Re: Specialist in Atlanta or Bend oregon-NOT TRUE ANON!!!!!
From: suzanne (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri Sep 27 22:02:13 2002
Hi Kim, I totally understand your fear of flying. My husband's father
is that way. You will know what is the decision you have to make when.
I have heard patients speak of a doctor in NY. That is Dr. Reich at
http://www.adlap.com
What you are going through and fighting the disease is not only tiring
let alone go on to fight doctors, insurance, everyday life...I just hate
to see your quality of life compromised. I send my best to you and your
battle.
suzanne
At Fri, 27 Sep 2002, Kim wrote:
>
>Suzanne -- Perhaps there will come a day when I'll be willing to board a
>plane and travel to Oregon -- it has nothing to do with frequent flyer
>miles, but rather terror of airplanes since I was a child. I had such a
>long recovery for my lap, I can't even fathom having another surgery right
>now. A 45 minute drive home felt like pure Hell. 3 weeks after lap, and
>still more than a 10 minute drive was excruciating. I don't think
>physically I could withstand a 5+ hour flight, even if I could get it cheap.
>And I can't imagine leaving my entire family a country behind, as I have a
>child, and who would watch her while I did this if my husband came with me?
>It's so frustrating. I wish I could find a specialist with such a wonderful
>track record somewhere closer to home. You would think that just outside
>the capital of the US there would be just one specialist! Anyway, I guess
>until the pain has me completely paralyzed and with no other options, I will
>still be able to find excuses to stay on the right coast and hope someone
>comes along before I need to make a decision. Thanks so much for the
>information about Dr. R. I'm keeping a file on him, just in case I need it
>in the future. Kim
>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>From: "suzanne" <anonymous@obgyn.net>
>To: "Multiple recipients of list ENDO" <anonymous@obgyn.net>
>Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 8:58 PM
>Subject: Re: Specialist in Atlanta or Bend oregon-NOT TRUE ANON!!!!!
>
>> I too had a positive experience with Dr. Redwine. For me it has been
>> almost 3 years endo & pain free - life is bliss! In terms of the monies
>> involved for surgery in Bend, it is all dependent on your particular
>> insurance plan. You would want to check into that and also contact Dr.
>> Redwine's office for advice.Yes, Dr. Redwine does accept insurance. The
>> only insurance he does not accept is Medicare.
>>
>> Because the disease of endometriosis surgery is "usual & customary"
>> based in many insurance the same amount charged for a tubal ligation.
>> This is a very unfortunate classification for women with endo. In the
>> majority of cases, endometriosis is a tedious, often-lengthy surgery.
>> Chances are your case is more extensive than this and may cost
>> additional money.
>>
>> Specialist care in many diseases and medical condition do require travel
>> to the doctors who best treat that disease, and endometriosis is
>> included in those diseases. I think it is a shame that regular ob/gyn
>> are even allowed to treat this disease lacking the proper education
>> about the disease and lack the surgical skills needed. I would leave
>> the disease of endometriosis for the specialists.
>>
>> Mostly what I can tell you is that I never thought I would be able to
>> have a pain free life, but after seeing Dr. Redwine that has been a
>> reality. I feel it has been worth every penny I have had to investment
>> in my well-being. So when I thought there was no way I would be able to
>> see Dr. Redwine as I was on HMO and had become reliant on letting my
>> insurance company make the decisions for me - it all turned out better
>> than I imagined. I did have a "major brand" insurance company and St.
>> Charles Medical Center was considered a provider. I was able to make
>> payments on additional costs and the amount my insurance paid was
>> credited to my account.
>>
>> The EA has a frequent flyer program that can provide travel expenses to
>> a specialist - you should look into this also. And you are able to
>> deduct your medical expenses, including medical travel costs on your
>> income tax provided it is a certan percentage of your yearly income.
>>
>> Regardless of all this I must say that I am glad to have quality of life
>> again - and that includes normal bathroom habits, sex without pain,
>> energy and mobility, and able to awake each day happy and healthy.
>> suzanne
>>
>> At Fri, 27 Sep 2002, Kim wrote:
>> >
>> >Mindy -- Could I ask approximately how much your surgery cost? I'm
>having
>> >trouble paying my out of pocket max of $1000. I don't know that I ever
>> >could have saved 75% of my total cost to have surgery done. Why doesn't
>Dr.
>> >R accept insurance? Or why doesn't he require a smaller down payment and
>a
>> >financing on the rest? Or am I confusing the issue, and the hospital
>> >charges, anesthesia, etc. are outside the total he requires the 75% on?
>> >That would probably be do-able, as long as he would or could work out of
>a
>> >hospital covered by your insurance. I'm not trying to be argumentative,
>so
>> >please don't take it that way. I'm just really curious. I'm sure at
>> >sometime in the future I'm going to have to make my own decision about
>going
>> >through surgery again, and I know that my dr is not inclined to remove
>deep
>> >bowel lesions. So I don't think it would be wise on my part to press him
>if
>> >he's uncomfortable with it. Dr. R., from all I've read and heard others
>> >say, seems to be the best of the best for endo surgery. So I'd like to
>> >fully understand how the money stuff works. Then all I have to do is
>figure
>> >out how to get to the West Coast from the East Coast without an airplane!
>> >lol!!
>> >
>> >Kim
>> >
>
>>>> >>----- Original Message -----
>> >From: "Mindy" <mjmanke@yahoo.com>
>> >To: "Multiple recipients of list ENDO" <endo@mail.medispecialty.com>
>> >Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 11:02 AM
>> >Subject: Re: Specialist in Atlanta or Bend oregon-NOT TRUE ANON!!!!!
>> >
>> >> Dr. R in Bend Oregon requires 75% up front and you can make payments
>on
>> >> the rest. They will bill your insurance company as a courtesy and will
>> >> refund you the money or apply it to your balance. So yes,they do work
>> >> with your insurance. I got a portion back from my insurance company.
>> >>
>> >> And no, many people have numerous laps b-cuz they either have very
>> >> aggressive endo or the surgery was not done correctly...meaning ALl of
>> >> the endo was not removed.
>> >>
>> >> I had my surgery 1.5 years ago with Dr. R and I have not had any endo
>> >> related problems, and most importantly no pain related to endo! My
>> >> periods are a piece of cake :-)
>> >>
>> >> I think your opinion was unfair. It was not your experience based on
>> >> FACT, just your opinion.
>> >>
>> >> I like how you said your doc is controlling the disease with Lupron. I
>> >> am glad you acknowledged that Lupron will not cure (nothing really
>does)
>> >> nor is it a long term solution for most people. As soon as I stopped
>> >> the drug, the pain came back. Read the archives, you will see that is
>> >> the case for most people.
>> >>
>> >> Dr. R is not a money hungry doc....he could have been an obgyn making
>> >> tons of money, but he decided to dedicate his career to helping people
>> >> like us. I think his charge is not unreasonable. Now hospital charges
>> >> are unreasonable, but his charge is not. And please do not refer to
>> >> Doc's like him as docs preying on us....that is just wrong. There are
>> >> doc's out there who are not legitimate, but do your research and talk
>to
>> >> others who have seen the doc you are considering. That is what I did
>> >> and it took me 4 months to choose Dr. R....NO REGRETS!
>> >>
>> >> Maybe you should consider seeing him. I know in my heart that he is
>the
>> >> best option for us. And please base your opinions on your experiences,
>> >> not what you believe to be true.
>> >>
>> >> Mindy :-)
>> >>
>> >> >At Wed, 25 Sep 2002, anonymous wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >Hi- I talked w/ the Doc's office in Bend, OR approx. 6 months ago. A
>> >> >woman from an endo support group recommended him. The problem. he
>> >> >wants money up-front and will not deal w/ your ins. co.
>> >> >My current endo specialist does not agree w/ excision (SP)! surgery
>> >> >because both surgery involving cutterage, lazor and endo can cause
>> >> >adhesions to which can pain for the rest of your life. It also can
>> >> >cause a vicious circle of adhesions / endo - pain and multiple
>> >> >surgeries. That is why you hear of so many women having SO MANY LAPS!
>> >> >Women like most of us who have endo are so desparate to have close to
>a
>> >> >normal pain-free life that we will do almost anything. I think
>doctors
>> >> >more than know this and we become their prey. Watch for greedy money
>> >> >hungry doctors. My doc is trying the surgery and is doing his best to
>> >> >control the disease w/ Lupron.
>> >> >However; since I have only had 1 lap to diagnose endo. I am curious
>why
>> >> >my doc is being that careful and avoiding the surgery. I know he
>feels
>> >> >that the surgery could cause more damage but 10 months of Lupron hasnt
>> >> >done much. I need to get some relief somehow and get off the drugs so
>> >> >that I can attempt to conceive.
>> >> >This is why I seek a second opinion. Anyone know of a good doc
>besides
>> >> >Dr. R in or near WA state???
>> >>
>>
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