittent leave.  Of course already knew it was approved, but now I have it in writing.  Doc and Aetna were very generous.  It appears to cover me being out up to 4 times per week and potentially up to 3 days in a row if needed.  ... COOL!  Not like I'm going to use it cause I won't get paid if I do, but good to know it's there should something come up.  I believe if the math's right I'll have two day's of Vacation left after my second infusion on the 16th and 3 days of PBA.  Maybe a half hour or a few hours and change over on each of those but it would all be little amounts that would go to Dr's appt's.  All of it but one vacation day I'm dedicating to Dr stuff.  Have to.  The one day is for C's 30th b-day in SE TX.  Not missin' that.  The rest, God willing, will cover the bits of appts my schedule futzing can't cover for the next 6 months till be start this process over again.  If I can keep my job at D till the next FY starts up in Feb, I'll be getting my 3rd week of vacation for tenure and that will SO help with all this medical stuff.  SO HELP.  Not looking to leave the company so hopefully they hang on to me.  Do have a possible lead on a better paying job within, though, so we'll see where that goes in the next 6 months.  Would so like to have the spare change to pay off the debt and go back to school.  *crosses fingers*

Anyways, cool news on the how much time I'm covered for should the world come to an end.  Really think I can make the time off I have left stretch till the end of the year if I wiggle my nose and fingers at it enough so I can keep having full paychecks.  But if not, the CYA is there.  Thanks to my old boss B and current boss J for kicking my *** and getting me to finally get the paperwork done for this that oh... I should have done 3 years ago when the pericarditis had me out all the time *takes a drink of cherry coke zero*

Now to find some grub and contemplate what the doc will tell me Fri about gettin' off the prednisone.  Hope everyone has a great rest of week!!!

*HUGS*

Look Arthur! A secret message from my teeth!

Intermittent leave approved.  *whew*  Of course it took calling them and getting hung up on in a transfer and calling back and then getting the case worker lady who didn't sound like she really wanted to talk to me on the phone to get it done... but...... it's approved.  Seems she'd put me on a shelf since two Fri's ago when the doc's office sent in my paperwork and left out the last 6 months worth of appt history.  She saw other stuff came in but apparently forgot that the original rest of the paperwork was already in.  ...  *deep breathe*  Anyways, leave approved.  Though I've using vacation to cover the infusion Fri and on the 16th, FMLA will hopefully make sure the bum end is covered if HR comes back getting angry at my having used up all my time half way through the year.  Nice to know it's there.  Huge relief.

Found out I can take my computer in Fri so while I'm getting pumped full of the awesome + benadryl that will make me looking and/or knock me out, will keep the world posted on how it's going.  I've had IV's before, but 6 1/2 hours seems like a long time to be plugged in and having good drugs run through your system.  Do need to find someone willing to bring me lunch Fri.  Guess I'll work on that tomorrow.  Decided I'm not going to bother inviting anyone along for the adventure only cause I'm pretty sure I'll lose consciousness not long after the benadryl comes along.  No point in someone waiting their day watching me sleep.

Hooray for a good news days.  They said it's good till 12/22ish.  Should get a thing in the mail 3 weeks prior to that for a renewal and as long as I send it in, everything should keep on covering me for another 6 months.  Gotta keep an eye on the mail.

Figure next post will likely either be me all nervous goose-like tomorrow night or I'll hold out till I'm plugged in 7am Fri morning.  Hope you folks have a great rest of week and weekend :-)

Just a little bit-o-stuff for the logging...

Brainpan MUCH better today :-)

Got up extra early to make it to the hospital for bloodwork; just like everyone else in Round Rock area it seems.  Still managed to get to work by 8am, though.  Means I'll be working till 5, but no biggie.  Nephrology office just called and said they got results back and looks like I'm back on even keel as far as whatever they were checking for.  Still have the hematoma pain, but it's NOTHING like it has been the last couple of days.  Went ahead and took pain med with breakfast this time before it got worst.  See?  I gots smarts *points at brainpan*

Dropped off FMLA paperwork (horrible faxed copy, but hopefully they'll be able to read it) with Dr P's office this morning.  Also got TB test one appears to need before the Ritoxan stuffs can be had; will get up super early again Mon to get that checked by the nurse before work as she said she'd be in at 6:30 which hopefully will get me to work by 7 since all she has to do is eyeball it.

Uuuummm... what else.... follow-up appt with Dr P July 1st.  Appt with neurology June 23 (not prepared to elaborate on this one just yet).  Still waiting for the phone call needing to give info to the in between person that's supposed to be coordinating the approval between doc's office and insurance for the Ritoxan.  Still need to watch that video/read the book/check the website for info on it.  L telling me it wasn't crazy awful has helped me feel a lot better about it.  Oh, doc also said to start up the meloxicam again even though I've been off of it for two weeks.  *grumbles*  Had really hoped we could take it off the regiment.

Otay, the world of my health crud is now as up to date as I can make it.  Gotta get to that whole working thing and all.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!!