My surgery scheduled for tomorrow 6/22 was rescheduled today..Want to cry

The doctors office is taking full responsibility for having not been on top of this as much as they should have. It actually started MOnday at my preop appt when they noticed the forms weren't in my file. From there it went into a frenzy on Monday, with my insurance dragging even more (they had 30 days to approve and you can't ask for approval more than 30 days in advance) with little mistakes being made (like the insurance nurse inputting the information as being an outpatient surgery instead of inpatient and causing it to get kicked out of the approval process for awhile). I'm upset w/ them as well as the insurance company. Everyone failed in the process.

It was denied on the first level, which means it then goes to the insurance company (btw, is Tricare, military insurance) doctor to look at. He can over ride the previous denial, BUT, there was no way that was going to happen before this morning. My gyn doctor was livid and then my husband called our on-base doctor and he was livid. It makes no sense for someone somewhere to decide that stupid, non related things should be done. If it had anything to do w/ my issues, ok, but this doesn't. My gyn doctor plans on speaking with the insurance doctor directly and getting this thyroid testing stuff put to rest. Again, great, but nothing still happening for me today. Yeah, I totally agree, it shouldn't have come down to this rush before hand.

Yes, my doctor is really booked up, plus he'll be on vacation for part of that time. They did have a date in July, however, it was one day before my husband HAS to go on a tdy (business trip) for two weeks, so it wasn't do able for us. The next date was August 10th. They did mention the possiblity of bumping someone to get me in before then, but I said no. I know how much of a roller coaster ride it's been for me, getting prepared all for nothing, and I wouldn't want someone else to have to go through that, so I don't want them to bump someone else off the schedule for me.

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Originally Posted by prophy You have every justification to feel as you do. I have one suggestion and one question. First, your doctor's office should have been on top of the situation. Whoever takes care of authorizations in his or her office should not have waited until the day before the surgery to find out whether it had been approved or rejected. It is that person's job to make sure that the authorization is confirmed at least a week before the procedure. If the insurance company drags its heels, the authorization's person in the doctor's office should be as aggressive as necessary to get the approval or find out what additional requirements are necessary -- in your case a thyroid test which, I agree, is moronic -- in order to get the approval. Had they done their job correctly, you would have gotten the thyroid test and been able to get the surgery as scheduled. Unfortunately, you are now going to have to put pressure on the doctor's office to make sure that they handle the authorization for your upcoming surgery in a more timely and professional manner. Second, now that you know that all you have to do is take a thyroid test to get the insurance authorization, why do you have to wait until August? Is your doctor really booked up for two solid months? I went to a much sought after, well-known surgeon in NYC for my TAH/BSO for the first time in late Februrary and was able to schedule the surgery for two weeks later.

I agree, a thyroid test does not justify having or not having a hysterectomy. Thing is, if the doctors office is taking full responsibility, then the doctor should make some special arrangement in his/her schedule to get you in there! My cousin was taken in on a Sat under special circumstances by her ob/gyn.
When I had to submit papers to my provider from HR to have the doctor fill out and fax back to the company, I called my HR rep a week before my surgery to make sure all paperwork was submitted and she said told me that a hysterectomy was one of the easiest to file. The paper work more or less provided details of what I was having done, and why. It was simple actually. The hardest part was deciding how much time I was going to take off. And actually when I said 3 weeks, she asked... 'are you sure?'... and even stated that before I come back if I felt I needed the extra three weeks to call to extend my time off.
I guess the lesson to be learned is make sure when our doctors office are required to submit papers we call each day to make sure the paperwork was faxed, as well as call our insurance company to make sure the 't's were crossed and the 'i's were dotted.
I feel for you, but still find it ridiculas for any woman to have to fight for a hysterectomy when they have spent years with problems. As I see it, most woman do suffer for years before having this done in the first place, or if they havent, its sever enough that it needs done now and not later.
Good luck and keep us posted on what is happening. I really feel for your situation...

Lisa

I feel so badly for you right now. I totally freaked out before my surgery- at least two weeks before it. I "ran away" and DH and sons could not find me. I was duped out on pain killers for one thing. And for another, my PCP didn't know the surgeon gave me those pain killers before the surgery to help as I was literally out of my mind in pain. (Imagine labor 24/7 and you're on the right track there.) Come to find out, I cannot handle Darvocet at all and now we know better.
I went downhill about as soon as I found out I would have to have a hyst. But the pain got so bad so fast about then, I knew I couldn't do without having it. And afterwards, the path report came back confirming things were getting out of hand.
Not that it made me feel better about doing it. And not that knowing that would have kept me from freaking out before it either. The depression was OVERWHELMING, but I didn't know it then.
I just had my first visit with a Counselor yesterday in my PCP's office- he retains her as she is Christian and also licensed. It went well and DH was with me that first visit as I was scared out of my mind (what is there anyway).
There are alot of things that this hyst brought up. And alot of things that DH -being a man, sweet, caring, patient, and helpful as he always is- cannot understand enough to help me more. It helps that I don't know her at all and she doesn't know me. Yet, I guess.
But the waiting for the hyst was such a traumatic event for me- as well as things didn't heal very well or as fast as other people and I ended up with a lap exactly 6 months later for adhesions. AND- the lower right side pain is back. Hence, I think I know the uncertainty you feel and the edginess as well. And the anger. ("WHY ME? WHY THIS?")
God doesn't punish any of us with this. I know He picks and chooses according to a Master Plan. And I know that each one of us faces certain things because it will make us better for our own sake. I just wish it wasn't so hard and didn't hurt so much in so many ways: physically, emotionally, and mentally. Oh yeah- and finacially. Yep- that $2,000 out of pocket money plus the other $600 for all my meds all last year.... I think of the things I could have done with that..... Then I throw that thought out the window.
Money comes and money goes. Mostly GOES. But I am still here. And believe me, there was a point where NOTHING (not even my DH and precious teen boys) made me want to stay here and live "like this: half a woman". But I know God watches out for me and even when other people mess up, don't listen, fight with me when I know my own body and something is WRONG. I also know God has His own timing. Right down to when He thinks it is time for my body to heal and get back to normal.
I guess the bottom line is for you to stay calm and for your own body to just stay on hold that much longer for you to have some peace over this. (Not to mention a fervent prayer for people to get their butts MOVING over this and let you have the surgery you need !) And for you not to fall apart over it in any way. I must have scared my kids to pieces and I know I did that to my DH. It wasn't the normal ME. And now, when I get really down about it still, I stop and pray for the Lord to just help me hang on. If not for ME, then for my family. My own surgery got moved too- and so did the second one (the Lap) but only two days each. It was still a shock to me. So for yours to move so much more... my heart really does go out to you. You do SO MUCH to "get ready" for this and there is NO GETTING READY ! This is something that noone is EVER really ready for. But the tons of women posting on here in HS will testify that we can make it. And so can you.
So fight for this- just to get them to get it right. But don't lose YOURSELF over it. Take care of YOU first. Keep calm, and stay steady. And keep faith.

I totally agree. Thanks.

NFT

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Originally Posted by Lilywhiteflower 1dayatatime, I find it sad that insurance companies deny this procedure for woman that have had a history of female problems. I work for a major health insurance company and spent 7 years behind the scenes paying surgery claims and have never ran across any claims that were denied for a hysterectomy. I can totally understand them feeling this is a life altering surgery that cant be reversed and to be cautious, however... I also do not believe any woman would want to have one done, 'just because'. I have seen insurance companies expect mammograms to follow guidelines of waiting to the age of 40, unless there is concern (found lump etc), or there has been a history of breast cancer.. I have also known that cosmetic surgery is not payable, as well as routine exams need to be done exactly one year or after from the previous one. It saddens me since I have joined hystersisters to know their are woman fighting with their insurance companies to get approval to have their life back! Personally I feel this is an insult to woman who are suffering and stressed out with pain and living day to day life, to then know there is relief in sight, and then you have to fight to get this surgery done. Look how many years it took for woman to get rights to get their breast recontructive surgery done after breast cancer? At my company.. if the woman has a history of breast cancer, we pay those womans claims, and if one gets accidently denied... we feel ashamed at our error and pay it immediatly! I would think in this day and age we could appreciate the health of woman and make sure these things no longer happen in the medical industry. We have woman in their early 20's getting breast cancer, cervical cancers, etc and we are expected sit back and take this form of what I feel is abuse in our system. To tell a woman she needs a thyroid check to make sure her past history of female problems justify having a hysterectomy is beyond my thoughts. I am sending my prayers to you and hope you get the help you need soon in order to live your life. Those insurance companies dont realize... we are not our 'I.D' numbers, we are human beings trying to enjoy the life we have while we are still here to live it!!! Just my opinion and I hope I did not offend anyone on here that also works for an insurance agency... Lisa

Honey, I hope you didn't go thru all the pre-op 'prep',ie.Fleet. before you found out. On the positive side, you found out before you arrived tomorrow. I had a similar situation happen after one of my auto accidents. The clinic I was going to go to insisted they have prior approval before I walk in the door or don't bother showng up. I notified my case adjuster 2 weeks before the appt. <Oops! Please don't override the censor> approved that day AFTER my appt. time

I had my tubes tied after my son was born so I was considered "sterile", and my ins. co. wanted them to give me depo shot or noraplant to stop my periods and see if that helped and if after a year it didnt they would approve my surgery. My doc. said absolutly not, at the expense of me for the cancer to spread, the fibroids to get bigger, the PID to get worse, etc. but they were concerned about stopping my periods. Big whoopee. They finally gave in and approved. Ins. Co. want you to pay an arm and a leg and then not cover anything. I wish you the best of luck. They will get it worked out, but I agree with the other ladies they shouldnt have waited this long to find out the status. I am so sorry this is happening to you.

Wow! I am so sorry for all your trouble. I haven't had problems with my insurance thank the lord. But one of the doctors I saw was a piece of work. He gave me three options live with pain and take birth control which sends my diabetes out of wack, get the ablation and chance having to do the hysterectomy later or get the hysterectomy now. Well when I choose option three after three weeks of discussion and research and another period that lasted four weeks. He decided he wouldn't do the surgery. Why did he offer the option? So I asked to see the doctor I usually see and have seen since I was 14 years old. I figured ok she has been with me through all the problems, delivered my babies, did my c-section and my tubal whatever she suggests I will go with. Although I went in with a list the size of my arm just in case. She was like lets do this and for all the same reasons I was!
Your in my thoughts and prayers!
Kellee

Speaking for myself and I hope '1 day at a time', I'd like to thank all for your thought, kind words, and prayers.

My first situation was after an auto accident inwhich I sustained a Closed Head Injury (CHI). I cried my heart out that morning. I found that my auto approved it that day, after appt. time. This was 2 monthes or more after the fact, from the claims adjuster.

Now I am terrified that the ins. (medical) will deem it as an unnecessary proceedure. The girls at the GYN's office a hard time as to wheter or not my ins. would cover my Lupron injections. I walked in with every phone number and ID. number they needed for the prior approval. But THEY told me "We don't know if your ins. covers it. Will just go thru our company." I heard the same phrase 5 times, from 3 different girls. WELL, their company called me to ask why I was going thru them, esp. since my ins. covered Lupron.

The group of Dr.'s I see mainly deal with Ob. When I made my first appt. 10 years ago, I asked to be put in with the Doc most familiar with Endo because I have a loooong history of it. In the background I could hear the office girls trying to figure out which one of the 7 Drs. would be best with. They made a good choice. I am very happy with him. He listens.