Hi Kyle, I would think you would need recontructive surgury - as don't you have spasms? You could seriously injure yourself if the incision and surrounding area aren't pieced together well. Have they taken your CP into account? I would get a another opinion - generally one is allowed 2nd and 3rd opinions - if all recommend reconstructive surgery then you have leverage. So perhaps a CP expert would be in order. Trisha > Thanks, Beth. Yeah, I already approached my surgeon with that one and he > said that he would only cut the bare minimum. He's a really good "Joe", and > I trust him on this one. Laura had surgery about ten years back and he was > the cutter. I was really impressed with his bedside manner and suturing. > > I've been fighting with "peer review" already at the insurance co. At best, > these folks are LPNs, most don't have any formal medical education at all. > The doc is as frustrated as I am about their reticence to have someone else > close. He admits that a plastic surgeon could close better, even with no > reconstruction. They are pretty adamant about the whole thing--because "the > book says it's not 'medically or psychologically necessary' for men to have > reconstruction." If it ain't in the "book", they ain't payin'--pure and > simple. Our benefits administrator said to me that I have to be careful > when deciding whether to fight or stand-down as the carriers are becoming > "hip" to all of the arguments. She said that I've already become a > statistical liability to the carrier, so I need to pick my battles > carefully. Still, the "breathing" angle is one I hadn't considered. > Thanks! I'll call my cutter today and run that past him. Who knows? Maybe > he can plead the case that with my spastic CP, a second pair of experienced > hands might be cheaper in the long haul. > > Kyle > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Elizabeth H. Thiers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 4:52 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Hey all > > > You know, it may delay your surgery a bit but, you can ask for a plastic > surgeon to close for you. My friend did this when she had her bilateral > mastectomy. You can tell them you need all the muscles and soft fascia you > can in order to breath properly. (the pecs are an auxillary breathing > muscle). > > I'd keep harrassing the insurance. > > beth t.