2 weeks later....Memorial 0, Ochsner 4

Well, while I would love to regale you with tales of great healing and a miraculous return to my prior self, that is not the case. I had my follow up with Memorial’s “transitional care management (TCM)” doctor a week after I got home. It was beyond useless. When I brought up my concern about the right occipital headache that has lingered since May 27^th, telling her it feels like someone slammed a brick into the back of my head and I vomit every damn day, she stated “that is not related to your issue" -- even though they occurred at the same damn time as the celiac artery dissection with splenic infarction as well as the dissection of the entire course of the left common iliac artery!! She did tell me I was welcome to go to ER if I thought it necessary. Or make an appointment with a primary care doctor (which I tried but he can’t see me until September 7^th!). I actually thought Laureli was gonna punch her in the face.

We went home and I promptly called Memorial’s vascular surgeon, only to be told she would call me if she needs to actually see me AFTER my scan (which was scheduled for 6/26). Since my Eastern Medicine Practitioner found a connection between right occipital headaches and left side vascular pain, I moved my scan with Memorial up to the 15th of June. Seems the vertebral artery crosses over at C2. But hey, who cares? My next call was to my Ochsner PCP, and they made me a 9am appt for the very next day to address the lingering headaches that make me vomit. They scheduled a head CT scan for June 14^th! Someone finally hears my concern…wow! I also then called Memorial because I did not have one of the drugs I needed but was told the Hospitalist can’t assist if I have been discharged and to (once again) call my PCP. I did… with Ochsner, who had it ready at Walgreens by 9am the next day. If I were keeping score, that is Memorial 0, Ochsner 3.

Add to that, earlier this week, Ochsner called to confirm my head CTA for 6.14 and told me there was no payment due as I have met my out-of-pocket max. Memorial called the same afternoon to let me know my coinsurance for my chest CTA on 6.15 was $1000, but that they were willing to accept $100 the day of and bill me the remaining $900. Ummm…what!?!? . When I explained I had met my out-of-pocket max already, she said her system showed me $75 short of meeting it. My next (I thought logical) question was “So, why are you asking for $100 now instead of $75?” She said she'd call me back and hung up on me. Really? So, it seems Memorial’s billing department cannot do math. Memorial 0, Ochsner 4.

All complaining aside, I am feeling better every day, little by little.  I do not have my stamina back, I sleep like crap, I am still not allowed to cough or sneeze (you try that and lemme know how it goes), and I get winded easily. The good news is that the FMC recruiter called the day after I got home from my “vacation” in Memorial <eyeroll> to say my requested compensation package had been accepted and then offered me employment!! I start June 26^th. I have enjoyed {most of} my 3 months off, but now it is time to go be gainfully employed once again…. Just in time to take a month off and travel for Laureli’s big 65^th Birthday Trip!!

Stay strong, Protect your Peace, and stay tuned!