just realized that I was post 90 on this thread!!

Congratulations!!!!

This morning, just now, moments ago, I heard from my surgeon's scheduler who was so kind and wishing she could give me a positive word. Instead, she had to tell me my case sits at the insuror awaiting their stamp of authorization. Please do recall this is one and the same company that refused to authorize, at first, the antibiotic medication which had been prescribed by my doctor because I was oozing ICK from the unhealed wound of the Trial Stim. Those blessed life assuring and pain inhibiting Trial leads were removed two weeks ago last Thursday after a splendidly and positively effective Trial.

My Boston Sci rep was in the room with the doctor, my wife, and me as the leads were removed, and as we chatted, I mused fear the insuror would delay, dally, drag out the permanent surgery approval. "Oh no" my rep replied, "they approved the whole procedure, the trial and the permanent, dependent on good results from the Trial!" Good results, I was informed was pain remediation at a level greater than 50%. My results were 70% to 100% and my doctor and rep were both pleasantly astonished. We spoke in heady terms of the possibility of my being able to get back to work. Pain would not hold me prisoner forever.

My doctor awaits my insuror which has ALREADY APPROVED THE WHOLE PROCESS for my insuror has interposed a need to FURTHER APPROVE THE PERMANENT IMPLANT!!! Would that all we who suffer could deprive one dollar of the annual bonus paid to every insurance executive for each and every minute they have delayed, delayed, delayed authorization for a procedure they had previously authorized. I believe their income would long since have been reduced to zero!

This begins to look like an insuror's bent to intentionally inflict emotional and physical distress on a patient. How many times has this been wrought upon a patient who in worse straits than I has been deprived of much needed therapy because policy, procedure, and executive perquisites have been the roadblock?!? I am royally ##@!%** and more!

So much for trying patiently to wait..... a prisoner to pain.
BURNING AFLAME IN THE PERNICIOUS FIRES,
Mark56

This is not good. Not good t'all.
I've always been of the belief that 'staying on good terms' with those involved usually works in one's favor........ BUT
In this case, these insurance 'suits' sitting in their little cubicles NEED to know what this is doing to you!!!!
This may be the time to get firm with these dogs and ask to speek to the 'top' dog and get specifics on WHAT exactly is the hold up? If they say it's because they are waiting for Dr's notes or Dr letter of medical necessity, then it's time to go to the top of the top (whomever that may be )

You've been paying IN to this insurance company for years I'm sure. This is total BS.
You know, I just realized this is Monday. Sometimes Mondays aren't the best day to get answers because they all go to work after the weekend and no doubt have some sort of 'pile' of 'stuff' to weed thru.........but your situation NEEDS to be at the TOP of the pile and by them dragging their feet on this, well...... I'm sure you know the language to speak to them which will 'capture their attention' in terms of 'having to take further action'......ect.....

Maybe if you get the right person on the phone (with your insurance company) and indicate that they will be looking at potential $$$ costs in Emergency Room visits if your condition doesn't get the proper attention it needs.....not to mention a legal suit of some sort due to what this is doing to you in terms of physical and mental anguish......good Lord.
Demand that you need viable explanation of what could possibly be holding this up at this point, when everything was a 100% 'Green Light' during the trial period!! I'm betting the longer you persistently demand explanation, the shorter the wait may be.......
You've been Mr Nice Guy all along, but IMO it's time to get mean.
There is absolutely NO excuse for this to drag on once the Dr has made it plain that this is a sure thing. Unless, something has changed in your insurance policy/coverage.
This has me 'pist', Mark. You do NOT deserve this!!!

By the end of today, you better get answers from these guys.....orrrrr......
they're gonna have US to contend with!!! Beleive you me, NObody wants a pistoff NT group of people stomping down the doors of one of our fellow comrades!!

Pray first. THEN call and use your 'magic' with these people...because I know you've been a 'businessman' most of your life and the Good Lord will grace your tongue to say the right things which will capture their attention in the right way and they'll be scramblin to get you accomodated.
That's my prayer and I'm stickin to it!!!

Hugs Bro,
Rae

I just re-read your post and realized the part about your insurance 'not approving' that anti-biotic and you were standing there AT the pharmacy WITH your youngster by your side being denied something in which COULD have cost you a VERY VERY serious condition!!! NOBODY denies anti-biotics for the Love of God!!
That right there could have headed you toward a systemic infection beyond repair!!!
This looks to me like this company is actually flirting with COURT PROCEDINGS!!

You see, I stood in the pharmacy that day and told the folks I was worried because a friend of mine had undergone involved back surgery only to emerge with a staph infection. He remained in intensive care 31 days. I visited him a couple of times as he was there because we were in fear he would die. Thankfully and by the grace of God he lived and is doing well.

I was just quite concerned at having been diagnosed with infection post surgically and the worry my daughter expressed when in the pharmacy and this horrid splotch of ICK was on my shirt. Death by staph would not be pretty. At last, the meds were given, and the insuror found the exit to their orifice. It only took them another week and a half to authorize the pharmacy......

Today, I am in a similar position wondering whether they have any remembrance of the words uttered by Admiral Yamamoto after Pearl Harbor.

Perhaps they will awaken or find the light at the entrance to that orifice so they might get the ball rolling,
Frustrated beyond belief, [but then, you know that],
Mark56

Please please call these idiots and use the words you were given at school. LAWSUIT, LIABEL, NEEDLESS PAIN AND SUFFERING!!! Then kick their rumps from here to there and back!!!!

That which can be done is happening. I also am not one who has a fool for a client. He who is my advocate is in motion. Even so, through my years I have learned there is no such thing as immediate redress.

I do appreciate ALL of your prayers and expressions of concern about the logjam which seems to hold me back, EVERY SINGLE MESSAGE. This is, in practice, the process of NeuroTalk in motion, in action, washing over me in a rain of support and help.

Morphined, slept most of the evening away,
Mark56

FRONT AND CENTER!!!





Ok! We're roundin em up and gettin em ready!
We'll start with the 'Shock and Awe' treatment for starters......
then we'll break out the REAL meanies if necessary.......

Yes lets get the ball rolling

ya hear BMW she says stamp that for approval and get that date already !!

You dont want this meanie coming to take care of things now do you ??!!

Mark the candles is burning for you

PEACE
BMW