Consult at MUSC-need advice

Anyone have surgery at MUSC?? I have my all day consult on June 15 and just wanted to know what to REALLY expect. Amanda told me that it's all day and I will be meeting the nut., psych and the Dr. I need to be there at 9:30am. I'd like to know how long it lasted--I work 5pm-12am and I'm wondering if I should just take the night off. (I work at MUSC so no drive time needed) Is this usually the only appointment needed pre-op if all is well? Did you get your surgery date soon after this appt? Thanks--can't you tell I'm just a little excited?

Hello Stephanie and congrats... I had surgery on March 17 of this year at MUSC. You should be fine about getting to work on time. The appts with the nut., psych., and surgeon only last about 2-3 hours then you come back about 1pm for an hour long class where Dr. Byrne or Joyce lay everything on the table, the good, bad and ugly. Since you work at MUSC do you have MUSC options? That is what I have and once all the paper work was submitted to them (that took about 2-3 weeks) I was approved in 4 days. Once you get the approval, you are given a pre-op appt. That is where you met with them again, do your pre-registration, blood work, EKG, and the anthestia work up. That takes the better part of a morning. I think I took about 3 hours total. Do not be sorry about being excited, this is an exciting time. And ask all the questions you want... or even express the fears. You should try to make it to an LCBB meeting. They met at JC's on every Thursday. Hugs Julie

Yeah, I have MUSC Options and I hear that they don't give anyone any problems with approval. This is one of the reasons I changed my ins. this past January. Thanks for all the info. I'm glad I don't have to have blood work yet. How did the psych testing go? I have depression already and I am a little worried that I will be "under the microscope" as I sit there talking with them. I have read some of the psych consults and boy, do they notice EVERYTHING!!

I meant to say Amanda not Joyce (she was Dr. B secretary). Sorry. Also you can request a certain date before all the paper work is submitted. It just will not be firm until you get your approval. That is what I did because of my work. Julie

A GREAT BIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG "HOOOOORAYYYYYYYYYYY" FOR YOU, MS STEPHANIE!!!!! KEEP THAT EXCITEMENT & POSITIVE ATTITUDE! THIS IS ONE FANTASTIC RIDE! GO TO MY PROFILE & CHECK OUT MY POSTING FOR 9-1-2005 ... THAT WAS THE DAY I WENT TO MY ALL-DAY CONSULT ... IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY BUSY DAY! I WAS EXHAUSTED BY THE END OF THE DAY ... MOSTLY FROM BEING SO EXCITED & HYPER! THEN, CHECK OUT MY 10-22-2005 "IT'S A GO, HOUSTON" POST ON MY PROFILE ... THAT WAS MY PRE-OP APPOINTMENT. THIS WAS AS EASY AS CAN BE BUT WHAT KIND OF MEDICAL TESTS YOU HAVE WILL BE DETERMINED ON YOUR OWN MEDICAL CONDITIONS. MOST PEOPLE DO, BUT NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE PSYCH EVAL ... THEY TAKE MOST OF THEIR QUESTIONS OFF THE DOCUMENTS YOU FILLED OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS ... THE PACKET THEY SUBMIT TO YOUR INSURANCE. THERE ARE NO LONG, TRICKY TESTS OR AGGRESSIVE ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS. IF YOU HAVE DEPRESSION OR OTHER ISSUES, JUST BE HONEST & EXPLAIN THEM TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE NOT TRYING TO FLUNK YOU OUT. THE MUSC STAFF REALLY WANTS ITS PATIENTS TO SUCCEED AT THIS! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK