Appointment Meltdown

The stress of trying to keep Timmy calm in waiting rooms is enough to send my blood pressure skyrocketing. I feel obligated to try to keep him both quiet and happy, a monumental task when the physician is running late. I had tried everything to appease my little Hamlet, including Skyping my Mom and allowing him to watch videos of himself on my iPad. After the novelty of both efforts wore off, he finally broke down.  After sitting in the exam room for 90 minutes, waiting for the surgeon to breeze into the room to confirm that my leg is not there, Timmy was reaching his breaking point.  He started to scream, and I was so frustrated with the tardiness of the physician that I let him. 

I decided that I feel obligated to keep him from screaming for 60 minutes after my appointment time.  If the doctor does not arrive within that window, all bets are off. I won't let Timmy become destructive, but I will no longer do back flips to keep him happy. After all, my bag of tricks only goes so deep.

It turns out that a screaming toddler hastens the doctor. Within three minutes of Timmy's sad sobbing, the surgeon arrived in the exam room. It took him all of 45 seconds to confirm that I'm an amputee. He accepted the requisite forms and promised to fax them to Elliot later in the day. What a colossal waste of time and money!

This is what happens when the doctor is 90 minutes late. #sad #madtoddler

A video posted by Peggy Friedman Chenoweth (@amputeemommy) on Apr 14, 2016 at 11:22am PDT

Nonsensical Appointment- again

Last week my insurance company forced me to seek medical confirmation of my continued amputee status. While I was frustrated that I had to take time out of my schedule for an unnecessary medical appointment, I complied with the request. During the exam I clearly stated the reason for the visit and requested (numerous times) that my socket issues and limb pain be clearly documented in my medical records. Having written countless prosthetic appeals, I know the value of clarity in the medical records when requesting a new prosthesis.  My doctor was agreeable and promised to clearly document all of the issues I stated.

It turns out that my doctor lied.  Not only did he fail to mention the open skin sore, chaffing and residual limb pain, but he failed state that I was an amputee. The chart documenting medical appointment was a complete waste of time, forcing me now to undergo another unnecessary medical appointment with my surgeon. 

I was furious when I discovered my physician's documentation failures. I know that he is busy, but the sole purpose of the appointment was seeking the correct medical documentation. He knew the purpose of the appointment, he examined my residual limb and he saw my open sore. I could not have been clearer about what needed to be documented. We even discussed optimal verbiage to solidify the case with my insurance adjuster.  Despite everything that transpired during the appointment, nothing was documented. 

Today Timmy and I are traveling to visit my surgeon. I am confident that he will affirm my amputee status and correctly document the residual limb issues that I am experiencing. I am frustrated that I have to take another afternoon to abide by these archaic requests, but I have no choice but to comply. I need a new leg, so I am forced to play by their rules. Perhaps someday logic will rule, but we are certainly not there yet!

As soon as I come home, I'm going to start looking for a new family doctor. My current physician failed to listen and trust has been broken.

Dragging

I'm not feeling great today. I have a low grade fever, mild headache and I'm feeling just plain tired. I'm not unwell enough to be considered sick by "Mom standards," but I am definitely dragging. It's going to be a long day.

Hamlet was up early and was full of energy. This morning, out of a sense of desperation to keep him still and quiet, I tried to introduce Timmy to cartoons. I ended up watching two episodes of Bearenstain Bears while he entertained himself by trying to eat a magazine and throwing 250 little plastic army men down the stairs. Hopefully he will have as much fun picking them up this afternoon, but I am not holding out a lot of hope. Right now it isn't a battle I have the energy to fight, so I'll just step around the casualties on the stairs.

Today is going to be busy, so I'm hopeful that I perk up as the sun rises. I am scheduled to go see Elliot this morning to try out my new check socket. I'm anxious to wear a leg that doesn't hurt, so there is no way I am going to miss that appointment. I really hope that it fits perfectly, but I'm experienced enough to know that multiple versions and adjustment are typically required.  In this situation, patience is definitely a virtue.  

Since cartoons obviously aren't working, I may take Timmy to the toddler playground so that he can expel some energy after my appointment with Elliot. He is definitely my on-the-go little boy. Fingers crossed this ailing Momom can keep up today!

Casted

Yesterday morning I was casted for a new socket. I'm counting down the hours until tomorrow morning when I am scheduled to try on my first check socket. I am not expecting it to be perfectly comfortable right away, but a girl can dream. Although the 45 minute drives to and from Elliot's office become frustrating, knowing that I am going to be receiving a comfortable leg makes the traffic (almost) worth it. 

Hamlet surprised me by being both well behaved and delightful throughout the appointment. The past few times I have had to see Elliot have not gone well on the behavior front. Thankfully yesterday he put on the charm and was absolutely delightful. (I think that my bringing along his favorite puzzle board along with a fresh box of Nilla Wafers certainly helped.)

Unfortunately, all of these efforts will be in vain if my insurance adjuster denies the prosthesis. I have yet to receive confirmation that my new leg has been approved, but we decided to roll the dice and start the process. I hate that it is always a battle! I am at the point where my leg is uncomfortable more often than I am comfortable. I am constantly having to pause to readjust and to relieve the pressure within the socket. I'm looking forward to receiving my new leg and readying for the insurance battle that lies ahead.

Spoiled

Timmy and I spent the weekend with my Mom while Robby and Scott opted to stay home. Ever since Jack moved in across the street, he has been resistant to leaving for fear of missing out on play time. Although I missed him, I must admit that it was nice being with just my Mom and Timmy. I love seeing the two of them play together. He seems to be able to make her smile with everything little move. He is so little, but he certainly has a lot of people wrapped around those pint sized fingers.  

Even though I am in my 40's, my Mom manages to spoil me when I come home. She happily wakes up with Timmy in the morning, allowing me to sleep. Right now, an hour or two of extra sleep in the morning feels like an absolute luxury. Saturday morning (when I finally woke up at 8) I discovered that she and Timmy made me blueberry muffins for breakfast. What a treat!

Although I didn't want to leave, we came back in the early afternoon so that we could get ready for the school week. Robby was happily jumping on the trampoline with his friends when I arrived. He managed to scream a boisterous "Hi Mom" without missing a hop. Scott gave Timmy and I a hug without taking his eyes off of the baseball game on TV.  So much for my warm welcome home!

This is going to be a busy week, but I'm optimistic that a lot of loose ends will be tied. Today I head to Elliot's to be casted for a new leg. I am so excited to receive a new socket, liner and foot. I am looking forward to walking without feeling the skin pull and burn on the back of my leg.  Hopefully I'll have my leg by the end of the week.  Fingers crossed it goes smoothly and that we don't run into any hiccups during the fitting.