Knee Surgery Date...
I called the surgeon's office and "booked" myself knee surgery for August 6. The office lady laughed and asked if I wanted coach or first class - I told her to tell my insurance company that it's first class the whole way, baby! LOL
Today I realized that my primary doctor is completely out of the loop on this. So I called his office and they weren't quite sure what to do with me, I don't really need to see him, so they took a message.
I'm feeling like a bit of a renagade in that I sought out the orthopedic surgeon and decided on surgery without the PCP referral - but I pretty much did that with my WLS, too. I make up my mind to do something and it's done - it takes me awhile to make up my mind, but once I do, watch out.
Take Care
Jana
on 7/16/08 8:26 am - San Antonio, TX
You're right. There have been too many instances in my own family when they weren't proactive enough and paid the consequences.
My dad was taken to the ER in 1992 with heart problems. In the ER his doctor came in while I was there and we were looking at the EKG machine. I asked what that "blip" was on the paper. The doctor said, "oh your dad's had that for a long time, I just keep an eye on it...nothing really." Later the CARDIOLOGIST asked when my dad had his first heart attack - we said he didn't, he'd never had a heart attack. Yes, he did - see this blip? OMG! So when they went in to do the angiogram, etc. they found a HUGE aerotic anuyrism (sp!) that if they hadn't of found it would have burst and he would have been gone in seconds. Luckily he lived another 10 years.
I remember my mom having 'digestive' problems for YEARS when I was in high school. She'd go to the doctor and he'd try her on this medication or that medication. Looking back, she had CLASSIC symptoms of gallbladder disease. Yep, when I was in college they finally found out it was her gallbladder and she had surgery within 24 hours. It was full of what they termed 'sand' and was pretty red and infected looking. The list could go on and on.
I know I was so used to being told that whatever problem I had was because I was fat that I wouldn't even discuss issues with my doctors. Oh you have a sore throat - go home lose weight and then come back. When I moved here I decided that it was barbaric to live in pain all the time so yep, I went to the doctor with knee pain. He'd say well, your weight isn't helping this. Yes, I know that - but I'm here about the pain and there is such a thing as pain management. I never heard another word about my weight.
Take Care,
Jana
The day I had WLS (8/14), there were a bunch of folks with me in pre-op who were being prepped for knee replacements. I could probably recite the knee replacement pre=op speech by heart.
Woo again!
Kix
Take Care,
Jana
kathsum
