Surgeon consult today..

well today is my surgeon consult with Dr. Smolik. It almost didn't happen. My best friend is going to be my number 1 support person as she had the surgery done already and is going to be my go to person for any questions or concerns. Well she called me Monday night and told me she couldn't make it today so I asked my husband if he could make it. He wasn't sure since he was off on Monday and if work would let him leave for a couple of hours today. He called me this morning at 7:30 and told me he would be able to go!! YEAHH! So now I'm nervous..WHY? No clue. I hope they don't weigh me today as I know I'm a pound or two over my weight from the nurse consult appt. I am bloated like all hell and I haven't been able to do any real strenous exercise yet (still nursing my achilles tendon). So keeping my fingers crossed they do not weigh me today. Janine

Please let me know how your appt goes. Glad that you could keep it today. I am sure you are doing fine with the weight soon you will beable to do more things when your achilles tendon is done being nursed. Deanne

Well all is done! It was quick! I didn't have any questions as I think every question I have ever had has been either answered via the meetings, online help here, or my best friend. I got there with my husband and it took 20 minutes to get checked in as the front desk clerks were busy with other people waiting. I got upstairs at 10:25 and then I was weighed (ugh..I was up exactly one pound). I did tell the nurse that it is a "bad time of month" so I think she noted it. Then we went into one of the examination rooms and after about 15-20 minutes Dr. Smolik came in with another intern. He immediately introduced himself and his intern. Then he went into explaining the procedure, the pros and cons, the casualties, etc. He showed me a little diagram of what would be done and then he had me sign it. Then he laid me back on the table and checked my abdomen, etc. Then it was pretty much done. He asked me several times if I had any questions, but I really didn't. I hope he didn't think of that, but all my questions have been answered for now. I'm sure more will arise once I have the surgery So now I just sit and wait for the insurance to approve or deny. I figure I will give til the end of the month to see what happens. That should be plenty of time. Janine

So when are they going to submit it to insurance?? I can not wait till that day to have it submitted...actually the day that it comes back approved or denied. Glad that your appt went so well...I am hoping mine goes this well too. It is on the 18th. Deanne

Well Melanie had said that as soon as she receives Dr. Smolik's dictation she can submit it to the insurance company. I'm going to forget about it until the end of the month. If I havent heard from them by then, I will call Melanie. I dont want to get my hopes up.. Janine

Janine, Stay on top of these people. If I were you, at the end of the week, I would call Melanie and ask her if she submitted to insurance or not yet. If she says yes, then call insurance and confirm that they received it. If she says no, ask why. Then give insurance exactly 2 weeks and call them again and ask for their decision. Tell them Yes, you know they will send you a letter, but there is nothing wrong with asking over the phone. I don't know how long you have been working toward surgery, but if you stay on top of everyone and make sure all the T's are crossed and the I's are dotted, you could be having surgery by the end of the month, or soon after. I went to the seminar in Oct. of 04 and had my surgery in December of 04, all because I stayed on top of everyone. I'm a control freak, can you tell? jean

Jean, Thanks and I will call Melanie by middle of next week. (Since this was a short week). I just absolutey HATE calling there because Diane always answers and I think she is personally rude. (maybe she doesn't try to be..but she is). Even if I do get approved I can not have my surgery until after August 26th in order for FMLA to cover it at work. So I do have some time, but thanks for the input on keeping on top of them! Janine

Dr. Smolik is great. He did my surgery and I have no complaints about him. Was his intern Dr. Boggs? She came and checked on me several times while I was in the hospital and was very nice.

The intern was a guy and I really can not recall his name. He was pretty shy and quiet. Just stood there and watched.

Good luck Janine, It sounds like you and I will meet on the losing side about the same time.