Are you kidding me???

[Static]

Okay, so I went to the Symposium and met with a new neurologist who came highly recommended to me by my current neurologist that I see for headaches.  This new guy works at the headache clinic of the hospital where I had my surgery and I liked the things he said and the ideas he had and thought he could probably help me because my current neuro is pretty much at a dead end.  I called to make an appt and was told that the initial consult takes 4-5 hrs. and consists of a consult with the doctor and a consult with a psychologist which I have to pay $400 for, out of pocket, then submit to my insurance company, or, I can go through the other part of their clinic where I would just pay my insurance co pay but would only be seen by an intern.  What the heck is that supposed to be?  If I have alot of money that I can put up front I can be seen by a practicing doctor and if not, I get to be seen by someone who is just learning??  I want help, I don't want to be somebody's class project.  Are you kidding me   There has got to be a better way!  Besides the fact that I had brain surgery and have a headache problem, I don't think there's anything new about that which would require me to see a psychologist, we already know I'm crazy!!
~Karen

[Captain Deb]

Hi K.
Maybe you should consult with your insurance co first and get pre-approved.  Either way I think that the psychologist part is just a screening thing--we all know these are very real symptoms and so will the intern. The main this is to go through all the rigamarole to get to the top gun. Ain't the US health care system just grand?

Capt Deb

PS I got your cold, ya wench!

[tony]

Strange world - I paid rather less than that to meet a man called
Madjid Sami - the most experianced AN surgeon in europe (?)
(and that includes the return AIR FARE to Germany...)
Forgive  me if I intrude on private grief here
but for that kind of money you could get a consult
at House Ear Institue , or with Noren, or, or, or...
Just a suggestion..
Best Regards
Tony

[Static]

The thing is tho, if I see the intern (or I believe she told me it was a resident), that's who I see, not the doctor, never the doctor.  I have to stay with the resident.  They don't accept any insurance, you pay up front to see the doctor, they don't want to have to deal with the insurance.  That's a bunch of BS.  I'm gonna get in touch with my current neuro who knows this guy and have him call down there and see what the h e double hockey stick is going on.  I'll keep you posted. 
~Karen

PS  It isn't a cold and sinus infections aren't contagious 

[Larry]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR and a double AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

This issue raises my temper. I have the same thing down under. Quite frankly, I have all but given up on the medical fraternity and am sick and tired of going to QUACKS that have absolutely no idea and don't even look at my file to see that i had already been prescribed xyz drug.

We do have to keep exploring but Static, don't settle for an intern, you need someone with experience that has different options up their sleeve. It all about experimentation but you need to be adamant with this place that you don't see a pshyc. that loads and loads of us have this issue and its not a figment of your imagination.

Good luck.


laz

[Battyp]

Karen are you referring to my boyfriend?
Man how frustrating!

Sinus infections can be contagious but only if you share the green snot with others.
Deb was my date ya wench!

[Omaschwannoma]

Did this doc do a good sell job or what?  Got you sucked in (me too as I'm gonna email him for info on centers near me).  I'll let you know how my searching goes. 

[Static]

My neuro had already referred me to him (I live in the area and my surgery was done at Jeff).  But I'll be dingdarndanged if I have to go through all the BS like I'm making it all up or something, and ;like I already said, it's a known fact that I'm bonkers.  It doesn't take much to entertain me.  Me and Gennysmom were cracking up about the "spinal cow cord" among other things!   You don't even want to know what we saw in one of the pics the doc put up :X  I'm gonna call my neuro tomorrow and see what kinda rules he can help me break!  I'll keep you posted.
~Karen

[Obita]

Damn, I wish I had been there!!  I have met more bonkers people through this forum than I had in the previous 51 years of my life.  I like it.

Now on to the real topic, GO GET 'M STATIC !!!!

Kathy in MN

[Static]

Heard from my neuro's office today.... He spoke with the neuro from Jeff and they are going to contact me for an appointment.  They are faxing/sending my file to the Jeff neuro at the headache clinic so I guess they are going to treat it as a referral type of situation.  I don't know and I don't really care, just so long as I can see the docs and get things moving with the headache clinic.  I think I'm going to visit with my ENT from around here too because I am starting on another sinus infection.  I don't have one now, but can see it coming if I keep going on the same track I'm on.  Can't breathe out of my nose and feel like crud and whenever the sinuses are full, the tinnitus plays at full blast!  I wish someone would turn down the volume!
~Karen

[Gennysmom]

Oh, I'll tell!!!!  me me me!!!!!  We saw some pressed ham and a dingleberry in someone's brain!!!! 

Static, you were a hoot, you make me laugh!!!!!!  We need to have more get togethers like that, because us ANers need as much laughter as we can get!!!!!!  I mean really, expecting us to pay attention more than 5 minutes in a row....with all that noise and cow cords, I have the attention span of a gnat!!!!!

I hope you can get some of that brain booger nastiness, and whatever's infecting your sinuses fixed up real soon, or we'll have to send Batty for the Roter Rooter man, and you know once she gets her hands on him, you'll be in dire straights for a long time!   

[Captain Deb]

You go Karen. Just do what ya gotta do, wench! Just knowing that you are being treated by the best in the business in your area is reassuring and takes the stress offa the situation somewhat.  These headaches aren't life-threatenting, but they sure are life-altering. I feel sometimes like my life is passing me by.  My Stepkids and grandkids were all up for the weekend and I wasn't included in one activity  because they all just assumed that I wouldn't be "up" to anything. I stayed home by myself all weekend. It sucked. I hope we ALL get some relief for these suckers and SOON!

Be Well and Sail On!

Capt Deb

[Static]

Thanks Deb and Gennysmom, we did have alot of fun at the Symposium.  I kinda missed not having it to go to the following weekend.  We could have gotten into alot of trouble without even trying :X LOL  I'm still waiting to hear from the HA clinic and if I don't hear anything soon, they will hear from me.  If i learn anything new and exciting in dealing with HA's, I'll surely let you all know!
~Karen

[Static]

Okay, so I got the strings pulled and can call any time to make the appt but..... I have this stupid sinus BS going on and I don't think it would be fair to see a headache specialist right now because of the sinus headaches.   They aren't the regular headaches I need to control.  I mean to say that I need to get rid of them then go to the headache clinic so I'm going to see the ENT first and find out what's going on with the sinus issue then call for an appt with the clinic.  At least I don't have to pay $400 for a psych exam.  See, I told you everyone already knows I'm psycho 
~Karen