Nonsensical Appointment- again

Last week my insurance company forced me to seek medical confirmation of my continued amputee status. While I was frustrated that I had to take time out of my schedule for an unnecessary medical appointment, I complied with the request. During the exam I clearly stated the reason for the visit and requested (numerous times) that my socket issues and limb pain be clearly documented in my medical records. Having written countless prosthetic appeals, I know the value of clarity in the medical records when requesting a new prosthesis.  My doctor was agreeable and promised to clearly document all of the issues I stated.

It turns out that my doctor lied.  Not only did he fail to mention the open skin sore, chaffing and residual limb pain, but he failed state that I was an amputee. The chart documenting medical appointment was a complete waste of time, forcing me now to undergo another unnecessary medical appointment with my surgeon. 

I was furious when I discovered my physician's documentation failures. I know that he is busy, but the sole purpose of the appointment was seeking the correct medical documentation. He knew the purpose of the appointment, he examined my residual limb and he saw my open sore. I could not have been clearer about what needed to be documented. We even discussed optimal verbiage to solidify the case with my insurance adjuster.  Despite everything that transpired during the appointment, nothing was documented. 

Today Timmy and I are traveling to visit my surgeon. I am confident that he will affirm my amputee status and correctly document the residual limb issues that I am experiencing. I am frustrated that I have to take another afternoon to abide by these archaic requests, but I have no choice but to comply. I need a new leg, so I am forced to play by their rules. Perhaps someday logic will rule, but we are certainly not there yet!

As soon as I come home, I'm going to start looking for a new family doctor. My current physician failed to listen and trust has been broken.

Dragging

I'm not feeling great today. I have a low grade fever, mild headache and I'm feeling just plain tired. I'm not unwell enough to be considered sick by "Mom standards," but I am definitely dragging. It's going to be a long day.

Hamlet was up early and was full of energy. This morning, out of a sense of desperation to keep him still and quiet, I tried to introduce Timmy to cartoons. I ended up watching two episodes of Bearenstain Bears while he entertained himself by trying to eat a magazine and throwing 250 little plastic army men down the stairs. Hopefully he will have as much fun picking them up this afternoon, but I am not holding out a lot of hope. Right now it isn't a battle I have the energy to fight, so I'll just step around the casualties on the stairs.

Today is going to be busy, so I'm hopeful that I perk up as the sun rises. I am scheduled to go see Elliot this morning to try out my new check socket. I'm anxious to wear a leg that doesn't hurt, so there is no way I am going to miss that appointment. I really hope that it fits perfectly, but I'm experienced enough to know that multiple versions and adjustment are typically required.  In this situation, patience is definitely a virtue.  

Since cartoons obviously aren't working, I may take Timmy to the toddler playground so that he can expel some energy after my appointment with Elliot. He is definitely my on-the-go little boy. Fingers crossed this ailing Momom can keep up today!

Casted

Yesterday morning I was casted for a new socket. I'm counting down the hours until tomorrow morning when I am scheduled to try on my first check socket. I am not expecting it to be perfectly comfortable right away, but a girl can dream. Although the 45 minute drives to and from Elliot's office become frustrating, knowing that I am going to be receiving a comfortable leg makes the traffic (almost) worth it. 

Hamlet surprised me by being both well behaved and delightful throughout the appointment. The past few times I have had to see Elliot have not gone well on the behavior front. Thankfully yesterday he put on the charm and was absolutely delightful. (I think that my bringing along his favorite puzzle board along with a fresh box of Nilla Wafers certainly helped.)

Unfortunately, all of these efforts will be in vain if my insurance adjuster denies the prosthesis. I have yet to receive confirmation that my new leg has been approved, but we decided to roll the dice and start the process. I hate that it is always a battle! I am at the point where my leg is uncomfortable more often than I am comfortable. I am constantly having to pause to readjust and to relieve the pressure within the socket. I'm looking forward to receiving my new leg and readying for the insurance battle that lies ahead.

Spoiled

Timmy and I spent the weekend with my Mom while Robby and Scott opted to stay home. Ever since Jack moved in across the street, he has been resistant to leaving for fear of missing out on play time. Although I missed him, I must admit that it was nice being with just my Mom and Timmy. I love seeing the two of them play together. He seems to be able to make her smile with everything little move. He is so little, but he certainly has a lot of people wrapped around those pint sized fingers.  

Even though I am in my 40's, my Mom manages to spoil me when I come home. She happily wakes up with Timmy in the morning, allowing me to sleep. Right now, an hour or two of extra sleep in the morning feels like an absolute luxury. Saturday morning (when I finally woke up at 8) I discovered that she and Timmy made me blueberry muffins for breakfast. What a treat!

Although I didn't want to leave, we came back in the early afternoon so that we could get ready for the school week. Robby was happily jumping on the trampoline with his friends when I arrived. He managed to scream a boisterous "Hi Mom" without missing a hop. Scott gave Timmy and I a hug without taking his eyes off of the baseball game on TV.  So much for my warm welcome home!

This is going to be a busy week, but I'm optimistic that a lot of loose ends will be tied. Today I head to Elliot's to be casted for a new leg. I am so excited to receive a new socket, liner and foot. I am looking forward to walking without feeling the skin pull and burn on the back of my leg.  Hopefully I'll have my leg by the end of the week.  Fingers crossed it goes smoothly and that we don't run into any hiccups during the fitting. 

Date Night

Last night Scott and I did something that we haven't done in the ten years since becoming parents.  We hired a non-related babysitter and went out for the night. After nearly a decade, we had a proper date night!

I bought Scott all-inclusive tickets to the Washington Capitals v. Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game for his birthday last month. Last night was the game, and to my surprise he wanted me to accompany him.  (The original plan was for him to take a friend, but he had a difficult time finding somebody willing to be out so late on a work night.)  Although I was nervous about the boys at home, I was able to relax and have a good time. (Of course, the unlimited wine certainly helped that cause.)

While I am not one to sit down and watch hockey on television, I have to admit that the game was fun. The excitement of the crowd was contagious, and I thoroughly enjoyed cheering and screaming along with everybody.  Scott had a great time, which was the most important because it was his birthday present. 

We came home late because the game went into overtime, sending me into another panic about the sitter. Then metro trains were running late, forcing us to add nearly an hour to our travel time.  By the time we finally made it home it was almost midnight and we had been gone for almost eight hours.  Needless to say, the sitter cost almost as much as the hockey tickets, but it was worth it for a much overdue date night. 

Rocking the Red at the arena!

Insurance Stupidity

After dropping off Robby at school, Timmy and I headed to my doctor appointment. Although I do have a sore on the back of my residual limb because of socket issues, that was not the primary purpose of the appointment. I was forced to take time out of my schedule and schlep a squirmy two year old into an unnecessary appointment simply to secure medical verification that my status as an amputee has remained unchanged in the past twelve months.  Talk about an nonsensical insurance requirement!

I  can understand seeking medical feedback when a new prosthetic is required. Devices are expensive and the wrong components can wreak havoc on the body. That being said, few doctors actually understand prosthetic components enough to differentiate the appropriateness of a device. Typically the prosthetist and/or patient provides the necessary verbiage for the obligatory medical prescription. Knowing that my doctor is going to rely upon me to draft the prescription, the whole appointment tends to feel like a useless endeavor.

If my insurance adjuster wants to be picky (which is her preferred operating method), I have to visit my doctor again to receive prescriptions for liners and supplies. Again, I am asked to provide the wording for the prescriptions which I am happy to do because I at least know that they will be written to the correct standards. I tend to procrastinate these appointments, hence the reason I have a small sore on the back of my leg.

Yesterday's visit was particularly frustrating. I was on my annual quest to seek medical confirmation of my amputee status. Seriously? I have to go to the doctor every single year to document that my leg has not returned. Apparently my adjuster must believe there is a possibility I am part salamander.  Talk about a colossal waste of time, energy and money!

Cold

The cold weather snap has been wreaking havoc on more than just our newly planted flowers. My body is tired and sore this morning. My leg was doing the jitterbug kick throughout the night because of those pesky nerve jolts. When I wasn't being zapped, I was trying to find both warmth and a comfortable position.

I knew that turning on the house heat would have increased my comfort, but I became stubborn. Not only did I want to keep my leg off, but I resented the thought of being cold enough in April to turn on the heat. Silly I know, but I made an arbitrary (yet firm) decision to not use the heat again until Fall. (Robby and Timmy's room both have heat panels which we turned on so that they wouldn't be cold, yet for some reason we decided to suffer it out.)

So I was true to my nonsensical dictate about the heat, yet I shivered most of the night. I eventually fell asleep huddled under piles of covers and comforters. I felt like I needed to be unwrapped this morning because I was contorted so tightly to retain the heat.  My muscles are sore because I was curled so tightly into a ball throughout the night. 

Hopefully I'll stretch everything out as the day progresses. I hate waking up and feeling sore by just moving! Getting old stinks.