My appointment with the back specialist was supposed to be today... this is at the same clinic I went to for my carpal tunnel 5 years ago... and when I made the appointment they said I had to talk to billing because there was an overdue bill on my account, they're claiming my dad never paid the $1000 doctor's fee from my surgery, that it's been in collections since 2003. I told them my dad NEVER lets anything go to collections, that if he got a bill for it, then it was paid. So they gave me the number for the collection agency to get it straightened out, and they told me that I could go ahead and make my appointment, that I would just have to pay my 20% copay upfront instead of being billed for it, which was fine. Got my appointment set up, talked to my dad and he was supposed to be getting it straightened out, which he called yesterday and said he'd been on the phone with the doctor's office trying to get it settled and said they were supposed to call him back and let him know if there was any problem with me coming in for my appointment... and they didn't call back.
So I got there today, signed in, filled out papers, gave them my Medicare card... then they called me back up to the desk said they had billing on the phone and they wanted to talk to me. They told me I can't see the doctor till that $1000 is paid. I told them that when I made the appointment they'd said it would be fine, and now this person was claiming they never told me that. So had to cancel my appointment.
My dad's never gotten a bill for it, although they had his address and phone number correct. It's supposedly been in collections now for 4 years and it has NEVER been on his credit report. He said he's not just gonna hand over $1000 like that, which I don't blame him.
So now I gotta get my regular dr to call in refills for me, I gotta find a new doctor cuz there's no telling how long it will take for this to get settled.
And in the meantime I'm still on freakin driving restrictions cuz of the sciatica acting up so bad, although I can do most other things now as long as I don't overdo it. Riding in the car today was gonna be my test to see how the car's affecting it now, but just riding in the car my right leg went numb on the back of my thigh, and I'm sure it'd be worse if I was actually driving... But I'm going back home Sunday, I can manage ok there by myself, just will have to get people from the meeting down there to help out with taking me shopping and stuff. But my bf will be here next Thursday thru Sunday and I'm sure he'll help out while he's here, and I'll get him to take me to my homegroup while he's here, and the other meeting in that town that I go to, cuz those are ones I can't get rides to right now cuz of how far away they are, haven't been able to go there for 2 weeks now. But I can get rides to one meeting not too far from where I live, it's twice a week, guess that will have do for now.
Sorry for ranting and venting... just really pissed about this whole thing... and a bit upset with having to admit "powerlessness" over not being able to drive... but thankful that I can do a lot more than I could last week at least.
Go to another specialist. I'm sure you are anxious to get the billing problem sorted out with this doctor's office, but your health needs to come first. Good luck to you.
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~~"It's hard to be hateful when you're grateful."~~
hey Lisa, Welcome to life! It's not fair that a person your age has to experience all this so young, but you might as well get used to it. We alcoholics are a neurotic bunch. We don't like rules, regs, procedure, change, being told what to do, not to do, that we can't.... The stress that we cause ourselves over our non acceptance, of the things that we can not control, causes us more pain than the issue or condition itself a lot of times. I guess what I'm saying is try to chill out because the stress that you're causing yourself is undoubtedly exacerbating your pain and undermining your meds ability to do their job. Been there done that, still do. The clinic sending you away was probably your HP steering you to a better DR. I know it causes more work for you to find the new Dr., but it'll probably work out better for you.
I know, you're right Pete... been stressing myself out too much, and I need to pray for acceptance and work on it... and need to make some gratitude lists a lot more often than I do, remind myself that it's not as bad as it could be... honestly I'm a bit ashamed of myself, feelin pretty pathetic for all the whining I'm doing, most things I can handle, physical problems I can usually work through and not complain much, I have other physical problems too that I don't let get to me hardly at all, just work through them and deal with it, and my back hasn't stopped hurting all year long but most the time I can work through it too, but this sciatica is really somethin else...
Guess I need to suck it up and try to be tough though... but besides prayer and distraction, I don't know how to handle it... when it gets to me that bad I gotta get it out somehow, which usually means ranting on a forum or blog... thinkin I ought to go back to journalling again, haven't really journalled in a long time... then y'all won't have to listen to me... lol this is about the only forum where I actually get some kind of support... y'all have sorta become my family in the past year... I don't get much support elsewhere even f2f... so I usually turn to posting here... I'm not wanting sympathy or anything - that's really not why I post... mostly just needing to get it out... I don't even care if y'all read my posts or not, but it does help when people remind me that this will pass, that it will get better... because when it's at its worst, seems like it's easy to forget that.
Most the time lately I'm feeling ok, emotionally/mentally... and finally a lot of the time even much better physically... I might vent, but I'm also working on letting things go, once I get it out of my system then I tend to feel better... the whole thing with the dr's office got me really pissed but I'm letting it go... didn't help that I've been running on only 2 hours of sleep today either so I was a bit grumpy anyway lol
I'm calling tomorrow to try to get an appointment with the spine institute in Memphis... it's where my dad went for his surgery when I was a kid, and my friend's mom is a doctor and recommended them also, said she's referred a lot of patients there and they liked the dr's there. And yes Pete, you're probably right about that, that my HP is steering me to a better doctor
Sorry... didn't mean to ramble so much... I guess I really should get out my journal and start writing again, I'm sure y'all are sick of me bugging you
Bloodyhell, Gurl! Life doesn't deal us a strightforward hand sometimes, does it! I hope that bill works out & doesn't end up a stinger. I hope you find the best Dr you could have too. Wishing you well there. As for I don't even care if y'all read my posts or not Well, that's nice! lol Kidding, love. We're here making sure you're alright & helping to dispense your spiritual injection ;) Keep your pecker up, chica. Post away & keep us in the know. Journalling sounds like a good idea to help you too. Esp if you got a flare with words as you do. Wishing you love & luck for a peaceful sleep tonight & a better day tomorrow. Well done with your sobriety, Lisa. Godbless, Danielle x
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
In trying to sell my house, years ago, found out the hospital had a put a lean on it from when my son was born 6 yrs prior! Had to walk through Hell to get it straightened out....
I'm with Joni, find a new Doc. That's what I did. AND got a COMPLETE spinal scan/MRI TODAY! Praying the results show something...anything....just to re-assure me that I'm really not crazy.....
Hang in there, sweetie. It'll get better.
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
I feel your pain. I've been in and out of ER 4 times in the last 3 weeks for GI issues. First they said flu, then it was a reaction to a stomach med, now they think it might be e coli. No test results back yet. I had to cancel an appt this week for steroid injections into my back (I also have sciatica and spinal stenosis) because I was still out of it from a trip to ER the night before.
I'm shaving it down to 5 minutes at a time and calling my sponsor a lot.
(((hugs)))
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguements and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
~Herbert Spencer
