9:15 Conversation #1 with the referral lady in my doctor's office. She tells me that Dr. Earle's note back to her says "Advise Bethany that she can not have a referral to the neurosurgeon and if she wants to make an appointment to see me we can discuss it at that time." I do not scream, yell or cry.
9:16 Conversation #2 again, with the referral lady in my doctor's office. "Bethany," she says, "I made you an appointment with the neurologist, do you want to keep it?" "NO," I replied, "I don't need to see the neurologist. I want to see the neurosurgeon. The guy who operated on my back."
9:17 Conversation #3 to make an appointment with Dr. Earle for December 6 so I can ask her how many discsetemies and fusions she has done in her lifetime.
9:20 Conversation #4 with the neurosurgeon's office to find out if he has my X-Ray and a fact gathering call to find out information to use with Dr. Earle. This conversation devolves into big tears when she tells me that the neurosurgeon still hasn't even released me back to my regular doctor. I tell the lady, "I'm sorry, I'm just so frustrated."
2:00-3:30- Conversation #5 with Blue Shield. I explain my predicament. Heather calls Choice Medical who says call the doctor's office, but since they only have one line and it's always busy, Heather has to call me back. She finds out this information: my referral was not "denied" it was "cancelled" because I didn't see my doctor. I explained that I saw the PA and for every other referral the PA was sufficient, including the referral to the neurologist that just got made this week. Heather seems somewhat puzzled by this as well, but the bottom line is I have to see Dr. Earle if I want to go to physical therapy. She tells me I can self-refer to the neurosurgeon. I'm a bit annoyed because last week when I found out my appointment had been cancelled I called Blue Shield to ask if that was a possibility and the lady told me no. I ask if Dr. Earle can say no to physical therapy because the only time I've ever seen Dr. Earle about my back she told me that the only way I was going to get rid of the pain in my leg was to take Lyrica, lose weight and that I couldn't go to physical therapy because "physical therapy does nothing." Heather tells me that if Dr. Earle says no, then I need to switch doctors. I don't tell Heather that this whole business has made me decide to leave Blue Shield.
3:30 Conversation #6 with the neurosurgeon's office to self-refer myself back to the neurosurgeon. Self-referral means I have a higher co-pay and if Dr. Sanford wants to order tests it has to go back to my doctor.
The part of me who wants to go to physical therapy is fighting with the part of me that is pissed the fuck off and wants to be a complete bitch and start the conversation with Dr. Earle by asking all of the questions she will be incapable of answering because she is not a neurosurgeon and then presenting her with an invoice that includes the $10 co-pay for the appointment last week, the $20 difference between my regular co-pay and the self-referral co-pay, gas to get to her Palmdale Road office and the three hours I needed a sub for that bullshit on Thursday. In any case, Jessica's going to go with me to my appointment with Dr. Earle because I do not trust myself.
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