Re: GOING CRAZY!!!

[Guest guest]

.... no need to go crazy!

In my humble opinion, it would be good for you to think less... and

just go with your heart. In a nutshell(YEAH! LOL): do what feels god

for you, and dont do what makes you feel somehow uncomfortable.

Since, like Jim, I'm also due for surgery with De Smet in August, I

may be somehow " partial " . However, some things I believe are just

simpple facts, namely:

1) if you end up having to pay out of your own pocket, going to

Belgium (trip and lodging included) will still be cheaper than doing

it privately in the States;

2) as others have said, you still have a chance to get at least part

of your money back even after your eventual Belgian surgery;

3) as Jim pointed out, if you go to Belgium you're gonna have first

class surgery with one of the most experienced BHR surgeons on the

face of this earth, while, at the same time, having a chance for a

trip to Europe, which maybe you'd never do otherwise;

4) AND..... DONT FORGET.... If you come over here, you'll have a

chance to be THE SINGER OF THE BHR BAND!! LOL

Well, hopefully I helped you feel at least a little bit " less crazy "

(if that is really what you want... LOL)

All the best from Al in Brussels

(Future LBHR, De Smet, Aug 10)

> Ok, in a nutshell hippies...(so much for the nutshell - it's a

novel!)

>

> Last week I was all set to make a decision - Belgium/DeSmet it

was.

> Then I get an email from someone privately, causing me to totally

> question my decision and do more research. Not only has it

delayed

> my surgery date/timing/desire to SCHEDULE it already, but I'm

> extremely frustrated that ONE PERSON could put me in such a tail-

> spin, causing me to re-evaluate. I am not re-evaluating getting

the

> surgery ulitmately - this will still happen w/out a doubt - but by

> who remains a question.

>

> I'm sure a lot of this has to do with " pre-hippy syndrome " (pre

> surgery apprehension, normal re-evaluation), but its caused me to

> want to dig more to be sure Belgium is the right choice.

>

> Bottom line, BCCA turned me down here in the States - the whole

> investigational B.S. JRI's people tried, and I was denied a few

> weeks ago (as many of you know). Would another surgeon's office

be

> capable of getting an approval, especially since I've already been

> denied? I would think not...but I'm not familiar with the whole

> insurance deal - it's just a question out there for anyone.

>

> Interestingly enough, my insurance is changing effective July

1st.

> It will still be BC (unfortunately), but our company recently

merged,

> so we're going from small group coverage to the next level up

(large

> group? medium group? whatever it's called). I asked the BC rep

> when she was in our office a month or so again, and my

understanding

> is that it's the same coverage - just a different dept.

Hmmmmm...not

> sure if this could help??? You'd think it'd be in the system - my

> rejection - but with other folks bein' paid after the fact...who

the

> heck knows!

>

> As for appealing - I just don't think it's worth my time and

energy

> since BCCA seems to be rejecting left and right, and with the

class

> action suit against them, etc. Not to mention, I want to schedule

in

> the next week, not a month/several months from now when they

decide

> to say no again.

>

> Next (yup, there's more...), if I go with DeSmet (which I am still

> leaning toward btw)...from Jim's recent postings, it sounds as if

> it's possible to get $ back from insurance - even though they said

no

> intially. I know others who have privately told me the same -

that

> they depended on insurance companies " left hand not knowing what

the

> right hand is doing. " I guess it'd be nice to know it was still a

> possibility, however slight, to get the $ reimbursed if I go to

> Belgium. And heck, once it's done, I'll put up my dukes and

fight -

> but now? I just want it DONE already!

>

> Lastly, as much as I've heard amazing things about DeSmet and the

> whole Belgium experience...it's still a bit daunting - the thought

of

> going overseas for major surgery. I used to travel a ton - so

it's

> not that, it's ... what if something does go wrong? In my head,

I've

> decided if I go to Belgium, nothing will go wrong. And on the off

> chance it does, there are competent docs in the US that could step

in.

>

> I'm sorry all - I'm just losing my mind tonight on this (and have

> been increasingly so for the past several days). I want so badly

to

> make a decision and schedule, but I also just wanna be sure about

> everything (is one ever sure??).

>

> Anyone who can put any two cents in - it's appreciated mucho!

>

> Thanks for listening/reading hippies...I'm gonna try and catch

some

> ZZZzzz's now. G'nite,

>

>

> P.S. I've been lead to believe that it's not too smart to post

such

> details on this site - as " big brother's " watching so-to-

speak...but

> ya know? Whatever...if I can't open up here about this, where the

> hell can I?

[Guest guest]

....all of that said.....just DO IT! Stop with the mental masturbation

and just do it.

Two years ago I chose to have my hip resurfaced by the best and most

experienced surgeon. I have NEVER regretted anything about my

decision. I have my life back and my insurance company here in the US

reimbursed me...a very unexpected surprise.

Do it, you will never look back.

Rbhr - 11/12/02 - Koen De Smet