Score one for the Squeaky Wheel and other odds and ends

Last Friday I walked out of a doctor's appointment after disagreeing with how much I was being charged to have b*tox injections for my migraines. By 5:00 Friday evening, the doctor had called four times and left two messages. Each time she called, I was still too worked up and upset to answer the phone or listen to her messages. But when I finally did, I was pleasantly surprised.

She apologized for the confusion and said that from now on she'd code my injections as an office visit, not a procedure, so I'd only be charged the co-pay and the cost of the medication. Instead of paying $600 for four shots, I'll only have to cough up $250, which, from my research, is pretty standard.

This is proof that being the Squeaky Wheel and standing up for yourself with doctors and health insurance companies can work. I'll be calling the doctor back today to thank her for changing her billing procedure and to make an appointment.

Now on to other bits and pieces.

My cell phone has been missing for more than a week now. I'm pretty sure it's in the house somewhere. I remember getting in the car last Sunday and realizing I didn't have it with me, but I decided not to go back in for it given that Elizabeth and Campbell were standing with their noses pressed against the front window crying because I was leaving them behind.

I have searched the house and have offered a reward to the big girls if they find it. I've looked under beds and in toy boxes and in closets, but no luck.

Much to B's frustration, I almost never carry the thing and rarely use it. But now that I don't have it, I really miss it. Now I'm trying to convince B that I need an iPhone as a replacement, but he's not going for it - yet.

Finally, I had a post picked up by the nice folks over at Deep South Moms blog. It's about trying to find a balance between being a mom and not a coach. Please go take a look, and maybe leave a comment.

I didn't get up to run at 5:30 this morning because I'd been up three times with Elizabeth, who still isn't feeling well. But now I think I'm going to pop her in the jogger and see if I can squeeze in a few miles. It's too nice a morning to miss out on running.

B*tox report

It's been two weeks since I had my B*tox injections, and they seemed to have worked. There have been two days when I could tell I was having a migraine - I had the weird visual disturbances, nausea, tingling in the back of my neck - but I couldn't feel the usual migraine pain. I was able to get past yucky side effects by taking some advil and drinking half a Coke.

Hallelujah.

As for the visible signs that I've had B*tox - you can't tell unless you know where to look. I can't furrow my brow anymore, which means I can't give the kids my patented stern look. B laughs at me every time catches me trying. Apparently I make a funny scrunched up face when I do it.

I know I said I'd do before-and-after pictures, but I just can't bear to put my goofy face out there for public ridicule.

My doctor said the effects of the injections should last for about three months, which means I'll be ready for another set right before the summer. The miserably hot weather here always makes my migraines more frequent and more severe, so the possibility of spending a summer without pain makes me not dread the coming months quite as much.

I'll just need to remind myself of the benefits of the injections while I'm lying there waiting to have the needles jabbed in my head again.