Guest guest Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 I just pulled out my old scrapbook from my back surgery in 1974. The hospital (Children's in Oakland, CA) charged $3,364.65 for a 14 day stay, the surgeon (Dr. ) charged $1,894. for the surgery and the application of the Risser cast. The anesthesiologist charged $575. The GRAND TOTAL WAS: $5,833.65!!!!!!!!!! Oh, the good old days!!! You can't even have a gall bladder surgery for that now, can you???? My mom gave me the old bills when she went thru some of her stuff some years ago, so it's interesting to look at. I also found out I needed 4 pints of blood from the Blood Bank of the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association. The doctor's answer to some of my parents' questions (via letter) were: " With regard to your question of how the patients do that have similar surgery, I might point out that they enter into full activities and have very few in the way of physical limitations. Most of them can bend over and touch their toes, and very little actual loss of functional back motions is noted. We do not allow the boys to play contact sports for two years following their surgery as it takes at least this long for the spine to regain its normal strength. In general, they do well and function as normal individuals. " Then in a letter that he wrote me back when I had some questions about 6 months after the surgery was performed: " Your fusion extends from the fifth thoracic vertebra to the fourth lumbar vertebra and involves 12 vertebrae. The lower curve was the worst one in terms of angulation. The upper curve correction was from 56 degrees to 37 degrees on the initial film; and the lower curve went from 73 degrees to 35 degrees therefore, we gained about 50 per cent correction of your deformity. We expect to lose some of this with settling; but the main reason for the surgery, as you know, is to prevent further deformity; and any correction that we get is just icing on the cake. " I don't know if any of you lived in the Oakland Bay area in 1974, if you did, you were probably too young to remember my surgeon. I've always wondered what happened to him and if he's till alive. He was in his early 50's I believe, then. His name was King , Chief of Orthopedics, Highland General Hospital, 1411 E 31 st St., Oakland, CA 94602. The reason he did his surgeries at Children's, is because they had the casting table and other equipment necessary for these fusion surgeries. He actually lived in Walnut Creek. I have a picture of him sitting with me in my cast along with an intern. He moved to Texas a couple of years after I had my surgery, and I lost contact with him. Always wondered if he kept practicing in Texas. He was originally from Texas. I also saved an article from the TIME magazine edition of Feb. 24, 1975 Medicine section--and it talks about scoliosis and the Harrington rod surgeries. One excerpt I found interesting: " In more advanced cases, surgery is necessary. The most common operation for scoliosis was developed about 10 years ago by Houston's Dr. Harrington, and is now perfomed on about 80% of all patients requiring surgery. Doctors implant thin steel rods next to the spine, placing them over the bone and under the back muscles. The rods, which are attached to the vertebrae with metal hooks, are then tightened--much like a set of orthodontic braces--to force the spine to straighten. At the same time, the spine is fused to give it additional strength. " Thought some of you might find this interesting!!!! Carol V. (CA) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Dear Carol V, So good you have that scrapbook, that there is a record of your surgery. Years ago I read an article in a magazine which gave a link to find doctors, I found the doctor who delivered my oldest daughter, who was particularly kind to me during a difficult time, he was a resident at the time and I had no idea where he had ended up. Found him in Fontana Ca, and I was able to give him a very big thankyou for all he had done for me, via the mail. Maybe knows about how to go about finding this site since I don't have it anymore. Might be good to find your doc, sure would be interesting conversation. Might be hard to do if he is probably shurely not practicing anymore. While I didn't have my Harrington Rod surgery in Oakland, Had mine in 1973 at UCSF, there is a group of us that had surgery in Northern CA. I wish I had more records of mine, but I was a foster child at the time and no one was interested in " Keeping " anything for me. Very interesting to hear what you shared! Colorado Springs [ ] Surgery costs >I just pulled out my old scrapbook from my back surgery in 1974. The > hospital (Children's in Oakland, CA) charged $3,364.65 for a 14 day > stay, the surgeon (Dr. ) charged $1,894. for the surgery > and the application of the Risser cast. The anesthesiologist charged > $575. The GRAND TOTAL WAS: $5,833.65!!!!!!!!!! Oh, the good old days!!! > You can't even have a gall bladder surgery for that now, can you???? > > My mom gave me the old bills when she went thru some of her stuff some > years ago, so it's interesting to look at. I also found out I needed 4 > pints of blood from the Blood Bank of the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical > Association. > > The doctor's answer to some of my parents' questions (via letter) > were: " With regard to your question of how the patients do that have > similar surgery, I might point out that they enter into full activities > and have very few in the way of physical limitations. Most of them can > bend over and touch their toes, and very little actual loss of > functional back motions is noted. We do not allow the boys to play > contact sports for two years following their surgery as it takes at > least this long for the spine to regain its normal strength. In > general, they do well and function as normal individuals. " > > Then in a letter that he wrote me back when I had some questions about > 6 months after the surgery was performed: " Your fusion extends from the > fifth thoracic vertebra to the fourth lumbar vertebra and involves 12 > vertebrae. The lower curve was the worst one in terms of angulation. > The upper curve correction was from 56 degrees to 37 degrees on the > initial film; and the lower curve went from 73 degrees to 35 degrees > therefore, we gained about 50 per cent correction of your deformity. We > expect to lose some of this with settling; but the main reason for the > surgery, as you know, is to prevent further deformity; and any > correction that we get is just icing on the cake. " > > I don't know if any of you lived in the Oakland Bay area in 1974, if > you did, you were probably too young to remember my surgeon. I've > always wondered what happened to him and if he's till alive. He was in > his early 50's I believe, then. His name was King , Chief > of Orthopedics, Highland General Hospital, 1411 E 31 st St., Oakland, > CA 94602. The reason he did his surgeries at Children's, is because > they had the casting table and other equipment necessary for these > fusion surgeries. He actually lived in Walnut Creek. I have a picture > of him sitting with me in my cast along with an intern. He moved to > Texas a couple of years after I had my surgery, and I lost contact with > him. Always wondered if he kept practicing in Texas. He was originally > from Texas. > > I also saved an article from the TIME magazine edition of Feb. 24, 1975 > Medicine section--and it talks about scoliosis and the Harrington rod > surgeries. One excerpt I found interesting: " In more advanced cases, > surgery is necessary. The most common operation for scoliosis was > developed about 10 years ago by Houston's Dr. Harrington, and is > now perfomed on about 80% of all patients requiring surgery. Doctors > implant thin steel rods next to the spine, placing them over the bone > and under the back muscles. The rods, which are attached to the > vertebrae with metal hooks, are then tightened--much like a set of > orthodontic braces--to force the spine to straighten. At the same time, > the spine is fused to give it additional strength. " > > Thought some of you might find this interesting!!!! > > Carol V. (CA) > > > > > > > > > > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 did a quick peek in Medical Board of California and found this, is it him? Licensee Name: TAYLOR K SMITH, MD License Type: PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON License Number: C28172 License Status: LICENSE RENEWED & CURRENT Public Record Actions: NONE AVAILABLE ON WEB SITE (To find out what information is and is not available on the Web site, please click here.) Original Issue Date: JUNE 10, 1966 Expiration Date: AUGUST 31, 2006 Address: 3838 CALIFORNIA STREET SUITE 715 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118 County: SAN FRANCISCO > > I just pulled out my old scrapbook from my back surgery in 1974. The > hospital (Children's in Oakland, CA) charged $3,364.65 for a 14 day > stay, the surgeon (Dr. ) charged $1,894. for the surgery > and the application of the Risser cast. The anesthesiologist charged > $575. The GRAND TOTAL WAS: $5,833.65!!!!!!!!!! Oh, the good old days!!! > You can't even have a gall bladder surgery for that now, can you???? > > My mom gave me the old bills when she went thru some of her stuff some > years ago, so it's interesting to look at. I also found out I needed 4 > pints of blood from the Blood Bank of the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical > Association. > > The doctor's answer to some of my parents' questions (via letter) > were: " With regard to your question of how the patients do that have > similar surgery, I might point out that they enter into full activities > and have very few in the way of physical limitations. Most of them can > bend over and touch their toes, and very little actual loss of > functional back motions is noted. We do not allow the boys to play > contact sports for two years following their surgery as it takes at > least this long for the spine to regain its normal strength. In > general, they do well and function as normal individuals. " > > Then in a letter that he wrote me back when I had some questions about > 6 months after the surgery was performed: " Your fusion extends from the > fifth thoracic vertebra to the fourth lumbar vertebra and involves 12 > vertebrae. The lower curve was the worst one in terms of angulation. > The upper curve correction was from 56 degrees to 37 degrees on the > initial film; and the lower curve went from 73 degrees to 35 degrees > therefore, we gained about 50 per cent correction of your deformity. We > expect to lose some of this with settling; but the main reason for the > surgery, as you know, is to prevent further deformity; and any > correction that we get is just icing on the cake. " > > I don't know if any of you lived in the Oakland Bay area in 1974, if > you did, you were probably too young to remember my surgeon. I've > always wondered what happened to him and if he's till alive. He was in > his early 50's I believe, then. His name was King , Chief > of Orthopedics, Highland General Hospital, 1411 E 31 st St., Oakland, > CA 94602. The reason he did his surgeries at Children's, is because > they had the casting table and other equipment necessary for these > fusion surgeries. He actually lived in Walnut Creek. I have a picture > of him sitting with me in my cast along with an intern. He moved to > Texas a couple of years after I had my surgery, and I lost contact with > him. Always wondered if he kept practicing in Texas. He was originally > from Texas. > > I also saved an article from the TIME magazine edition of Feb. 24, 1975 > Medicine section--and it talks about scoliosis and the Harrington rod > surgeries. One excerpt I found interesting: " In more advanced cases, > surgery is necessary. The most common operation for scoliosis was > developed about 10 years ago by Houston's Dr. Harrington, and is > now perfomed on about 80% of all patients requiring surgery. Doctors > implant thin steel rods next to the spine, placing them over the bone > and under the back muscles. The rods, which are attached to the > vertebrae with metal hooks, are then tightened--much like a set of > orthodontic braces--to force the spine to straighten. At the same time, > the spine is fused to give it additional strength. " > > Thought some of you might find this interesting!!!! > > Carol V. (CA) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Thanks, and Kathy. I'm pretty sure that's him. I really find it hard to believe that he's still practicing, but maybe only part- time. His hair was turning gray 32 yrs. ago, and I thought he was in his 50's then, but maybe he was younger, and just looked older!! If I can put together some kind of letter that makes sense, I think I'll write him. He's affiliated with UCSF also, so maybe he can " drop by " when I'm there in July!! (LOL!!!) Carol V. > > > > I just pulled out my old scrapbook from my back surgery in 1974. > The > > hospital (Children's in Oakland, CA) charged $3,364.65 for a 14 day > > stay, the surgeon (Dr. ) charged $1,894. for the > surgery > > and the application of the Risser cast. The anesthesiologist > charged > > $575. The GRAND TOTAL WAS: $5,833.65!!!!!!!!!! Oh, the good old > days!!! > > You can't even have a gall bladder surgery for that now, can you???? > > > > My mom gave me the old bills when she went thru some of her stuff > some > > years ago, so it's interesting to look at. I also found out I > needed 4 > > pints of blood from the Blood Bank of the Alameda-Contra Costa > Medical > > Association. > > > > The doctor's answer to some of my parents' questions (via letter) > > were: " With regard to your question of how the patients do that > have > > similar surgery, I might point out that they enter into full > activities > > and have very few in the way of physical limitations. Most of them > can > > bend over and touch their toes, and very little actual loss of > > functional back motions is noted. We do not allow the boys to play > > contact sports for two years following their surgery as it takes at > > least this long for the spine to regain its normal strength. In > > general, they do well and function as normal individuals. " > > > > Then in a letter that he wrote me back when I had some questions > about > > 6 months after the surgery was performed: " Your fusion extends from > the > > fifth thoracic vertebra to the fourth lumbar vertebra and involves > 12 > > vertebrae. The lower curve was the worst one in terms of > angulation. > > The upper curve correction was from 56 degrees to 37 degrees on the > > initial film; and the lower curve went from 73 degrees to 35 > degrees > > therefore, we gained about 50 per cent correction of your > deformity. We > > expect to lose some of this with settling; but the main reason for > the > > surgery, as you know, is to prevent further deformity; and any > > correction that we get is just icing on the cake. " > > > > I don't know if any of you lived in the Oakland Bay area in 1974, > if > > you did, you were probably too young to remember my surgeon. I've > > always wondered what happened to him and if he's till alive. He was > in > > his early 50's I believe, then. His name was King , > Chief > > of Orthopedics, Highland General Hospital, 1411 E 31 st St., > Oakland, > > CA 94602. The reason he did his surgeries at Children's, is > because > > they had the casting table and other equipment necessary for these > > fusion surgeries. He actually lived in Walnut Creek. I have a > picture > > of him sitting with me in my cast along with an intern. He moved to > > Texas a couple of years after I had my surgery, and I lost contact > with > > him. Always wondered if he kept practicing in Texas. He was > originally > > from Texas. > > > > I also saved an article from the TIME magazine edition of Feb. 24, > 1975 > > Medicine section--and it talks about scoliosis and the Harrington > rod > > surgeries. One excerpt I found interesting: " In more advanced > cases, > > surgery is necessary. The most common operation for scoliosis was > > developed about 10 years ago by Houston's Dr. Harrington, and > is > > now perfomed on about 80% of all patients requiring surgery. > Doctors > > implant thin steel rods next to the spine, placing them over the > bone > > and under the back muscles. The rods, which are attached to the > > vertebrae with metal hooks, are then tightened--much like a set of > > orthodontic braces--to force the spine to straighten. At the same > time, > > the spine is fused to give it additional strength. " > > > > Thought some of you might find this interesting!!!! > > > > Carol V. (CA) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 I know exactly how you feel Carol - I always thought that the doctor who did my original surgery back in 1977 was in his late 50's then. So I almost fell over when I found he was still in practice back in 2001. And lo and behold, he's still going strong to this date.....he originally had referred me to Dr. Hu, and he's even been taking care of me postoperatively since having surgery at UCSF! His office girls tell me he'll still be going strong for at least several more years, so that tells us alot of how we interpret age when we were much younger, doesn't it?! ~CA ~ > > > > > > I just pulled out my old scrapbook from my back surgery in 1974. > > The > > > hospital (Children's in Oakland, CA) charged $3,364.65 for a 14 > day > > > stay, the surgeon (Dr. ) charged $1,894. for the > > surgery > > > and the application of the Risser cast. The anesthesiologist > > charged > > > $575. The GRAND TOTAL WAS: $5,833.65!!!!!!!!!! Oh, the good old > > days!!! > > > You can't even have a gall bladder surgery for that now, can > you???? > > > > > > My mom gave me the old bills when she went thru some of her stuff > > some > > > years ago, so it's interesting to look at. I also found out I > > needed 4 > > > pints of blood from the Blood Bank of the Alameda-Contra Costa > > Medical > > > Association. > > > > > > The doctor's answer to some of my parents' questions (via letter) > > > were: " With regard to your question of how the patients do that > > have > > > similar surgery, I might point out that they enter into full > > activities > > > and have very few in the way of physical limitations. Most of > them > > can > > > bend over and touch their toes, and very little actual loss of > > > functional back motions is noted. We do not allow the boys to > play > > > contact sports for two years following their surgery as it takes > at > > > least this long for the spine to regain its normal strength. In > > > general, they do well and function as normal individuals. " > > > > > > Then in a letter that he wrote me back when I had some questions > > about > > > 6 months after the surgery was performed: " Your fusion extends > from > > the > > > fifth thoracic vertebra to the fourth lumbar vertebra and > involves > > 12 > > > vertebrae. The lower curve was the worst one in terms of > > angulation. > > > The upper curve correction was from 56 degrees to 37 degrees on > the > > > initial film; and the lower curve went from 73 degrees to 35 > > degrees > > > therefore, we gained about 50 per cent correction of your > > deformity. We > > > expect to lose some of this with settling; but the main reason > for > > the > > > surgery, as you know, is to prevent further deformity; and any > > > correction that we get is just icing on the cake. " > > > > > > I don't know if any of you lived in the Oakland Bay area in 1974, > > if > > > you did, you were probably too young to remember my surgeon. I've > > > always wondered what happened to him and if he's till alive. He > was > > in > > > his early 50's I believe, then. His name was King , > > Chief > > > of Orthopedics, Highland General Hospital, 1411 E 31 st St., > > Oakland, > > > CA 94602. The reason he did his surgeries at Children's, is > > because > > > they had the casting table and other equipment necessary for > these > > > fusion surgeries. He actually lived in Walnut Creek. I have a > > picture > > > of him sitting with me in my cast along with an intern. He moved > to > > > Texas a couple of years after I had my surgery, and I lost > contact > > with > > > him. Always wondered if he kept practicing in Texas. He was > > originally > > > from Texas. > > > > > > I also saved an article from the TIME magazine edition of Feb. > 24, > > 1975 > > > Medicine section--and it talks about scoliosis and the Harrington > > rod > > > surgeries. One excerpt I found interesting: " In more advanced > > cases, > > > surgery is necessary. The most common operation for scoliosis was > > > developed about 10 years ago by Houston's Dr. Harrington, > and > > is > > > now perfomed on about 80% of all patients requiring surgery. > > Doctors > > > implant thin steel rods next to the spine, placing them over the > > bone > > > and under the back muscles. The rods, which are attached to the > > > vertebrae with metal hooks, are then tightened--much like a set > of > > > orthodontic braces--to force the spine to straighten. At the same > > time, > > > the spine is fused to give it additional strength. " > > > > > > Thought some of you might find this interesting!!!! > > > > > > Carol V. (CA) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 I'm not aware of any insurance that will pay for surgery in Mexico. Does your insurance simply not cover this procedure? It is $8200. Keep in mind, money immediately saved in fast food and grocery bills often times pays the payment when the surgery is financed. Good luck! On 4/19/07, Janet Rettig <janetrettig@...> wrote: My insurance wont pay in Mexico,but I still want to get it done there.Could you give me an idea of the costs involved??I need to have this done,but Im not rich at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 Hi It cost me 8200 and air fare. Very worth it. I had my banding done march 20, 2007 lost 82 pounds so far and love every minute. molly marshall 280/198/150???? surgery costs My insurance wont pay in Mexico,but I still want to get it done there.Could you give me an idea of the costs involved??I need to have this done,but Im not rich at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 Molly, how have you lost 82 lbs in a month???? ---- Molly <msmolly6255@...> wrote: > Hi It cost me 8200 and air fare. Very worth it. I had my banding done march 20, 2007 lost 82 pounds so far and love every minute. > molly marshall > 280/198/150???? > surgery costs > > > My insurance wont pay in Mexico,but I still want to get it done > there.Could you give me an idea of the costs involved??I need to have > this done,but Im not rich at all. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 My insurance pays for the surgery in Mexico. We are self funded so we do have some ability to think " outside the box " . Once we provided the information to the HR Director and convinced her, she was able to present a compelling argument to our CEO, CFO, and lawyers. Those of us wanting the surgery then started the work of convincing our primary care physcians. In the beginning most were supportive of the procedure but against Mexico. When presented with the argument of " Which surgeon would you want? The one just learning who does it sometimes or the experienced one who has made it his career to help people by being the best there is? " Most all of our local physicians are now on board with Mexico, signing pre-certification forms for the insurance process and providing follow-up care. Being self funded made it easier but more and more insurance companies are covering procedures in other countries. Financially it makes sense. > > > > My insurance wont pay in Mexico,but I still want to get it done > > there.Could you give me an idea of the costs involved??I need to have > > this done,but Im not rich at all. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Molly, Congratulations! You have lost 82 lbs. in just over 40 days? WOW! Will you share your eating schedule with those of us waiting? Molly <msmolly6255@...> wrote: Hi It cost me 8200 and air fare. Very worth it. I had my banding done march 20, 2007 lost 82 pounds so far and love every minute. molly marshall 280/198/150???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Do you realize how very lucky you are? Seems to me that the more you need the surgery...the harder it is to find a way to pay for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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