To Bert - a Few more Questions.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/18/2003 4:12:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

ehall@... writes:

Last year My PCP did contact my HMO about seeing Dr. Sutherland, in MN and

they said that the Auto Eyelet Transplant and Total Pancreatectomy(SP?) are not

cover by my insurance. They said that they are consider experimental.

Hi Louie, my insurance company also said that the pancreatectomy and islet

cell transplant is experimental but it isn't. They say that either because they

don't undertsand the surgery or because they don't want to pay for it. We

didn't give up trying to get approval and proved to the ins company that the

surgery isn't experimental. It took a couple of months and after being denied

at

first they finally approved my surgery.

I would think having the pancreatectomy without the islet cell transplant

would not be the right thing to do. If you had the pancreatectomy without the

islet cell transplant you would become a brittle diabetic.

You need to make an appointment with a surgeon at University Hospital or

another hospital and talk with them about you being a candidate for the TP/ICT

since you are a diabetic. I do think if the doctors think it is ok then you can

convince your insurance to approve the surgery. Shirley

[Guest guest]

Hi Bert,

It's Louie again, with just a few more questions, if you don't mind me being too

noisy? Do you live in Ohio? I think I read somewhere that you did, but my mind

isn't what it used to be. so I not sure I'm think of the right person or not.

Did you have any problem with your insurance, going to UC? I do live in

Wheeling, WV--- 2 hours east of Columbus, OH if you stay on I-70. I do have a

local HMO and can only go to OSU in Columbus, where I had my Whipple done in 94

and Cleveland Clinic, where I have surgery in 92 and been there 3 times without

results. Last year My PCP did contact my HMO about seeing Dr. Sutherland, in MN

and they said that the Auto Eyelet Transplant and Total Pancreatectomy(SP?) are

not cover by my insurance. They said that they are consider experimental.

Well, just a brief history of what I have tried. Now back to more questions.

Does the UC ever do just Total Pancreactectomy(SP?), without the Auto Eyelet

Transplant? Because I'm already a Type 2 Diabetic and Have been since 90,

thanks to the Whipple and CP. My diabetes is control with Glucotrol 10mg.XL and

Metroformin ( Generic Glucophage) and my diet seems to keep it under control. I

was thinking that without the Auto Eyelet Transplant, my insurance might

consider the Total Pancreactectomy(SP?). I would not think that they should

consider this experimental, since all they do is remover the pancreas and not

transplant. I did ask my doctor at OSU that last time I saw him in 98 about

just removing all the pancreas and he told me I would become a brittle diabetic

and it would become too had to control. This was a long time before I ever

heard about that they are doing the Total Pancreatectomy(SP?). This past spring

from May 9 to July 1st, I was in and out of the hospital 3 times for a total of

32 days with pancreatitis, that would not go away. The in July I changed my

PCP, and he great and he understand my pain.

He suggested that they put me on a long acting Morphine-

MS-Contin, which I take 2 30mg. a day and just the first of this month he gave

me fast acting morphine 10mg. which I can take up to 4 a day for breakthrough

pain. I also have a implanted pain pump that I get dulidid constantly thru, but

I on a small dose of it. This is my second pain pump and I have had one in

since 98. I was on morphine and in May they changed it to Dulidid and it does

seems that most of the time it helps. But what I'm really saying, I so tired of

living in constant pain of some sort daily. I have had pancreas since problems

since Jan 90. 13 very long years.

I know what you mean about planning anything. Some days it just takes all my

energy to get out of bed, take a shower and get dressed. I haven't been able to

work since 98. Are you able to work and how long have you had CP? Sorry that

this turned out to be so long. I really very happy for you that you are doing

so well and I hope that it continues forever. How long were you in the hospital

when you did have your surgery? When you did decide to have it, how long did

you have to wait to have it? Well, thanks for answer my first e-mail to you and

all the best to you. Thanks,

Take Care,

Louie in WV