Reinventing Joy

The procedure went well. At least I hope it did. I wasn't able to speak to my doctor afterwards. I was super scared. I tried to lighten the mood in my room by watching "Saved By The Bell" and taking goofy pictures.  They let me keep these horrible socks and a pillow. That equates to $2200, right?!  My follow up appointment is on 9/15.  Some of my girlfriends came by to check in on me for the first 2 days.  It was nice to have the company, lunch, some sweets and watching "Frozen" for the first time.  I've been so tired and sleepy- so I've been napping. Yesterday, I was cleared to drive. I went to rehearsal last night  since we open next Friday.  Aside from the length of the rehearsal, I was starting to feel fatigued on my way back home. I woke up at 3:33am in pain. I felt like I was jumped and someone had kicked me strategically in my lower abs. I took some ibuprofen and turned on "Happily Divorced" (my back up to my guilty pleasure "The Na

The day before my same day procedure and I get a call from the hospital. I owe them $2200!  What the What?! I asked the lady "Is this after insurance?!" She advised that the surgery originally was $20K. (Are you serious?! For a same day procedure!) After insurance and because I didn't meet my deductible, I owe $2200! She kindly offered a down payment arrangement of $880.  I asked her about the $580 I paid last week. She said that was for my doctor's fees. Unbelievable!  I shutter to think about people who don't have insurance. I don't want to make this a political thing at all. I'm just downright cheap. But the cost of taking this golf ball sized fibroid out if me is worth it.  I've chewed through too many belts and endured too much pain for the past year. My girlfriends have shared their experiences with this surgery and said it's not going to be a big deal. Their theshold for pain is much higher than mine. I cry when I get a paper cut. And this i