I invite you to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com- and read my latest blog. After you read it, you will understand why I am emotionally and physically exhausted to the point of being in a stupor. So, this afternoon, I am leaving my husband at home in front of the TV, which is his usual spot, and I am going to get a manicure and pedicure. My phone will be on "vibrate", and if it is anyone besides Sid, I will not answer it.
Joan, it seems to be the way of the present world: complicated, non-helpful and totally frustrating. (I continue to find it with Royal Trust, DH's executors, who seem to me not to be acting in good faith.) I like your solution of recharging your batteries. I often wonder how people with less smarts and energy manage to survive. My guess is, not well.
There are times when the insurance companies can be a real PAIN. That's why so many people feel we need a single payor system. I remember when I was in pratice I had a patient who needed sinus surgery. We had very competant surgeons in our hospital, but the only one on their list, for the entire state of Maine, was a one and one half hours drive away. But the only hospital in the state was a 3 hour drive away, and their surgeon did not have privleges there. After many calls to the insurance company I got them to approve having the surgery done locally.
Oh Joan, I am sorry for what you are going through. I hope everything can be sorted out and arranged so you can have the surgery you need sans the general anesthetic. Especially with no out of pocket expense for you.
Joan--don't know if this will help you, but here goes: My Dad may have a similar situation to you regarding the tube down the throat. Throughout his lifetime, when he had surgery, what hurt him the most afterwards was his throat (strange, considering his surgeries were for gall bladder removal and hernia repairs). Finally, when he was in his late 80's or early 90's, when having a hernia repaired, the surgeon came out and told us there had been an hour's delay because they had trouble getting the tube down his throat. The doctor said that if future surgeries were necessary, to mention this problem and they could use a tube with a little camera built into the end and thus, be able to see where they were going. You might want to check that out--also, if your throat is just too narrow, don't they have a tube they use for pediatric surgeries that would be smaller? Just wanted you to have this info.
Joan, do you remember my story of about a year ago about my DH's MRIs? It was just horrable what we went through to get the MRIs. Sometimes the medical community/Insurance companies forget that we don't deal with this sort of thing every day. They take for granted that we know what is going on and don't give us enough information. This is another good example.
Thank you for that tip. I will definitely mention it from now on. I am having it put into my records that I must have surgery in a hospital, not a surgery center, so everyone will be on the same page from the get go.
This afternoon's manicure and pedicure did help calm me down. Nothing but soft, soothing music in the spa.
I spoke to the therapist where I live this morning. She is going to do my rehab. She said her company has an office near the hosptial that is in my network, and the therapists at that office do a lot of rehab patients from that hosptial, so she will ask them who is the best shoulder doctor.
Something good came out of all this. My sister is coming anyway. She cleared it with her boss that she will come now, but has to come again for the surgery. So she will be here for 9 days, and she said her goal is to get me out of the house and get me some fun. Between Sid, my father, and the surgery debaucle, I am absolutely fried.
My husband had the same problem. We were told that the next time he needed an anaesthetic, he should mention the problem, and they would use a smaller size tube for intubation. So they must have them.
Joan I used to work in pre-op and can't tell you how often insurance companies seem to do everything to prevent having to spend your money on you. At least you will have some good time with your sister before you have to start over from square one. I am soooo sorry.
I feel terrible about what happened to you. Unfortunately I am not surprised though. This world runs on money and greed and not compassion at all. The more I hear about the medical support that New Zealand gives their older citizens the more I wish I was there(of course the earth quakes they have there are a deterant) Anywho! I don't know what is wrong with the US medical insurance "beneifts" As far as your narrow throat, I have the same problem. When I had my biopsies for the next two days I thought I was going to lose my voice and the sore throat was terrible. I can totally understand why you would not want to go that route. I hope the mani and pedi helped!!!
Several people have beat me to this remark. I thought when I read Joan's blog that anestheseologists (sp) they have different size tools to use for this procedure. They aspirate preemies the size of little squirrels, for heaven's sake. What I thought when I read your story in this was that considering the Anesthesiologists are the Number ONE group of doctors being sued in today's medical field, this doctor didn't want to risk ANYTHING happening with you and just backed off quickly without discussing the options available. For me??..I'd never have surgery of any kind in a Surgical Center. I'd insist on a full service hospital. I know more and more orthopedic surgeons are double dipping by using their own surgical centers...they charge for the surgery PLUS the use of their operating room. Didn't you say the anesthesiologist refused to come to the in-house surgical center. Maybe the Big Guy In The Sky was looking out for you....
I am a big believer in things happening for a reason (although my husband's AD is sorely testing that theory), so I figure this setback will probably turn out for the best. I hope.
The anesthesiologist refused to handle MY surgery at the surgical center because of the risk involved, JUST IN CASE, something went wrong, and I needed a tube. I was certainly glad that he was being prudent. I don't even care that he was covering his own interests. I was going to be safer because of it.
As for double dipping - it is RAMPANT around here. My orthopedic and his partner own their own therapy practice, and INSIST that their patient only have therapy with their therapists, because according to them, no one else is any good. Well, I have worked as a speech therapist, along side OT and PT's for over 20 years. I know a good therapist when I see one, and I also know my rights. I am allowed to go to whatever therapy place I choose, so I fought him like Hell on that one, and he had no choice but to give in. Why should I travel an hour a day to his therapy place, when we have excellent therapists right here on site where I live?
The search for an "in network" doctor willl begin on Monday.
Take advantage of your sister's visit and find some 'me time' that you wouldn't have had otherwise. As you said, things happen for a reason. Maybe 'me time' trumps surgery for the moment!! Hang in there, Joan!!
Joan, YOU GO GIRL! I think you were saved in the nick (oops) of time. That doctor was going to insist on HIS surgical center PLUS his own physical therapists... So, if anything went wrong, no one would tell. That's just crazy! Don't go near that doctor ....ever again! nancyB*
About looking for a new doctor - interestingly, rather than being given a name of a good shoulder surgeon, I have been given the name of one to stay away from. When I was getting my nails done yesterday, my manicurist told me of an orthopedic in my network who screwed up one of her client's shoulders very badly. The other manicurist chimed in to tell me that same doctor made such a mess of her shoulder that she had to go to a specialist in another county.
Nancy - I won the fight about the therapists. He had no choice but to give in. The law states that I can go to whatever certified therapist I want. Most people don't know that, so they go where the doctor tells them.
All of my pre-op tests say that I am fine - chest x-ray; EKG; blood work. But I am perpetually exhausted - both emotionally and physically. I am looking forward to the week with my sister. She said her goal is to give me respite away from the house. I'm thinking about taking a day for the two of us to just sit on the beach and watch the waves. Can't ride the waves anymore because of the shoulder, but I can certainly sit and relax with my toes in the water.
Joan, I suggest you ask your doctor to check your Vitamin D level. I would bet it is very low! That would explain the 'unexplained" exhaustion..or at least some of it. My doctor ran my tests and we were both amazed. Read about it. Determined by a simple blood test.