ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Eye Issues => Topic started by: LADavid on March 11, 2008, 12:23:14 pm
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Hey all you eye-weighters and lower lid-tuckers,
I have a couple of questions. I made my appointment to have the surgery, but they wanted me to come in for a full physical like the one I had before the AN Surgery. Is that normal?
The other question, what is recovery like? Does it do anything serious that you can't be up and around in a day? My birthday is two days after the surgery and I don't want to be a in another recovery mode.
Also, did any of you have any issue with insurance covering the procedure?
Hoping your day is great.
David
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I had my eye weight put in a few months after my AN surgery. I had a black eye for a week or so, but I bruise easy. There weren't any major restrictions that I can remember. It took a while for the swelling to go down. No problems with my insurance and we have a PPO where they are really picky. Karen
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I CHOSE TO HAVE MINE PUT IN BY A PLASTIC SURGEON OUT OF STATE AND MY INSURANCE COVERED IT. I HAD A LETTER SENT FROM MY SURGEON STATING MEDICAL NECESSITY OF THE WEIGHT AND THE LOWER LIFT PROCEDURE. COST $7,1000.00 BUT WE JUST PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE. THE PROCEDURE FOR THE LID DIDN'T HURT THAT BAD BUT THE CANTHOPLASTY TO CUT THE TENDONS AND MUSCLES FROM THE BONE, SHORTEN THEM AND REATTACH WITH THE INCISION IN THE CORNER OF THE EYE HURT LIKE CRAZY AND STAYED SWOLLEN FOR MONTHS. MY LOWER LID WAS DROOPING. DON'T HAVE THIS DONE UNTIL WAY LATER. GIVE YOUR FACE A CHANCE TO COME BACK FIRST AND SEE HOW IT TONES UP ON ITS ON. MY WEIGHT IS COMING OUT IN APRIL BECAUSE IT'S TOO HEAVY CAUSING MY EYELID TO DROOP BAD. WILL HAVE TO WAIT 6 WEEKS FOR SWELLING TO GO DOWN THEN DECIDE IF I NEED ANOTHER PUT IN. SOMETIMES IT TAKES MORE THAN ONE SURGERY TO GET THE RIGHT WEIGHT PUT IN.
CROOKEDSMILE
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Hi David: I was fine even the evening of my surgery, but your eye will be swollen for some time, & some bruising.
My surgeon also wanted preop: bloodwork: Basic chemistry panel, CBC & PT, PTT; also a urinalysis, & EKG. I met with the anesthesiologist the morning of the procedure.
No problem with insurance: this meets medical necessity criteria: it's to protect the cornea & prevent corneal ulcers from developing.
Always good thoughts, Nancy
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I did not have a "full" workup .. but did have a mini one .. blood was taken etc....
I was in the hospital I think for only 30 min! .. it was quick and easy.. (I did it on a Friday so I could easily return to work Monday) the first day I did take some pain meds and but that was it .. and was a little red for a week ..
well worth it .... ;D ;D
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Thanks for the input everyone. I think I now know what to expect. So I am going ahead with it. March 25. Then as of April 15, I'm heading to Kanab Utah to volunteer with horse care at Best Friends animal sanctuary until I recover well enough to go back to acting. It'll be good to have my eye issues resolved before I go. Thanks again
David
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Good luck with the surgery, David. I hope everything goes smoothly.
I meant to tell you before that I think the Best Friends volunteering is a great thing; I read about it in another one of your posts; good for you.
I'll have to look into something like this for me and my kids. They are at an age where they need to start getting involved in something like this - actually we should have done it years ago. Is there a website where I can get more info?
Thanks,
Jan
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Jan
Here's the website for Best Friends
http://bestfriends.org/
It's a great organization and in beautiful country. Very frontier. My brother is the human resource director there and his wife works there as well. It is an excellent place to heal while caring for others. They recently took in Michael Vicks dogs that could be saved. Take a look at the site and enjoy. And thanks for your interest.
David
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David -
thanks for the great link. I'm on my lunch hour @ work, so I don't have time to thoroughly check it out right now, but I'll do so later tonight. This might be a great thing to get my kids involved in. They've recently seen some really heart-breaking commercials on TV asking for donations and help for homeless and abused animals and they've been expressing an interest in getting involved. This might be right up our alley.
Jan
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Hey David~
I had my eye weight done 3 times to get the "right" one -- third times a charm!! :D I realize now that I have things easy in a way b/c I don't feel anything on that side -- the surgeries were a piece of cake for me. In fact, the 3rd was done late one afternoon and I went straight to my daughter's make-up soccer game (w/ my frozen peas, of course!). I never did any pre-op work that I can remember -- I MAY have the 1st time b/c it was in a surgery center, but he just did the other two in the office. I had them give me a little something to relax b/c I didn't want to hear them cutting (been there, done that) but the last time we didn't. The med recovery was MUCH worse than the surgery. I bruise REALLY badly but only bruised the 1st two. What does your Dr. say about the platinum weight? I was going to ask the Dr. in Baltimore about that next week when we go for the condultation for the T3 surgery.
Can't wait to hear about the Best Friends stuff!! I will check out the website you gave Jan!
K
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Hey David,
Hope everything goes well for your surgery on the 25th.
I love the Best Friends idea. I am a HUGE animal lover :)
I looked at the website and the place is beautiful. I can think of no place better to go and heal. Beautiful scenery and the love of animals. May you heal fast and feel better really soon!
K,
I know you are at your consult today for the T3 surgery, I hope things go well and you get really good news too. :)
Glenda
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Believe it or not, SAG Insurance denied the procedure saying that it was cosmetic -- thanks to all the vain actors. My opthomologist is now going back and forth with them. As a result, I've had to postpone the surgery and as a result of that, put my plans on hold for going to Best Friends. My half smile isn't real big at the moment. Bureaucrats. Blah.
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Actually, I can't believe it. Geez louise.... Well, all your eye surgeon has to do is call the insurance co., tell them you had an AN, with complications of facial paralysis, cannot blink, & you will have damage to your cornea if this is not treated ASAP. This IS a medical necessity.
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I can't even believe that!!! What person in their right mind, actor or not, would WANT something extra on thieir eyelid???????? I'm so sorry...I'm sure it will get taken care of, but just add more time & effort...AND wreck all your carefully laid plans!!!
K
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Maybe some people think a lowered lid has a 'sultry look' ? Beats me too K.
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You know, like I always say, insurance companies are a necessary evil :(
When I think of all the procedures they hold up just because they don't understand them or understand why we need them, I just want to scream!!!!
While I am extremely grateful that mine covered my entire AN surgery and is now theoretically on the path to paying for my BAHA surgery and processor, I was also very disappointed that they took 6+ months to make a "ruling" on the BAHA coverage.
Hang in there, David - they will see the error of their ways. Sorry you had to put your plans on hold in the meantime though.
Jan
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Thanks all of you for your understanding. It's just a frustration at the moment. I'm sure my doctor will get them straightened out. Even the doctors assistant commented on the fact that the SAG insurance rep was very rude. Ugh.I'll keep you posted.
In the meantime, I may have missed it but how was your consultation, K?
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David -
K said in another post that she has scheduled the T3 surgery - and it's relatively soon - I forget the exact date. She talks about it in the post for the ANA Book Club located under the ANA Community section. What she says is very encouraging; check it out.
Jan
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LA I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing the insurance denial dance. Nancy is 100% correct and it is Medically Necessary! Do you know how the procedure and diagnosis are being coded, that could be part of the problem. Have you called the insurance yourself and asked to talk to a supervisor and explained why the surgery is needed? It would be worth a try I have found that sometimes when patients get involved we can get things resolved rather quickly. If you need some help with this just send me a PM and I would be happy to help you. We may be able to take care of it first thing next week.
I love your recovery idea and am very jealous. I hope you will be there soon. Happy Birthday early. Your Birthday is the day before K's T3 surgery. Maybe she should join you at bestfriends and the 2 of you can tear the place up.
Kisses to your forehead. :-* 16
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16
Thank you for the birthday wishes. I turn (gulp) 60 on Thursday. Well I guess it's about time for me to grow up and move into my mid-life so I can have one of those crisis-things.
BTW, you all may appreciate this. My ex took me to see the Moody Blues last week (long time fan). I spent the first half of the concert adjusting my hearing aid. I think half the fans in attendance were doing the same thing..
Have a great weekend.
David
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David~
I am going to have to send you birthday wishes early as I will be kind of busy on Thursday -- & off and on airplanes!!
I guess instead of a mid-life crisis car, you will have to settle for a horse in Utah!!
K
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Hey K
I like the horse in Utah idea.
Real good luck with the T3 this week. Can't wait to hear about the success. You're in my thoughts and prayers.
God bless and have a safe trip.
David
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Hello LADavid.
Having the weight in my left eyelid and after I had it removed didn't help with my balance.
By my understanding being ssd hearing is the issue. It is like having a cold and your ears are plugged you tend to not have very good balance.
eve