Friday, April 25, 2008

Financial plan

I have been looking for financial services that I can use without losing financial independence for myself. After a zillion calls and research, I found someone! Her name is Priscilla Turay, financial coordinator at UNC CH. I called and left a message twice this month. She contacted me after she finally figured out how to use Sorenson VRS relay number and use my number. What a pour soul, haha! She's a very busy woman who travels all over the hospital assisting patients with finding options to pay for their medical bills. We emailed each other twice this past week and she seems like a nice woman. We talked about the possibility to apply a pre deposit and then pay the rest through monthly payments. We'll not finalize the payment plan till after the Records appointment in case crapinsurance ("crapapartment" from Grey's last night) will cover my surgeries.

Here's a website that explains step by step about ORTHOGNATHIC surgery. It has images to help connect what may seem foreign to most of you!

http://kyoralsurgeons.com/orthogna.htm

At least, the discussions I had with Priscilla put me a little at ease. Thanks to all my friends lately who asked and talked about my journey. It's a BIG deal to me! A co-worker sent me an email with God quoting "Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, and Faith looks up". This helps put me in a relaxed mood.

Happy Friday!!!! :)

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Records appointment

Okay, so I called my orthodontist's office yesterday (in between no show appointments my applicants are famous for!) and one of the front desk team members Deana and I set up an appointment for x-rays, impression and photographs for 05/02 at 10:30 am. She even asked if I needed an interpreter. I said yes appreciatively! It will be the first to have an interpreter at the office for all of us. That day I'll look my very best and say good-bye $650 as a down payment.

So, I re-read the Plan. I had to read several times to understand the context & terms. This is not an everyday conversation you carry with family or friends expect gossips from US Weekly! Anyway, have you noticed "Genioplasty"? Argh, the surgeon will do a bone cut, move or enlarge the chin to make my whole face appears more harmonious. This type of surgery is almost always covered by the patient not insurance. Wow, I'm going to have chin implant. I never thought this will happen to me - Hello, Hollywood, make room for one more in your bandwagon of c surgery, haha!

I gonna keep this short while I can - ciao!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

The plan




Finally, I heard from both my ortho and surgeon, here is the plan my surgeon is proposing...

Orthodontic treatment with full fixed appliances
Removal of upper and lower premolars for alignment of the arches
The upper arch will be aligned in 3 segments with space present at the extraction site
The lower arch will be aligned & the space closed
Orthognathic surgery
3 piece Maxillary Surgery
Genioplasty to enlarge the chin

Orthognathic surgery
If upper surgery doesn't do the job Dr. T will consider surgery to the lower jaw to advance. The final decision will be made prior to surgery when I get re-evaluated.


When Dr. T first evaluated me he listed the following problems
Minor TMJ symptoms
Long lower face height
Lip incompetency with gum display
Mandibular deficiency - small lower jaw
Class II dental malocclusion with severe crowding effects on speech & chewing. Large Anterior open bite


The team and I are hoping my insurance will respond to Dr. T's letter in a positive way. Please cross your fingers now and after I call Zack tomorrow to schedule Records appointment: Xrays, photos, & impressions of my teeth. After the appointment, the records will be sending to Dr. T to so he could support my diagnosis and treatment plan to the hard headed insurance! :) I'll wait till I hear from my insurance before setting a date for Braces day. My feelings: excited, nervous, worried, & hopeful. The lists above made me emo! I can't wait til these procedures get started for real. I posted the most recent pictures to show how crooked my nasal bridge is & my long lower face as well as other alskjdfhg problems. Happy hawking - LOL! Thanks for reading!!!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Is the extra time worth the wait?

My two appointments today (x-rays and impressions) and April 8th (braces day) were canceled because my jaw surgeon hasn’t talked to my ortho about their plan on my treatment. I blamed that on Easter holiday and Fridays off that orthos and surgeons have. I'm just kidding! Argh, I was so looking forward to starting this journey but now I have to wait a little bit longer until my ortho call me. Therefore, in the meantime, I played with the ligature colors I would want later on by trying them out on this website. I am such a cute geek - I could read those braces blogs all night.

http://pbhs.com/ortho/braces/braces.html