DOCTORS WHO TAKE MONEY FROM PATIENTS UNDER THEIR OWN LOOPHOLES....

This is so "long" to go into but get this... MY "orthopedic surgeon" who did the surgery on my neck, and "was" supposed to do the other next week, is ONE MY INSURANCE AS A PREFERRED IN-NETWORK PROVIDER, UNDER HIS BUSINESS NAME (DALLAS BONE AND JOINT CLINIC)... So, for TWO weeks I hAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH HIS ASSISTANT because they keep saying they are NOT a preferred provider... I HAD PROOF FROM HUMANA, I HAD REFERENCE NUMBERS, I CALLED THEM MANY TIMES YESTERDAY I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH HUMANA FOR OVER 3 HOURS.... AND FINALLY FOUND OUT HE 'GETS' BY with saying he is "not in network" BY FILING UNDER HIS OWN TAX ID NUMBER rather than THE BUSINESS NAME WHICH IS AN IN NETWORK PREFERRED PROVIDER!!!! So, that means rather than me pay $325.00 FOR MY SURGERY... 

they want OVER $1,200.00!!!! They want the deductible which ONLY APPLIES ON OUT OF NETWORK PROVIDERS AND THEN FOR ME TO PAY 40% of the bill!!!!! I KNOW THAT HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF A RIP OFF.... HOW CAN HE BE UNDER THEM AND IT IS HIS BUSINESS... ALL OF HIS PAPERWORK READS DALLAS BONE AND JOINT CLINIC AT HIS ADDRESSES, AND I THINK HE AND ONLY ONE OTHER DOCTOR IS THERE... SO HOW CAN HE HAVE "TWO" TAX ID business NUMBERS, AND IT BE LEGITIMATE NO ONE ELSE WOULD HAVE TRACED IT DOWN LIKE ME!!!!!! 

Everyone else would have just PAID OVER 1,000.00 and went on so he MAKES A LOT MORE FROM THE PATIENT IN HIS POCKET!!!! I am GOING TO SEND AN EMAIL TO MY CONGRESSMAN, AND WHOMEVER I NEED TO... I THINK THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG, AND HE IS A GREEDY ASS, WHO DOES NOT DESERVE TO TAKE PEOPLE'S MONEY IN ORDER TO MAKE HIS MORE RICH... I NEED THIS SURGERY, BUT HELL I CAN BARELY AFFORD 325.00!!!! HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO COUGH UP 1,200.00 because he is a greedy selfish miser.... I CRIED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, ALL EVENING... I AM SO MAD, BECAUSE US LITTLE GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT SUFFER AT THE HANDS OF THE RICH!!!!!

Costochondritis - another "possible new problem"? With Me and the Lupus, RA, Sjogren's, Osteoporosis, one may never know....

I "think" I may have "Costochondritis".... I started having pain under my RIGHT arm a couple of days ago, and kind of around to the front of my right chest... it hurts to take a huge breath in, or if I hold my arm a certain way etc... it can bring on the pain. I noticed a moment ago, I had the hiccups... and OMG! WHEW!! Did that ever make it worse..... I figured I must have "pulled" a muscle underneath my right armpit and then around and it even hurts some into my back, but not like right at the arm, where your armpit meets your chest, and then a bit around to the front. an NO, I do not think this is a "heart related" issue at all. I already thought about that, but since I've had 2 of those, I am pretty well, educated on certain things to look for if heart related... that is why I am trying to stress this is under my right arm, kind of around to my right chest, and then into my back some also. I went to pick up Tazzy - my Pug, a couple of days ago. I have to help her onto the sofa,She no longer can jump, so she puts her feet up on the sofa and then I gently pick her up so she can get on the sofa. The other morning, I kind of had an "off" moment, where I lost my balance in helping her up. I really didn't think much of it until I began to get out of the shower a bit later and OMG I was like WHAT THE HECK????? Then of course I have been so busy doing about 15 of more things around the house etc... so I am already sore and achy due to all I am trying to accomplish also. But, ALL of it woke me up at 5AM! MY hips, lower back, my shoulders, under my right arm, and I was so achy and so stiff I didn't think I could even get up and do anything. I really didn't do a whole lot today, other than a few very "easy" things.... anyway, I had not even tried to look up what the "symptoms" might mean, so a bit ago, I though in between a movie and getting some sherbet I would look it up.  I think it appears almost like I do have "some swelling" on back on that side... it appeared to kind of look "puffy" comparing it to my left side under my arm.  The Costochondritis and was about the 1st thing that popped up and that seems to kind of describe what I am feeling. I gather since I am on pain meds, corticosteroids etc... that unless something else plays out or I get worse, or have different symptoms it will dissepate on its own over a few days. If not, I have an Ortho doctor appt on Wed to discuss my "test results" from the discogram, plus Mom is going to the same doctor about her hip severe pain, and cano't barely stand any pressure on it Then we also see our PCP at the same time o Friday, next week... so I will have a chance to ask about it, if it is still here by then.... Happy Fourth to ALL!!!!!!! May our Nation and World over find peace and harmony, and NO threats of any kind.... that is truly my 4th of July holiday wishes... I am probably spending mine either doing some stuff around the house, or resting, depending on how I feel tomorrow morning.... Hugs, Rhia Steele​

I continue this ongoing saga of Lumbar spine issues, bad weather that I am SICK OF, am Happy to see more people coming to my blog, and things about Autoimmune and Arthritic Illnesses

Well, here I am again... another weekend that "appears" to look like all hell is going to break loose. Which again is really irking the crap out of me, because I do not want to have to POSTPONE yet another trip to the Casino!!!

I've already been through this a couple of times, last weekend, it was supposed to be "earth shattering" weather and it did NOTHING.

Now here it is Mother's Day, and again the forecast (extended) is showing rain, rain, rain, storms, floods, and more crappy weather.

Actually, I went, got out my brand new white jeans that I've been wanting to wear, and they still have the tags on them. I also have a beautiful top that just looks awesome with them, plus add in my rhinestone studded sandals, a bit of makeup, a necklace and earrings, and I am set to go to Winstar!!!

Well, I call my Mom, and she has not even "given it much thought" of us going. Yada, yada, yada... about how bad the weather is supposed to be Sunday, and thinking we should postpone... well now we are looking at much later in the month, when I had doctors appointments in Dallas - two of them back to back on the 20th and 21t! Neither of which I can miss at all. One is to have my pain pump refilled, the other is my very LONG AWAITED getting to see my Rheumatologist again. It has been months and month, and months since I saw him. In fact due to something, in fact, I believe I had double pneumonia and was supposed to see him. I had to reschedule and the other appointment was like in December of 2014!!! So, it has taken me patiently waiting now for 6 MONTHS just to get into see him. I can see his PA of course much sooner, but seeing him, especially since we are possibly thinking of a medication change... I MUST NOT miss this appt!

I am NOT happy about this "discograph" business. From all I've read it is NOT a "comfortable" type of test. It is also much more invasive than having epidural steroid injections. So, that raises the risk of a spine fluid leak, or infection more than the injections. I see that depending on the scan and how far it needs to go, it can be anywhere from an hour to 2 or 3 hours, depending on what all the doctor orders. I know Medical City Hospital in an Excellent place. So, that in itself does not bother me. But, anytime now when you have a "compromised" immune system, whether autoimmune related, or whatever the case may be, you really are trying to "avoid" anything that could have the potential of causing infection, especially into the spinal fluid, blood and so on. 

When you are sick, the hospital is the very place you want to avoid usually. Because the others around you maybe having many more types of illnesses that could potentially cause a worse infection.

I've not really had many issues, as far as surgery goes. I usually do well under anesthetic. As far as a surgery, I have not had any massive complications. Yet, when you combine the AAI, the prednisone, the Orencia, and other meds I must take, then there is the rise in whether an infection could happen, rather than someone who does not have immune issues, or is not on medications that could cause you problems later.

I also know this is going to be one of those types of tests that no matter what I already have had done in the past 6 weeks, which was the CT Scan and then the epidural steroid injections into the Transforminal space around those vertebra, that shows that is the place of issue, this doctor STILL is going to insist that I have this other stupid test done.


Of course yes, I could "find" another surgeon. Well, that could lead to the exact same situation, and also could lead into me not having the "best of the best" as far as my Orthopedic surgeon go. He is the one that truly remedied my shoulder pain and my neck pain. Without him, I honestly don't think I would have made it.


To me, he is the "gold standard" in surgeons for these types of problems. Although once again his bedside manner is about like a jackass, and he is an argumenative, and thinks he knows absolutely everything, and patients as far as he is considered need to "follow his rules" and NOT try and tell him anything you may know.

So, it is trying to decide what is worse to deal with when it comes to having him as an Orthopedic Surgeon.

I've got to go to get dressed and run to "Wally world". I need a belt to go with some white jeans I would like to wear, thus there is about the only place here to look. Then I have to run Jim over to the Clinic in Waxahachie about some of his meds.

More to come.....