Back from Disney, time to get serious

[RvUsa]

Well we are home, it was a wonderful trip, but now it is time to get serious about all my "stuff". I was a little concerned riding a few of the rides, but I lived. I was experiencing some weird chest pain, when I had to walk more than normal. I had a tight feeling across my chest, and a stabbing pain that was kinda centered, and felt like it went through to my back between my shoulder blades, I have only had that a couple times before... .so not sure what that was.

My wife and I are arguing about what to do next... I want to just get the weight loss surgery and get it over so I can get the aneurysm taken care of, but she wants me to look for different health coverage so we can get the TAA taken care of...

I will keep you up to date LOL

 

[Maryka]

Pain between the shoulder blades can be a sign of aneurysm dissection. Please be very careful!

 

[Star54]

I agree with Maryka, (about the pain between the shoulder blades). You may want to re-think aneurysm surgery first...

 

[COLLEEN S]

I'm thinking aneurysm surgery first too...mainly because of the pain you describe.

 

[RvUsa]

I wish it could work that way, but our crappy insurance won't pay for another opinion, and the one I got says WLS first.

Trust me, I am going to monitor that feeling very closely, and if it happens again, I will be all over it. Maybe it was just muscle pain. (Don't you love that river... D Nile)

 

[Ross]

Thing is John, the next time may be the last time. What your describing is how mine started in November of 94 and the next time I felt it was March of 95 when it blew.

 

[RvUsa]

OMG Ross, I just bought a hat at pirates of the Caribbean with that saying on it. It is my new favorite! :d

So what you are trying to say is I should get a second opinion no matter what... I have got to figure out a way.

 

[Ross]

I cannot understand how they figure that the risk of surgery is more dangerous then the risk of not having it at this point. I'd be appealing my (if I had any) off. Being that I survived for some unknown reason, my head is pretty darn clear about what needs to be done and it should be to them also.

 

[Lily]

If this helps:

I had angina pain when I would walk, as per my cardio, pre-valve replacement, somewhat like you are describing, between my shoulder blades and up into my neck, but it wasn't a "stabbing" pain and wasn't in my chest, more like a sick achy pinch kind of pain.

A second opinion sounds like a good idea.

 

[Andrew'sMom]

John, Glad to see your post ... I get nervous when I don't see anything from you for a while. I hope you can figure a way for that second opinion. Your symptoms are scaring me... Take care & keep us updated!

 

[DavesMom]

John,

I also hope you can get a second opinion. It may be nothing, but it sounds scary to me so don't take any risks.

Insurance is wonderful, isn't it?

Take good care,
Michelle

 

[Maryka]

How close are you to Baltimore? I have paid for second opinions out of pocket at Johns Hopkins over the years and I do not regret it. Please take care!

 

[Andrew'sMom]

John, Any luck on getting another opinion from a different group of docs? Have you argued an appeal stating you feel your records need to be examined by a surgeon who specializes in aortic valve disease/TAAs. Have you contacted CCF, explained your situation and inquired what they would charge you for a second-opinion consult? Maryka, John is closer to CCF than Johns Hopkins, and CCF is a world-class heart hospital. I know from seeing other posts on here that these big institutions have ways of working around insurance issues. I hope you will give it a try, John, I think it's well worth it. Or is there any thing you can think of to do to qualify for Gateway? At the very least, that should get you to UPMC, which has some excellent surgeons. The absurd thing is, from what I understand from friends who work at HVHS, isn't the HVHS insurance plan actually through UPMC? If so, shouldn't you be able to see any doc in the UPMC system for consult/treatment? Are there any docs in CCU that your wife has a good rapport with that she could talk to ... sometimes docs have suggestions for ways around road blocks. Well, I just wanted to check in because I haven't seen any posts from you recently and I hope things are OK. You need to get fixed up so you are ready for Pinewood Derby time ... it's right around the corner and all your little cubbies will be needing lots of help building those cars!

 

[neil]

i agree with what most have posted about this,maybe a second opinion is a good idea,but also remember nobody on here is medically trained unless am mistaken,and its only there opinion,which i must say is very welcome and helpfull,

 

[Maryka]

I still do not regret "paying out of pocket" for second opinions. You can take all of your info from your regular doctor so they do not have to re-do all of your tests, which will save you some money. So, go to Cleveland Clinic. Just get an opinion from a heart surgery specialist. (I just know that Hopkins will take cases that other places will not dare to operate on.)

 

[Ross]

The last option you have is, we can operate on you right here. Just let me assemble the team.