Frustrated

I am so frustrated with my doctors. (PCP and some of the specialists)  I have been waiting to get my surgery date and when I contacted Dr. Meilahn's office I was told that some of the reports for my tests and clearances were never received.  I spoke with all of the doctor offices and all the reports were faxed yesterday.  However the letter from my PCP is going to take at least a week to be completed, which I asked them to call me when they fax it, then I will have to wait another week beyond that before I can find out if everything is ok.  I've been waiting for so long and now this set back.

The other setback is I got a letter from my insurance carrier and as of Aug 31 they will no longer cover the doctor that I have because he is associated with Temply Universty Physicians.  Now my time limit is running out.  I was told to call them back (insurance carrier) when I get a date to get preapproval for the surgery.  Not sure what is going to happen.  I am beginning to feel as if I have wasted my time with everything.  Any suggestions? 

Suzette

Suzette,

   I can understand your frustration with doctor's I am in the process of what I call "firing" my PCP the office has been horrid since my old doctor retired.

  Did you try to explain to your PCP about insurance changes and see if they can push the letter through for you?

Hang in there it will all come together.

Suzette,

If I waited for my PCP to do anything I would never have had my surgery nor my plastics.  Write your own letter, have him sign it and you mail it overnight., return receipt requested.  I did all my own letters,  My GBS was approved within 24 hours, my PS was about 4 weeks. 

When you go to a city hospital the run around is unbelievable.  I don't know about Temple but my surgeon is a GS and bariactric clients, although important were not top priority when you are dealing with cancer, etc. 

Remember crying babies get the most milk, be up their ass*s like a hemmoroid. 

The pre-op stuff is the most difficult, it is even harder than the actual surgery itself.

Good luck, you need any help, pm me.


Jeanne

Step 1 :  go to the pcp office and demand it be done ASAP be the squeeky wheel. You know the *****y pain in the ass customer we all have seen /dealt with???? become that person..!!!!!    Doctors work for you not the other way around........harass harass harass them so that they want to just be done with hearing from you.    Step 2 : call back the specialists and ride them about getting the faxes sent .   Step 3: call/email nyeesha and get her to work with you on this. 

Whos youre insurance with?  Why would they not deal with Temple? That seems strange......
Dr Meilahn is worth jumping thru the hoops for , hes an ace surgeon .

Suzette,

The pre op stuff is the worst.  I firmly believe, though, that it teaches you perseverence and kind of like a pre committal prior to surgery.

As far as the specialists reports - I would begin calling them and asking if you could pick up the reports yourself.  Make copies of everything and then bring it to your pcp.  Writing your own letter for your PCP and having him sign it might not be a bad idea either (I had done this)

As far as the insurance not covering your doc - that might be a tight one to get through.  Even if you have surgery before Aug 31 which I believe may be a stretch at this point, I'm not sure if you would be able to see him for follow up.  Looking into other programs may not be a half bad idea.....but I know that would be heart wrenching.

Good luck, this has NOT been a waste of time, you just need to keep at it.  It's ok to feel so frustrated on days like today!

Pam

I have gotten all of the pre-op test done and thankfully the doctors who didn't send there reports did fax them the day I spoke with them.  I can have the surgery after the 31st of August, however the preapproval has to be done before then, so that I can get continuing coverage with Dr. M, at least through November when the cutoff for all coverage with Temple Physicians ends. 

I have never thought to write my own letter.  I will do that tonight, with my husbands help.  He is so much better at writing formal letters than I am.  Does anyone have a sample that I can view so that I have an idea of what to write other than the obvious medical problems that I do have and are dealing with.  Would you detail all the struggles that are associated with being overweight and the various diets that you have tried, etc........  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Suzette

 Suzette,
This is the letter I wrote and my PCP signed.  Change info as needed for you.  Make sure you include ANY AND ALL co morbid factors.  Joint pain, social isolation, depression, high blood pressure, poly cystic ovarian syndrome, sleep apnea, diabetes, high cholesterol to name a few.  Even if you are borderline include it with "borderline hypertension" or whatever it is.  Social Isolation and Depression can be included even if it is something like you don't feel comfortable going to an amusement park because you are afraid you can't walk that much or you can't fit on the rides.  Basically, everything the weight is preventing you from doing.

To Whom It May Concern:

Ms. Podeszwa is a 26 year old female who has suffered her entire life with obesity. She currently weighs 235 pounds and is only 5'3".  Her body mass index is at 41.7.  The patient experiences shortness of breath, especially with mild to moderate activity, along with related asthma.  In addition, she suffers from mild sleep apnea, unstable blood pressure with borderline hypertension, high cholesterol, joint and lower back pain, early arthritic joint changes, and mild depression.  Her current lab results also indicate being in a pre-diabetic state and is a patient battling polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Ms. Podeszwa has tried unsuccessfully to lose weight.  She has been on Weigh****chers, Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, Zone Diet, Slim Fast, Fit America, 1500 ADA diet, and a variety of diet pills and supplements including:  Zetacap, Dexatrim, Hydroxycut, Dudux, Stacker II and III, and One a Day Vitamin Weight Control pills.

Since Ms. Podeszwa has tried and failed at many weight loss programs and since her weight continues to go up, I have advised her to undergo laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery before she encouners more co-morbid conditions.

As the patients cardiologist, this letter is to further clear her for a cardiac basis for surgery.  Her condition of cardiac arrhythmia is not a contraindication towards surgery.  I personally have reviewed her most recent EKG and completed an in office echo cardiogram which were negative.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Thanks for the letter.  I will review it and see what else I can find on the internet and compose something with the help of my husband. 

Suzette

Suzette,

My plastic surgery letter is on my profile.  I didn't save the one that I wrote for the GBS, but as I said before I got very quick approvals.  I also had the problems with the specialist getting their reports in and all of my work was done in the U of P group so go figure. 

Keep calling and asking you will get there. 


Jeanne

If it were me I would keep calling them until the letter was done tell them that you have a time problem . If you aren't that far from the surgeons office maybe you could pick up the letter and hand deliver it to them. When I had my psyc consult he gave me what I needed and I came home filled out the envelope and took it right to the post office. 

Good Luck,
Hope it works out in your favor.
Sandy