Positively Scarred

So here’s what’s been going on in the medical portion of my world:

I went a couple weeks ago for another follow up appointment at my doctor’s office in San Francisco. He seemed really excited and anxious for the next step. So we set up a plan to do my next surgery after the new year begins that way I can spend the holidays at home with my family and friends.

When I go for my surgery in January, I’m going to get basically a 3-for-1 deal. He’s going to do a nerve graft on the right side (or left side, depending on how you’re looking at it) of my hand because I have next to no sensation/feeling in my ring finger or the side of my hand at all. I’m also going to have a bone graft done (and possibly have a metal plate) in my middle finger. Lastly, he’s going to fuse my thumb so it’s straighter because as it is now, I don’t have any real strength behind it.

The nerve for the nerve graft will be taken from one of my feet, and the bone graft will come from my hip. I probably won’t be able to do much for about a week or so after the surgery and I’ll only be in the hospital two nights, which is awesome.

I’m not nervous or scared, but excited. I’m ready for the next step. I’ve been progressing well in my occupational therapy and I actually have a lot of use of my hand, despite the fact I’m missing a finger and can’t use two at all.

On the paperwork side of things: I’m playing hell trying to get medical coverage. I received a form in the mail from the Department of Social Services about a month ago. I filled it out and sent it off in the same day. A week ago I received the exact same form, but this time it had blue ink all over the place basically asking for clarification on what I already told them. It’s been 7 months now and nobody in my position, or with any medical need, should have to fight this hard for coverage.

Also, the person who has been handling my case at the county office (I’m only receiving coverage via the county right now) has not responded to my doctor’s office’s messages about my surgery. So basically there’s no authorization yet and that makes me nervous because the longer they take to authorize it, the longer I have to wait to get the surgery done.

So aside from fighting with the state to get some god damn medical coverage, things are going well.