My road towards GCS with Kaiser Permanente

Laurie · October 04, 2018, 04:32:41 PM

Quote from: Jessica on October 04, 2018, 04:22:27 PM
Yes but...now for the ⚡️ologist to start work down below!

I am looking at a year out for a consult and another for the date. I have PLENTY of time for that.

Procrastinator's Creed "Never do today what you can put off for tomorrow"

LizK · October 05, 2018, 02:29:59 AM

Quote from: Laurie on October 04, 2018, 03:55:06 PM
Yes, but.......

Laurie · January 03, 2019, 10:33:54 PM

November 15, 2018 First letter from VA therapist Bret Fuller

December 10, 2018 Second Letter VA Psychiatric Practical nurse Susan Hoffman

December 20, 2018 Referral sent to OHSU Dr Dugi for vaginoplasty consult. By Stephanie P. Detlefsen MD Kaiser

December 28, 2018 Assigned Ericka Danielle Callio Crane, RN as GPC Surgery Coordinator Kaiser

Jessica_Rose · January 03, 2019, 10:42:31 PM

Great to see you back Laurie!

You probably already know this, but the Procrastinator's Club is actually the largest club in the world. They just can't prove it because no one has ever sent in their membership application.

It is a long ways out, but time has a habit of sneaking up on everyone.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Rachel · January 05, 2019, 06:19:31 PM

Hi Laurie,

You have time to treat the GCS are with hair removal. I did 6 treatments 6 weeks apart and was done 6 months before GCS. ( Lots of 6's there, no hidden meaning intended). I had numbing injections and the machine turned up to high.

I have no hair in my canal. Hay, that worked out well. Dr. McGinn dies follicle scrapping to with GCS too. Anyhow, hair in the canal can not be removed later and it really can become a location where strong "fishy" odors can occur.

Anyhow, good luck and I am so glad you are back.

Rachel

Laurie · January 07, 2019, 12:11:42 AM

January 3, 2019 Missed a call from Dr. Dugi's office. Called back and left a massage for callback on the 5th. No callback on Friday. Perhaps Monday January 7, 2019. Should be to schedule consult.

Laurie · January 07, 2019, 10:04:01 PM

Talked to OHSU today and registered with them. Then got back to Dugi's office to set a date for the consult with him. July 30, 2019 4:00pm.

Beverly Anne · January 08, 2019, 09:53:26 AM

Great to see you doing well, Laurie! I went away from Susan's Place for a while. I have my first consult with the GCS surgeon this coming Friday, January 11. Looking at having surgery in July after I finish nursing school and before I start my new career. Following your journey. Positive vibes coming your way!

LizK · January 08, 2019, 08:01:26 PM

Quote from: Laurie on January 07, 2019, 10:04:01 PM
Talked to OHSU today and registered with them the got back to Dugi's office to set a date for the consult with him. July 30, 2019 4:00pm.

Nice!![emoji6]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Jessica · January 08, 2019, 09:16:26 PM

Happy for you Laurie

Susan_Rose · January 09, 2019, 02:44:23 PM

Hi Laurie,
So glad you are doing well . Great to hear from you. Take good care. Love- Susan

Laurie · January 09, 2019, 04:13:46 PM

After scheduling my GCS consult date, I called my Kaiser Navigator (yes, that is what she is called) to see if I could get authorization for lower electrolysis to be done. I had to leave a message as usual. My thoughts were to get the GCS site all ready before the consult. That way if Dr Dugi had an earlier opening due to a cancellation, I could possibly get it before my yet to be scheduled GCS date arrives. The surgeries are running about a year after the consult. Being retired and hairless would allow for great flexibility in availability.
Kaiser returned my call to say that they will not authorize lower electrolysis until after the consult. So I either wait until after July 30, 2019 or pay for it myself. Decisions, decisions.

LizK · January 09, 2019, 07:10:54 PM

Quote from: Laurie on January 09, 2019, 04:13:46 PM
After scheduling my GCS consult date, I called my Kaiser Navigator (yes, that is what she is called) to see if I could get authorization for lower electrolysis to be done. I had to leave a message as usual. My thoughts were to get the GCS site all ready before the consult. That way if Dr Dugi had an earlier opening due to a cancellation, I could possibly get it before my yet to be scheduled GCS date arrives. The surgeries are running about a year after the consult. Being retired and hairless would allow for great flexibility in availability.
Kaiser returned my call to say that they will not authorize lower electrolysis until after the consult. So I either wait until after July 30, 2019 or pay for it myself. Decisions, decisions.

Hey Laurie

As you know I had lots of issues trying to find a "lower half zapper" and ended up having about 3 1/2 hrs (I think) in total plus laser....it also wasn't as bad as I thought it would be by as they say YMMV You do have plenty of time to enjoy that little piece of torture

and I would encourage you to get it done as soon as you can however if you can get it at a reduced cost or significantly reduced then I would be hold out for that. There are a number of hidden costs going into GCS so I would save money where I can.

Take care

Liz

Laurie · February 14, 2019, 09:04:59 PM

No don't go getting your hopes up. Nothing to see here. Check back in August. If I am still here that is.

Laurie

Jessica · February 14, 2019, 10:07:50 PM

You're such a tease!

Laurie · March 24, 2019, 10:36:59 PM

useless update:

Nothing to update. No change in status.

LizK · March 25, 2019, 12:35:26 AM

Quote from: Laurie on March 24, 2019, 10:36:59 PM
useless update:

Nothing to update. No change in status.

Got me again!! I should know better

Jessica_Rose · March 25, 2019, 10:43:22 PM

Quote from: Laurie on March 24, 2019, 10:36:59 PM
useless update:

Nothing to update. No change in status.

Well you are still here, so that is a good sign!

DawnOday · March 28, 2019, 03:25:39 PM

I have not had a bad experience with Kaiser but I live in Seattle area so I know the offices are not as busy as SoCal. Went to the clinic in La Puente for a blood test and waited three hours. I usually don't have to wait at all at any of the Kaiser offices, even Capital Hill. As far as dealing with my being Transgender they have been better than I ever expected. Of course I am not able to get surgery, but I got Therapy, Voice, Hormones, and an offer for an Orchi. Your delay may involve a backlog in cases based on location. I asked for payment for my electrolysis for the last year because I could not write them off and Dr. Kendall called and told me he would be happy to recommend payment. That's at least $2500.
Don't wait epilate. Then submit a claim form. CPT code is 17380

Laurie · March 28, 2019, 11:48:32 PM

Quote from: DawnOday on March 28, 2019, 03:25:39 PM
I have not had a bad experience with Kaiser but I live in Seattle area so I know the offices are not as busy as SoCal. Went to the clinic in La Puente for a blood test and waited three hours. I usually don't have to wait at all at any of the Kaiser offices, even Capital Hill. As far as dealing with my being Transgender they have been better than I ever expected. Of course I am not able to get surgery, but I got Therapy, Voice, Hormones, and an offer for an Orchi. Your delay may involve a backlog in cases based on location. I asked for payment for my electrolysis for the last year because I could not write them off and Dr. Kendall called and told me he would be happy to recommend payment. That's at least $2500.
Don't wait epilate. Then submit a claim form. CPT code is 17380

Hi Dawn,

My delays are because OHSU and thereby Kaiser only has the services of Dr Dugi. He is the only GCS doc in the whole area if not the state. The backlog is there. As for electrolysis I was able to get my electrolysis approved as a Kaiser service provider and they are paying all but $10/hour of her charge. So I am good there. Thank you for your comments.

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My road towards GCS with Kaiser Permanente