CALL TO ALL HIPPIES - questions, concerns, ETC!

[Guest guest]

Okay, I gotta get going here and get some of my concerns addressed.

Some of my reluctance has been not wanting to mention names,

etc...but let's just say...I'm over it!

I went and saw Dr. Beaule at JRI on 4/26. I'm definitely a candidate

(yippee, surf's up!)...but there are questions. Like all of you seem

to be, I need to get all the info and process it so that I can feel

confident and excited wheeling into surgery! One of my things going

into this was to find the doc with the most experience. Dr. Beaule

is an incredible professional. He's a dear, sweet man...he's

adorable (what can I say, I'm a girl!) ...but I'm not looking for an

adorable, dear surgeon! Am I crazy to wonder if I consult with

Amstutz as he clearly has more experience? Am I wrong to question

docs in the same group? I know someone who personally who got her

resurf done by Beaule. I have been told he's MORE than competent,

I'm just throwing it out there and asking for feedback.

Also last week I flew back East (where I'm from) and saw another

doc. Turns out he doesn't do resurf (he was referred to me by a

family memeber who had her THR by him and raved). In a nutshell, he

didn't neg resurf, nor did he encourage it. He questioned the long-

term results of resurf vs. THR, but also said there's no individ

guarantee w/ either procedure. The last thing he left me with? He

referred me to Dr. Schmalzried, not realizing he was in the same

group as Beaule at JRI. When I told him, he told me I was " in good

hands. "

1) So that's a long-winded intro to my first question - if Beaule is

in the same group as Amstutz and Schmalzried...am I good to go with

Beaule even though my " thing " was experience?

2) Insurance. I have BC of CA-PPO and was told that coverage ain't

happenin'. So exciting to pay out the ying-yang for hassles - the

one of VERY few times I use insurance (knock on wood). My feeling is

to ask BC about coverage anyway, no? What's the worst they can say --

no.......no? Part 2 of the same question - if/when I do call BC,

what do I say/how do I begin (sounds like a song)? I've never had to

deal with insurance companies, so I have no clue. Any input would

help.

3) Recovery time. I know it varies...but I'm told 4-6 weeks on

crutches...but what about work? I'm focused on recovering and taking

however long is necessary...but 1) I'd prefer to return to work as

soon as possible, 'cuz it's just the way I am ... and 2) I need to

let my workplace know apx. how long - even if it's a range of time.

I work in real estate services - I'm in the office apx 50% of the

time on the computer and phone...and the other apx 50% I'm driving

around LA and OC to clients, tenants, etc.

4) Is it feasible to think that w/in my first couple weeks recovering

I can do some file maintenance?

5) I also live on my own which concerned me until the last day or

two. From what I gather, other hippies (Chris) are also on their own

and haven't had too much of a problem. Though I live in a 3rd floor

apt w/ stairs...will all this practice on the stairs be ok, or should

I reconsider where I will be recovering my first week home?

I know there's more floating in this head of mine...but I'm gonna

start with these 5 things and THANK YOU ALL in advance for any

feedback! SUERTE A TODO - GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!