ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Cognitive/Emotional Issues => Topic started by: Soundy on November 16, 2008, 10:28:31 pm
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I have had a wreck of sorts...
Tomorrow I finally get to see a new doctor after insurance woes and my surgeon quitting to write
country music :o ...
I have been looking forward to it and getting some problems looked into ...balance ain't great but I can deal
with what I have ...have only actually falling twice in the 16 months since surgery... hearing is muted
in hearing ear and that needs adressed... but mainly my headaches need some resolution...
I was glad to find a new doctor and now on the eve of appointment I am apprehensive...
I have not slept much in past week...read a ton of books ...good thing there is I am ready for several
AN Book Club discussions :D ...I come on here at all hours of the night when I can't get back to sleep and read posts
and have so much to say but remain quiet for the most part... I am worried that a new AN or something is growing
on left side... I know unlikely but something is reducing hearing ... I have trouble remembering things more so
than usual ... my facial and scalp numbness is worrying me ... after getting almost back to normal why would it get
cranked back up??? to many questions and not enough sleep lately ... have to drive 2 hours to get there and
have to be there at 8:30 to fill out a stack of papers ...
Right now I don't even want to go...
I thought I was through with any major emotional ups and downs but I'm not and it makes me feel weak... I am
going to get up and go...I have a mile long list of questions for the new guy... and a copy of the article
Protect Your Balance or Else that some one posted , that I have highlighted with things I was trying to make my old
doctor understand and he didn't understand and discounted the problems as pretty much my imagination... like
the bouncy vision of distant background objects that plague me ... (thanks to who ever posted the article ...it made
me feel so much better reading that I was not he only one) ...
I tried to explain it to EX Doctor as being like the animation cells that Disney has as back grounds and the characters
were moving across in front of it , but in my case it wasn't in sync and made me dizzy and nauseated because
near objects were in place but the background behind them was bouncing around ... he said I watched
to much TV... I don't watch much but was trying to put it to him in a way that a person without the problem
would understand
I thought I had a question or two but I am just venting and worrying ... and need to go to bed ...
have my own appointment and then a surgical consult with my 9 year old's plastic surgeon... she has a lymphatic
malformation in her mouth and has had surgery 4 times since kindergarten and looks like she will have more for
Christmas break... I worry about her but she acts like it is no big deal... dealing with it since birth she is used
to it ... I had 40 some odd years without AN and kinda liked life better without it ... I wish I had the ability
that she does to roll with the punches and not fight against what is ...
Wish us both luck tomorrow... hopefully will leave Nashville in time to swing my the Galleria Mall and do a little
Christmas Shopping or at least grab a bite to eat ... squeeze a bit of normalcy into the day
and Thanks for being here... this place is a life saver
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Sounds very similar to what I went through for three years after my surgery before I went back to my original surgeon, Dr. Antonelli with complaint of oscillopsia! The other "specialists" in my town discounted me, yelled at me, and pretty much made me feel hopeless.
Keep searching dear, what you describe is not normal, should not be happening and don't let it go as you will be in my boat with the balance not coming back to near 100% due to too long of a wait/diagnosis.
IMO, sounds like you have something going on with the other vestibular nerve. Hope you get some help.
My thoughts are with you and your daughter.
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Soundy,
It sounds like you are as stressed as it is possible to get -- it's no wonder you're not sleeping. Having to deal with your problems and your daughter's too puts a lot on your plate. I understand how coming here at all hours makes you feel at least a little better even if it is only from being able to vent. That is something we all need to do from time to time. I can understand your anxiety over the new doc too, especially considering what a jerk your last docor was. Hopefully your new doc will be much more compasisonate and sympathetic that the last one and be abel to give you some answers. Doing some Christmas shopping mght be just the thing to lift your spirits a little. Please keep us posted and remember to breathe!
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Soundy,
Wish I knew you were headed my way. We could have met for some lunch and some Christmas shopping! Hope you had a good trip (to the doctor and to the mall) and things went well!
Lori
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Things went good yesterday...
First off Sarah is not going to have to have surgery... some of the excess lymphatic tissue had some
saliva ducts clogged ... it popped before we got to her doctor and drained .. she looked and felt better...
this is a new thing ... looked no different from when it was overgrown tissued that had to be surgically
removed... and she got a prescription to suck on sour candy to stimulate her saliva glands and flush out
any more of the grainy lymphatic tissue still in the gland or ducts...
this made me thing... I wonder if for those of us with dry mouth but some saliva if sucking sour candy
would help... got her some old fashion sour lemon drops and may try a couple to see what happens ...
won't hurt nothing to try it
With me have some answers but not a full picture of just what is going on... had several tests...air pressure in deaf
ear is low... and the fluid thought to be just an ear infection is actually nasal goo... I have had some allergy
issues going on and for what ever reason fluid is backing out of Eustachian tubes then out ear instead of draining
down like it should ...
Also suspects not enough cerebral fluid ...either it is not there or a leak somewhere... I am on a diuretic to keep
left kidney going ... have had surgery on it to open it up ...had an accident that damaged it and cause scarring that
blocks flow and it needs jump started to work... may be pulling too much fluid from system... will know if we have to
adjust that once all scan results are in... for now staying on it so kidney doesn't slow down on me ...tend to make
stones if I don't stay on meds...
they put a clip like a swimmer would use on my nose and had me hold my breath and try to gently blow out my nose
and some air and fluid came out deaf ear.. air should move around there some to keep air pressure in ear structure equalized
but not as much as is going on and stuff isn't suppose to come up the tubes... he is worried that I may be getting fluid
and or air (or as he called it) foreign contaminates in my skull... this can't be good ...
Also the patch of thickened skin in ear canal that old doctor removed in April has grown back... it is not infection or
tumor or cystic in structure according to labs ...just thickened skin ... the didn't take it out ... I have a small area in hearing
ear too... may be related to hyped up immune system due to lupus...stress aggravates lupus and have had thicken
scaly patches on my arms and legs from it at times ... good thing is the $45 tube of steroid creme I got two weeks
ago for a patch of scaly skin on my leg is what he was going to give me to swab into my ears , so I didn't have to
buy anymore ...had a mosquito bite me just above ankle and after 2 month it had not healed and was scaly
and had lumps under the skin
Only a 1% increase in hearing loss in hearing ear ... which with all going on that isn't much and may not be any ...may
be better after as the tech put it ...the crisis is over
All this can and probably is contributing to balance issues... numbness to face and scalp could be swelling or
entrapped nerves ... feel better that he found things worthy of further investigation and that it is not all in my
head ( even though it is :D )
Verdict... have to have CAT scan of temporal bones and two different MRIs on December 1st... one MRI of brain and
the other of neck and upper spine...the old doctor ran post op MRIs without contrast and the new said they should
have been with contrast and be more detailed...
That all said I feel about 90% better after seeing the new doctor and his willingness to work with me and look
for answers instead of telling me to let things work themselves out with time
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Sounds like you got a lot more answers on one visit to the new guy than you did from multiple visits to the "old" guy.
I hope this one works out well and gets to the bottom of the issues you need to have addressed.
Next time you're in town, let me know - the coffee's on me!
Lori
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It does sound promising that this new doctor will be able to find some things and improve some things.
I hope it continues to go well, it is nice to hear some good news.
Steve
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Soundy,
What a time you have been enduring... you know I send the "hugglez" to you.... and hoping that you discovered a comfort level with this new doc... sounds like they're taking the bull by the horns and following up/crossing "t's" and dotting "i's" to confirm what is going on. I wish I had words that could help the cause... but I don't... but.... I send wishes... hugglez... thoughts.. and I'm thinking of you (and of Sarah... what a trouper you have there!).....
Hang in there... pls keep us updated... try to sleep/get rest... you've always got us! :) (scary, ain't it? :D )
Phyl
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Soundy,
I am so glad you are finally getting to the bottom, or rather, on top, or rather, to the head of the matter! There are a lot of clueless docs out there who would rather be doing something else with their time like playing golf or writing country music apparently. Living with Chronic headache is NO FUN, believe me and living on hydrocodone is no way to go what with the rebound effect, not to mention the zombification factor.
This past summer I stopped in Nashville driving back from a wedding and went to the Opryland mall. Ate lunch at the Aquarium restaurant and the next time I pass through, I'm calling you and Lori up and we are definitely hooking up and going there, my treat!!!
Total tourist trap, but it was so cooooooool!!!! Entirely surrounded by the most beaooooooootiful fishies and sharks and corals swimming all over the place. It was really the neatest thing. Since I feel like I have fishbowl head anyway I felt right at home!
Good luck with your scans and ongoing tests and I hope you get some answers
Big huuuuuuuuuuuggggggggs
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate-2.gif)
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Soundy,
I'm glad to hear your crisis is past, and especially glad to hear your daughter doesn't need surgery -- a double blessing. It sounds like your old doc made the right decision in getting out of medicine and the new one seems to really be on the ball. December 1 is right around the corner, literally and I hope you get the answers you are looking for, and more importantly, I hope there is nothing too difficult to deal with.
Wishing you all good things,
Wendy
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December 1 will be here before I know it ...
I will be back in Nashville then... CT scan is at 9 but have to be there by 8 to fill out big stacks of paper..
I kill a small tree each time I go to a new doctor...
my ears are less stuffy even after just a week of putting steroid cream in them so I guess the skin
thing is going down... no more drainage from deaf ear ... my sinuses are clear so they aren't draining out
wrong places ...
Insomnia is still my friend or rather just constant companion... I finished Marley and Me and had to stop near end
and not pick it up for a few days ... knew what was going to happen and didn't want it too , as if putting
the book down could sop it ... finally finished it and cried ... my husband thinks I stay up because I read ... I
have been up for two hours and haven't been reading ...have been listening to him snore and looking at ceiling...
thinking about a slug of benedryl
keep fingers crossed that scans are good and no more holes in head necessary (except BAHA hole if I can get it
past insurance )
Good Night ... Sleepless in Tennessee
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One day you all will read about a woman from Mid South Tennessee who hunted down and
tortured a BCBS claims mediator...
Got a letter from BCBS medical claims mediators that told me it was
necessary that I go through with the scans as scheduled... the risk
of inter cranial infection was not worth risking not keeping the
appointment ...
Now don't let what we are going to tell you not keep your
appointment... we (BCBS) are not going to pay on these scans
because we have dropped that service provider...
then they go on to tell me again that I must for my health and well
being have the scans ...called center and all the MRIs and the CT
scan are going to be around $8000 ... BCBS said they will work to get the
reduced price of $6000 that was contracted with the center before they
dropped them ...
ain't they so nice ... >:(
Doctor sent me to the center instead of the hospital radiology
department because they do good scans and charge less than
the hospital... now got to try to fight them as it was set up before
they dropped the place or get an appointment at St Thomas ...
And it seems they should still pay the out of network amount
which is 70% after deductible is met instead of in-network 85%..
Our local go between with insurance is out of town until Monday... CT scan
appointment is Monday at 9:00 with MRIs to follow and I am suppose to be there
by 8...
Gonna be on phone tomorrow trying to get them to honor it since the arrangements
was made prior to them dropping facility... that is the angle the doctor office said to take ...
or reschedule with someone they will cover ...and going to call BCBS and question why they
won't even pay at the out of network rate if I go to the facility...
I got the mail at about 1:00 and had to pick up my Girl Scouts at 2:30 so didn't get alot
done as far as working something out ... got to school and was waiting for them and the nurse
said I looked funny ...my lips were tingling and a little light headed ... she took my BP and
it was 187/100 ... instead of going down the road to community building we just stayed
at school and made Christmas cards that have to be turned in my the 5th to be shipped
to Iraq... by 4:00 my blood pressure was almost normal and I felt better
Even though they backed off on classifying me as Pre-existing when the insurance changed in
their seamless transition , that is what they are doing anyway and calling it everything but
not covered due to pre-existing complaint ...they are throwing road blocks in front of me
every step of the way...
I wanted to sit down and cry...roll on the ground screaming and other things I don't normally do...
I was so happy after visit with new doctor because it looked like things were going to start happening ...
now I am kinda just numb all over...
I talked to husband and we have decided that I am going to go through with the scans Monday
and worry about it later if I can't get a new appointment within a week ...not going to fight
them a month to get it done when it should have been done a long time ago...
I am so tired emotionally ... almost wish I had just kept Bennie and not have had all the after
crap to deal with ... that doesn't last long with two doctors telling me that he
would have soon put breathing at jeopardy... I like breathing ... but life was so much easier with
him in my head
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Crisis averted...
Been on the phone with Marie off and all all day long... I asked her the first time I called and she told
me I needed to talk with doctor and see how the order was coded as to where it was to be ... before
hanging up ?I asked for her name ,rank and serial number so I could get back with her instead of
talking to yet another person...
Long story short... her poking around revealed that even though they have told me that they have all AN
cleared as continuation of treatment and not pre-existing , that is how they were running my stuff through ,
as pre-existing...I suspected as much...glad she was honest ans told me ... also the center has not been
dropped and is still on our plan as in-net ... the jerk I talked to yesterday noted that as pre-existing I was
not entitled to coverage until 7/1/2009 and it could be reconsidered at that time...
So I am set and just have to pay them $600 Monday instead of the $2000 they requested yesterday...
She asked if I wanted her to mail me a grievance form to file against the person I talk to yesterday and I
said Yes Please... all she did is look back through to July and found where we had filed appeal and the determination
that I would have continued coverage... yesterdays person didn't take the time or listen to what I was saying ...
just read from screen what was there and made notes... evidently I was also hostile yesterday ...gee ya think...
and I was nice til I was told I needed $2000 and would have to pay the remaining balance too...
Marie told me that we have issues and problems with BCBS because we have the high deductible plan that
doesn't pay as much as the co-pay plans do... when insurance is reviewed in June I hope like heck they
switch us back to Cigna or to a different BCBS
So Nashville is on for Monday morning and I can enjoy the long weekend and family without all this mess in the back of my mind
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Wow. I'm glad it all worked out for you, but I hate that you had to go through it.
Hope you have a relaxing holiday & weekend. I think you deserve it.
Sara
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Well I have been scanned and now have to wait til Wednesday for phone conference with doctor
and radiologist... I guess they have to get together and make their stories match ;)
When I got to Premier Radiology this morning to check in I was given a letter that said that BCBS
may not pay ... so much for Marie... but they said to hold on to $600 and they would file whole amount
and discount bill if BCBS didn't pay on it as agreed...
Went by audiologist and got a prescription for TV Ears so I can get a portion back from insurance ... they
approved it after saying they wouldn't because I had to have a significant loss of hearing ... I would say that
with one deaf ear and one with 86 % word recognition would classify as significant but somehow it went
through with only a 14% loss which wasn't enough ... now records say I have a 57% loss of hearing ...if they
don't pay I am calling TV Ears Christmas Present...
I drive people nuts turning up TV to hear and get tired of husband saying ..Can't you just read it ??? ... yes I can
read it on CC but I like to hear... and I get mad at him and want to stick dense ear plugs in his ears and dull his
hearing and tell him to read it ... this will make watching with him easier... and I won't want to smack him
I got tickled at picture of old older couple on back of packaging with caption that says ...TV Ear saved our marriage...
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Soundy:
My wife and (adult) son 'chipped in' to buy me a set of the coveted 'TV Ears' two years ago, as a Christmas present. They may not have been needed to 'save my marriage' but they sure helped!
My wife can watch the TV with the sound as low as she wants (she has excellent hearing) and I can simply adjust the volume on my headset as high as I need it. Of course, the sound is a bit 'tinny' and not like 'natural' hearing but you quickly adjust and the convenience is worth the trade-off. 'TV Ears' are now a permanent part of my life and I'm happy to have them. :)
Jim
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One night with them and I am happy ... even with the little difference in the sound I could
hear everything said and husband didn't have to ask me to read or turn it down...
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Hi Soundy,
All I can say is WOW have you ever been put through the wringer by BCBS! Although we are lucky to have health insurance, the hoops they often make us and our doctors jump through are just ridiculous and you have my sympathy. My insurance company is Aetna. Their policy is that they consider BAHA a medical necessity for AN patients due to the surgical malformation of the inner ear that is a byproduct of treatment. I got a letter from Aetna yesterday denying coverage for my upcoming BAHA surgery. Luckily, my doc did a peer to peer review (I'm really lucky to have a doc who is so on the ball) and now they are covering it. He contacted me by e-mail to let me know what was going on since I called his office about the letter. The few hours of stress this caused me sent me into a temporary emotional tailspin that surprised me -- I thought I was stronger than that. You must be a very strong person to deal with all the issues you've had to deal with. Hopefully, you'll be able to make BCBS cover what they're supposed to cover. I have to say I admire you for fighting the good fight -- YOU ROCK!! I hope things get better for you soon -- keep us posted.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Finally got report late Friday...
and the main thing is he wants me to consult with a neurosurgeon/ologist ... he is an ENT specializing in
otology and neurotology ...says a neuro specializing in pain management is who I need to see
He said there is no air or fluid in between brain and skull that it is confined to the Eustachian tubes ... there is a
narrowing that was not present before surgery and when I had the allergy issues going they were not draining
and gunk found exit out my ear ...possible surgery at some point to insert tubes or widen narrow part...
there was a little more bone removed than what he thinks was necessary but he said not enough to go back in and
graft bone or a plate to correct it ...he thinks it may trigger more head pain
saw some white spots that could be calcification , bone dust or itty bitty bone fragments ( all are fragments I guess
but dust is smaller) or could be natural occurring age spots we all get on our brain... he said I need to find a neurologist
specializing in pain management to follow up with to find answers ... he said some migraine medicines may help ...
tendons between shoulder running up neck to base of skull is too tight and he says appears short... so some stretching
exercise for that ,which I was already doing as it loosens up tightness I get ...just have to make sure and warm area
with a rice pack before stretching ...also when in shower I heat it in the shower and sit on the built in seat and go
through the stretches ... and key is to not over do it ... that gives me a whopper brain wreck too...
he also recommended not doing BAHA til headaches are managed better...
in the mean time I continue as I have ... buy Tylenol in bulk and keep hydrocodone on hand in case ...
So I guess I am going on a hunt for a pain specialist again... the ones I found nearby were not covered on the plan ...
two are about 30 minutes away ... I think Memphis at 2 hours away was closest to me ... gonna try to get nearby ones
covered or get an appeal for someone in Columbia or Nashville to be covered so I don't have to drive so far...
If a doctor is more than 100 miles from my house they pay me millage ... a trip to Memphis and back is 382 ...times .35
is $133.70 ... so on top of doctor visit they would have to pay that to me ... going to try to appeal to their cheap side
and make them see that by sending me nearer to home they will pay out less... worth a try...
So other than confirming what I knew didn't learn much... just have another doctor besides PCP saying I need a neuro
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Sounds like you are getting somewhere and some questions answered from this doctor. Hope the neuro/surgeon/ologist can help you move closer to more manageable pain and perhaps no pain. Thanks for updating. Stay well.
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Got EOB for CT scan and MRIs ...billed through separate places ...same building but different people own the
machines ...same people did both ...weird...
anyway... they were not as high as they told me it would be ...the MRIs and CT scan are gonna cost
me a grand total of $1998.50 ($301 is CT scan , rest MRIs) after discount ... they were done at and
in-network facility so they got a discount of $1367 and BCBS only paid $79.17 ... the CT scan billed first
and took me over the $2400 I have to have before them picking up 80% ... then the MRIs went through
and BCBS paid their $79.17 ... I don't see that as 80% of anything ...$1358 would be 80% of the $1697.50
left from MRIs ...
was told they could run as high as $6500 so should feel lucky... but the $79.17 that BCBS paid is not enough
seeing I pay them almost $400 a month...
enough of that ...
Saw my PCP Monday and he gave me a good going over... >:( ... BP is up so taking a pill for that ... he reviewed
the MRIs and agreed with the doctor that ordered them that I needed to go to a new neurologist... he
called around and talked to a few local doctors and they all agreed I should see this guy in Nashville ... the nurse
called to set up an appointment and had it on speaker phone so she could listen talk and write ...
conversation from his offices end went kinda like this
Dr Yukowich ,Yurkowich (or something along those lines) is a
very important busy man ...if your patient wants him to see her
you will need to Fax us why you think she needs seeing and she
has to Fax letter as to why she thinks she needs seeing and have
the surgeon and the other head doctor to send their findings and MRI
pre and post surgery ...once he looks that all over he will have us
contact her and set up a phone consultation where he can talk to her
and after that consultation he will compare what the doctor notes
and MRIs find and what she has to say and will render a decision with
as to whether or not he will see her
It is so nice to be wanted...one peek at my insurance and he will drop me
before picking me up... kinda want to just look elsewhere but have sent
off stuff anyway to see what happens
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The doctor's name is Uskavitch and he can't see me until late February for live consultation and see if he thinks
he can help me
A new option has opened ... there is a neurologist that is in town (20 minutes away ) 2 days a week...
he comes from Virginia...he will see me in January ...he isn't in network but the time and gas saved
not running to Nashville would pay the difference ... I am going to see him the 16th and see what he thinks
then if not satisfied or he is at loss as to treatment I will go on to see
Draw backs are that he wouldn't be available if something like the wrecks that send me to ER or if lucky to
PCP were to happen other than on the days he is here... but at same time I have not run to Nashville 2 hours
away because if it gets to that point I would probably jump out of the truck on the way to ease the pain ..
well might not jump but don't think the ride would be doable when I get to the hurt/puke /hurt more /puke
more cycle
He also has not been practicing as long so may lack experience ...9 years under his belt ... is that enough I wonder...
but is any amount of time enough ... my original surgeon trained at House and was practicing for 25+ years and it
wasn't enough to help me ...
I think seeing the semi local guy and praying that he can help and keeping Uskavitch open for the time being is my
best plan at the moment ... I have a week to cancel the local guy if I decide to go with Uskavitch and only have to
give Uskavitch 48 hours notice if I decide not to see him and go to local one ...
and so continues of the saga of my search for a doctor :-\