Open Question: How does one go about getting surgery that most likely wont be endorsed by your doctor?13 May 2011, 11:51 amI know this question may seem crazy but... In a nutshell, back in 2001 or so. Might of been 2002, or somewhere around then, I had a bilateral hernia operation. They used a Kugel Patch. Not soon after that I started getting sick and my life has been a living hell since. Now, a bunch of my problems were neurological, but more so maybe auto-immune. And I wouldn't attribute either of those directly to the patch but I have been having on going pains, for 3 years, in my abdominal region where i originally had the pain that led me to the hernia diagnoses. Since I had that operation, they recalled that patch (
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/RecallsCorrectionsRemovals/ListofRecalls/ucm062944.htm ) because for some people, it busted, and caused the type of pain that I am having among other issues. Now, I'm in the process of hopefully finding out if I had that product code for that patch. But it was 10 years ago, potentially, so who knows if they have the record still. I suppose if it comes back that I did, maybe my insurance will pay to go in there and take them out. Although I doubt it (Kaiser). But if it doesn't, I still want that thing out. Ive been complaining of these abdominal pains for over 3 years as recorded by my doctors. And my health went into decline soon after getting that patch installed. In fact, one of the worst things that continues to happen to me that nobody can explain is Pericarditis (inflammation of the heart) that I got for the first time soon after the operation and have repeatedly gotten it since. And all doctors, all the time i have been sick with all these other things (the neurological and auto-immune) they have never wanted to pass any type of diagnoses* off or treat me. The former because there was no evidence that any one thing was wrong and the later, probably, out of fear of a malpractice suit. They would rather feed me medications for depression or treat my symptoms rather than take a chance on anything else. So basically, at this point in my life. From the age of 31 till present 37, my life has been hardly worth living. So, one way or another, for my sanity, at least to rule this out as being the problem with my auto-immune, or more likely, my constant abdominal pains, these things need to come out So, how does one go about getting surgery for something like this? And secondly, is there a way to do it without me going into debt for the rest of my life just so I can (hopefully) make it so my life isn't a living hell? * I did get a diagnoses of Lyme eventually for the neurological stuff and was treated. No thanks to them though. But to go into why I don't think that is my problem now with the abdomen and auto-immune would be long ramble and a lot of medical info. So you will just have to take my word for it.
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