Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Im not sure if this is the right place to post this but here goes. I have my appt with Dr Hibner and Loretta coming up in early November. Im starting to prepare all my records and am also looking into travel arrangements. I would love some feedback / recommendations on places to stay, tips for getting to the hospital, tips on preparing for my appointment for those who have already seen Dr Hibner and/or Loretta (his PT), etc.

I will of course report back with details about my visit, his recommendations, etc.

Thanks!

Elizabeth

Elizabeth,

My daughter Liz and I went to Arizona twice so far, once for the first interview in August, to see if surgery is an option, and then back for Botox injections in September, which Dr. Hibner suggested we do first, before surgery to see if this helps.

We stayed both time at "The Clarendon Hotel 1 602 252 77363 on Clarendon Blvd. A Urban Retreat.

Our cost was $86.00 and if you book directly they will match whatever you find online.

This place has a great restaurant on site and a great swimming pool.

St Joseph will arrange to have hospital security drive you back to the hotel after each appointment, if you are within a one mile area. We took a cab to the hospital which cost under $10.

My daughter has the "interstim pacemaker for urgency/frequency", and the botox injection caused her to become incontinent, which has it's own issues and this is said to be a a side effect, but the injection seems to have lessened the ball she feels when she sits, and it's too soon to see what else it will do for her.

She is still on major pain medications, but does feel this injection has helped.

Then we did not get the co-payment covered, and ran into problems with medicare covering the injections and hospital cost. This we learned on the second trip. We are appealing with the hospital's financial department to cover some of the costs, but they will not cover her future surgery since she is not a resident of Arizona, so we will need to figure out what to do now if surgery is the next step.

Good luck in Arizona, I hope you get some relief.

Cici

U Loretta strongly suggested that I not have a Botox injection because I already had a slight case of incontinence. She said that all the injection would do is make things worse. On my little phone that I am using now, I can't see who was made incontinent by botox. But maybe she already had a slight case and didn't know it.

My only advise is DOUBLE check all appointments. For some reason the hospital in Arizona has had trouble with appointments because of vacations. It's just a hiccup and they're working one it. But they call to confirm appointments until the night before at your home phone number.

Kate

Elizabeth W I was looking to find an update about your appt with Dr. Hibner, but can't seem to find one on here. How did things go? How long did it take you to get an initial appt? Did you have to travel to see him? Did they schedule a PT visit at the same time as your appt with him? Thinking about making an appt, but have to travel from KY so I want several things done during my time there as I can't afford to just fly back

Hi Faith;
Call Dr. Hibners office and they will make you an appt. and give you the number for their PT. They want you to see their PT, preferably a day before the appt. with Dr. H. It takes a long time to get in to see the doc, so I would call right off. They told me on the phone that if you decide to cancel it wouldn't be a problem because of their long waiting list. So, you don't have anything to lose. I called in the late summer and my appt. is in April. I called last week to make sure that no changes have been made because I need to buy flights and to change those, it's a 100.00 a person. In the packet they send you, thee will be a Holiday Inn card. You hand it to the desk clerk and get a deal, I think it's 70.00. If you belong to AAA travel, ask them to send you city maps and a book on Phoenix. Also the computer is a great source unless you have dial-up like I do. Then it's a pain, but many libraries and coffee shops have free WYFI. Book stores like Barnes and Noble is also a good place to hook up and they have the best goodies and coffee
My best;
Doreen

Thanks Doreen,
I appreciate your help concerning both Dr. Hibner and Dr. Conway. I tried calling Dr. Hibner's office today and they said I have to get my doctors (notice plural) to fax all my records to him and then they'll call me to make an appointment. So it'll take me a while to get all the different doctors I've seen to fax my paperwork over. I've had to travel to see several different doctors.

Hi Faith;
Do you have a primary care? If so, all of your records will be in that one office. If they aren't, that office can get them for you. I never needed to do that, so I'm wondering if it might be due to the type of ins. you have. I have united health care and that is the worse ins in my whole experience of dealing with insurance companies.
Doreen

I guess it's something new Dr. Hibner's office has started because they didn't even ask for my insurance. I just asked how to get an appointment with Dr. Hibner concerning possible PN and they said I have to have my records faxed. I just got a primary care doc so they don't even have my records. I have United Healthcare too, but haven't had any problems with them yet.

Faith;
Good luck with UHC. Make 3 copies minimum of anything you send to them. They will fight you tooth and nail if you need botox, extra PT and compounded meds. I don't even want to know what I'll be up against when I need surgery. Hopefully, your company has a better plan than my husbands.
My best;
Doreen

I always get copies of my own records to keep for myself that way when dr.'s office need information I can take care of right away and know that it was done.

I had problems with UHC paying a bill submitted by Dr. Conway. After two appeals and letters from Dr. Conway I finally when to the state board of insurance and complained. Once the state got involved I got a call from an UHC representative who said a physician would review the tests and results that Dr. Conway ordered. Well, low and behold they paid the claim. Took me months to resolve but well worth it. Since then I have had no problems with them paying for procedures. The bills are just starting to trickle in from my recent surgery with Dr. Hibner and so far they have paid for everything but my deductibles but I know that might not be the case once all is said and done.