holy moly melanomy

You know, Kaiser is great for people that don't have much medically going on.  The ease of it is wonderful – you don't have to go to outside labs, they call you when you're due for follow up – in general it's smart. 

People that have chronic conditions, cancers or other serious illness it's differnet.  I haven't had the same doctor for long periods of time.  My derm that I've seen a few times is a N.P. (although she's VERY thorough).  It's funny because at the dermatologist there, they have a poster on the wall that describes Melanoma and it says "If you have been diagnosed with melanoma, you should see a Melanoma specialist" – and you're right, they only have ONE and you can only see him if you're stage III or higher. 

Sometimes I get a wild hair and think of going to a non-Kaiser ER and claiming mucho pain and other symptoms, in hopes that other hospital will treat me – even though I know that they would just transfer me to a Kaiser facility.  I've thought about getting an indiviual insurance plan not through my employer so I could see my melanoma specialist prior to Kaiser – I loved him. 

Anywho – thanks for the response.  I'd rather be the annoying person complaining all the time rather than hold my tongue.  I can't risk that anymore.

You know, Kaiser is great for people that don't have much medically going on.  The ease of it is wonderful – you don't have to go to outside labs, they call you when you're due for follow up – in general it's smart. 

People that have chronic conditions, cancers or other serious illness it's differnet.  I haven't had the same doctor for long periods of time.  My derm that I've seen a few times is a N.P. (although she's VERY thorough).  It's funny because at the dermatologist there, they have a poster on the wall that describes Melanoma and it says "If you have been diagnosed with melanoma, you should see a Melanoma specialist" – and you're right, they only have ONE and you can only see him if you're stage III or higher. 

Sometimes I get a wild hair and think of going to a non-Kaiser ER and claiming mucho pain and other symptoms, in hopes that other hospital will treat me – even though I know that they would just transfer me to a Kaiser facility.  I've thought about getting an indiviual insurance plan not through my employer so I could see my melanoma specialist prior to Kaiser – I loved him. 

Anywho – thanks for the response.  I'd rather be the annoying person complaining all the time rather than hold my tongue.  I can't risk that anymore.

You know, Kaiser is great for people that don't have much medically going on.  The ease of it is wonderful – you don't have to go to outside labs, they call you when you're due for follow up – in general it's smart. 

People that have chronic conditions, cancers or other serious illness it's differnet.  I haven't had the same doctor for long periods of time.  My derm that I've seen a few times is a N.P. (although she's VERY thorough).  It's funny because at the dermatologist there, they have a poster on the wall that describes Melanoma and it says "If you have been diagnosed with melanoma, you should see a Melanoma specialist" – and you're right, they only have ONE and you can only see him if you're stage III or higher. 

Sometimes I get a wild hair and think of going to a non-Kaiser ER and claiming mucho pain and other symptoms, in hopes that other hospital will treat me – even though I know that they would just transfer me to a Kaiser facility.  I've thought about getting an indiviual insurance plan not through my employer so I could see my melanoma specialist prior to Kaiser – I loved him. 

Anywho – thanks for the response.  I'd rather be the annoying person complaining all the time rather than hold my tongue.  I can't risk that anymore.

Thanks for the response 🙂  I'd love the pill cam – that is SO interesting to me.  The last gastro doc that I saw said that she didn't think the pain I am having has to do with the U.C. because it was so glorious.  Pain is pretty steady throghout the day.  Currently I am taking anywhere from 4-6 500mg Tylenol – by the end of the day it's managed.  The sharp, stabbing pain is pretty random, most of the time being the morning before I've eaten anything or taken any meds, however the morning is when I spend my 'bathroom' time, if ya catch my drift…so it could be from that and all the fun stuff moving through my system. 

Thanks for the response 🙂  I'd love the pill cam – that is SO interesting to me.  The last gastro doc that I saw said that she didn't think the pain I am having has to do with the U.C. because it was so glorious.  Pain is pretty steady throghout the day.  Currently I am taking anywhere from 4-6 500mg Tylenol – by the end of the day it's managed.  The sharp, stabbing pain is pretty random, most of the time being the morning before I've eaten anything or taken any meds, however the morning is when I spend my 'bathroom' time, if ya catch my drift…so it could be from that and all the fun stuff moving through my system. 

Thanks for the response 🙂  I'd love the pill cam – that is SO interesting to me.  The last gastro doc that I saw said that she didn't think the pain I am having has to do with the U.C. because it was so glorious.  Pain is pretty steady throghout the day.  Currently I am taking anywhere from 4-6 500mg Tylenol – by the end of the day it's managed.  The sharp, stabbing pain is pretty random, most of the time being the morning before I've eaten anything or taken any meds, however the morning is when I spend my 'bathroom' time, if ya catch my drift…so it could be from that and all the fun stuff moving through my system. 

I would totally be into the hypnosis deal….  Although, I am completely imagining myself being hypnotized into clucking like a chicken – or acting like a prom queen on a parade float everytime my mind wanders to the dark side.  I'd still take that over crippling fear 🙂

I would totally be into the hypnosis deal….  Although, I am completely imagining myself being hypnotized into clucking like a chicken – or acting like a prom queen on a parade float everytime my mind wanders to the dark side.  I'd still take that over crippling fear 🙂

I would totally be into the hypnosis deal….  Although, I am completely imagining myself being hypnotized into clucking like a chicken – or acting like a prom queen on a parade float everytime my mind wanders to the dark side.  I'd still take that over crippling fear 🙂

Thank you!  I appreciate any information.  The one I went to was also at a hospital and I picked it because it was meant for early diagnosed people and how to move on from it…..and then as I mentioned, these women had been in the same group for seriously like 10-15+ years.  I just found it odd.  I couldn't wrap my head around it and I ended up just crying my eyes out during the whole damn hour. 

It just sucks when Melanoma creeps back up and takes up all of my mental time.  It's definitely hard on my husband and he tries to give advice – to which I blow up and tell him that he couldn't possibly understand.  It's not fair to anyone around me and I just wish I knew how to get a handle on this crap! 🙂 

Thank you for the input, it's really REALLY appreciated 🙂

Thank you!  I appreciate any information.  The one I went to was also at a hospital and I picked it because it was meant for early diagnosed people and how to move on from it…..and then as I mentioned, these women had been in the same group for seriously like 10-15+ years.  I just found it odd.  I couldn't wrap my head around it and I ended up just crying my eyes out during the whole damn hour. 

It just sucks when Melanoma creeps back up and takes up all of my mental time.  It's definitely hard on my husband and he tries to give advice – to which I blow up and tell him that he couldn't possibly understand.  It's not fair to anyone around me and I just wish I knew how to get a handle on this crap! 🙂 

Thank you for the input, it's really REALLY appreciated 🙂

Thank you!  I appreciate any information.  The one I went to was also at a hospital and I picked it because it was meant for early diagnosed people and how to move on from it…..and then as I mentioned, these women had been in the same group for seriously like 10-15+ years.  I just found it odd.  I couldn't wrap my head around it and I ended up just crying my eyes out during the whole damn hour. 

It just sucks when Melanoma creeps back up and takes up all of my mental time.  It's definitely hard on my husband and he tries to give advice – to which I blow up and tell him that he couldn't possibly understand.  It's not fair to anyone around me and I just wish I knew how to get a handle on this crap! 🙂 

Thank you for the input, it's really REALLY appreciated 🙂

Thank you!!  The hospital that I had my surgery at had a therapist available, but I am not longer a patient there as I am now with Kaiser.  It's funny because in my last derm appointment – there was a 'skin cancer' poster and it says on there that if diagnosed that you should start seeing a Melanoma Specialist.  Kaiser doesn't really have that – only one in Riverside and you have to be stage 3+ in order to see them…  So silly. 

But thank you, I really appreciate it 🙂

Thank you!!  The hospital that I had my surgery at had a therapist available, but I am not longer a patient there as I am now with Kaiser.  It's funny because in my last derm appointment – there was a 'skin cancer' poster and it says on there that if diagnosed that you should start seeing a Melanoma Specialist.  Kaiser doesn't really have that – only one in Riverside and you have to be stage 3+ in order to see them…  So silly. 

But thank you, I really appreciate it 🙂

Thank you!!  The hospital that I had my surgery at had a therapist available, but I am not longer a patient there as I am now with Kaiser.  It's funny because in my last derm appointment – there was a 'skin cancer' poster and it says on there that if diagnosed that you should start seeing a Melanoma Specialist.  Kaiser doesn't really have that – only one in Riverside and you have to be stage 3+ in order to see them…  So silly. 

But thank you, I really appreciate it 🙂