Here Goes

@TabooGal

I am SO sorry you’ve ‘joined the club’!!  It really is a roller coaster ride, but with the hints & tips the girls have already given you  …… it will make it that much easier - and having like minded people ‘watching your back’ - we are all here to help.

All the best for your surgery tomorrow & a good recovery afterwards.  I’d suggest you get a small ‘1/4 or 1/2 pillow’ that you can tuck under your arm - to help support it ‘level’ when you sleep, as the angle of the dangle can sometimes cause some discomfort otherwise.   

I think you will feel a certain amount of relief once the surgery is over - tho, I must admit that as I left my family in the ‘Waiting Room’ - I dissolved into tears as I was led to my ‘prep room’ prior to surgery.  They gave me a whole BOX of tissues, which I thought was hilarious, not just a few!

I’ve actually got a BIG BOX to put ‘all my bits’ in - including X-rays, scans, receipts etc  ….. one day, it will live under my bed.  Right now - it is in the lounge & everything goes in it!

If you live 100k or more from the place of your treatment, specialist, etc - you should be able to get a portion of your travel & accommodation expenses reimbursed in Vic Gov - check here for info:

https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/rural-health/vptas-how-to-apply

But you WILL NEED to get your surgeon/BC Nurse to fill them out for you - and keep track of each visit with dates etc - as they need to sign off on them.  With a bit of luck, they will have copies available at their offices.  I’ve just had $300 worth of fuel reimbursed for all my trips to Port Macquarie for 4 weeks of radiation.  I was lucky & able to stay at very little cost at the Rotary Lodge there - and I have more forms to lodge re my actual initial surgeon appointments & surgery back in Jan!  (Yeah, slack, eh!?)

Re finances - I was assisted by the Cancer Council with a one-off payment of one of my ‘house bills’ - council rates, power, water rates - if they fall due whilst you are having treatment, the CC may make a 1 off payment on your behalf of about $350  The Social Worker who will be checking up on you during treatment should be able to advise you on this.