Question:
I wear sigvaris full leg heavy graduated compression stockings to keep my legs from swelling up severely . I take aldactone and bumex for fluid retention but these stockings keep my legs under control. They are expensive and hard to put on and take off but they work. They were prescribed by a vascular surgeon who planned to operate on my legs for "varicose veins" that were supposedly the reason my legs were swelling. He discovered my liver enzymes were elevated. I got liver biopsy and a diagnose of cryptogenic cirrhosis instead of the operation. I am waiting to be listed at John Hopkins. My insurance casewor ker at Unicare says she has been trying for 2 weeks to get a particular piece of information clarified from the surgeon who saw me at the 2 day evaluation in May. She has talked to the transplant coordinator 3 times and left messages with the surgeon 3 times and no one calls her back. This is the only thing that is holding up Unicare approving me for transplant surgery. Does anyone have any suggestions ? Should I start calling the doctor myself?

Answer: -You're looking at 2+ months that someone has been trying to get information. Hopkins is a great hospital, but like many, sometimes falls short in the communication area. In the 22 years I was being seen there, I saw this happen more than I care to admit. Get on them now! Start with the coordinator and move to the doctor if you don't get results. Be nice and polite, but firm when you talk to them. If you don't get results over the phone, go down and see them. I always found that when I just showed up, I may of had to cool my heels for awhile, but it got their attention. -What really is sad about the whole thing is that you even had to show up in the first place to get anything done. I agree with you on how to handle this but these people also need to get off their butts and do their job.