Day 46 post op. My left calf is still very tight. I iced it yesterday and took it easy. I also rubbed some Icy Hot and then some muscle cramps roll on to help ease the discomfort. My legs and feet are cold. They feel ice cold. My back- temp wise was fine, but it felt warm to the touch this morning. I decided to wait and check it out later, like now that I've been up and walking around ( I just ate a bagel for breakfast ), and it feels normal. Everything is fine this morning.
Part 2 of Story Time
*Refresher*
Let's back track a little, to May 30th, 2025. Two days before Aetna and UW (my insurance and location that I am scheduled to have surgery) are out of contract. I get a call for the reminder of my MRI (which Aetna requested) on Monday, June 2nd, 2025. I am not in America, it's Friday afternoon and I am traveling back home all day Saturday with no letter of approval for Transfer of Care documents that were filled out on June 2nd between myself and UW on file with Aetna, nor the hospital at this point because the scheduler is telling me that unless I have this paper in hand (I didn't have it on hand), when I came in for my MRI on Monday morning I would not be able to be seen. I insisted that the forms were completed and that I had this taken care of more than two weeks ago to avoid this hiccup. Her hands were tied, she couldn't do anything for me. I was frustrated and sharing with her that I went through great lengths to ensure that I wouldn't have to go through this. Alas, I had to cancel my MRI appt, as I didn't know where this approval letter was and my appt. was 7:30 am on Monday morning. I couldn't face a no show fee on top of all this. For some reason, I kept my pre-op appt that afternoon and went to that. It was a bit choppy. Kevin and I were on edge with the lack of communication and the uncertainty of insurance. UW is out of network and I'd be responsible for the whole bill if it wasn't approved or covered. One good thing is that the letter of approval was in my mailbox when I got home and you better believe I had it in tote with me when I checked in to my appt.. I was assured by my case manager at Aetna that I should keep all my appts. and that things will work out, so there was a lot of trust on my end for that. More on this in my next post.
Back to present day:
I have my transfer of care approval letter in hand and go to my pre-op appt. that Monday, June 2nd, 2025. I am glad I had it in hand because that is the first sentence that came out of the person's mouth when checking me in, was that UW is not in contract with Aetna. To which I replied with my approval letter in hand. It was and is not easy to go to a doctors office (MRI or anything) when your insurance isn't accepted at the establishment. I get it, it's just frustrating when you had the paperwork completed and the hospital should have it on file for you but they don't. I successfully went to my pre-op and then scrambled to make my same day MRI appt., which I was able to do, but at a different UW location and that meant traveling a little more to get my MRI. In hindsight, I should have kept my original MRI appt., but at that time I didn't know the approval letter was in my mailbox and the scheduler basically scared me into canceling. I was so unsure about the whole thing. This wasn't ordering a food item off a menu, it was my spine and my health. I literally took measures to avoid this and here I was deep into it. I had waited eight years to schedule my spinal fusion and when I did my insurance and care provider decided not to come to terms on a new contract? It was difficult for me not to feel personally attacked. I know I am being a little dramatic, but literally could have happened at any other time but at the time I needed them to come together. Come June 16th and I am in surgery. I stay in hospital two days and go home to recover and heal. It wasn't until July 3rd, 2025 that Aetna and UW agreed and signed a new contract. I am relieved to say the least. I still feel like I was the only one that was deeply affected by this.
Thank you for your patience as I owed this story to you a long time ago. It's been a rough and bumpy journey- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. This morning was tough for me as the lingering pain of my tight calf muscle lingered and my energy drained. I am facing some demons today! Don't worry, I prayed The Holy Rosary and attended Mass. I just need extra time today to breathe and be alone. I know this is temporary and am doing my best. I will keep on keeping on, just a little difficult for me this morning.
Please say a prayer for those in need, as I thought about my pains and how I'd rather pray for the conversion of souls than to be healed by God of my pain. Lost souls are more painful than any physical pain I could have.
Thank you and God bless.
Rosemarie
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