I've been remiss in telling you that I received my second clearance, but that is mostly because of my hectic work and travel schedule as of late. It's also because the story of how I had to go about it isn't really a Reader's Digest version and I simply haven't had the time. It was a challenge, for sure.
I had been with my primary doctor for almost a year. I really liked her. She was a no-nonsense woman, rather unassuming, but extremely caring. When I hit a particularly bad time last year, she talked me through all of my options and helped me decide which medication might be the best for me. She also, at that time, offered me the kind of advice you might expect to get from your friend or even perhaps your minister, but certainly not what you'd expect to hear from your doctor considering how rushed they typically are.
Despite not having appointments later than about 6PM or keeping weekend hours, I really liked the practice. It wasn't too far from home or work and I could get my labwork done downstairs when I needed to, thus saving me from having to drive all over town and make multiple appointments for things.
After I'd met with my surgeon, I called my primary's office and let them know that I needed to come in for a physical specifically for clearance for bariatric surgery. I also let them know at that time that I was planning on having it at a different hospital - one they are not affiliated with. They scheduled my appointment and I thought I was - as we say in New England - all set.
Three weeks later, I get a call from someone in their office informing me that my doctor will not write a clearance for surgery unless I am having the surgery at the hospital with which she's affiliated. Three weeks may not seem like a lot of time in most circumstances, but in that time I'd already:
- Met with the surgeon
- Scheduled my follow up appointment with the surgeon
- Met with the psychologist
- Scheduled a meeting with the dietician
- Met with the cardiologist
- Been cleared by the cardiologist
- Scheduled an appointment with the pulmonologist
- Scheduled a follow up appointment with the psychologist
I flipped out.
Yeah, I got irate and belligerent. Because what I hate more than inefficiency and ineptitude is when people use false empathy to try to calm me down. Don't tell me that these policies are in place to help your patients. They're not at all helpful. These policies are in place to ensure that the hospital you're affiliated with gets the business and so therefore all of the doctors that are part of that plan get the business as well. Let's be clear, this was not a requirement by my insurance company who is actually footing the bill - it was an office policy established by the doctors in that office.
What she proposed would mean that I'd have a choice - out of all of the bariatric surgeons in Massachusetts - of two doctors. Two! The first choice would be with the doctor who did my gallbladder surgery last summer. Now, he was nice enough and he did a good job. He was actually the first bariatric surgeon I contacted when I made this decision. But I didn't feel like his program was right for me - for starters, his procedure is more internally invasive even though it's "laprascopic", that procedure would mean a higher chance of side effects, he requires a much longer time on shakes before you move to soft solids and he mandates that spouses must attend the support group meetings. Now, while that may be great for some people, and while my husband supports my decision, he shouldn't have to go to these things - especially not for several months before my surgery date is approved and scheduled. The other doctor, my only other choice, works with this guy in the same practice.
This is too serious a decision to only have two choices. How would you like only having two choices of cars? Or only two choices for airlines? I'm not letting someone cut me open unless I feel completely at ease with them. This is a major surgery and I refused to be strong armed into agreeing to croneyism.
And so, I did the only thing I felt was appropriate: I dumped the primary doctor that I'd had for a year and found a new one that works with the doctor and hospital I've chosen.
I made my appointment and they were able to take me the following week. I'd only scheduled a consultation, but she did a full physical and upon receipt of my records from my surgeon, wrote the clearance letter.
I am still fighting with the old practice to have my records released. Even though they're being sent to another doctor and even though they are electronic, I have to send them a $15 check. They actually expected me to pick them up and bring them to the new doctor. What is this, 1985?
But now all of that frustration has passed. I'm close to being done with dealing with them and I am one step closer to achieving my initial goal of having my surgery this summer. I have three doctors appointment the middle of this month - so I'm hoping that I can get a few more steps along this path before month end.
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