Better

[alibaba]

Thanks for everyone's support here. Finally calmed down after ANOTHER major let down getting this done. B.P. finally under 170. have to get it under 140 by tomorrow to pass a physical to keep my job. I've been looking around to try to figure out what to sell to pay the difference for travel. Not much to sell nor much that can be raised. I Called Dr. Karpman, Dr. Milan, Dr. Perito and sent an email to Dr. Eid. Waiting on a response. Not holding my breath . I learned years ago that holding your breath waiting for a call is a quick way to die, but I am hopeful. My wife and I lost 17 years dealing with this. It is time to end it. d

[JDavid]

It is great that you are moving forward. You need to give up on these jerks and find a way to go to one of the good guys. You will almost certainly hear back from Dr. Karpman. He has this great approach: He treats people like their lives and and happiness matter. My surgery was the day before the Windsor decision invalidating the Defense of Marriage Act and the defeat of prop 8 were announced. The next morning he came running in, with a big smile on his face, to tell me I could get married. Of course, I already was and already knew but his interest in my happiness was really sweet. He is one of the most supportive physicians I have met.

[hebrewhammer]

I'm gonna echo JDavid here. Dr. Karpman did my surgery as well. He's a GREAT guy. Takes his time with you and genuinely cares. He told me at my pre-op that there was a case the week before(he didn't give names) that was a VERY big challenge. He's up for most stuff. I don't know this field that well, but if there's a way I'm sure he'd figure it out, already know it, or point you in the right direction. Again, he's a good guy, and I don't say that that often. A genuinely good guy. He's polite to his staff and is no nonsense. Doesn't get much better than that, honestly.

Some surgeries I do are complicated by HIV. That said, as long as your immune system is stil strong I don't think it's much of a problem. I tried looking for research on it, namely HIV and IPP. It just said an increase in probability of infection, but it said the same for diabetes. Again, if you are on meds and controlled, it should be fine, though you might need some additional blood work to confirm. Just guessing.

I have also heard he is gay friendly, not that you are gay, but he wouldn't be so rude as to disparage, at least I would be shocked. I honestly think you should put him at the top, but that's me and I had a great time with him.

Good luck with everything!

[alibaba]

Thanks for the support. I used to travel to California often when I was in my 20's. 2000 miles each way. HIV us well control though immune system will likely never fully recover.., in the 300-350 range finally after all these years. I had 10 surgeries in 2009-jan 2010 and 2 since with no issues other than an allergic reaction to something when they took the tumor out of my chest and a TIA when they did the prostatectomy 40 days later. All others were fine. Last one 17 months ago. Bullock says there is absoluteley no place in my body to put a reservoir do to the other surgeries and it will erode through the bladder or bowel. I have had enough medical experience to know these things encapsilate. i would expect that would help protect against erosion and erosion would likely occur early if it did happen. It is hard for me to believe their is no way to to deal with preventing erosion. I read months ago about a trial procedure putting the reservoir in the perineal space. I wonder how that would go. I know for months after the prostatectomy that was just a large sunken bowl. Not any more though. I have been blessed with some of the best doctors in the world and cursed by doctors that should never be near anything living. The worst also very bigotted.
d

[woodturner]

If you are talking to doctors as far away as Dr Eid, then I have another name you may want to consider.
It is Dr. Andrew Kramer at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD.
I suggest you run a search on his last name on FrankTalk.
You will find a lot of glowing reviews about his skills as an implant surgeon and his beside manner.
He does well in excess of 300 implants per year.
The only reason I am not going to him is because the drive to Raleigh NC is lot easier for me than going to Baltimore.

[alibaba]

You people aren't going to believe this..........So stressed out that BP was 184/141 tonight. That was after an Adcirca, an asprin, a metoprolol and a bottle of wine. I rarely drink. I get out of breath with alcohol, but I emptied a bottle of my wife's wine at supper to try to calm down. Needless to say, I cannot take dealing with stupid very well.
To add insult to injury, today another doctor called about the doctor appointment I had for Monday. I never knew I had one. Nobody told me. Our internist made the appointment in September. Tonight I got the paperwork when the mail ran. Whoever made the appointment made it with a doctor that does not do surgery. They were calling to tell me they made a mistake. The doctor that does do the surgery then called me and told me that if the appointment would have been made with him like it should have been that I would have been seen in october and maybe had the surgery already, most certainly before Christmas, but as it is, it is too late this year to schedule a surgery so I should call for an appointment in August for an October appointment to get it done a year from now. Said nothing can be scheduled until all deductibles have been take care of. I fucking wanted to cry. finally nerve enough to do it, finally all pschyced up, and got the props knocked out 4 times since September. I fucking wanted to cry again. Had it not been for a 16 hour day today with 5 projects to keep track of at the same time I would have come unglued.. Barely passed my physical today because I was so stressed. doc made a lot of effort to get me relaxed enough to pass. I appreciate it.

[alibaba]

Thanks for the Kramer suggestion. I only managed to call 4 offices today between work projects. somehow he was not on the list. So far I have not received any return call from Eid, Perito, Milan or Karplan. The deductible still is the major obstacle. See my previous post about what happened today.
it all comes down to money. told now that it will cost closer to $45,000 with my 5 previous surgeries. One doc said he just did one that the bill was $60K. Get your money in order and call for an appointment. It is a nightmare to find out who is network and who is not. Insurance company said that just because someone is in network today does not mean they will be tomorrow. Wtf? $5980 out of network deductible plus the 20% out of deductible bill on a $45k bill would make my out of pocket cost $14,980 plus travel cost. Home equity loan is already maxed out form previous med bills. Can't believe this has to be planned a year in advance. Un F!#@$@Q believable. wife called and said the doctors office had called but she would not tell me what they had to say till I came home. I did not want to talk to her because I already had been told. I did not want to talk to anyone. Sorry about the rant. If it helps, I would tell you I had good news too you guys and our son are my rock but my fingernails are about to break hanging onto the rock.