Question:
*Not sure what to do at this point*
Well its been a long hard road for me, and I fought for over two years to finally get approved and get a surgery date (which is suppose to be May 9). I hurt my back about a year ago and was hospitalized last week, with two ruptured disk that is pressing on my spinal cord.*Sigh* Well needless to say I have to have back surgery on March 22, and I talked to my Back surgeon about my WLS, He told me he wasnt sure I would be able to be healed and completely back to 100%by the first of May, but that at my 6 week check up which is May 1, he would tell me. *UGH*. Not to mention that On April 15, Im suppose to go for my post op testing In Cleveland which is 3 hrs away from my home town. So my problem is this, I called my surgeons office today for WLS, and tried to explain that I really wasnt sure it would be possible for me to have it on May 9, and Tried to explain to them what had happened ( I must admit I was a little bit amazed at how rude and uncompassionate they were to me about all this) All I wanted is to schuedle a new date for like June, but possibly keep my May 9. BUT boy oh boy she was like THERE Is no way we can give you two dates. Needless to say she said someone else would contact me, but again that didnt happen yet today either. Im really a emotional wreck, and Physically about drained. Not to mention after all this, im having second thoughts about this surgeon and his staff due to the way Ive been treated today and in the past. Maybe im just too emotional and maybe I shouldnt let this bother me, Im just not sure. I feel like they would treat me better, and I just dont feel like they have done that.*sigh* Any ideas would help, Im just a mess right now.........Thanks for listening I needed to get this off my chest. Its so confusing to know what to do, its all about insurance and staying In-Network and Not paying out the A** for all this Plus wanting to go to the right place, I just feel like I havent gotten any really good support from any of the medical field over any of this, Including my back. I had orgianlly gone to the ER and was told that Fat people have back problems to go home and take some pain killers and id be fine. A year later to find that ive been living with something that could have paralyzed me possibly. *Scream* What is wrong with the medical field these days....Ok im done sorry to ramble.... — Ann A. (posted on March 7, 2001)
March 7, 2001
Hi ann. Sorry to hear about your troubles! what a mess. well, i am
concerned about the attitude of your doctors office. sounds like if they
won't consider letting you keep the may date they're more interested
herding patients through than individual patient's well being. anyway, my
insurance only has ONE doctor in the state for this surgery and i opted not
to go to him. i am going to san antonio (long way from home). i expected
to pay big bucks for going out of network. when i called to check my
benefits was told what i expected, only covered at 60%. BUT GET THIS,
after there was an authorization number in place and my surgeons office
called for benefits, we found out that because it is in a different
medicare region that my insurance covers at 170% of medicare reimbursement.
so instead of paying the surgeon 3000.00 out of pocket, it's going to be
$1000.00. YEA! and the hospital refused payment until after they billed
the insurance. my out of network deductible will be met so i'm ending up
paying so much less than i expected. i'm glad i made the decision to go
out of network. if you do the same maybe you should make sure it's in a
different medicare region! check it out! good luck and God bless you in
your surgeries and recoveries.
— Nicole M.
March 7, 2001
Wow Ann, After reading your post and then your profile... I
feel soooooooo bad for you! I too have major back problems,
cant even do the dishes without taking breaks... I can't
imagine having to make such a difficult decision... I am not
qualified to give you any advice as I am in the beginning
stages here myself but I wanted to post and say that I am
so very sorry for all you have been through and keep us
posted on what you decide... Myself, I would see if the back
surgery could be postponed but is your back out right now?
Are you able to walk etc? I have been on pain pills for over
two years because of mine to no avail... My thoughts are with
you dear! Renee
— Renee D.
March 8, 2001
I Just wanted to thank everyone that posted to my post and emailed me
directly the support here is always comforting. I think the people here are
about the most wonderful people in the world. As most of you know I am
having such a hard time, and Ive gotten alot of questions from alot of you
about maybe having WLS first, and that I cant do, They said the disk are
really bad,and I cant hardly move my legs at this point, so this has to be
done first. Second, Ive considered turning to another surgeon but I keep
telling myself that maybe Its just the people answering the phone and will
have nothing to do with my care. Im not sure at this point, I know I have
faith in the surgeon who I picked, I just keep feeling like they dont think
im a person but yet a number, and more then that MONEY! Its just not how I
want to feel at this point. Anyway Thankyou for all the replys, Just keep
in your prayers Please.. :o)
— Ann A.
April 9, 2001
While you're waiting to hear back from the sad sacks at your WLS office re:
date 2 if dsate 1 is not possible due to back surgery. Ask your Back
Surgeon to call the WLS surgeon - the 2 docs may be able to talk to one
another like human beings even if WLS staff cannot.
By the way see a competant malpractice attorney re: ER which sent you home
w/o proper care it may be er doc or it may be radiologist but someone there
dropped the ball and you have rights too.
— [Anonymous]
April 9, 2001
Ann, since the surgeon's staff has been so inconsiderate, I'm not sure if
this will work, but here is a suggestion. There is probably someone
scheduled in June who would love to be moved up to a May date if possible.
See if they might put you in touch with another patient who would be
willing to switch last minute if they had too. I know I would have loved
to get an earlier date for my surgery. Whatever happens you will be in my
thoughts and prayers.
— cheryl R.
April 18, 2001
Hi Ann, I want to tell you that I have been 300 pounds plus almost
all my adult life. I had back problems for many years, but I
was also told that it was because of my weight. Finally, I was
sent to an orthopedic surgeon that determined that I had 2 bad
discs in my lowere back. Like you, I had trouble walking, sleeping or
anything. I was miserable. I had my surgery in Jan. 1999 and
I will tell you that I feel like a new person. I can walk, sleep
on my sides and do things I haven't been able to do for years.
Please forget about about the WLS for now and take care of your
back. You will need to walk and exericise after you have the WLS
so you need to get this taken care of first. It took me up to a
year before my back felt better. This is a major surgery and
you will need to take your time in healing. I had WLS surgery
in Oct. 2000 and I have lost 70 pounds to date but I wouldn't
have been able to do it without the exercise.
PLEASE think about giving your body AT LEAST 6 months to recover
from the back surgery. I know you are anxious to have WLS but
don't take any unnecessary risks with your health. These are
both traumatizing surgeries and require your immediate attention
to get better. You won't be able to concentrate on your back
if you are worried about your eating.
— stephanie C.
June 27, 2001
if i were you i would find another surgern. you need to be mentally as
well as physically ready for this surgery. most dr's and their staff are
usually very supportive and you shouldn't subject yourself to them treating
you that way. it sounds like you have enough to deal with without all this.
hope this helps. vicky
— vicky L.
August 1, 2001
Don't rush things, you will have the rest of your life to enjoy the new
you.
— Angie D.
August 13, 2001
Hi Ann-It is important that you do not blame a surgeon whom you trust for
the ignorance of one of his office staff who was having a bad day. If, on
the other hand, you get that feeling from HIM too then defineatly go with
someone else. I agree with the advice to postpone your WLS until your back
is at its optimum. I am almost 3 weeks post op and my back was one of the
worst parts...and I do not have structural damamge like you do. One thing
to keep in mind is that there are many people that are requesting the
surgery so that is the reason she could not give you 2 dates. They have
there schedules made way in advance so as to have things go as smoothly as
possible. That is no excuse for her rudeness however and if that same
individual has a rude attitude again, call her on it. I think that
sometimes harried medical people don't realize how they are coming off
sometimes. I am a nurse and it is hard to sound pleasant when everything
is going wrong. Good luck and relax. You will get there. One step at a
time was what my mom always said-Marie K.
— Marie K.
September 10, 2001
CHANGE DOCTORS -- There are so many excellent surgeons. I don't know where
you are located, but Dr. William Roll in Fairfax, VA is absolutely
wonderful, as are his staff. We've been abused enough -- Don't let them
get away with mistreating you. What goes around, comes around -- And they
have some tough lessons to learn about compassion. Remember that you are a
very courageous and determined person to go for WLS so you deserve a doctor
AND staff that admire and support those fine qualities! God bless you!
— cjtich
January 10, 2002
Well, Dear it sounds like you have other issues that need yours and your
doctors attention at this time. If I were you I would deal with the back
issue first, recouperate completely before you go into WLS. If you were to
go right from one surgery to another, your going to feel bad for about 6
months straight, you may induce a slow recovery from WLS and you don't want
to do that. Emotionally it would be hard, I think. Second, If I feel
uncomfortable with my healthcare providers, I'd look for other options.
But you owe it to the rest of that providers patients to let them know what
they are doing to make you look elsewhere. After all we pay them VERY well
to "take care" of us and we should have a say in it. Even though
it may set you back time wise, you will be better off to feel comfortable
and cared for in your recovery. Your doctor may have a good reason for not
being able to provide you with two dates. For one thing, the approval from
your insurance company is only good for so long...you may want to check on
the timeline, it is different for every insurance company. Hang in there
and don't settle for a healthcare provider that doesn't make you feel as if
they are giving you the best care they can provide and you are
uncomfortable with. Good luck!
— MaryFran64
January 10, 2002
Any chance you back surgeon could move your date up, givng more time for
healing before WLS? Sounds like you need the back surgery so bad a month
sooner woiuld be a good thing...
— bob-haller
October 11, 2002
Hi Ann,
Have your back surgery first- its more important to be in the best possible
condition for your WLS. CHANGE WLS SURGEONS. I was in the medical field and
no one shoud be treated rudely and without commpassion! Remeber, you will
be "connected" to this doctor for life, and you cannot have
complete faith in anyone if you have bad feelings about how his staff
treats you. I had an RNY in April of this year and have had complicatons.
It was done laprascopically, which I was led to believe was a much better
procedure. It's not. I also changed surgeons. I live in SW Connecticut
and my original surgeon was 15 to 20 minutes from my home. My new surgeon
is 2 to 21/2 hours away in New York City. After spending 7 1/2 hours in The
Hospital of H of St. Raphael's ER, I lost ALL FAITH in my surgeon. He said
that he called 2x's to speed things up. Yeah Right!! I bleed internally
from the wait and I am now on meds b/c my pouch and stomach formed a
connection. Remember-it's your life and don't let anyone sway you. Good
luck and God Bless!!
— Elaine S.
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