My Achilles Tendon Rupture Adventure

 Pre Op Cast 6/24.  Just begining the journey…..

OK, so I’m a newbie and just going to surgery Tuesday but have already had some pretty Saturday night live type phone calls with various dr’s offices and misc customer service.

First call was from my surgeons’ office.  She wanted my xrays.  No problem!  I called the ER that took the xrays and after proving myself and naming the seven dwarves she said she had them but needed the surgeon’s office to call and request.  So I called BACK to the surgeon’s office and they couldn’t figure out who had called me to request xrays.   They asked that I pick them up and bring them to my appt on Monday.  I said I would, “but they are 400 miles away in another state…I’m not sure that’s very convenient for me”.  So with much attitude and sighing, she agreed to call the ER and ask for my xrays.  Of course, the ER had to call me back and get my permission to release them (didn’t I just talk to her and ask her for them?).  I hope my xrays are there for my appt.  Who wants to wager?

Next call was to the airlines.  I have tickets booked for Europe the first of Aug. and I’m not quite sure I’ll make the vacation due to post op recovery so I just wanted to know what my OPTIONS were.  She didn’t understand I wanted a list of options (I’m sure she was in India with a pickalittle talkalittle singsong voice with a pitch much too high for my mood of RUPTURED ACHILLES).  She just told me I bought non refundable tickets.  “I know”, I said, but please give me some OTHER answers.  She could not think of a one.  So I started giving HER options.  1)  Could I change the dates of the flight?  2)  Could I get a dr’s note to prove that this is medical emergency? 3)  could I transfer the flight to someone else…..ANYTHING.  She finally agreed that I could change the date of the flight, but it would be 300$ (these were business class seats) for each leg that I wanted to change.  She asked me if I wanted to go a day earlier or later.  SIGH.  This was not working.  So I called American Express (luckily I’m a Platinum member and they tend to do extra things for you) b/c I had paid for the tix with American Express.  I first spoke with someone whose name had no less than 8 vowels in it so I never quite knew who I was talking to.  She called the airlines with me on hold and came back to tell  me my tickets were non refundable. (Here we go.)   I hung up.  I called back and got BILL.  Go BILL.  He spent about a half hour on the phone with me calling the airlines.  Finally he said he would call me back.  And he DID.  He spoke to the airlines and they agreed with a dr’s note I could cancel my flight. Go BILL. 

I want to hire BILL to navigate what I’m assuming will be multiple humorous and LONG calls with my insurance.

I have more about the Cruise company, but I’ll sign off here.  Anyone else have amusing customer service stories that they encountered while just trying to survive your operation and post op?

kk

OK - so I just got my MRI results back and yes indeed, I have a Ruptured Achilles - “hanging by a thread” he said.  So I meet with the Surgeon on Monday.

I’ve been reading through these blogs and they REALLY help!  I just want to know what I should expect the first 72 hours after surgery….should I move in with my brother and sis n law since I’m single and living alone at home?  What is the pain?  and do they give you a hard cast - thats what it seems.

Any Help or support - this REALLY f@#$5 hurts!

KK