In 2008 Dennis had his psychological evaluation. The Dr determined that there were no issues that would prevent him from having the stimulator implant done and he had a good understanding that it may not work and was ok with that. When we got the results we thought he would be having the trial done in the near future, however as you know, it wasnt done. Work comp is so difficult to deal with. It took them 2 years to decide they would not work with Matrix Pain Management on the cost of the surgery and that they were not going to allow him to have it done in a clinical setting. They want it done in a hospital setting, in case something goes wrong, which Ill discuss later on. So we went back to searching for a neurosurgeon who specializes in this type of surgery. We finally found one in Bay City. Dr. Siva Sriharan who works out of Bay City Memorial Hospital. So, his nurse case manager sets up an appointment, with a pain management place in Bay City, she was supposed to set the appointment up with Dr. Sriharan as he wants to continue going to Matrix for his medications because its closer to home and he has trust built up with them. So the trip there was a fail.
So in trying to get the appointment set up for him, they realize that it has taken so long to find the right doctor that his psych evaluation has expired and he has to go through another one. He was also diagnosed by a work comp psychiatrist with severe depression and situation depression and recommended that he have intensive therapy to help him with this. I have spent the last year trying to find a psychologist in this area who was willing to accept his work comp. It has been so incredibly frustrating! No one and I mean NO ONE within a 60 miles radius will accept it. So he still has not been seen for his depression except for partial inpatient therapy, when he told me he was seriously thinking of taking his life. Most people dont know because they dont ask, theyre not curious about what he is dealing with, but yes, he has been suicidal at times during the last year. It was a big enough issue that I ended up giving our guns to his father to hold onto and that I keep his medications locked up in a safe box and I constantly monitor his pain medications. Right now he is doing a little better, but as you know, depression is an up and downhill daily battle. There are several things that complicate this, which Ill discuss in a different post. The pain medications have also changed his hormones, which has added to the depression and moodiness.
Last month, Dennis got a new nurse case manager, for people who have been on work comp for more than 5 years. Her name is Robbin and even she is appalled that he has been waiting this long to get things done. I asked her last week if he could please get the evaluation done with the Dr he did it with before. Normally they dont let you go to a doctor that "they" sent you to. A conflict of interest. But she said that since he has been through so much, yes. This is great news! She also said that we didnt have to have the paperwork done before the appointment, we would do it retro, so that nothing holds him up getting it done. She said she was going to approve everything that came across her desk the moment it hit it. She is even trying to get future doctors enrolled. Robbin has been a blessing to us in such a short time. She really has empathy for Dennis. Something that he really needs right now. Thats yet another post to come.
So this week he will have the eval done YAY!! Then it will be a waiting game for the Dr to get his findings written up and if he still thinks that Dennis can handle the surgery then we can go ahead with getting another referral done to see Dr Sriharan and an appointment to see him. After that I dont know how long it will take to get things done.
This brings us to where we are now. Ill be posting again, talking about the struggles, depression and other things that is going on. Ill also be talking about how the best way to help Dennis is and how you can help him out by learning to deal with someone with his diagnosis. Oh, the next post Ill be discussing what RSD is, how it affects people, how someone gets RSD... Ill most likely post it today, if not, tomorrow.
Be safe, be healthy, be kind!
No comments:
Post a Comment