Fru-Gal Friends

Subject: Close call... Wed 07 May 2008, 3:35 pm

My husband had an appt. with an eye surgeon this morning (a retina specialist)...and was told that his retina could detach at any minute and wants him to come back this afternoon for laser eye surgury....AND that they would work out a payment plan that we could afford!!! I must vent here ladies...we have been jumping through many administrative hoops to try to get help and kept running into brick walls....the Lions turned us away because we have no insurance, a local hospital that does this kind of surgery told us to get qualified at a local clinic for a particular label for those who have no insurance which took almost a month to just get in and go through the paperwork, then he was qualified, went back to the hospital only to be told that they no longer are taking patients from that clinic!! We have a friend through a local Church who has been trying to help us connect with several organizations who also could not help us, but the other day we somehow got the number of this eye surgeon who has his own practice and were told that he never turns down emergencies and that my husband certainly qualified as one, so....in an hour I will be taking him in to have it done...I will let you know how it turns out... whew...thanks for letting me vent Rolling Eyes

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Love is a fruit, in season at all times and within the reach of every hand. Anyone may gather it and no limit is set. ~ Mother Teresa

Subject: Re: Close call... Wed 07 May 2008, 4:14 pm

Wow, Spirit. That is scary that it was that bad and such a close call. i am so glad this doctor is willing to help. I will be praying for all to turn out okay!! Keep us updated!
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Close call... Wed 07 May 2008, 8:43 pm

Thanks Vicki for your thoughts and prayers.... we are back and the surgery went well...in fact the actual procedure took less than 5 minutes! The complete recovery will take a week, but Jay felt good enough to drive to teach his class so it is amazing how easy it actually all was once we could find someone to do it...he still has to get referred to someone to remove his cataracts (this surgeon specializes only in retinas) but the worst of it is over....
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Love is a fruit, in season at all times and within the reach of every hand. Anyone may gather it and no limit is set. ~ Mother Teresa

Subject: Re: Close call... Wed 07 May 2008, 9:31 pm

What a blessing Spirit to find a Dr. who cares! I completely understand your frustration in getting medical care without insurance, because I live with this problem also. One time I had to have emergency surgery and the Dr. wanted all her fees up front, which were over $5,000. Ummm...I do not think so! The hospital called the kindest Dr. to do my surgery and I was able to set up a very low payment plan. He drove to the hospital just to see me that day. Right now however we are struggling with a Dentist (another emergency situation and large bill) going back on his word about a payment plan.

I am very glad that your DH is doing well and will pray that he will be able to get referred to another Dr. to do his cataract surgery.
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MARY

Subject: Re: Close call... Wed 07 May 2008, 10:02 pm

Oh my, Mary...you certainly have had some medical challenges too...it can drive you nuts trying to figure it all out....my husband was getting so stressed that I am sure that was some of what made his situation critical....I am truly grateful we found this surgeon. We have also had some urgent dental work done but we were fortunate to get a reasonable payment plan..I hope you can get your dental challenges worked out too. Hopefully our search to get the cataracts removed will work out too....I heard some disturbing news about how when they tell you that you must wait awhile for your cataracts to get a certain size....that in reality they can and should be removed as soon as possible but the health insurance companies insist that they grow or 'ripen' to a particular size...soooo if this is true, then there are people out there who have insurance that might be waiting too long and drastically reducing their quality of life just because of the health insurance companies...sheesh Shocked

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Love is a fruit, in season at all times and within the reach of every hand. Anyone may gather it and no limit is set. ~ Mother Teresa

Subject: Re: Close call... Wed 07 May 2008, 10:59 pm

Wow, Spirit I had not ever heard that about insurance companies and bad policies about cataracts....very scary! I do hope that your DH will be able to get his surgery soon. I am wondering about my Mom. She has at least one I know and was told that she could wait and I think that it has been several years now.

We payed more than the agreed amount on the dental bill this past month, but it is a major strain on the budget. We will see what happens I guess.
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MARY

Subject: Re: Close call... Wed 07 May 2008, 11:30 pm

Spirit, I'm glad to hear your husband's procedure went well and that you finally found someone to do this, and in the nick of time too, very scary! I am sorry you both had to endure the frustration of being passed from pillar-to-post for such a period of time before-hand though.
I'm praying that things go more smoothly with finding someone to remove the cataracts. I do remember my grandmother having these removed a few times and they always made her wait until they'd reached a certain stage before doing so.
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Close call... Thu 08 May 2008, 1:47 am

Oh Spirit I am glad you found a Dr to work with you. that rare indeed . Finding a Dr that will work with you is blessing, well be praying that finding a Dr to remove his cataracts for him

I had cataracts removed when I was pregnant for Sarah we had a time some one to do them for me with me 5 months pregnant it wasnt until my OB called and said we like her to see the baby .. he agreed to do them . I was 39 he did one eye in Feb and the other in March ..
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1790

I'm glad you found the right Dr. I'll be praying for you!

Subject: Re: Close call... Thu 08 May 2008, 7:40 am

I'm glad to hear your husband's surgery went well. I will pray for his recovery. I hope things get better for him.