the last chapter

I finally had my port removed today after a long saga of delays and mix ups. Pictures above show the top and bottom sides of the port, I kept it for a souvenir. Now the rest of the story....

• First my Dr.'s office didn't think that Steinberg was a provider for my new insurance. So I was in the dilemma of having a port that was put in by Steinberg and having no one who wanted to remove a port that they didn't install.
  

• Then my surgeon said he would do it, however he was booked up for at least a month, I made the soonest appt. I could with him.

• Then they had to change it a couple of times because he had more urgent cases to attend to. I certainly understood that, but I still had this silly port and I really wanted to be done with it.

• I called my new insurance and asked them what could be done to facilitate having this port removed. They told me that Steinberg was a provider with them and helped me get an appt. for today.

• I was instructed to stop taking the Cumaden 5 days before the surgery, I was also instructed to get my blood work done the Friday before the surgery. So I dutifully did what I was told.

• When I went for my blood work they didn't have the order from the Dr. that was supposed to have been called in several days before. So I waited 1 hour while they contacted the Dr. and had it FAX'ed over.
  

• When it was finally my turn to see the nurse I asked "just what are they drawing blood for?" I was told to see if the effects of the Cumaden had worn off, I said that would be pretty amazing since I had taken my last pill the night before.

• I went on Tuesday to get my blood drawn and expected to not have to wait since I was told that being a STAT order they would take me right in. NOT!!t So I waited about 45 minutes

• Steinberg's called me Tuesday afternoon to tell me they had the results and the surgery was a go, but could I please come in a couple of hours earlier than originally scheduled. At this point I would have come at midnight to get this done!

• When I got to Steinberg's they didn't have my new insurance info even though I FAX'ed it over to them days ago.

• The order they had from my Dr. said to remove the "chest" port, small problem my port is in my arm!

• So I waited again while they contacted the Dr. and got a new order to have it removed from the right location.
  

• The port was removed successfully other than an inordinate amount of bleeding, they couldn't get it to stop so they could stitch me up but they finally did and I was able to go home "portless"!!

Oh, and just in case you think I was embellishing this whole tale, this was the shortened version!!

Now my life is all about the retreat that I'm doing with the women of my church, spending time with my family and friends and getting back to normal at work, much more important causes than all the medical nonsense above!

Blessings to All,
Sue