hopefully this is the FINAL approval needed...

SOO... I waited to call the clini****il Monday and when I asked how I was doing, I got a very snooty...I don't know, how are you doing?!  As if she doesn't know what I'm talking about...arghh, just had to put that one note in..sorry  SO, I got it out of her that they had faxed the papers on Friday- no need to call me I guess, not like I'm waiting to see if I need to take out a $18,000 loan or anything...second arghh...  I decided I'd wait until Tuesday to call insurance, chickened out Tuesday...I didn't think I could handle hearing something went wrong so I waited until today to call and they said it was already approved on Tuesday, hadn't my clinic notified me??  Geee, no brainer there...sooo, I guess I'm approved, still in the back of my mind I think, something could still happen- this has just been such a nightmare that I really hope the surgery part goes well.  I would never have believed the begining part would be this bad.   Now on to the future...my preop is in a week and my surgery in a little less than two weeks.  I'm glad I can now concentrate on that.  I'm wondering what people brought to the hospital?  My mom was going to get me a couple pj's as a surgery gift but I told her I would probably wear there stuff in case of bleeding?  I have saved my janet evanovich #13 book as a treat to read there and I've heard people mention bringing a personal cd player to block out noise?  My husband will only be there the day of the surgery and to pick me up, my parents said they will try to bring the girls up once so I will pretty much be on my own.  I'm also wondering...did you go shopping before the surgery to get some of the food on hand that they talk about eating after the trepuree gourmet meals...lol   Thanks for any info... PS...Judi, did your staples come out ok?  I was surprised he did it 1/2 and 1/2? 

yay danni! no loans needed!! when you get your copy of the approval in the mail, you might want to fax it to her anyway (at least that is what i did) you will have a private room and can close the door. the cd player might help if you are a light sleeper but you will have privacy. staples are out.  howell was on vacation this week so he took 1/2 out a little early and let my doc take the other 1/2 out Monday. i read evanovich's book in the hospital too, how funny is that? if you are worried about being lonely, pm me your real name. i am in town through the 25th and could come annoy you on your second drugged up day. you will do great, i am so glad they approved you quickly (again), keep us posted!!  judi

I'm assuming you've had the surgery by now? How are you doing? It's disappointing the clinic didn't call you to tell you that you were approved. The surgeon I went to in Park Rapids would never allow that type of communication with a patient, so I'm sorry you got off to a bad start, hope the rest of the experience was better for you. What type of advance preparation did you get with your MD? I was so well prepared, that I've gotten to know the staff at my clinic that we've communicated by email. Hope it goes as well for you. Many of us attend a support group the third Thursday of the month at Dakota Clinic at 430p. Its well worth the time to attend.

Yes, I had my surgery on the 24th.  Your Dr. in Park Rapids sounds Fantastic.  Had I heard more of him I would have switched in a heartbeat.  I love my Dr. but really wanted to have it lap and maybe your Dr. could have even with my Nissen needing to be taken down?  I didn't get the best of care while in the hospital but the majority was good.  I'm one of those people that don't want to bother anyone so it pretty much my fault!  I wi**** would have had more stuff for the type of surgery I was having.  That bar for getting up in bed would have been fabulous.  Plus the staff kept bringing me straws in my water and they didn't have SF popsicles so they were going to bring me regular ones.  This one nurse was blown away when she talked to the nurtition staff, she had "NO" idea the food restraints.  Had I not done so much research I could have really been in trouble.  I know there are many people that have had open and thats the only way they would go but the pain was sooo severe for me....I don't understand.  I don't like morphine so that might have been part of it.  I'm glad my Doc did my surgery because I think he's awesome I just wish he could have done it lap.  Part of the problem was I wanted to get it done in a certain time period or I could have looked for different Docs maybe?!  My fault!!  Your support group sounds great, maybe I'll try it in August?   I do have to say....Judi ROCKS....She and her husband came to visit me with a care pkg and it was a total lift to my spirits.  She arrived just at the right time.  I had been in soo much pain and things weren't going well with one nurse forgetting about me and not returning and poof, there was Judi with her angel wings on.  Truly, earlier that day...I had this thought..  I had already wrote letters to loved ones and if God wanted to take me he could!  Thats how bad it had gotten...I've since been doing better but there was that ONE point in time that was....What the blank did I just do?  I told both my parents if they have this surgery they are having it lap and maybe I will suggest your Doctor.  Thanks for writing such good reviews on him...

Many of the surgical and floor staff in Park Rapids had the surgery, too, so they knew exactly what was needed and what I would feel like. I really felt surrounded by people who cared and understood what it was all about. I didn't even have to ask, they just knew. I felt like I was coached rather than just cared for as a patient. I really didn't have any pain with the laproscopic method, I was up and walking the halls the same day. I didn't even use any of the pain medication they sent me home with. I was tired the first week, but went back to work the next. It was a very good experience overall.