Let the Paperwork Begin

I spent all morning resolving that I would accept the decision of the ENT that Raphaela needs surgery to remove her adenoids, the apparent cause of her snoring and her perpetually runny nose, among other symptoms.  Because the office has slowed down since my surgery, I had all morning to make calls to the HMO, our supplementary insurance, and to use my friends as a sounding board for my frustration and fears.

It's funny, ever since Raphaela was a baby, she has made a lot of noise while eating or sleeping, and I always thought that was normal, for her.

This afternoon the ENT looked at her xrays and examined her E, N and T, and came to the conclusion that at the very least, Raphaela must have her adenoids removed, if not also her tonsils.  Because of the typical HMO beurocracy, he can only do one of the two procedures as a surgeon;  as a result, the doctor ordered a pajama party at a sleep clinic, to determine if the tonsils stay in or out, and to decide whether he or another surgeon gets the job.

Of course once I called the two sleep clinics in Jerusalem, the first appointment they had available was in September, which is unacceptable.  I will not have my daughter suffer from sleep apnea and the other progressive side effects for the next four months, and now I have my work cut out for me, using Israeli protecsia and any other method that works to resolve this whole medical scenario sooner rather than later.

The general anesthesia terrifies me the most, the ENT told me that no matter what direction they take the surgery, Raphaela will be under for almost an hour.

Quite a turn-around for a Chiropractor who philosophically does not believe in immediately jumping to the surgery option.