My 1St Roadblock

[kmoore 97]

I was having the WORST day at work today, then right in the middle of it, I receive a phone call from my bariatric doc's office. It's the lady who checks off all of the insurance requirements wondering why I missed my appointment on July 31st for my H.Pylori test, Upper GI and chest xray. I tell her, "I didn't. I was there and I had those tests done". Except for the chest xray which I had the tech at my office shoot me and I faxed the results over to them on July 20th. Well, it shows that I cancelled that appt, so I must not have been there and they have no results. WHY OH WHY do people argue? I tell her again, YES I WAS THERE ON JULY 31st and I DID HAVE MY TESTING DONE! I told her I had blood drawn and then went to imaging for the upper GI. She inquires why I had blood drawn! DOH! To check for H.Pylori!!!!! Then she SEES the results for this test...why didn't you have the breath test for that? WELL, because I get there and find out that you all were out of the little balloons to do the test that way. BUT, she still can't find my upper GI results and insists I never sent the xray results to them. So I RE-fax that and ask that they call imaging to get the upper GI results. Then....BAM! Oh, and I don't see a pre-op release note from your cardiologist and we must have that. OMG! September 2010, my PCP sends me to cardio for a stress test due to my high blood pressure, high cholesterol and the fact that my dad dropped dead of a massive heart attack 4 months before that at the age of 63! I have the stress test done and they note a "shadow" that they feel is due to my large breasts, but I insisted on a heart catheterization to be 100% sure....and all was clean And I have not seen the cardio since, and he did not expect to see me again either. My PCP manages my co-morbidities. Well, you saw a specialist and because of that, he has to sign off too. So I call cardio...yes, he can write the letter....at the appointment I now have to go to to see him. I figured that. I mean, he hasn't seen me in 2 years! So, I have an appt with him next Thursday (8/16).

I am not miffed that I have to have this appointment or that I have to have this letter...I understand why. But OMG...WHY they didn't tell me this 4 months ago....OR when I went over the insurance checklist ONE month ago WITH this exact person that was calling me???? I could already have this done! I thought they sent this to my insurance on Monday...now I find out I will be waiting at LEAST another week to go to insurance. UGH...the competency of some people baffles me sometimes. I know my snag is nothing compared to those of you that FOUGHT insurance to pay, and those that came up with big money because your insurance wouldn't pay...but geez! I am a VERY organized person, and for them to throw this on me last minute ticks me off. AND it was the straw that broke that back today...I thought I was gonna go postal at work with all going wrong there and then this news....LOL!

Thanks for listening to my rant Jumping off of my soap box now

[scorpion509 107]

Sorry about that, but I think everything would work out just fine.

the cardiology appointment was the hard for me to get. I called at the end of July and the first available appointment was just in mid of September. so it's just 1 week before my surgery.

[traceyinflorida 499]

Ughh, I am frustrated just reading your ordeal, and I did not go through it. I feel for you girl! I hope tomorrow is better and things get cleared quickly for you. I think when we finally get to the point of making this monumental and life changing decision, we just want to get it done. Unfortunately, no one else (office staff, PCP writing letter of medical necessity, insurance company etc) seems to share the same sense of urgency. For me, cardiology and pulmonology clearance were routine, despite not having any past issues. You might want to ask if you need the pulmonology consult, so they don't spring that on you next week. Good luck to you! You will get there!!

[Livinglifeout 217]

I'm so sorry to hear about your dads passing, my thoughts and prayers are with you. There is nothing worse than dealing with unorganized clueless people that should be professional and have it together. But with that said, this too shall pass and think of all the positive changes your making with your life:)

[kmoore 97]

Looking forward to a better day today Insurance and bariatric doc, for me, do not require a pulmonologist...thank goodness. I was afraid of having to wait a month for the cardiologist...but he had a cancellation for next week (YAY). I didn't think about needing clearance from him, because the doc told me all he needed was the results of the stress test and heart catheterization procedure. I would have been disappointed regardless, but the fact I was having such a terrible day at work too...UGH. I am rested this morning though, and am hoping for a better day

[Justine13 264]

Yeah- I found myself getting irritated and ready to call her too sorry you had to endure this but you will get there and today is going to be a much better day

[bigsleeve56 266]

I always blamed the ins. for slow paperwork but going through this has shown me it is more Dr. fault and not ins. My Dr. waited a week to send in report and ins. had approval the morning afer receiving it. The Dr. made all of the preop appt. for me but forgot to make one with his office so I had to wait two weeks to see him after the others were done. The one thing that I did that the ins people liked is I made all app mail a copy of reports to the ins as well as DR.