Uncategorized

Ask me if I’m frustrated. Go on, I dare you.

58 Comments

.

The journey toward knee surgery continues. Albeit slowly, like a three legged blind tortoise fighting a headwind.

I swear if I’d known it would take this long I would have started the process last year.

.

.

Three weeks ago I finally saw the Great and Powerful Oz my orthopedist who told me the scheduler would be in touch.

Three.

Weeks.

Ago.

I’ve waited three weeks for someone to call and no, not very patiently. After the first week I called the scheduler, but no one answered. I continued calling through the second week and no one continued to answer. I left messages. Multiple messages. But no one called.

.

.

In the middle of week three, I received a honking folder of information in the mail.

.

.

Filled with pre op tips, pre op instructions…

.

.

Even pre op exercises… for the op that hasn’t been scheduled yet.

Included in the packet was a list of hoops I’ll have to jump through before I finally get my poor aching knee on the table.

.

.

So let me get this straight – I waited 6 months to see an orthopedic PA….who told me all about the surgery and recovery.

Then another month to see the orthopedist… who told me all about the surgery and recovery.

Three weeks after that I get a packet of papers in the mail…. that tells me all about the surgery and recovery.

And now? I have to take a 2 1/2 hour class… so someone can tell me all about the surgery and recovery – followed by a one hour phone call from a nurse…. who will tell me all about the surgery and recovery – ending with a second PA visit… so he can tell me all about the surgery and recovery.

Again.

What. The. Utter. Hell?

I’m not a surgeon, I get it.

But even for a lay person? This seems a trifle redundant.

Not to mention frustrating.

😡

.

58 thoughts on “Ask me if I’m frustrated. Go on, I dare you.”

  1. All these people talking to you or generating paperwork or assessing it or processing it or actually treating you, each one is getting paid somehow. I’m anticipating you, or your insurance, to get a whooping bill.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Wow! When my shoulder finally decided in September that it was done with injections for the pain, I got an appointment with my orthopedist within a week or two. He pulled up the schedule and told me he could get me in the Friday before thanksgiving, then had the PA come in and go over everything. Then I had some lab work done and I was good to go.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. That chart about going to the doctor in different years left out my childhood experience. Mom calls the doctor, who comes over to the house after work and examines me lying on the couch, where he tells me I need bedrest, and TV watching is NOT bedrest.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Love the tortoise simile. And wowzie that is a lot. Did they also include information about how to navigate all this? I’ve had some complex medical tests/labs/procedures and in every case they called me including that long nurse call. OTOH – my husband fractured both his hips, at different times, had surgeries and they couldn’t get rid of us fast enough – Pay on your way out, Next!

    Also – Amazon has a huge selection of walker accessories – you will definitely want the hand cushions, a tray and walker glide skis – I can send you the links…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. I like my walker. I think it is called a rollator. A 4 wheel. I ordered it when I worked with the district and it distributes my weight evenly. No one even looks at me twice when I use the nearby sidewalks. It is very handy!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Ah, I am quite expert on canes as well (unfortunately). They always give a walker – I had quite the collection – mine and my husbands. But even if you don’t use it much definitely get the ski gliders – they will make getting around so much easier.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. If they just brought you in, did the surgery and sent you home with some instructions, the insurance company would beat down the cost. This way, they build it up, a little at a time to get it closer to what they think they should be paid.

    Like

    Reply

      1. Sorry you are going through this. My wife just started to get a little soreness in hers, but her next shot is scheduled to be administered this week thank goodness. Prayers you get the surgery soon.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Wow, that is a lot of information! Since mine was kind of a surprise and they let me know 1 week ahead (last minute cancellation), I had a private sitting with the head at PT and he carried the appliances or whatever for the toilet and the shower to my car. I just got a list of what positions not to do after the surgery and my dismissal was very quick with instructions. The most uncomfortable was the 7:30 morning first appointment with PT. Oh, and the surgery of my hip replacement. It still aches but when I am moving it is okay. It is the nighttime that is hard. They did all the labs prior and next week, I see the orthopedic doc again. End of week 4. It is a process.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. I did feel they rushed me out of the hospital as I think they had other people waiting. Some mixed messages as I thought I was staying another couple of nights and ordered my lunch and dinner. I told one of the nurses and she said, “We will let Charlie know. Don’t worry! He will take care of it!”

        Liked by 1 person

      2. My biggest fear was making the wrong movements as I had a lot of restrictions for posterior hip surgery. So far, so good but I liked being near medical team in the beginning. They did keep one of the other patients, same surgery, and age two more days and he was happy as his wife was working and he was enjoying being waited on, long hallways to practice walking, and care. So far, so good! All still intact.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I watched a video about healthcare in China and the American was commenting on how easy it was to get his broken arm set. I watched and remembered my time in South Korea and all the herbal meds. I will stay in the states. Having medical emergencies overseas is not pleasant especially if you are on your own.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  15. Don’t forget the pre-op clearance by your primary doc, who will send you to a lab for blood draws.

    I was able to do one of my “classes”, which provided zero new info, online. Labs, doc appts, etc happened in just a couple days before my operation date.

    GOOD LUCK!!🍀🍀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      3. Cause primary docs are known for having wide open schedules and just waiting for you to drop by. I guess mine was used to it because I had a whopping 5 (or 7) day notice for my surgery date and she squeezed me in.

        Liked by 1 person

  18. The one step the 2026 list forgot to mention was “Doctor requests permission from health insurance to do procedure. Weeks later request is denied because a) patient did some – but not enough – physical therapy, b) the procedure is considered standard in every other place and by every other insurer except yours, who consider it “experimental,” or c) you do not have the exact correct condition to get the procedure. You appeal, waiting several more weeks for a reply, only to be approved because someone coded your condition incorrectly on the first go-round.” (Yes, this has happened to me.)

    As for your situation: OH. MY. GOD. Honestly, River, I had no idea it was this involved. The Husband had half his guts taken out and it was 1/100 this complicated. If it comes to knee replacement for me, I think I’ll just tell them to amputate at the hips and be done with it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. I do have to laugh at all the hoops for you. for me, because I have had so many surgeries, they have been known to forget to even tell me all of what they are going to do, like with the nerve block for the knee replacement LOL Do they give you the knee mover thingy for after the surgery?

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment