Smile

She was assigned my “Case Manager”. I don’t know what the hell that meant either. But at the height of my illness, at the height of my medication, just before my scheduled surgery in January… I suddenly had a “Case Manager” from Blue Cross Blue Shield.

So in addition to dealing with being sick every day, trying to maintain some form of employment, trying to maintain my medical records, lab reports, MRI’s, etc., then on top of that maintaining my medical invoices, insurance payments, medical appointments… yes doing all that on a day to day basis, while all the while trying not to pass out or throw up, I now had a “Case Manager” calling me periodically.

At first she would ask questions, like “other than the pituitary tumor, how is your health?” “any problems with your GI tract?” At this point I’m thinking I’m probably on the verge of being canceled or something, so don’t say anything that will piss her off. Days before my surgery she called again. She then proceeded to tell me she had a friend with a pituitary tumor. Her friend opted to go the herbalist, holistic approach. She asked me if I would consider trying that??

My “Case Manager” evidently was not aware that I had tried EVERYTHING I could think of.
I changed my diet to no pre-packaged foods, no red meats.
I ate nothing that wasn’t organic.
I saw a Chinese herbalist/acupuncturist guru.
I tried meditation classes and creative visualization.
I went to yoga classes.
I was still trying to maintain work and working out. But just to the point of the tumor effecting my vision, or hemorrhaging inside my brain, upon the medical expertise of my neuro surgeon, my endocrinologist and my family. I made a decision to have the surgery. And could she call back when I wasn’t feeling so shitty??? She said she’d call back in a few weeks to see how I was doing.
Great! I thought to myself. Can’t wait!

She called back and wanted to know how “it” went. I told her “it” went well, and then she wanted to know about the recovery period. I explained everything to her. And that I was to have a 3 month post- op review. Said she’d call back in a few weeks to “chat”.
Great! I thought to myself. Can’t wait!

Obviously my 3 month review was canceled, due to the masses found on my ovaries and uterus. Instead I had my hysterectomy.

My “Case Manager” called back. She wanted to know how my 3 month review went. I told her it was going to be a 4 month review, based on the fact I just had a hysterectomy. She said, and I quote…. “Oh, I’d kill to have one of those”. Then she laughed as though she’d just told a really funny joke.
I wasn’t laughing.
I then asked her if there was something I could do for her?? She said she’d call back in a month.
Great! I thought to myself. Can’t wait.

She called back in a month. Wanted to know how I was doing. “Fine”, I said. Then she asked me if there was anything else she could do for me? Now I wasn’t aware that she’d done anything for me in the first place, except to add to my already existing stress level. Actually I wondered what she did for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Then she told me she’d be sending a survey in the mail, and would I fill it out and mail it back? Because that’s how she was able to validate having a job.

Are my $468 a month insurance premiums being used to pay “Case Manager’s” salaries????

I’ve received the survey and I’d really like to fill it out, followed by a written letter saying how offended I was by her comments. I’d like to prevent future “case managers” from calling anyone else with their ideas (rather than their own physicians) ideas of treatments.

I often wonder if insurance companies, some physician’s, pharmaceutical companies and the FDA are all in bed together. Are there cures out there for current diseases? But because of the big business it creates for everyone… we never hear about it?

Smile?