If Pam had just come on here with  information that named a patient and gave away private information, I would agree.  However, the OP brought her business to a public place.  There are too many people who think their HIPAA rights are being violated without actually knowing what they are.  If the questions are asked with Pam in an office, behind a closed door, that is private.  In an open waiting area, that is not private.  On a public forum is way beyond private.   If she wanted a private response from Pam, she would have called her or gone to the office for a private meeting. 

He did, but he didn't. It wasn't a clear opinion. That's how I've been feeling for the past 10 months, so I felt like the consult got us no where. But what it made me realize is that I have to make the decision on my own. I didn't expect him to make the decision for me, but I expected some clarity. I went in there having my heart set, and he just needed to confirm that. But he didn't, so it threw me for a whirlwind. Once I calmed down and was really able to take a step back and look at EVERYTHING, I was able to make some sound decisions. My train is moving, it's just extremely slow, right now.

Thanks again!

As someone who has access to people's medical information I err on the side of caution, I wouldn't have responded to a public post with specific information about the patient's insurance or any thing that had been denied by her insurance. 

The OP was questioning if no meant no or if there was some other way to get her insurance company to reconsider.  I don't consider that permission for someone to discuss her information in public.  If the same discussion happened in the waiting room of the doctor's office I would consider it innappropriate and then the OP would have been addressing Pam and not just asking for advice from those of us who have been through this journey.

Thanks so much.
 
You see, I wrote the thread that same night, which wasn't a good idea because I was just SO emotional, but I wanted to do it while things were fresh on my mind. After calming down a bit and really putting some thought into it and talking to my mom, she helped me see what I couldn't. For example, maybe he didn't seem enthused for the sleeve because of the lady he was having difficulty with and he didn't want to put me through that at 19 years old. But the fact of the matter is, that a leak can happen with ANY of these surgeries. And I may be 19, but I am certainly old enough, and mature enough to handle that fact.

But again, I realize all of that now. It's just that when things didn't go how I expected them to based on things I've read, my whole world kind of "came crashing down". I know that seems very over dramatic to say but I left that consultation feeling helpless, lost, and so unbelievably confused. Once I calmed down, I was able to see things how they actually were. Which is turning out to be not so bad. 

I can see where Dr. Houston is coming from, and maybe why he did or didn't do or say things.  I'm confident that he's the best surgeon for me in the Nashville area and Centennial's got a GREAT aftercare program that I would hate to lose if I went to any other hospital.

Thank you for your help!

Thank you, John. We're actually looking in to that to see if they do cover the DS and if they do, then Dr. H said we have a fighting chance for them to cover the Sleeve. But I don't want to get my hopes up. I mean, is it even possible that BCBSTN covers DS just not on my specific policy?