My 3 mo X ray - Discs tilted all over the place

[steve55]

After giving the TX back Institute a week to get back with me on scheduling an appointment, I called them again today to see what was taking so long to schedule me. Well, they said that Dr Guyer and Dr Ziglar did not come to any understanding with Dr Bertagnoli while in Vienna and that they still wont take me on after all. My call must have triggered something because right after that I also got the following email today from Dr Fenk Meyer

"we just learned that cooperation in your issue with Dr. Guyer TBI is regrettably no longer feasible. Dr. Bertagnoli wishes to re-address Dr. Glen O'Sullivan, M.D., whom he has contacted before."

(Sigh) I just cant see how we went from ......

"Dr. Bertagnoli did communicate to Dr. Guyer and Dr. Ziglar – they are more than willing to have you in their unit at Texas Back Institute for the revision/fusion of your c6/7.More so: Dr. Bertagnoli would like to, and is welcome to be present in this surgery. Yes, fully confirmed, Dr. Guyer will expect contact to be made"

to.....

"we just learned that cooperation in your issue with Dr. Guyer TBI is regrettably no longer feasible."

This situation is beyond words. Im not blaming Dr B as I feel confident he is doing all he can to help me, and Im sure he did have confirmation from Dr Guyer and Ziglar while in Vienna, why else would I get such a strong and solid email confirming the handoff?? I just cant imagine how and why this went from a solidly confirmed handoff, even to the point of Dr B being welcome by them to be present in the surgury, to now once again, TBI wont take me on. That sucks cause TBI is 5 minutes down the road from me and they are under my insurance carrier Humana also. So if I do still end up having revision surgery, its back to having to travel again to Dr Regan in Los Angeles with limited insurance coverage (would be out of network).

Anyone have any guesses? Maybe Dr ZIg and Guyer read this forum and the ADR support forum where I posted how Dr Ziglar's secretary said to me "he remembers you, your the guy who went to Germany, and Dr Ziglar doesnt see other patients from other doctors surgeries" . I also posted/complained about their extensive psych tesing where their Psyche lady threatens to deny your sugury telling you that you may not pschologically qualify for surgury. Ive learned that she does that to most of the patients and so I posted about my frustration with that obstacle. Kathy Earhardt, a member here that many of you may know, said she was actually brought to tears by this lady and her TBI doc cause they said she was too psychologically depressed to have surgury. They have a strong belief at the TBI that if you are depressed or not psychologically well adjusted(based on this lady's evaluation) that you will not get pain relief from surgury and so they either turn you away (as they initially did turn Kathy away over this issue) or they end up making you have extensive psyche sessions of meditation or psychotherapy before eventually getting cleared for surgury. So, I posted about this experience at the TBI and now I wonder if they read it and somehow put 2 and 2 together and realized it was me. Mark already told me he doesnt think they do read these boards, as they dont have time for that and have no interest in perusing these types of spine boards. But I wonder. I guess Im grabbing at straws here as to how this could have changed so dramatically. I dont owe them any money or anything like that. I just dont get it. Just out of sheer curiosity, I hope that next time Mark speaks with Dr Bertagnoli, he can clarify with Dr B whether Dr B really did have a crystal clear confirmation of my handoff in Vienna or not.This is such a mystery to me.

And lastly, given that Dr B travels to the TBI so often, and seems to be so close to them as collegaues(even to the point of suggesting he would be allowed to be present at the surgury), I cant imagine that even if they do read these forums, that they would let something so trivial as a few fussy posts (which were very factual frustrations by the way), get in the way of a patient handoff request by someone so prestigious as Dr B. Wouldnt that be a "slight" of sorts to Dr B??? Truly Amazing.

Anyways, while meeting with Dr B at the airport, I did warn him about the comments that Dr Zig made to his secretary about me as "the guy who went to germany". But Dr B didnt seem concerned and was insisitent he could get me in. He wasnt the least bit doubtful about that. Oh well, I guess that shit happens. : (

[steve55]

Ya know, I recall something that may have potentially been an issue with TBI. I had taken their psychologist's 500 test questionaire and they said the results were inconclusive. The psychologist said it meant I was not consistent and honest with my answers. I guess the theory is that the same questions are asked in different ways, with the idea being that someone could not get away with making up the answers. And one time I sort of aired my concern to Dr Ziglar as to why all this heavy psychology testing was being required. It was a total beat down as far as I was concerned. I mean, I spent 2 hours answering this 500 question test only to be told I would need to take it again because the results were insconsistent. But by then I had decided to just go to germany so I never followed up for round 2 of psyche testing. They take that psychology tests stuff very seriously there and perhaps they feel I failed thier psychology tests? I wonder if that is it. After all, they initially refused surgery for Kathy for that very same reason until she found a different doctor at the TBI who overrode that decision.

[Cindylou]

Oh, brother, what a let down Steve. I am so sorry for this unfortunate turn of events. You could probably second guess yourself to death. Is it feasible for you to make an appt. with Dr. Guyer, so you can have a frank, honest discussion about what/why everything went belly up? If that is possible, I would recommend pursuing it, if nothing else, for peace of mind. And I wouldn't go in there demanding anything, (not that you would) but rather non-defensively asking if he could help you understand his reasoning, and where he is coming from. And maybe even express how you would, indeed, welcome his advice as you move forward with this. (you never know how this may help you down the road) I am assuming the reason you don't want to go back to Germany and have Dr. Bertagnoli do the revision is because of $$ and lack of coverage, correct? I know this is probably way "Pollyanna," however, have you considered asking Dr. B if he would do your revision as a compassionate case, since he did the original surgery and it was within this calendar year? Heck, only 6 months ago, right? Not likely, but what's to lose? He can only say no. Steve, do you have an history of litigation that they may be recoiling from? And lastly, I would like to say that although many doctors likely don't peruse spine forums, I know of a few medical secretaries and support staff who do, and who could conceivably forward glaring information to the doc. I don't want to make you paranoid, because I still believe that anything you said or wrote seemed very benign, in my humble opinion. That's it. Not much help, I know, Steve, but I just wanted to convey to you my empathy and that things do happen for a reason (easier said than done) and that you will get this behind you. Hang in there.

[steve55]

Well, if they wont see me, its unlikely I can get my way in just to talk about why they wont see me. And no, I dont have any litigation history whatsoever. Ive looked up this other doctor's credentials that Dr B is now referring me to and his ADR experience doesnt look too impressive. I think Id rather have Dr Regan do my surgury as originally planned. I was hoping that Dr B might be right in that my neck may adjust and heal itself but thelast 3 days Ive had consistent extreme throbbing pain on the right side of my back just to the right side of C6/7. So, if it doesnt clear up soon, I will need to for sure have this surgury. Its a pretty extreme pain (level 9) but its muscular/skeletal type pain, not the nerve type pain. Im getting a CT scan and new x rays this week for Dr B to review, and Ill also set up with Dr regan to give me his 2nd opinion also. But like I said, if this horrendous pain doesnt subside soon, Ill have to just move forward with surgury w/ Dr Regan.

[Katie]

Dear Lord Steve, I feel sick for you. I can't believe they play with people's lives like this. Actually, I do believe it, as they are doing similar stuff with me at the appeal level.

I've often been worried that someone is reading these posts and started to watch every thing I said, but these forums are the only place to really talk to people who understand. So I tell my tales and hope for the best.

I wish I had some words of wisdom to offer, but all I can do is wish you well, and tell you that I understand your frustration. This system sucks. I wish they taught compassion and ethics in medical school as well as how to cut.

[JKDE302]

After all the nice things you say about Dr B you would think he would just fix this problem for you..I hope after he looks at the CT scan and new x rays he will do the right thing...

[Cindylou]

I'm sorry Steve. Yeah, I hear you. You definitely don't want someone with less than impressive credentials to touch your neck! I don't have any pearls of wisdom either, except just wishing you resolution and pain relief as quickly as possible.