Gripe of the Day!!

Crysti S.
on 8/15/08 8:33 am

I'm going to go with Doctors Office too, lol ;)

Highest: 245 / Surg Day: 233 / Now: 166 / Dr's Goal: 130

Monica P.
on 8/15/08 8:43 am - Long Beach, CA

RNY on 07/19/07 with

I don't gripe, ever. But I'm gonna go on a good one today.....

Doctor's offices/getting approved for surgery!!!!

(This is for all of you trying to get approval or are in the pre-op process of jumping through hoops.)

It took me a long time, a good attorney, a lot of patience, and being a bit of a b*tch to get approved. Here is my advice, I hope it helps:

No one is going to fight for your welll-being like you will. A paper-pusher at an HMO does not have a vested interest in your surgery. They do not realize how hard it is to wait. To them you are merely a paper/file folder on their desk. I confess that even in my own job in managed healthcare I forget that there are PEOPLE on the other side of all the data and numbers on my desk.

So.....you must be ready to fight. Be pushy. Ask for what you want. Don't take 'no' for an answer. At the same time, be professional, courteous and kind to the people you talk to. Take notes for every phone call you make. Keep all your notes in a binder/folder. Note the date time and name of each person you speak to and write down what they tell you. If they say "I will fax this on Monday morning" then tell them you will be calling back Monday afternoon to check if it has been done. Then follow up and call them back.

I think was Maureen who mentioned that a doctor's office told her not to call back, which is STILL kind of making me mad. What the heck?! I almost want to call that woman back and give her a piece of my mind!! Don't be afraid to expect people to do their job. I realize that it takes a while for paperwork to be processed, you have to accept the limitations of these large organizations. But if you can't get a straight answer, you have the right to escalate your issue to someone higher who can make things happen. Ask for a boss/supervisor/manager if you think things are not getting done.

Ok, I'm all worked up now..... :) Don't give up hope if this process is frustrating, the pay-off, the benefit, the freedom that WLS can bring to your life is SO WORTH IT!

Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."
- George S. Patton, U.S. Army General, 1912 Olympian

Janine J.
on 8/15/08 10:08 pm - The Beautiful Desert, CA

RNY on 07/10/02

Monica I wish you would post this on the board in a seperate post.....PLEASE! I know there are people here who are discouraged...ie JenDenni. Jen's insurance company has really jacked her around...they are bad and not a HMO. I know she is on vacation, but it would be nice if she had your extra words of encouragement!

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.” –Peace Pilgrim (1908-1981).

G. Daddy
on 8/15/08 12:07 pm - San Gabriel, CA

RNY on 05/02/05

I should start this off by saying that my gripes aren't nearly as big as some of the really serious stuff that a lot of people are dealing with... I don't have much to gripe about...

Waiting sucks though! I'm in the final stages of trying to get on a make-over reality show - spent today in Beverly Hills with a plastic surgeon and cosmetic dentist... now I wait to find out if they're going to use me or not. Cross your fingers for me, ok??? Hopefully I'll find out in the next week or two!

OH!!! I almost forgot my other gripe... we're remodeling our kitchen and still have decisions to make about flooring, backsplash tile, etc. hopefully we'll get that demolition started this next week!

C h e e r s,
gene

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RNY 05/05 280/155/225
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Janine J.
on 8/15/08 10:10 pm - The Beautiful Desert, CA

RNY on 07/10/02

Gene I feel your pain dude....my friend tried out for Deal or No Deal. Got called for an audition after the initial cattle call...and they said that it could take up to a year to hear from them. UGH!! I sure hope you do not have to wait....and that is like so hard for all of us eh? Good luck on the remodel...sometimes you just got get in there and demo and then the rest of it will unfold! Have a good one!

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.” –Peace Pilgrim (1908-1981).

Lisa B
on 8/15/08 3:26 pm - Riverside, CA

RNY on 02/05/07

I'm really late on this one...but hey...what a perfect way to end a crappy week!!!

Here's my gripes!

1.People who only come around when they want to "brag" about something...and want people to give them kudos over and over...UGH!!!!

2.Pain in the ass young people that think they no it all...they don't!!!! (yes...same gripe from last week)

3.That the gift that I ordered over 3 weeks ago for my DH for our anniversary is still not here...and I need before Monday...not gonna happen...UGH!!!!!

4. HATERS!!!!!

Gosh...I am usually not so friggen negative..but lately...it has been really hard!

BIG Hugs,
Lisa
"When I look good, I feel good....when I feel good, I look even better! "