DENIED MEDICAL CLEARANCE!!!

just got a call from my primary, she looked at my pre-op clearance test results and said she can't give me clearance.

1) i've got A-Fib (have had it for years

2) i've got very low kidney function (also for years)

3) very low hemoglobin and hematocrit (also for years)

I'm really freaking out, panic stricken my surgery is one week from today! She told me to call my cardio and nephrologist and see if they'll clear me. it's friggen summertime. what if my cardio is on vacay? and my nephro you have to wait at least a month to get in to see him, and since i owe him money from my last visit, his staff is pissed at me.

How did this happen to me? i'm devastated. I can't possibly be the only one with co-morbidities. But maybe since i'm so old and have had them for so many years.... 

i dunno. my God i wanna eat a gallon of rocky road. 

You have got to be horribly frustrated.  Don't hurt yourself by eating something like that.  

Take a deep breath.

What has your surgeon said about your preop clearances?  Does it all depend on what your PCP's opinion is?

Tomorrow you can call your cardiologist.  Did you have any cardiology clearance testing?  (Sounds like you did.)  Are you currently under treatment for your a-fib? 

Don't know what to say about the nephrologist, but if you're a patient you should be able to get in to see him.  Perhaps you can calm the waters by setting up an affordable payment plan with the financial department there. 

 

Nancy, i won't eat. I just really really WANT to. (i'm sure everyone here can relate). Food would soothe my panic, my anger, my fear. But I can't let go, I've lost 85 lbs, i can't go back there, i just can't. 

All i know is that the surgeon's office called me and said i needed to see my PCP for pre-op clearance, a chest xray, an ekg needed to be ordered. So i made an appt and went to see my doc. i knew the xray would be fine, i knew i've had A-fib for a while and i'm on coumadin for it, being followed by a cardio for multiple cardiac issues. Surgeon's office knows about the A-fib since they told me to stop the coumadin on Thursday.

When i first went to see the surgeon, i had to fill out reams of paper about my medical history, so they know i'm anemic, know i've got kidney issues, know everything. I think getting PCP clearance is to protect themselves in case  of an event. "Well, SHE said she was cleared for surgery!" so now my PCP wants my nephro and cardio to take responsiblity. will they? i don't honestly know.

As for the nephro, they demand payment at the time of the visit. i asked last time if i could mail a check after i got my disability payment on the 3rd of the month and they begrudgingly said ok but gave me a warning. i promised. but then next month i didn't have the money. same with the following month. and next month i know i'm already $100 short just to pay my bills, not even buy gas or cat food or anything like that. hope i don't run out of toilet paper. 

i'm just so terrified and miserable. ARRRGGGHHHHHH
 

 

No doubt that these additional tests are CYA for the surgeon. I have had to add pulmonary consult + a sleep study to my list of to-do's to make sure that there are no problems post operatively. And, you know what? I'm ok with it. Even though I had knee surgery 3 years ago and was fine with anesthesia, I am reassured by these additional tests they are requiring. 

In the end, they're just trying to protect you. You might have to push your date back a little, but isn't that worth the peace of mind that will come from knowing that your docs are fully behind this?

You're right, gadget. I guess since i've been working on this for an entire year and finally had everything in place, right down to the medical transportation and someone to house sit to care for my cat...i guess with the date so close i'm stressed so i freaked out. 

My bloodwork isn't going to get any better, neither is my heart or kidney function. You're right, they're all playing CYA. That's fine. I just need to have the surgery on the 4th...otherwise all my paperwork will be outdated and i'll have to start from scratch...six months of continuous weight loss attempts to receive insurance authorization, more tests, more paperwork...and who knows six months from now if i'll have the same insurance? i'm thinking that i will not. 

What a mess. But i'm trying not to stress now, there's nothing i can do before tomorrow. i'm going to leave it in God's hands. His will, not mine, be done.

 

Bless your heart!!! Im so sorry you are having curve balls thrown at you like this. Im sure it will all work out. I know its scary. We feel like we can't breath until we wake up un recovery & they say they did it. I will say a prayer for you tonight. Keep your head up. You don't need to stress yourself! Let us know how it all plays out. ((((((Hugs))))))))

Just wanted to chime in and tell you I'm so sorry for your disappointment.  Please listen to previous poster as that was ALL very good advice.  Take a deep breath, stay out of the freezer and work through this with the docs.  I'm pulling for you!

Deb

thanks, Deb. nothing in my freezer but sugar free popsicles and some frozen brussels sprouts. i won't let go, i'm holding on tight. 

My PCP had to clear me before I ever saw my surgeon.  The week before surgery was the responsibility of my surgeon to review my file and recent bloodwork to clear me.  Did your PCP clear you to see the surgeon?

I'm sorry this is happening, I imagine that this would be very frustrating.  As for owing the specialist money.. why don't you call them, work out a payment arrangement, perhaps a payment plan, and let them know what your are up against.  If you let them know of the tight timeframe, hopefully they can get this expidited.  I'm sure 1. you're not the only person to ever owe them money.  2. you're also not the only person who ever has needed something done quickly.  You're an established patient, this should be able to happen.

While you're at it, call your surgeons office as well and let them know what's up, perhaps they can give you some advice, or contact your other physicians on your behalf to get the information needed.

Good Luck

thanks, Diana.

my PCP was the one who sent me to this surgeon in the first place

i'm starting to calm down a little (except for this crazy tension in my shoulders)

i'll call the 2 specialists in the morning. There's nothing more i can do.