I Mean, Really?
For weeks, WEEKS, I’ve been preparing for an operation I’m sure most of you are aware of. Not just the mental preparation, but the preparation of finding individuals who can make themselves available to take care of my children during my four week recovery. A recovery I understand will be very painful.
Two months ago, when this procedure was suggested, I told my doctor about my allergy to narcotics. I know of this allergy because I’ve had various reactions to those given to me and was told by doctors that means I’m allergic. At no point in my life was it suggested that I go to an Allergist to actually figure out what I can and can not use to ease any pain that might occur in my lifetime, and since it wasn’t suggested, the thought of needing to do so didn’t occur to me.
On Tuesday, March 9, 2010, I went into the hospital ready to have this operation. I wasn’t scared, I had a good time keeping up with my online friends by Tweeting and Facebooking and was brought back into the Pre-Op area where I was prepped for surgery. My items were taken, blood drawn and all the pertinent questions asked.
As scheduled, the Anesthesiologist arrives to talk about my surgical and post-op care. I again answered the typical questions and when I once again mentioned my allergies, I was quizzed on what medications were used to treat my hysterectomy last June.
Given the drama of that operation (I acquired Triple Pneumonia and ended up in a different hospital where a blood transfusion was the cure to that illness), I couldn’t answer the questions asked. The Anesthesiologist then leaves and moments later he and doctor arrive.
I hate to say to make a long story short, because this is clearly a long story, but these two men asked dozens of questions I could not answer and kept leaving and returning to the area I was being held. I was then told to go home.
Home? How can I go home? I have four weeks of help lined up to care for my kids! I purchased three non-refundable plane tickets to get help and had someone driving up from Florida and vacation time being used just to assist me! I gave these doctors all of my information months ago yet I have to go HOME?
I had to go home.
I still don’t even know if my insurance is going to cover the procedure because the office sent the paperwork required at different times and because that happened, my operation was denied. When resubmitted, it turned out it was submitted to the wrong department and I was then told the decision would come the day of the operation.
Well here it is, a day later and I still have no answer on the insurance. Who has to do the work to find out what the results are? ME. Who has to call the doctors office for updates? ME. Who is popping Xanex like Tic-Tacs? ME.
So I call my doctor today (the following day) and this is what I’m told-
I can not have this operation until I see an allergist to determine what pain medications can be used to manage my pain. Given the medications I’m on to treat my bipolar disorder, the allergist can not determine what pain medications might have drug interactions so they now need to find out who my psychiatrist is so they can speak with him.
When I made the phone call to figure all of this out I asked if anyone thought to call me to find out who my shrink might be. After all, I’m the one who goes there. Not only do I have his name and office number, but I have his personal cell phone number. Am I the only one thinking here? Since when has that become my job?
I understand that they want to ease my pain. I understand this is an incredibly painful recovery but I don’t understand why I am being punished for their actions. Not only did I take every step required for approval, I called multiple times to see if I could talk to a pain specialist ahead of time for this very purpose and was told that prior to the operation I’d talk to the Anesthesiologist, have the operation and then a specialized managed care person would visit my room while I was in recovery to ensure I went home with the proper pain management.
The last words I said to them, just prior to hanging up the phone was that I am a bipolar 33 year old woman who is in need of an operation it took weeks to prepare for. If they can do it by the 19th, things will be fine because my help I’m flying in arrives that day and I will have assistance until the 31st. I’m assuming the people who arranged their schedule to assist for the time surrounding that would be able to do so again but everyone in my family is an Aries. Those four weeks fall during the time one child turns two and my oldest turns five. I’m going to miss my first born child’s fifth birthday party that he’s been taking about since his fourth.
If they fail to come through and perform the operation they suggested, I honestly don’t know what I’ll do. As it is, I spent hours sitting in a field at a park alone just looking at the sky. I’ve completely withdrawn myself from my typical duties because in my head, I’d be resting in a hospital bed recovering from this procedure. I don’t know what I’ll do. Cry for weeks? Scream and yell? Have a complete nervous breakdown?
If I an granted this operation on the 19th, my final four week day of recovery will end on April 13th, the day before my 33rd birthday.
Happy Birthday, Julie. You get to hear your new voice for your birthday.
30 Comments
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I Mean, Really? http://www.momspective.com/i-mean-really...
IHavDefx Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:07 am
@Momspective Wow. That had me exhausted just reading it. Something to keep in mind ~ most recoveries, especially in young hotties like u…
IHavDefx Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:08 am
@Momspective don’t take near as long as originally told. Like a “worst-case” deal. I wish you luck if, I mean when you have this surgery!
ReallyBlog Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:20 am
@Momspective That’s my line.
agtidau Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
@Momspective what a load of bullshit; I can’t believe you didn’t kill someone…
Trust is overrated. It’s probably wise to assume that folks in the medical field are as “slow” as regular people.
.-= Dr. B.´s last blog ..THE TWO-DAYS LATE ACADEMY AWARD BLOG, BECAUSE THERE’S STILL NOTHING POLITICAL GOING ON WORTH SATIRIZING =-.
Holy Toledo! It seems that there is a very simple solution for that Allergist…call a Pharmacist. They cross-check medications ALL THE TIME!!!!
And YES, it seems that you are the only one thinking.
So sorry…Fingers are crossed for you.
.-= TheChattyMom´s last blog ..Stay Out Of My Kitchen! =-.
This sounds like some form of Chinese torture. Get a patient all worked up about a painful procedure, bring them all the way up to the very minute insuring every second of stress in endured then SNATCH it away and start the whole thing over again – are you sure you haven’t pissed one of these Drs off?
.-= Sheila Sultani´s last blog ..Looking For Work? Huge Employment Opportunity – Hiring 40,000 =-.
Oh wow, that totally sucks monkey balls. Hopefully it will work out in the end and you won’t have to throttle any insurance employees or office staff.
I’ve got some nasty allergies too, and at least your doctors pay attention to your allergies. Mine just prescribe narcotics to me when I’m half unconscious and wonder why I’m having trouble breathing and projectile vomiting.
.-= Mama Geek´s last blog ..Geez Louise =-.
Holy crap! If it’s not one thing, it’s a whole bunch. I won’t even go into how big of a mess this would be if the gub’ment was in charge. I digress. Julie, keep your head up, and don’t let up on them.
Good luck, and you’re still in our prayers.
.-= Todd´s last blog ..The nutritionist chronicles – Part 5 =-.
OMG What a pain in the ass, those doctors dick around with you and your schedule! I’m so sorry they screwed you over. But you have to hang in there – you have a beautiful family counting on you and you must remember – you are worth it! So hang in there girlfriend!
Can you call the hospital administrator and tell them to get something done about this? I am so sorry this has happened. There is no excuse for their ineptitude.
WOW your BIPOLAR too?
Are you on lithium? Thats what I am on for BP.
.-= Christopher´s last blog ..Psychologist Visit ( Yesterday ) =-.
WOW your BIPOLAR too?
Are you on lithium? Thats what I am on for BP.
– Christopher
.-= Christopher´s last blog ..Psychologist Visit ( Yesterday ) =-.
Julie Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Lamictal and Lithium
I don’t know what surgery you’re having, have never heard of one needing to see an allergist to help manage pain meds. Sounds like someone really dropped the ball here. If this story doesn’t make people realize we desparately need health care change in this country I don’t what will.
Do you have a good TV news investigator type in your community? We have something called 6 on your side here in town. Local news who get’s to the bottom of things when people have trouble; by embarrassing the companies and giving bad PR to those who deserve it who take advantage of people.
Hang in there
Sandy
.-= sandy´s last blog ..Scarves! =-.
Julie Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Sandy, yes I do. If this doesn’t happen I have media standing by. I’m furious.
I am soooo sorry for what you are going through… I wish I could offer more than just words as comfort. I will be thinking about you and sending good thoughts your way…and hopefully the surgery will work out as close to schedule as possible.
Always your friend…Stefanie
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..Kid-Safe Your Backyard =-.
I’m so upset along with you… but I’m a little selfishly excited that we might get to hang tomorrow and I get to TALK to you and you get to TALK back!!
.-= bassackwards mom´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – I laugh EVERY time =-.
My goodness! This is some bull crap (and probably more than bull crap). I am so sorry that all of this is happening to you! I hope that everything stays on track to happen soon. If you need anything, I will be glad to help. But on the positive side, you have a little bit more time to find a sponsor for liquid nutrition
much love!
Glad to hear you have someone standing by. I don’t blame you at all for being furious. I would be too. Good Luck and keep us posted.
Sandy
.-= sandy´s last blog ..Scarves! =-.
I am on Lithium and Celexa for OCD and a wee bit of depression.
How Much Lithium are you on? I am on 300, 3 times a day so 900 MG.
was on Haldol but it was doing me no good so now I am fixing to start Paxil once I finish out my pills of Celexa
.-= Christopher´s last blog ..Psychologist Visit ( Yesterday ) =-.
Julie Reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
900 Lithium, 300 Lamictal and Xanex as neededd – which has been needed lately.
Well that’s just BS. Those things should have been worked out PRIOR to your operation day, just as you had been suggesting. Pretty sad when you have to administrate a hospital for them.
Hope they get their poop in a group for you.
.-= Keely´s last blog ..One of these things is not like the other (in our favorite sushi restaurant) =-.
Oh you poor thing! Definitely call the hospital administrator (if you haven’t already). Keeping my fingers crossed you get the surgery done sooner than later – I know all about being mentally prepared, not to mention you had done all the necessary steps to have your ducks in a row. Nothing like someone coming by and knocking all your ducks off their row. ((HUGZ!!))
.-= Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)´s last blog ..Spinning up Some Intuition or Sixth Sense… But No Dead People. =-.
How frustrating! Too bad you can’t deduct all of the time you’ve invested doing their job off of the bill, eh?
.-= Becki´s last blog ..Ladies Who Laugh… =-.
Have they thought of Torodol (sp?) at all. You may want to check into that to see if it will react with your current meds. I don’t respond well to pain meds and the last couple of surgeries I have had I requested the Torodol. The only downside to it is that you can only take it while in the hospital. I have no idea why but that’s what I was told. Apparently it is used for alcoholics and addicts as a pain med that is non-addictive. I am neither an alcoholic nor an addict, just someone who has REALLY bad reactions to pain meds. Ask your doctors about that one. Good luck!
Julie Reply:
March 14th, 2010 at 12:26 am
They are a bunch of dipshits who are so scared of me they won’t do the operation and I have to start over. I’m going to egg & toilet paper the building.
sounds to me like they got scared..All it takes is a call to the pharmacist to get those interaction questions answered. I do not know what has happened to our Medical care. Seems Doctors are no longer trustworthy . I know I had a similar story at one hospital and by the time they did the surgery I had many complications to say the least. I will never have surgery there again. Perhaps you should go with another doctor, get a second opinion.
.-= Auntie E´s last blog ..Maxine on Saturday- New Doctor Service? =-.
How horribly stressful and completely avoidable. I’d be livid too. I hope it all works out quickly and you can have the surgery on time.
.-= Robin from Israel´s last blog ..Sending my blog flowers =-.