Posted by Lee M. on April 07, 1999 at 00:16:42:
In Reply to: Kill the nerve!!! posted by Todd on April 06, 1999 at 19:05:15:
I have looked into (Gamma Knife Surgery) big time, first let me say that any Neurosurgery is only done as the last resort, in our case the doctor must believe you are at the end of your rope and thinking suicide, of course they never tell you that, but this is the acid test for clusterheads. And this is what they will write in your file without telling you, dirty buisness hu!
Next you will be sent for a neuropsych evaluation,
$1,250.00 in oklahoma, then you must see an Oncoligist to rule out anything funky with your cell structure. After seeing the Neurosurgen, having the neuropsych evaluation and seeing the Oncoligist plus travel and lodging you will be out around $2,500.00
My wonderfull insurance co. Prudential, let me get up at 3:00 am drive 110 miles be prepped for surgery and then in the eleventh hour decided that this was an experimental proceedure.
Think I might be a little pissed at this point?
Here is the letter of appeal from the Dr.
Lee M. has been diagnosed with cluster h/a since july 1983. These headaches have become excruciating in nature. Other medical measures have failed in terms of control of his symtoms. There is data in the literature which substanciates the effectiveness of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for this condition. the resuls are quite remarkable and the success rate is certainly not low. This has been offered to the patient as a treatment for his headaches. the surgery is an outpatient proceedure and has been documented in numerous papers as bieng of benifit to patients with this condition. Nothing else is available for managment of his pain. I urgently recommend that you approve the patient's surgery so that this pain can be managed effectvly. I feel that failure to approve this is leaving him in an unfortunate state that may actually provoke suicidal ideation and other problems that we would all reget particurlarly as a potential cure is being offered at this time.
Sincerely,
Paul C Francel
Assitant Professor
Department of Neurosurgery
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Prudential's Respone, Proceedure not covered (experimental)
Refilled three additional appeals, same response.
Just so you know, I am still here, also the nerve they ga after is called the trigemenial nerve (spelling)
I am fairly sure this the highmare surgery (not) you dr. was talking about.