After my referral sitting on the desk of the chief of the Gyn. Department at Kaiser for over 30 days. The calls to Kaiser Permanente Southern California are so numerous that I have, at this point, given up updating the phone calls list that I had on my page. I have had about 30-40 calls since I last updated that list. Many of these calls simply leaving voice messages.
I know that my last update was optimistic about being put on Expedite etc. Well, there was some misunderstanding in that process. The short story is that I was denied expedite status and I just found out today that they don't have to give me an answer for 180 days. This is very, very perplexing. I can't tell you how frustrated and angry I am.
I was told I could call and get help from the State of California Department that oversees all medical care. I called and waited on the phone for 30 minutes before leaving my number on an automated service to be called back. I have ... surprise... not been called back.
Finally, at the last minute, at the end of last week, Kaiser Permanente decided they did have specialist in Endometriosis. I asked them if this was so, why had I not been referred to him years ago? I was told I had to see this Doctor of theirs. I asked for his experience with advanced stage IV endometriosis removal surgery. < I was told, just today, that Kaiser does not produce or track success or failures of their Doctors.> I denied going to see this Dr., stating that if I can't prove his experience in black and white, then I am unwilling to submit to his care at this point. My case manager at Kaiser and my husband urged me to agree to a meeting so that we could prove to Kaiser we exhausted all of our efforts within Kaiser. I reluctantly did this. Kaiser Permanente tried at first to put my appointment off for the standard wait time for this Doctor. I was then given a very last minute appointment, where I AGAIN submitted to examination and pelvic ultrasound. The visit did not go very well in my perspective.
I did find out at that visit that Kaiser records do not
show my two previous surgeries that happened outside of Kaiser. I had given these records by hand to my Gyn. And
he did not put them in the system. I have recitfied that and turned in my operative reports, again, to be entered in the system.
I am making calls daily to Kaiser Permanente for answers, and to make progress on my case; Trying to be the squeaky wheel. This is challenging to do while I am feeling so terrible and trying to live my life.
All of this is more frustrating and disturbing than I have written, and if you knew the half of it you would be furious with this giant conglomeration that is Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
My prayer is that I would trust God more and be a shining example to my daughters of how to do life in a difficult situation. Pray also for my mind: I have had a tremendous battle to fight in my mind this week... fears have crept in of every kind... and now my newest realization.... That I may not be able to plan or participate in my first born's High School Graduation this June, or her 18th Birthday celebration. At least not the level that I would like.
But, in the end, the sun rises and sets; there is nothing really new. (Ecclesiastes) I know my God has plans for my life (Jeremiah 29:11) and amidst the anger of this situation and the pain, I am determined to set the example for my daughters of how to find the joy and peace (Philippian 4:12) in my circumstances. I am determined to overcome fears by taking every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and meditating on what is true, noble etc. (Philippians 4:8)
