Good thoughts for Phoenix Rev appreciated

Phoenix Rev wrote:

When we come back, we have a couple of days at Disneyland and then a killer anniversary dinner at the Chef's Table at Napa Rose, the fine dining restaurant at Disney's California Grand Hotel.

Disneyland, yesss.

Ride the new stuff at California Adventure for me

Demyx wrote:
Phoenix Rev wrote:

When we come back, we have a couple of days at Disneyland and then a killer anniversary dinner at the Chef's Table at Napa Rose, the fine dining restaurant at Disney's California Grand Hotel.

Disneyland, yesss.

Ride the new stuff at California Adventure for me ;)

Did you not read the Soy Sauce and handcuff comments?!?!

IMAGE(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2872/10351686106_33eb5e234c_z.jpg)

So, Phoenix Rev had his third MRI this morning, as mentioned. He told me it was pretty claustrophobic because of it being a closed MRI rather than an open one, but at least it's over with. Hopefully the appeals process will be dealt with and he can get the other two he's supposed to get per his neurologists. Cross your fingers and send up whatever thoughts you desire to get that to happen. (And fie upon the insurance company doctor who's already made this harder than it needs to be)

That is one giant General Electric logo above the opening?

Keep fighting the good fight guys, strength to you both, and each other.

It looks as though I have won my appeals and will be getting the additional MRIs after my vacation.

My next move will be to file a grievance against the doctor who denied the original preauthorizations. She did so without even looking at my medical or claims history and limited the MRIs to determining one thing: whether or not I had a bone disease. /boggle

My next appointment with the neurologist is Nov. 8.

Awesome! Now go enjoy a vacation already!

Great news. Have a wonderful cruise.

Someone's starting his anniversary off right:

IMAGE(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qI8TUNEFFtc/UmkhlZM8v3I/AAAAAAAAE8E/T8VjmaO48dE/w960-h541-no/2013-10-24)

That look of pure joy is priceless and awesome and hilarious. LOVE IT!

I agree, that kind of joy can't be faked.

Just catching, and I'm so sorry to hear about all the extra hoops you've had to jump through and the letter from the church. Many, many hugs and I hope you two enjoy your vacation. You've more than earned it.

"Over excited reverend on aisle 4!"

That picture is awesome.

Greetings again.

Rubb Ed and I are back from our cruise. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed our stateroom, balcony and sailing with friends.

Upon my return from being disconnected from the Internet, phone and most of humanity, I received notice that the third and final appeal has been approved in my favor.

However, there is some distressing news. While we were in Santa Barbara, I got a voicemail from my neurologist asking for me to call back to talk about some of the results and he needed to speak with me as soon as possible. I called him back and we spoke for about 30 minutes.

The lumbar MRI has revealed a degenerative spinal disease that increases as you go up the spine from the end near the tailbone. My doctor was really pushing me to get the MRIs done as soon as possible because he believes the spinal disease is more than likely worst the further up you go on my spine.

He did say that my blood work was nearly perfect with the exception of low Vitamin D and a low testosterone count on the second blood draw. I protested a bit noting the libido issue and he said that he was referring me to an endocrinologist because there are other factors that stimulate the libido.

For good measure, he also wants another brain MRI. So, it is back to the head cage for me.

Right now, I am trying to stay positive, but a degenerative spinal disease is something I didn't suspect.

Thankfully, Rubb is taking good care of me and we are mere days away from our anniversary.

Glad you were able to enjoy the time but obviously sad to hear you returned to that kind of news. Hopefully as you learn more, you'll also get the tools to know what you can do next.
Take care.

Sorry to hear that news Phoenix Rev.

Sorry to hear that, but at least it gives you something to work with, you know? Best to both of you.

Robear wrote:

Sorry to hear that, but at least it gives you something to work with, you know? Best to both of you.

Exactly. If I recall, what you disliked the most was the not knowing. Now it's shrouded in less of a mystery, so answers will become more definitive.

I'll be praying.

Good thoughts sent your way.

More good thoughts coming your way PR. Good news that they are being allowed to give you the tests you need at least, and hopefully having more knowledge of what's going on will help ease some of the stress. **hugs**

Good thoughts to you.

Vitamin D, huh?

I think I will just take the pills, PRG.

/shudder

Piling on with the good thoughts and positive energy, Phoenix. At least they're a couple of steps closer to figuring this out, right? *hugs*

I really should get a t-shirt that says "+10 to Frustration."

On the day before I headed back to Phoenix from my wonderful anniversary cruise and vacation, I found that despite having a written authorization to have the original lumbar spinal MRI, my health insurance denied the claim stating I didn't have authorization. So, I got to spend this past Monday on the phone with my HI carrier and their constant lies about why the claim wasn't paid including the whopper that it takes them 35+ days to post an appeal to an individual account. They didn't approve the claim because the appeal hadn't been attached and I jumped the gun by getting the MRI, you know, after I was told I could get it done.

They finally did pay the claim which made me despise health insurance as a commodity even more because my entire appeal process was based on the cost of the contrast. The HI said they would pay for the MRI without contrast, but not WITH contrast. The amount that was paid for the contrast...

$47.00.

Adding to the wonder of that was a problem at the MRI center were I was to get my last two MRIs done before I see the doctors on Friday. I show up on time, check in, get taken to an MRI and... I don't fit. They forgot to reserve the MRI for us full-figured preachers. I left and am rescheduled for the "Larger than Petite" MRI machine tomorrow.

As least the people at Barrows were great about it saying it was there mistake and working hard to make sure I got an appointment for tomorrow.

Still, it is all very frustrating.

I really should send a note to Pope Francis requesting a "patient as a saint" designation.

Not sure you should do that. It seems that "Catholic" may not actually mean what it once did, if you're not part of the Church. Although Francis does seem like one of the good ones, maybe he'll give a Protestant a break...

I don't really have a lot of positive energy in my own life right now, but all of it is going out to you right now, PR.

Phoenix Rev asked me to update the thread after his appointment this afternoon.

It's not good.

We have apparently hit two options here: either the doctors are still stumped as hell as to what's going on, or it's Multiple Sclerosis.

The MRIs from yesterday show an "area of concern" in his neck that's similar to the one in his brain. So they want another brain MRI to see what's going on there, as well as having him see an MS specialist and an endocrinologist.

I just don't even know what to ask for at this point, so I guess I'll just ask for prayers and positive thoughts for Zach. And maybe a winning lottery ticket or two thousand.

Well, for what it's worth, I think "maybe it's MS" is the neurologist version of "maybe it's lupus" on House. (They thought I might have it for awhile: turned out to be a severe reaction to aspartame.) So I wouldn't get too panicky about anything just quite yet.

PR + Rubb - still thinking about you two.

The treatments for MS have been steadily getting better for the last few years. We've been dealing with my wife's MS diagnosis for about 8 years now.

If you've got questions, or just want to talk to some folks who've been through it, drop a PM and I can set something up.

Hugs, kisses, and Hello Kitty.

McIrishJihad wrote:

PR + Rubb - still thinking about you two.

The treatments for MS have been steadily getting better for the last few years. We've been dealing with my wife's MS diagnosis for about 8 years now.

If you've got questions, or just want to talk to some folks who've been through it, drop a PM and I can set something up.

Hugs, kisses, and Hello Kitty.

+1 - my cousin has been battling MS for about 15 years now. Much love to you both.

Tanglebones wrote:
McIrishJihad wrote:

PR + Rubb - still thinking about you two.

The treatments for MS have been steadily getting better for the last few years. We've been dealing with my wife's MS diagnosis for about 8 years now.

If you've got questions, or just want to talk to some folks who've been through it, drop a PM and I can set something up.

Hugs, kisses, and Hello Kitty.

+1 - my cousin has been battling MS for about 15 years now. Much love to you both.

Thanks for sharing that guys.

Take some comfort from this, if you can RubbRev, plus, oodles of positive thoughts for you both.