Re: Dr. West Update

[Guest guest]

Diane,

I think you had a post yesterday? the day before? about Dr. West and

insurance that I meant to respond to, but now I've lost it. (I think

I'm losing my mind as well; too busy!) Anyway, sorry about that. I was

thrown for a loop yesterday by discovering that as of July 1, our

insurance company will no longer be BCBS. We're switching to

Allegiance. This news sent me into a panic as BCBS preauthorized my

surgery a year or so ago. Phone calls to my HR person so far assure me

it " should " still be covered. But no one can tell me for sure till we

switch over in July and the preauth letter is resubmitted. Yikes!

Thanks for the details from your visit with Dr. West. I still haven't

met him, although he's reviewed my records and I've had some contact

with his office. I will have a consultation with him in May. I didn't

know about the " hotel " or the splint. I did sort of know we're

supposed to stay for a week. I have a friend coming with me,

hopefully, and I was thinking we'd stay with a friend of a friend in

Seattle or in the hostel, where I've stayed many times before. I need

to find out where the surgical center is in relation to these places.

Questions (for Diane or anyone who knows):

-Why do we have to stay within 10 minutes?

-You mentioned " hospital " ; is this Dr. West's surgical center? I've

been wondering what this place is like -- have you seen it?

-What is wearing the splint like? (I'm doing lower only.)

Again, thanks so much. I've now been in braces for six months and this

is starting to feel very real.

Luna

P.S. Is everyone else also experiencing the " tiny font " phenomenon

since Yahoo redesigned the site?

>

> I have had braces for two weeks and two days (but who's counting??).

> It looks like I will be ready for surgery in 6 to 12 months.

>

> In an attempt to find out what the next year holds for me, I talked

> with Dr. West's office yesterday and thought those of you working

> w/Dr. West might be interested in what I found out.

>

> Out-of-state patients need to plan on staying very close by for a

> week. (I think they said w/i 10 minutes.) This includes one to two

> days prior to surgery. The hospital has a hotel-like area where

> patients like us could stay for about $60 a day. After the week's

> stay, return in six weeks for a post-op appointment (and splint

> removal).

>

> Sounds like Dr. West uses two types of splints. A solid split that is

> wired to the top jaw for upper jaw surgery and a U shaped splint wired

> into the lower jaw for lower surgery. The tongue would fit into the U

> space.

>

> Out-of-state patients wear the splint for six weeks; in-state patients

> 3 to 6 weeks. Once the splint comes off, exercises are performed for

> four weeks and then a visit to the OD for fine tuning.

>

> Dr. West uses elastic bands instead of full wiring. For the first 24

> hours after surgery, clear liquids. The next day, the bands can come

> off to eat soft foods (scrambled eggs, noodles, etc.) and brush teeth.

>

> A reduced opening and stiffness is common (as we've heard already on

> this board), but should get better w/the exercises.

>

> Healing is expected to take about three months.

>

> Diane