MHC Day #1

I started work today, and I would say that overall it was quite a success.

Sleeping last night, however, was not a success, and I think I got 2.5 hours total.  Lovely.  I was so exhausted when I dragged myself out of bed this morning.  But still, I did it, and I managed to be showered, blow dried, moisturized, perfumed, dressed, bundled up and ready to go almost on time . . . we did have to run to the bus stop.  (Since Jerbs and I work at the same time now we get to catch the same bus in the morning!)

Anyway, I got there on time, and today was all the boring housekeeping type stuff--tax paperwork, new hire paperwork, the employee handbook, HIPAA training videos, OSHA training videos, etc.  Between how dull it was and already being exhausted, I almost fell asleep at my desk.

But still it was a good day.  I have my own little half an office with a big desk (which I am nerdily excited about).  A bunch of people kept stopping by my office or stopping me in the halls/staff rooms to introduce themselves to me and welcome me aboard, which was very nice.  I felt really, really welcome, and I got a good vibe from everyone I met--I can't see myself disliking any of them.  And my more immediate co-workers are all fabulous.

Tomorrow I get to shadow one of the other billers, so it should be more interesting than today!

Oh, Y'know

I start work on Wednesday at 8 AM!  I'm so excited!!

I'm nervous too.  Mostly I'm worried about the adjusting--I'm about to go from sleeping until (after) noon to having to be ready to go and out the door by 7:10 AM.  Blech.  And the thing is I'm still having hypersomnia issues, and I can't fight through the tired like normal people can.  Like, if my alarm goes off and I'm still exhausted, I can't seem to suck it up and get out of bed anyway.  I'm hoping that having a job will make it easier, and I'm also hoping that my body will cooperate and go to bed when I tell it too.  And I'm sure that being unmedicated at the moment is not helping and that once my Lithium levels are back up I'll be better about actually getting up.  Plus I'm nervous about having to postpone my psych appointment

Speaking of medication, I finally got my prescription today.  Hallefreakingllujah.  It was a frustrating process because on the 12th, I logged on to the WalMart pharmacy thing, and saw that my doctor had given me 3 Lithium refills.  I was like yay! and immediately requested a refill online.  When I logged on the next day, though, the order was cancelled--no idea why.  So I requested another one, and  when I logged on today, it was also cancelled.  I called the WalMart pharmacy (and let me tell you I was ready to go to battle!) and the pharmacist was like, "That's weird, because I have a prescription all ready for you."  Thank goodness.

Also healthcare related, I got a voicemail from my doctor today about my lab work.  Everything looked good but my thyroid is still a little elevated (dammit) so I'm going to have to follow up on that.  Sigh.  I had so hoped the first elevated result was just a fluke.  Not a huge deal but still.  The thing is, I'm not so worried about having to follow up now that I'll be financially able to.  I'd just rather have to not treat something else with medication . . . but at the same time, I really don't think I'm interested in trying anything but Lithium for the bipolar disorder.

I also found out today that the gym I want to join (the one co-owned by MHC) is running a killer special if you join in January so I'm excited about that.  Because getting home after sunset when it's 3 degrees outside is most definitely going to prevent me from walking to the work out room.  And I'm sure that there's some sort of employee discount but in case that doesn't take effect until I'm elligible for benefits, I'd be willing to just join now and pay out of pocket  for it.

Overall, a lot to be happy about right now.

Worst. Workout. Ever.

Remember how I mentioned it's freaking cold as crap out at the moment?

Well, it still is.  And this afternoon my thought process was going something like this: it is way too cold to go work out today . . . but I didn't work out yesterday or the day before and I really want to . . . but do I really feel like walking all that way in this? . . . but this is probably the warmest it'll be today so it's now or never, I should just suck it up and go . . .

So I did.  I put on my workout clothes (leggings, tank top, sports bra, etc).  Then I put on another pair of sweats over my leggings and a long sleeved shirt over my tank top.  Then I put on my big winter coat, my hat, and my gloves.  Make sure all the stuff I need (iPod, earbuds, water, hair tie) is in my bag and off I go.  Trekked over to the workout room, stripped down to my actual workout clothes, and hopped on the machine.  And in my head I'm like, damn, I'm awesome today, go me.

Then wouldn't you know it, my freaking iPod is dead.  And that's weird, because I am really anal about my iPod--I charged it yesterday and the battery was full, and when I put it in my bag, I make sure it's turned off and locked so that it can't accidentally turn on and drain the battery.  I was ticked, but at the same time, I was like, I walked all the way over here, I'm going to work out.  I did attempt to turn the TV on, but I could only find 3 channels (GAC, the NAU channel, and something else . . . can't remember what), so I gave up and worked out in silence.  I did manage 20 minutes on the elliptical, which is less than I wanted but considering the cold, how crappy I feel because my Lithium levels are low, and no distraction to make the work out more bearable . . . well, I'm patting myself on the back!

I did my 20 minutes in 10 minute chunks.  Right before I started my second 10 minutes, this couple came into the workout room.  And I admit that I'm still kind of in that mindset of going bleeeeccchhh every time I see a cutesy couple.  They each took a treadmill, and he was in front of her.  Before he started his workout he looked back, said, "Hey," and blew her a kiss when she looked up.  So I was like even more bleeeeechhhh.  (And Corey used to blow me kisses all the time . . . at church, during orchestra, during bells, when we were driving, etc).  Not.  Pleasant.

I can't wait to join a real gym.  Seriously, can't freaking wait.

Fuh.Ree.Zing. & Other Stuff From Today

First and foremost, it's cold.  Really freaking cold.  Jerbs and I were walking home from the bus stop at about 7:30 PM and it was 17 degrees out.  I actually wore my thermal pants under my jeans today.

Besides the cold . . . let's see.

I had intended to go get my lab work done yesterday, after we picked up my application from MHC (my new place of employment) and had lunch.  Halfway through lunch, though, I asked Jerbs if she had my lab order with her, since it had been in her bag last I'd known.  She said she'd set it on the coffee table so I could hold on to it, which I didn't know.  And there wasn't time to go all the way home, get the lab order, and make it to the lab before 4 (which is when they close).

So today I got up and left with Jerbs at a little after 7 AM, figuring I'd just get it out of the way.  I had to stop at the ATM and take cash out of Jerbs' account, so my plan was to do that, have breakfast to break a couple twenties (if you pay cash you have to pay with exact change, and since medical prices reset at the first of the year, I didn't know exactly what I'd need).  Well,  not long after we got on the bus, I realized I'd forgotten the lab order.  Again.

I went to the ATM and took out a little money (it was the ATM in Biff's so you can't do much with it), had breakfast, went home and got the lab order, stopped at the BoA ATM near the bus stop and took out the rest of the money, went to Safeway and broke another twenty, and then, finally, I got on the bus to the lab.  Once I actually made it to the lab with my lab order, it was a super fast process.  I think I was there for 7 minutes.

I came home and took a nap, during which I had a really, really, really bad dream that is still making me anxious even right now, which sucks.

I met Jerbs at the bus transfer station so we could go to the new WalMart* and do some grocery shopping.  Because grocery shopping is good and having plenty of food to eat at home definitely keeps me from eating out as much.

The ride home sucked because a very drunk guy sat one seat away from Jerbs and me and continued to try to talk to us . . . even though we both completely ignored him.  I eventually put in my earbuds and listened to music and Jerbs started reading on her Kindle . . . and in response, this guy started tapping me on the arm.  At this point I was pissed, so we decided to move at the next stop . . . and wouldn't you know, that was the stop this douche got off at.  Whatever, I was just relieved.  I hate drunk people, because I absolutely see no point in getting that trashed and then bothering people on public transportation.  And this guy smelled awful.  He smelled like green bean casserole . . . if one of the key ingredients in green bean casserole was a quart of vodka.  Sick.

So that was today.  I'm relieved to have my lab work done.  Now the next hurdle is postponing my appointment with my doctor, which I'm sure will make him just super happy.  But the appointment is this coming Wednesday and there's a good chance that'll be my first or second day of work at MHC, and I want to make a good first impression.
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*Flagstaff has two WalMarts.  The old one is not a super center so it only has a few groceries.  The new one is a super center so it has a full grocery section.

From Email to EMPLOYED

That's right!!  As of today, I officially have a JOB!!!!!

I'm going to post the whole story, because I'm just that freakin' excited.

Back at the beginning of December (or at least that's about what I figure based on email) I sent my resume in response to a Craigslist ad for a medical billing position at a cardiology clinic.  I figured that with my front desk experience I at least had a decent shot at it.  But I never heard anything, and at the time I was applying for job after job after job, so I pretty much forgot about it.

So fast forward to December 19th.  It was late at night, and I randomly decided to check my "professional" email (aka my email address that actually has my name in it, which I use on my resume and for more professional than personal stuff).  I check that email very, very rarely, since all that usually comes to that email are mailing lists and newsletters.  Well, that night, I had an email from a woman (the practice manager) that was in response to my resume for the billing position, thanking me for my interest in the job and asking me when I could come in for an interview.  I was thrilled, and I emailed her back right that second.  By the next afternoon she'd emailed me back, and the following day (Friday, Dec. 21st) I went in to interview with her.

It went incredibly well.  She mostly told me about the practice and the doctors, went over hours and benefits, asked me about my experience in medical office, and all that.  I felt completely at ease with her, and at the end of the interview she told me she wanted me to meet the business manager for a second interview.  The problem was that it was a Friday, and on Friday the billers and the managers only work until noon, and at the end of my interview it was already 11:30.  The business manager was on vacation the next week, which meant that after the 21st, she wouldn't be in the office until the 31st.  And naturally, the clinic would be closed on the 1st of the year--which meant I'd have to wait until the 2nd or 3rd of January for my interview.  That was a little crappy, but oh well--I was just happy to have had an interview and to have been asked back for a second one.

I left felling really, really good about the whole thing.  I thought the interview had gone as well as it could have, I thought I'd come across really well, I thought the practice manager and I clicked well, and I just had a good feeling about this one.  I felt like . . . yep, this one's mine.  I was feeling superstitious so the only people who knew about the interviews were my family, Jerbs, and Theresa.  (My mom said she had a good feeling about it too, which gave me a confidence boost).  I literally didn't say a word to anybody else, and in the time between interviews, I prayed, crossed my fingers, and wished on every star, eye lash, and 11:11 I possibly could.

I waited as patiently as I could until the 31st, and called their business manager to set up my interview.  She asked me to come on the 2nd (a Wednesday).  I got to the clinic on the 2nd and the practice manager, who did my first interview, took me back to the conference room to introduce me to the business manager.  To my surprise, the business manager had brought the three other members of the billing department to sit in and ask questions as well--which at first totally unnerved me.  As the practice manager left, though, she patted me on the shoulder and wished me luck, which was just really sweet.

Well, the second interview went fantastic.  All 4 women asked me questions, and they seemed to love a lot of my answers.  And it was pretty clear right away that my personality would mesh really, really well with all of them.  It was seriously the best interview I've ever been on.  It was a great blend of serious questions and telling them why they wanted me on their team, to just sharing stories about working in medical offices and laughing.  It was awesome.  Again, I left with a really, really good feeling.  I was just really sure that I could work well with the people I'd met, and that I'd fit in well with their staff.

The business manager said she wanted to decide by the end of the week, and by Friday I hadn't heard anything.  I was so disappointed, but I still had a good feeling about it.  I didn't hear anything on Monday either, so I checked my email again, just in case.  Well, I had an email from the business manager.  It was basically a link to this website and I had to take these 4 little assessment things--they were just like those personality things that are on every application, so I did those, and the following morning, I left a voice mail for the business manager letting her know those were done.

I heard nothing during the rest of Tuesday, and nothing on Wednesday.  I was starting to panic a little and then, this morning, at around 11 AM, I finally got the call.  The business manager apologized for not calling sooner and said she'd been sick and mostly voiceless, told me the results of my little assessments indicated that I'd be a good fit for them, and offered me the position!  (And told me how much it paid, which made me even happier).  I just keep thinking of all the interviews I had up till now, all the disappointment in not being offered those jobs--but it was for good reason, because I ended up right where I was supposed to, I think.

So I went in this afternoon and picked up an official application and signed off on allowing them to do a background check, and as soon as that comes back clean or whatever, I get to start work.

I am beyond thrilled.  I can't even describe the relief I felt when she told me I got the job.  Relief and gratitude.  My hands were shaking when I hung up the phone and I actually started crying.  I am so, so grateful for this opportunity.  For so many reasons.  I'm so happy that I can stop being a burden to Jerbs, that I can start to take care of myself, that I can just not be constantly panicking about money, that I'll have something that makes me feel not useless.

Honestly, I owe a lot of it to the clinic.  One of my jobs as a receptionist was posting charges and payments to patient accounts--which at most medical offices is something the billing dept., not the front desk, does.  It was aggravating at times, but knowing at least a little of the billing side of things definitely worked in my favor.  Plus working at the clinic taught me what questions to ask, if that makes sense: I asked at my first interview about the services the clinic did and their scope of care, what insurances they were contracted with, what medical software they used for front desk and billing, how much of their records were EMR, etc. I think asking things like that made me look interested, serious, and knowledgeable.

I think this is going to be a great thing for me.  I already really like the people I'll be working most closely with.  And I love the clinic itself.  It's a cardiology clinic that opened less than four years ago (I remember when they opened, because I was at the clinic at the time, and they gave us a ton of their info. pamphlets) and in four years they have grown tremendously.  They started out with four doctors and two administrators and now have a staff of 54 . . . I guess 55, counting me!  They have a big scope of care, because they have not only cardiologists, but a psychologist, a nutritionist, an electrophysiologist (who comes up from PHX once a week), and a full sleep clinic.  They co-own a fitness center (which is right across the street from them, so yes, I'll definitely be joining when I can).  They do satellite clinics in Winslow, Page, and Sedona.  It's an incredibly successful practice, and I'm excited to be working for them.  I've never been so excited about a business I'm working for.  I love how many services they offer in the name of heart health--who would have ever thought that psychology and sleep studies were necessary in cardiology?  It's innovative, and I like that a lot.

Plus, I'm glad I'll get to learn medical billing, because that's a skill that'll come in handy.  I'm really looking at this as a career move, not a job.  Because as much as I want to use my degree someday, I would probably be OK doing something like medical billing as my career, because I have plenty of ways to indulge my lit. nerdiness elsewhere.  There's a lot of potential in medical billing, and I really believe that it'll make getting a job wherever I move to a lot easier.

And that's that.  I'm so happy, and this is the best way to really start the year that I could imagine.  My friend Bridget once said (in a comment on this blog about another job interview, actually) that it was about time for me to hit my "up and over" phase.  I think that's a perfect way to describe it.

So up and over I go.

Unmedicated & Miserable

Due to a set of circumstances (some out of my control, some not) I am currently unmedicated.

Basically, I was supposed to get lab work done back in October/November.  Before I could, I accidentally threw out my lab orders (I am a genius).  I called my doctor a few times, and since his receptionist NEVER answers the phone, I left messages, asking him to please fax the lab orders to Staples.  I left the fax # a few times and the orders never came.  And then I got distracted by the holidays and all that so . . . yeah.  I called the office yesterday morning and left another message along the same lines, and Jerbs overheard me and promptly informed me that I'd been reversing two of the numbers in the fax number . . . which explained why I'd never gotten a fax from my doctor in November.  So I called back with the right number (also via message) and hopefully when Jerbs goes back to work tomorrow the fax will be waiting for her so I can get my labs done.  Because no labs=no refills on my Lithium, which is why I'm currently out.  I requested a refill online hoping that I could maybe get some before I get the labs done, but that's unlikely.  Worse case scenario I'll have to wait until my next Dr.'s appt. on the 16th to get meds.

Anyway, I am freaking miserable.  I just feel like crap.  It's started to get really bad over the past couple of days.  I can feel my mind getting manic, I can feel myself panicking over little things, I can't focus, I can't sleep, I have headaches, the tension in my forehead has come back with a vengeance, the little OCD things I have are getting worse, I'm getting progressively more irritable . . . it sucks.  Suuuuucks.  I'm struggling just to get through the days right now and I really, really hate it.  Jerbs has commented that she's noticed a significant change in me.

I can't believe I used to live like this.  I can't believe this used to be my normal.  Every time I lapse in treatment I realize how much the treatment is helping me.  I'm very, very angry at myself that this lapse has happened, but . . . I honestly tried, and I know that there's nothing about it that was deliberate.  It's just frustrating.

Hopefully this will be the last lapse.  That's my goal, anyhow.  Once I get my Li refill this month, I am NOT going to let my treatment drop again.
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EDIT 01/06:  Amazing how things work when you give people the correct information!  My lab order was waiting for Jerbs at Staples today.  I'm going to make like 7 copies of it so that I always have a backup!  So that's one hurdle cleared . . . now I have to figure out the financial part . . . yikes.

Weigh In # 1 (2013)

Since I pretty much quit making any effort to lose weight at the end of 2012, I thought I'd just start the whole process over with the start of the new year.  So no more weekly weigh ins and updates, just monthly ones.  I feel like that'll be more doable.

So January 1st.  Weight 181.6 (courtesy of my new digital scale).

Hopefully that number will be a lot lower on February 1st.

New Year, New Hair

I kicked off the new year (literally . . . I started on this right after Jerbs and I watched the ball drop on TV) by dying my hair.

Normally I use a generic box dye from WalMart, because I'm not super picky about it.  But for Christmas, my mom got me a giftcard to Sally's, so I thought I'd get a little fancier and buy the professional level dye that you mix yourself.  I chose L'oreal Preference Mega Brown in chocolate, because I fell in love with the swatch at the store.  Jerbs helped me and the process of mixing my own dye wasn't actually as intimidating as I'd expected.

Here's the before . . .

. . . and the supplies and the process . . .

. . . and the after!  

The after pictures don't really do justice to the color, but it is amazing--in the light you can see all the nuances of the color (the reds and violets) and it's beautiful.  I love it, I think it suits me well, and I'm totally thrilled with how it turned out.  I'm also really happy with the overall process.  Mixing the dye was easy and not as intimidating as I'd expected, and the formula was really nice.  It looked really gel like in the bowl and bottle, but it felt really creamy once it was applied, which was nice.  The only thing I didn't like was how dry my hair felt after.  But that was my fault--I'd bought a deep conditioning treatment for after the color part, but it apparently wasn't a very good one.  So today my hair just felt a little dry, and I'm looking forward to washing and conditioning it tomorrow and seeing what it looks like then.

I think I'll stick with this color and method.  It's definitely more expensive than the box dyes but given how fade resistant this stuff is supposed to be, that shouldn't be a huge deal.  I think doing this every few months is well worth the price.