Tonsils and HMOs

[disneyluvers]

Oh Boy, I am one tired mama!!!


OK, here goes.. I was just introduced to the DIS in June and I was having a great time posting and having fun planning and all that. Then July came and it all went "you know where" in a handbasket. My wonderful DS of all of 11 years had one heck of sore throat mid way through the month. This one was a doozy compared to all of the other ones so we took him to the DR. who of course sent him 8 days later to see an ears, nose, throat DR. (I really hate HMOs at times like this) Well, his tonsils were so swollen that we all wondered how he could swallow. The hospital calls us to set up outpatient surgery (HMO again) another 12 days down the road. The poor boy had to slurp down jello, soup, and anything I could mush up for him that wouldn't "gross him out". After I had lost almost all of my hair and sanity we took him to the hospital and anything that could go wrong did! My DH had taken him to pretesting and those nurses said there would be a notation to give him something to help him calm down (very afraid of having something shoved into his skin - I couldn't blame him at all) and the day of surgery - wouldn't you know it - no notation at all, actually there was no page from pretesting at all! My poor boy was upset (naturally) but trying to put on a brave face- so he accepted the idea of being put out with gas and then getting stuck... It was just so awful to watch. But what could I do? With a HMO we have to go in when we're told or get rescheduled and he had already gone through so much I had to get those tonsils out!! Why do HMOs deal with us this way? I'm just unbelievably frustrated that he had to go through this at all.

Michele

 

[Rajah]

I'm sorry. HMOs can be horrible. Actually, I've rarely heard good things about HMOs. Have they found out what the problem is yet?

 

[tkd lisa]

We've had good ones and bad ones.

Our DD had her tonsils out with our HMO before we left Indy, and it was a "relatively" painless event. She had an allergy to the gas anasthetic, so she had to have the IV right away. That wasn't fun.

Our DS had his out here in MD under Blue Cross, and due to DD's allergy, they again did no gas first. He was really brave though.

Best wishes for the recovery. Those frozen kool aid slushies did wonders for my kids.

 

[fklhou]

My older two children both had their tonsils out when they were five or so. The surgery itself is difficult for a child that age without the hassles. Good luck.

 

[2bemarried]

OH no....so sorry to hear that he had to go through that. I completely understand how he feels. I DESPISE needles and am terrified when they come near me. We I had to have my tonsils out at the age of 23. Getting the HMO to approve that was REALLY FUN*sarcastic*. Such a pain.
Best HMO I've found so far is United Healthcare.

Had to have a lump removed from my breast two weeks ago. They were great about it.

 

[caitycaity]

i'm sorry about your son.
hopefully he will make a speedy recovery.

i've belonged to HORRIBLE hmo's and great ones. the one i am with now is GREAT. it's so good that i am worried about leaving this job and having to go to a different place!