I had to go to my PD today to get his push for the insurance co. to get my Pet scan done though I had a Script from HUP.
He had not recieved any info except for one letter from HUP yet had to fill out 500 forms(I'm sure he exagerated)to satisfy Ins. Co.
He was pretty hot, not with me, but the Ins. co. and HUP.

I will be getting my second Pet scan in 5 years this Wed.5/30 and then will have to decide what and where to do what I believe needs to be done. Removal of my esophagus and a life time feeding tube inserted. I'm very tired of force feeding myself the past 5 years so know I can tolerate the tube.
At least I will be able to talk, smell, blow my nose etc.

First I need to unload and tell you why I'm so angry.
The Chief of Staff told us Monday that he was going to remove my esophagus and voice box that, to my knowledge or his, has no cancer. Then another Dr. was going to raise my stomach to throat then attach it to a rebuilt esophagus. He also might have done a RND and remove some lymph nodes.

The last Dr. we saw was the one that would have raised my stomach. He never made eye contact, said ludly this is very serious surgery, one in 10 doesn't live through it and I will not do it till you have a Pet Scan. If it shows any cancer cells in lymph nodes I will not do it and we will have to use Radiation and chemo.

What I found out today from my PD is that the Dr. that invented this procedure is right here in Pitts UPMC.

What I'm angry about is the Chief of Staff was going to butcher me and I feel my quality of life would've been just about unbearable without first getting a Pet Scan.

OK I feel better just telling you all that understand what a close call I had, so think, think, and think again before making decisions.

Luck and best wishes to all of you.