Surgery Info-lots of questions

[Guest guest]

I find this all quite confusing. I've read through some info about

en bloc versus total capsulectomy and still don't get it. It seems

both involve taking out the implant along with the scar tissue that

surrounds it. Does en bloc mean trying to take the scar tissue

around the implant as a whole unit and total capsulectomy means the

scar tissue may be cut up, scraped out, etc... It isn't a whole

unit?

I have an appt. on Thursday w/ a PS that is part of my provider

list. The woman who answered my call said he has done explants and

he does a total capsulectomy but she did not know the term en bloc.

She did seem quite knowledgable overall about his explant surgeries

and said they send a lttr to the insurance company and then wait for

a response-which I should plan a month for that process. They will

put me on the calendar after that is worked out. Do I dare ask to be

put on the calendar immediately as a RUSH/URGENT procedure and I will

pay up front and hope to be reimbursed? Is that too dangerous of a

method because they no longer have an incentive to fight the

insurance company to pay?

Should I bring a copy of the letter in your files about the payment

for total capsulectomy so it can be addressed up front...or do you

think they must already know to address that since she seemed quite

familiar with the procedure?

This doctor's credentials show an MD and FACS...but usually I am

seeing an MD and PA? Is one better than the other? Isn't FACS the

preferred?

How many more appts. should I try to make? Ugh...I just want to go

to bed...pull the covers over my head...

If they find the gunk that you ladies are talking about... or a

problem w/ a valve that led to health problems, etc., is there any

chance of financial compensation (lawsuit) success? Other than the

Dow lawsuit, which I believe was a class-action lawsuit, has there

been any private lawsuits that have succeeded?

Anne

[Guest guest]

Anne,I'll try to answer some of your questions, below:>> I find this all quite confusing. I've read through some info about > en bloc versus total capsulectomy and still don't get it. It seems > both involve taking out the implant along with the scar tissue that > surrounds it. Does en bloc mean trying to take the scar tissue > around the implant as a whole unit and total capsulectomy means the > scar tissue may be cut up, scraped out, etc... It isn't a whole > unit? > YES, this is the basic idea. Think of an M & M peanut, with a candy coating around the peanut. The scar tissue would be the candy coating, the implant the peanut. In en bloc, they take out the whole thing in one piece...the whole M & M. In total capsulectomy, they may cut through the candy coating to get at the peanut and take it out, but they ALSO have to go back and take out all of the candy coating.> I have an appt. on Thursday w/ a PS that is part of my provider > list. The woman who answered my call said he has done explants and > he does a total capsulectomy but she did not know the term en bloc. > She did seem quite knowledgable overall about his explant surgeries > and said they send a lttr to the insurance company and then wait for > a response-which I should plan a month for that process. They will > put me on the calendar after that is worked out. Do I dare ask to be > put on the calendar immediately as a RUSH/URGENT procedure and I will > pay up front and hope to be reimbursed? Some of our girls have done this. Is that too dangerous of a > method because they no longer have an incentive to fight the > insurance company to pay? It's possible they may not pay, but particularly if your doctor finds something horrible inside, such as infection, contaminated implants, or a defective implant after analysis by Dr. Blais, they may be forced to pay through your appeals. It's a difficult process, but you may in fact get reimbursement. Some of our girls have. > > Should I bring a copy of the letter in your files about the payment > for total capsulectomy so it can be addressed up front...or do you > think they must already know to address that since she seemed quite > familiar with the procedure? I would let the doctor do what they have been doing...and not bring in anything. You don't want to appear to be threatening to them. If they can get it covered, that would be great and hopefully they will be knowledgeable about the risks women have faced. That will make a huge difference. If they do not believe that women get sick due to implants, they may not fight for coverage for you.> > This doctor's credentials show an MD and FACS...but usually I am > seeing an MD and PA? Is one better than the other? Isn't FACS the > preferred?FACS means that they have passed the requirements of the American College of Surgeons. It means: Fellow, American College of Surgeons. You just want to make sure your surgeon is board certified in plastic surgery.> > How many more appts. should I try to make? However many it takes to make sure you are going to get a proper explant. Ugh...I just want to go > to bed...pull the covers over my head...I know...it will soon be over, just take one day at a time.> > If they find the gunk that you ladies are talking about... or a > problem w/ a valve that led to health problems, etc., is there any > chance of financial compensation (lawsuit) success? Not much. Other than the > Dow lawsuit, which I believe was a class-action lawsuit, has there > been any private lawsuits that have succeeded? No, all of the private lawsuits I have heard of resulted in loss for the claimant, because the manufacturer's have figured out how to win. All they need is doubt of guilt and they've gotten it. Very few medical researchers believe that implants make women ill. The ones that do believe it and have stated publicly are discredited and made to look foolish in court. The ugly side of breast implants is plain to us....the deception, greed, and misinformation is enough to make you sick....so the best thing is to avoid that end of it and move on to healing. But I would continue to fight for disability Anne...you are going to need it while you heal. Just don't try to get anyone to believe you are sick from you implants along the way and burn bridges doing so....get your disability first and get well on the road to getting better. There will come a day when you will be strong enough to fight with us!> > Anne>

[Guest guest]

Patty wrote: But I would continue to fight for disability Anne...you

are going to need it while you heal. Just don't try to get anyone

to believe you are sick from you implants along the way and burn

bridges doing so....get your disability first and get well on the

road to getting better.

I have been saying that the implants are making me sick...because the

neurologist is saying they are interfering with my breathing and my

tests show my heart rate is high and I'm not getting enough

oxygen??? Have I already hurt myself w/ disability coverage?

I have a feeling I was already told to keep my mouth shut but

forgot?? It absolutely astounds me how horrible my memory is...I

feel like a child at times.

My lack of income is getting very concerning. I was going to see

about getting a job...start looking this week because then I can pull

unemployment. The beta blocker seems to help enough that I think I

can try working-I mean I will have to try. I just have to find a job

I don't care about losing. I can't wait for social security and

haven't heard anything from long term disability though I'm sure they

are going to try to not pay too. I really don't know what to do.

[Guest guest]

Anne,

I am not familiar enough with disability coverage to know the ins and

outs of getting it, but I do know that getting a lawyer involved is

the fastest way to get it done. It will still take months to years,

as they will try to get out of paying it if they can.

I will try to see if one of our girls who has gotten Soc Sec

disability can write you and let you know how they were successful in

getting covered.

It's okay to discuss implants with doctors who you know are

sympathetic to your condition and believe that the implants may be a

cause. You just have to know how to ferret those doctors out from the

ones who are jerks about it, and then tread carefully. I don't think

you did any damage, if your neurologist is in agreement with you.

Working in your condition would be harmful to your healing--though I

know what it was like because I waitressed while I was nearly dying.

It was pure hell, and I was so glad the day came when I could quit. An

office job would be much better, or any job that does not require

heavy physical requirements, though office work when your brain is not

working well is hard too. A receptionist job maybe...but it would be

much, much better if you could stay home and heal.

Anne, I'm praying you get that explant scheduled...

Patty

But I would continue to fight for disability Anne...you

> are going to need it while you heal. Just don't try to get anyone

> to believe you are sick from you implants along the way and burn

> bridges doing so....get your disability first and get well on the

> road to getting better.

>

> I have been saying that the implants are making me sick...because the

> neurologist is saying they are interfering with my breathing and my

> tests show my heart rate is high and I'm not getting enough

> oxygen??? Have I already hurt myself w/ disability coverage?

>

> I have a feeling I was already told to keep my mouth shut but

> forgot?? It absolutely astounds me how horrible my memory is...I

> feel like a child at times.

>

> My lack of income is getting very concerning. I was going to see

> about getting a job...start looking this week because then I can pull

> unemployment. The beta blocker seems to help enough that I think I

> can try working-I mean I will have to try. I just have to find a job

> I don't care about losing. I can't wait for social security and

> haven't heard anything from long term disability though I'm sure they

> are going to try to not pay too. I really don't know what to do.

>

[Guest guest]

Patty wrote: It's possible they may not pay, but particularly if your

doctor finds something horrible inside, such as infection, contaminated

implants, or a defective implant after analysis by Dr. Blais, they may

be forced to pay through your appeals. It's a difficult process, but

you may in fact get reimbursement. Some of our girls have.

So do I wait to get the insurance clarified before having surgery or

get the surgery and hope they'll pay?

I feel like something is bad in the area between my chest bone and the

left implant (which is under my muscle). Is there a way they can

determine if this is the case...and then decide if this should be

handled as an emergency? It feels hot to me on the inside there. I

just had a bunch of tests and apparently nothing showed up??? I

can " feel " something isn't right. Maybe I can get the attention of the

surgeon on Thursday. Turns out he is in the same building as my

neurologist.