Hello All,

The first thing that comes to my mind as I sit here..."1 step forward, 10 steps backwards"...seems to fit very well. Well, I FINALLY got to meet the Neuropsychologist...good news and bad news. The good news is that he will be administering my testing. The bad news is, well...he will not be my "treating" physician. It seems as though no one wants to be my "treating physician" these days
WC gave authorization as a result of a recommendation by my Neurosurgeon (yes, they sent me to my Neurosurgeon who performed a Cervical Fusion on me 12 years ago for evaluation of my post concussive symptoms lol...thank GOD he was honest in saying this was NOT his area of expertise and made the appropriate referral)...so, my first appointment was supposed to be the interview and initiation of testing. I completed the interview, but the MD decided not to pursue testing as authorization was only obtained for ONE VISIT...he opted to err on the side of caution...that was the week before Thanksgiving after he cancelled our first appt. due to the death of his Mother out of town...(you can't make these things up!!).
Well, he called and left me a message on Saturday stating he received auth. from the WC carrier for the complete series of testing and offered me an appt. this past Monday. Of course I said yes!!! However, I was confused. I just had a conversation with my Atty. who stated we have an informal hearing coming up as the insurance co. has refused to put the authorization in writing. REFUSED?? I decided to go to my appt....
I'm honest to a fault. Upon arriving, I told the MD the above and of course, he became hesitant. He decided to initiate testing, the overview questionnaire (560ish questions) and we would begin cognitive after the first of the year....can we drag this out a little more???
The only thing that made me feel just a little better? He validated for me that the symptoms I am having are real. I needed to hear that, even though I know for myself that they are. I've been made to feel like a statistic..because of how many people abuse the system. He verbalized distress over my lack of treatment, and in the fact that I am currently not being managed by anyone, am on no meds...and the holidays are here. But, his hands are tied.
So, I came away knowing I've got issues that need to be addressed but aren't because I'm at the mercy of WC. Funny, I'm not angry. I actually feel very sad and very appreciative on many levels that I still can function..that I could have been MUCH worse off and that I need to continue to fight for myself against a system who clearly doesn't advocate for the patient.
New symptom as well....I've started to "roll my shoulders"...and my left arm does this twitchy sorta thing. I'm chalking it up to anxiety...anyone else have this issue???
I've decided to embrace the meaning of the Christmas season as opposed to the stress that society places upon us to shop, cook, bake etc. I'm doing my best...can't bake cookies the way I used to because following a recipe is such a challenge....but when I look at my kids, and they tell me the cookies are great (lol)...it's worth it