When Lupus, RA, & Osteoporosis is taking over Trying to Feel Like Catching Up on my Own Health Issues, Surgery Upcoming on my Cervical Spine and Lumbar spine soon, and everything else that "can happen, will happen" to me

I have been gone for the most part off and on, and also doing a great deal of stuff around the house the past several weeks. 

I have also been battling being ill myself, not knowing whether it's been another flare with the Lupus and RA, or everything else, from a stomach bug, to allergies, and this ever changing weather is NOT helping us either. So, rather than go through the entire ordeal, yes, I've been under the weather since before Thanksgiving, off and on, with a probable Lupus flare, but my cervical spine issues, and my lumbar/sacral spine problems have came to the place I can no longer put off surgery. 

SO, FINALLY YESTERDAY, I did go to Dallas, to my Orthopedic Specialist, to tell him what has been going on, and that I've developed "more symptoms and problems, especially when I was having to take care of Mom, I had done something back then, and also outside trimming trees etc, that BOTH my neck and my lower back need HELP! "HOPEFULLY" HE WILL be able to get me in there, scheduled and get one of the surgeries done before the end of the the year. 

Not that I am looking forward to holidays and surgery, but before all of the new year deductibles and so on roll over for insurance, I feel now is the time to get at least ONE done, and then face the other early next year. I know he thinks we need another CT Scan and I wanted to tell him NO, because I've have way too many, they are expensive, he SAW my NECK DAMAGE ON A REGULAR X-RAY last time I was in there, but I also know due to insurance and their bull, plus he can see if here is NEW damage and be prepared with the right things he needs in surgery to "repair" whatever all is there, so wish me luck. 

I do not like the WEATHER BUT we have been fortunate up until now NOT to have horrible weather as far as cold, dreary mess, and that makes it harder to have to go to Dallas for surgery, and then get home. I am hoping my son will be able to take me, and he said that he is now where he can take me, so if not I maybe calling on one of my close friends to take me up and get the surgery done. It will be one that I should go home that same day, IF it goes as planned and he does not run into further complications once he is in there and can tell what all is happening. I will keep you posted as I can and let you all know what is happening.... Rhia

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!!!!!