Re: Surgery one month from today!

[Guest guest]

i hope you're able to find the money - paying an extra $4000 would be

a downer. i don't know your financial situation - but maybe you could

get a no interest credit card for a year or so? i don't know if that

would help out at all...although i'd be sure to pay it back right away

or you would end up paying more that $4000.

good luck!

-becky

> I had a braces adjustment today, and while I was in the chair, we

> realized my surgery is a month from today, July 8. I have an

> appointment to get the surgical hooks on on June 30. The tech showed

> them to me -- they're tiny and don't look too uncomfortable. Getting

> used to them shouldn't be any worse than getting used to all the other

> metal in my mouth!

>

> One obstacle has cropped up, and that's that yesterday my bank told me

> they could only loan me $2,500 of the $6,300 I need to pre-pay for the

> surgery. So now I'm trying to figure out where to get another $4,000

> from .... The other option is to not pre-pay, but then I will end up

> paying over $4,000 more in the long run. And I don't see how I could

> possibly do that ....

>

> Everything else is in place -- flights booked, friend coming with,

> hotel booked, last meals planned .... Oh, I still need a housesitter,

> but I have two possibilities lined up.

>

> I have stepped up my reading on this site and feel pretty

> well-prepared. I'm so grateful to all of you who share your

> experiences, so I know what to expect. Thank you!

>

> Luna

[Guest guest]

You could see if your OS and hospital accepts Care Credit which is a

medical credit card that you don't have to pay interest if you pay

off by a certain time. I ended up applying for this because my OS

doesn't accept my insurance. I have to pay the full $12,000 up

front. I am not sure how much BCBS will pick up since I am not using

an in network provider. Hopefully they will pick up at least 70%.

> > I had a braces adjustment today, and while I was in the chair, we

> > realized my surgery is a month from today, July 8. I have an

> > appointment to get the surgical hooks on on June 30. The tech

showed

> > them to me -- they're tiny and don't look too uncomfortable.

Getting

> > used to them shouldn't be any worse than getting used to all the

other

> > metal in my mouth!

> >

> > One obstacle has cropped up, and that's that yesterday my bank

told me

> > they could only loan me $2,500 of the $6,300 I need to pre-pay

for the

> > surgery. So now I'm trying to figure out where to get another

$4,000

> > from .... The other option is to not pre-pay, but then I will end

up

> > paying over $4,000 more in the long run. And I don't see how I

could

> > possibly do that ....

> >

> > Everything else is in place -- flights booked, friend coming with,

> > hotel booked, last meals planned .... Oh, I still need a

housesitter,

> > but I have two possibilities lined up.

> >

> > I have stepped up my reading on this site and feel pretty

> > well-prepared. I'm so grateful to all of you who share your

> > experiences, so I know what to expect. Thank you!

> >

> > Luna

[Guest guest]

Yeah, that's one possibility. Actually, if I can get a credit card or

loan, I can pay back the money very quickly via insurance and my flex

spending account. Plus I'll have my fall student loan for backup.

Problem is, my credit, while not terrible, isn't great, either. I made

some mistakes in my early 20s, and although I have been " good " for a

long time now, those things linger .... Luna

[Guest guest]

Luna

Sorry I can't remember, are you having upper or lower? Lower right? I

was thinking about you today getting on the plane post surgery

because my sinuses are really tender and clogged up and I was

thinking that there was no way I would get on a plane for at least

another 3 days. I have found literally putting my face in the range

of a umidifier or near running hot water has helped to soothe the

sinuses. But if you're having lower your sinuses shouldn't be affectd

as much. I have been using Afrin and Flonase as prescribed by my

doctor and that seems to help too. Unfortunately I can only use them

twice a day to avoid me getting addicted to them, which means I have

spent the majority of today sounding like darth vader. Still, well

worth the hassle in order to get the perfect bite!

Best of luck with finding an alternative lending source. Is there any

way you could advance part of the fee on one of your credit cards?

These expenses are a real bummer!

Sara

> I had a braces adjustment today, and while I was in the chair, we

> realized my surgery is a month from today, July 8. I have an

> appointment to get the surgical hooks on on June 30. The tech showed

> them to me -- they're tiny and don't look too uncomfortable. Getting

> used to them shouldn't be any worse than getting used to all the

other

> metal in my mouth!

>

> One obstacle has cropped up, and that's that yesterday my bank told

me

> they could only loan me $2,500 of the $6,300 I need to pre-pay for

the

> surgery. So now I'm trying to figure out where to get another $4,000

> from .... The other option is to not pre-pay, but then I will end up

> paying over $4,000 more in the long run. And I don't see how I could

> possibly do that ....

>

> Everything else is in place -- flights booked, friend coming with,

> hotel booked, last meals planned .... Oh, I still need a

housesitter,

> but I have two possibilities lined up.

>

> I have stepped up my reading on this site and feel pretty

> well-prepared. I'm so grateful to all of you who share your

> experiences, so I know what to expect. Thank you!

>

> Luna

[Guest guest]

Hi Luna,

HOw exciting for you (well to get it over and done with anyway!). That means my

surgery is 4 1/2 weeks away on July 11. I have my appt for records on 15 Jun and

hooks on 5 July. I have a final dinner booked with a friend the night before and

even a chiropractic appt to make make sure I am in good condition. Other than

that I have nothing prepared. I will call the hospital or ask the surgeon what

they provide you with - I think the zip'n'squeeze bags or something like it

should at least be provided. If not I need to organise that and stock up on

soups etc.

My money side is fairly well organised. I am now nervous yet, I know I will be

the morning off, when I got my wisdom teeth out I could not sit still waiting

around in my hospital gown.

I am ready for the challenge, as long as I have enough pain killers I will be

ok. I am prepared for the length of the recovery period. I think having braces

prepares you somewhat with restricted eating at times.

The only thing I am really scared of is any post op problems involving pain etc.

But I trust my doctor as much as you can - he is one of the top two here that I

could have picked and have heard good things about him. The thought that I will

probably have my braces off before Christmas is also exciting.

I hope your finance issue works out really well!

Suzy

str8teeth4me <no_reply > wrote:

I had a braces adjustment today, and while I was in the chair, we

realized my surgery is a month from today, July 8. I have an

appointment to get the surgical hooks on on June 30. The tech showed

them to me -- they're tiny and don't look too uncomfortable. Getting

used to them shouldn't be any worse than getting used to all the other

metal in my mouth!

One obstacle has cropped up, and that's that yesterday my bank told me

they could only loan me $2,500 of the $6,300 I need to pre-pay for the

surgery. So now I'm trying to figure out where to get another $4,000

from .... The other option is to not pre-pay, but then I will end up

paying over $4,000 more in the long run. And I don't see how I could

possibly do that ....

Everything else is in place -- flights booked, friend coming with,

hotel booked, last meals planned .... Oh, I still need a housesitter,

but I have two possibilities lined up.

I have stepped up my reading on this site and feel pretty

well-prepared. I'm so grateful to all of you who share your

experiences, so I know what to expect. Thank you!

Luna

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

, thank you for the good suggestion! I just googled Care Credit

and found their website (http://www.carecredit.com/). I will

definitely look into it. Do you get a discount for paying the full

amount up front? You should. Good luck and thanks again! Luna

[Guest guest]

Sara,

Congrats on your successful surgery!

Yes, I'm having only lower advancement. So hopefully I won't have the

sinus problem. I will be flying five days after surgery, and it's only

an hour and a half, so I think I'll be OK. The surgeon's office

thought I'd be fine.

As for the $4,000, yeah, I'm exploring different options like taking

out another credit card. Hopefully I'll figure something out ....

Thanks!

Luna

[Guest guest]

Hi Suzy,

Hey surgery buddy! (I feel some comfort just saying that, even if you

are only a faceless stranger on the other side of the world! :-)

Sounds like you're on track; I'm glad you feel calm. I'm pretty calm,

too, other than minor twinges of anxiety, and the hassle of arranging

everything. I'm sure I'll get nervous as the date draws near, though.

It helps that I have the excitement of going to the big city, and

having one of my favorite people coming with me.

Tell me again, are you just having lower surgery, too?

Nobody is giving me any estimates, but I am hoping my braces will come

off early. (Scheduled for Oct 2006, but since the surgery's early and

my teeth moved fast, I have high hopes.)

Hang in there!

Luna

[Guest guest]

Hi Luna,

It is comforting isn't it to know that we will be days apart. But just think you

will be over the 3 day hump when I go in! I can't believe I am calm - I went

through so much stress when I first decided to do this and put my neck out and

couldn't move it properly for about 3 months!

Yes I am having only lower advancement of about 5mm.

So which state are you in and where is your surgery? I have been to the US

before and loved it. In fact I am more than likely treating myself to a trip

across the southern states after all this is done as I saw some of the northern

states last time.

It's hard to get a braces removal date from an OD isn't it. But it is great to

hear it when they can estimate when it will happen.

Suzy

str8teeth4me <no_reply > wrote:

Hi Suzy,

Hey surgery buddy! (I feel some comfort just saying that, even if you

are only a faceless stranger on the other side of the world! :-)

Sounds like you're on track; I'm glad you feel calm. I'm pretty calm,

too, other than minor twinges of anxiety, and the hassle of arranging

everything. I'm sure I'll get nervous as the date draws near, though.

It helps that I have the excitement of going to the big city, and

having one of my favorite people coming with me.

Tell me again, are you just having lower surgery, too?

Nobody is giving me any estimates, but I am hoping my braces will come

off early. (Scheduled for Oct 2006, but since the surgery's early and

my teeth moved fast, I have high hopes.)

Hang in there!

Luna

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Suzy, I'm in Montana but having surgery in Washington. IF I can work

out these financing/insurance hassles.

I have spent a little time in the South but would like to spend more.

It's such a rich culture ....

L

[Guest guest]

Luna - You're in Montana? Where? I live in Boise. I visited Montana

about 10 years ago - beautiful state, as is Idaho. Maybe someday we can

meet each other and show each other our new bites; that is, if my

braces get put on sometime soon. I'm going to my OD on the 21st to hear

about my ortho treatment plan. Sorry to hear about all your $$

problems; I'm sure it'll all work out real soon. / Diane

> Suzy, I'm in Montana but having surgery in Washington. IF I can work

> out these financing/insurance hassles.

>

> I have spent a little time in the South but would like to spend more.

> It's such a rich culture ....

>

> L

[Guest guest]

Luna, I think I only went as far north as Wyoming during my trip in '99 but I

seem to recall the Welcome to Montana sign in my photos, I will need to check.

I really hope you sort out your finance problems and you get to go ahead with

this surgery and have it over and done with. I cannot believe within the month

we will be recovering. I am going in for my records and whatever else they do

tomorrow. I guess when I pay for my surgery it will finally be real. Really

trying to stay calm now. I am glad I went through the wisdom teeth removal to

get an idea of what it will be like.

Suzy

str8teeth4me <no_reply > wrote:

Suzy, I'm in Montana but having surgery in Washington. IF I can work

out these financing/insurance hassles.

I have spent a little time in the South but would like to spend more.

It's such a rich culture ....

L

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