Thursday, July 28, 2011

"I'm rising up slowly, and getting higher..."

"...I've been living with a hole in my heart. Weighing down on me, but I'm a fighter I know I still got a shot in the dark."
- Shot In the Dark by: Augustana

  This song has definitely kept me going these couple of weeks, sorry I haven't posted in a long time. Trust me, I had allot to say I just could not bring myself to blog about it, I tried, trust me I tried I just couldn't. Here's what happened.

  So we left off with the insurance, the orthodontist, a letter to be opened, and a frustrated teenager. Well, here's a good story for you all. We called the insurance they said it was sent off, I called my orthodontist to see if they had received the letter that had been waiting for them for a week and some more. They hadn't received anything.  So, my mother said ok we can wait to see if they just put it somewhere special and won't give you that information over the phone. So instead the next day we called the insurance. Oh hey there's been a change in reference numbers for this approval process. So we had to re-send it. The next few days occur as so: We don't get a call from the orthodontist at all, we call the insurance people everyday each day something goes wrong, they didn't get all the information, they didn't have the right reference number for the right place to put it all into the system to send it off, they are still in the old place waiting to be sent for approval. All this time, I'm pestering my mother everyday, "did the insurance people say anything?" "did Ms. A (the surgery scheduler) call you?" Background: Every time we called the insurance we also called Ms. A to let her know whats going on, she is an absolute angel and this week would have been twice the hell without her. Everyday, for a week something went wrong setting my surgery back further and further.

  Finally last Friday, the hellish week ended. My mother said she and Ms. A had done everything they could, my mother kept on the insurance company's back, she talked to someone who realized the whole situation of the switched numbers and unattached folders I guess, and sent it to the final guy to give to get the approval. I was told this could take on average a month. I would've cried myself to sleep that night had my mother not told me we were going to visit my sister for the weekend, and float the river. This was a huge distraction and I am so thankful for it. I love getting to see my big sister, I rarely see her anymore she was a huge part of my life  when I was younger and the last two years she's established herself in her college town so we don't see much of her anymore. It was so much fun, so relaxing, and quite worry free.


  Here comes Monday, I had an orthodontist appointment. My mother was at work, so my dad drove me to the appointment. I decide I'm going to ask about surgical hooks, because they aren't in the office next week for education. My orthodontist says they go on 3-5 days before surgery, its a hour appointment because of the pictures and such they do but just call as soon as you get a date and it shouldn't be a problem, and that hour appointment shouldn't be a preventing factor for the surgery. But then he gets all "it won't be that soon insurance takes up to 60 days to approve." and "I can't imagine him doing it that soon" (I told him we were looking at the last week of July or first week of august, when I told him that he was quite befuddled). But I told him, this is happening as soon as possible, this summer. He said ok but was totally thinking I was a delusional fool I could hear it in his tone, and see it in his face.

  That same Monday morning, Ms. A called they had approved it Friday afternoon/evening. So my mother was able to schedual my surgery. Delusional fool my eye. My mom didn't get home untill after their hours so we called the next day. That 'shouldn't be a problem' turned into, well we can't accommodate you so you need to change your surgery date. HELL NO. It's a good thing my mother didn't let me talk to them. They gave us a date they were ok with, 3 WEEKS OUT. I would've already started school, and he knew that. Sorry about my language guys but this is unacceptable. Does anyone have an orthodontist like this? He wouldn't even talk on the phone to us. His front desk ladies said, he doesn't do that. Most of you guys that post it said your orthodontist was accommodating and stayed after hours to get you in for the hooks appointment. My mother offered to pay their overtime wages if they could stay friday afternoon, its an hour (they leave at noon on fridays). Well the best they could do was 2 WEEKS OUT. Please, if I am being ridiculous about this some one tell me, but we've been with these guys for 2 years, they've known my story from the beginning, and we reminded them almost every time we went in. So, we may or may not be using the hospital's orthodontist. We've paid in full at this place, I feel absolutely horrible for my parents. so they have the ultimate say in this.

  But we have a date, and I would tell you all but these past events worry me that I could jinx it all, but I can tell you I have pre op appointments on friday!


Great song, great band, if you have the time take a listen.




Life's a party, wear the hats

3 comments:

  1. Hi Nikki!
    My orthodontist is pretty "aloof" too, but he has a "transaction" coordinator I was able to bug and ask questions to. Also, in terms of scheduling surgery, I was always told that process is always 2-3 weeks out from the point I was "ready." The surgeon needed to get new models, splints, coordinate with the hospital on surgery day...and then of course work within the surgeons schedule.
    Sounds frustrating what you are going through. Do you already have braces on?
    Hang in there...before you know it you will be in line for surgery.
    Have a great day!
    Cheers,
    Brent

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  2. Hey Brent!
    Well, glad to hear I'm not alone! And, yes I already have braces on, had them for two years now. I was supposed to have gone through the surgery last year but again my orthodontist began to change things up according to his plan, not our surgeon's (that we had then). So you can imagine how things went when we told him we couldn't use that surgeon. Things have been troublesome ever since but our surgeon now is amazing and dealing with it like an angel. So we are most likely to use the hospital's orthodontist unless mine is willing to cooperate; which from the looks of things, will most likely not be happening. Surgery is actually scheduled and is super close I will probably post it in a few days, but I'm just so worried with how things have been turning out something else will go wrong.
    Thanks, I hope the rest of your day went great as well! Have a great weekend!

    Niki
    p.s. I had pre ops today and that nifty device you posted about, I got to experience as well!

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  3. Hi Niki!
    Wow, two years in braces...I am currently at 1 year & 3 months!
    Bummer to hear about the frustration about the orthodontist. I think what happens is the orthodontist build in a certain amount of time for a person to be in braces and make money at the same time. The further they get beyond that I imagine that they begin to get crabby because they are beyond the "margin" of making money. I kind of experience that with my orthodontist. For as much money as I gave him...and for as little I have seen him, I sure don't get that he is enthusiastic to see me...
    BUT, whatever! He has to in my case!!!
    My opinion for you right now is the most important person to work with is your surgeon and if you have a great one that is AWESOME!!

    You too have a wonderful weekend!
    Cheers,
    Brent

    ReplyDelete