Hi Camille,

I just spent an hour writing a response and lost it because I let my iPad battery run out. Hope I remember what I was saying...

I read your posts and responses from the start. I understudied you're having a biopsy under anesthesia, probably an endoscopy, often an pandendoscopy or triple scope to check the upper aero digestive tract for any possible malignancies to be biopsied.

I liked the peg tube so much I had two lol. I didn't have my port or peg tube put in during the surgical biopsies, but on later dates. I had the 2nd one for 5 years, which I used intermittently during other treatments and surgeries. No, it may not be necessary, especially these days when they're pushing patients to maintain their swallowing during treatment, but your surgeons may feel your swallowing, weight, may be already compromised from surgery, pain, and soon Chemoradiation, that it may be necessary in your case. The problem with having one put in when needed during treatment is the risk of infection, which is not good, but they could put in a nasal tube, which is usually meant for use 6 weeks or less. Personally, I'd rather have a peg tube.

I'm sorry to hear about your work/insurance issue. It seems like you're 40 hours short in the past 12 months. I don't know when you're treatment is going to start, but sounds soon being your mask was made, and CT simulation is usually done at the same time, but my experience was it started about 2 weeks later after a treatment plan is made. Chemo can be started a few days after meeting the oncologist, having orientation, blood work, and sometimes that's started before radiation if there is a delay, and to sensitize the tumors for radiation. Some breeze through treatment, and continue working, and others may have a difficult time. It's all dependent on a number if factors, as each treatment is individualized, and toxicities may be depended in a number of other factors, including type, areas, dosage, frequency, etc. The effects of radiation are usually felt after the 2nd week or 10th day, but can be sooner. Chemo side effects may be felt 2-3 days after infusion, but depends on the type of chemo.

It sounds like the cat is out of the bag so to speak for your reason for FMLA. It's been a while for me, but you may not even need to give full details for the absence for a serious health condition. Is it possible to take sick days, vacation intermittent FMLA in hours, days, etc, which they may to accommodate you under ADA as long as its not an undue hardship for them, thus maintaining your insurance coverage or hold out as long as you can until you reach the 1250 hrs in a 12 month period, and hopefully they have 50 employees, in a 75 mile radius to be covered under FMLA, but your health is most important.

What about short term medical leave? Some places may still cover health insurance during that time. If you don't qualify for FMLA I think you may be eligible for COBRA. You would have to pay the full premium, plus an administrative fee. If you had dental while employed, you'll be entitled to dental too, as long as similar type employees still have it. I called the U.S. department of labor twice after I was employed, and they open a case number and try to rectify the situation. ACS, and other cancer hospitals may offer free legal advise.

Many hospitals and cancer centers, like non profit, offer medical assistance or grants. They may even help with Medicaid, SSDI or SSI during treatment and beyond.

A concern of mine is the distance you may need to travel for treatment? As mentioned, ACS have Hopes Lodges, which I've stayed at in NYC during one of me treatments for 6 weeks free! They were the best, and better than most hotels charging hundred of dollars a day. There is Harrah's Hope Lodge, possibly others, and ACS often gives vouchers to areas where there are no hope lodges. Many hospitals have their own housing or area hotel discounts.

I didn't see if you had dental clearance? This is a must! Any teeth that can be salvaged should, if not, extracted, to prevent any issues during treatment. If any are extracted, there should be a 3 week healing time, minimum 2, to helper bet Osteoradionecrosis in the future. I believe the dentist makes mouth guards to hemp prevent radiation scatter from any metal fillings to help reduce mococitis. They also make dental trays, so you can use with with prescription fluoride to help prevent Carries or at least paint the fluoride on. The radiologist may make a latex tongue depressor to help prevent swallowing during radiation, which I had none of these, and,had major complications later on.

I better post this before I lose it again.