Dr. Hibner's associate and PT

[Faith]

I made an appointment with Dr. Hibner today. The first available was 8/17/11. Wow. The receptionist said he likes you to see Loretta, his PT. When I called Loretta they said she doesn't take insurance (except Medicare) and it would cost $274!! I called the Hibner's office back and asked if it was necessary to see Loretta because I have already see 4 PT's. She said, "no, just bring your PT records with you to the appoitment". Did you all who are pt's of Hibner's have to see Loretta?

They also asked if I wanted to see Dr. Hibner's associate Dr. Castellanos and if so I could see him in a couple months. I said no because if I am flying to AZ I want to see Hibner, but has anyone see Castellanos yet? Apparently he treats PN too and consults with Dr. Hibner after seeing the PN patients.

[GraceUnderFire]

Hi Faith,

I was not told I "had" to see Loretta; but I am certainly glad I did. I learned so much from her about all the inner workings of the pelvis and I thought I already knew just about everything. Secondly, she was able to tell by her physical exam that my muscles were not "tight" and not in spasm which indicated that I was a surgical case of PN which correlated with my history as well. This meant no more blocks, botox or anything Dr. Hibner's office will give you a "letter of medical necessity" for your insurance company to submit with an out of network claim. Because of that letter, I was reimbursed for everything but the normal copay.

I do not have any knowledge of the other doctor, but I too decided to wait for Dr. Hibner.

Just sharing my 2 cents Best of luck!!

Grace

[Celeste]

Can't you just see the associate for the consult, shave 6+ months off your wait time, and be that much further ahead for surgery? Dr. Hibner would still review your case and be the one who does the surgery. It sounds like a good deal to me.

[A's Mommy]

Dr. Castellanos was the assistant on my surgery. I have seen him for my pre-Botox consult in September. He is the fellow for Dr. Hibner.
What this means is he has already completed a residency (most likely in OB/GYN) and is now doing a fellowship (advanced training) in minimally invasive gynecology with Dr. Hibner. I read somewhere that these fellowship spots are very hard to get into --- which means that the doctor must be very good in order to "match" with a fellowship program. St. Joseph's is a teaching hospital. Dr. Hibner is a professor in Advanced Minimally Invasive Gynecology. Dr. C has been a fellow since July '10. Hibner's former fellow, Dr. Nita Desai, is now in practice with Dr. Hibner. I do not know what she specializes in, but I know her name was on Dr. Hibner's scientific article from 2010 or 2009 (she most likely did a lot of research).

While moaning in pain for them to just "take me to surgery" (this was at the pre-Botox consult with Dr. C.) I remember asking him "are you going to learn the PNE surgery?" And he said, "well it is a very intricate and specialized surgery and I have only observed about 6" (remember folks, he started his fellowship in July '10 so cut him some slack). I remember begging him, BEGGING him to learn the PNE surgery, that there just weren't enough PNE surgeons and too many hurting patients out there. Soooooooooo, MAYBE HE IS STARTING TO LEARN IT!!! This is good news!! Maybe Hibner is giving him more leeway to see patients regarding PNE, etc. Faith, I'd jump on it and go out there and see Dr. C. He will report to Dr. Hibner, (he has to, as Dr. H is his attending physician).

Oh, just remembered, right before I was wheeled back to surgery, they introduced me to Dr. Hibner's chief resident in OB/GYN who was this young guy (younger than me) who I again asked if he was going to learn the PNE surgery (because he was also assisting on my surgery... ha, he's probably the guy that stitched me up.... if so, he did a good job, scar looks fab). He said he had just matched at an advanced minimally invasive fellowship in KY and I said NOOOOOOOOOOOO you have to learn the PNE surgery. Believe me, I have been blasting this to every doctor I saw at St. Joe's. He kind of laughed and said "well, Dr. Hibner is REALLY good at what he does." I was like "well YOU could be the next Dr. Hibner!!"

I guess one of my gifts is encouragement. Who knows.

Anyways, Faith, my 2 cents is go see Dr. Castellanos.

AM

[TracyB7777]

I called the office today and made an appointment with Dr. Castellanos. I actually called asking for an appointment with Dr. Hibner or his associate. At first I was told I would have to send over all of my records then they would call me back to schedule an appointment. So I asked for the info on where to send the info. Then she asked why I wanted to see him and I replied "for Pudendal Neuraglia" and her entire attitude changed. All of a sudden she was really nice. She said Dr. Hibner wouldn't have an opening until September but she could get me in sooner with Dr. C. So I took the appointment on April 6th!! (My sons 17th bday.) I was not told anything about seeing Loretta nor was I even asked much about why I thought I had PN. But I'll still take the appointment. I figure Dr. C works directly with Dr. Hibner so he would be consulted on the decisions (I would hope). Better than what I'm receiving in care down here in Tucson. Since I'm only 2-3 hrs away I can do the multiple trips if necessary.

So, two months and I may start to feel like a dr is finally willing to listen. I'll let you all know how things go with Dr. C.

Good Luck everyone!!!

[nyt]

At my first appointment with Dr. Hibner in July of 2010 Dr. C. was there for the initial interview. Dr. C. was also there for bladder sling removal and obturator decompression surgery in Sept 2010. He was always with Dr. Hibner during my hospital stay. Dr. C. did the follow-up phone consultation a few weeks post-op. He seemed to me to be a very bright and compassionate physician. If Dr. Hibner didn't think Dr. C. was capable of evaluating patients Dr. Hibner's office wouldn't be offering this is an option. I think you will be glad you saw him.

[Faith]

TracyB,

Keep us posted on your appt with Dr. C. You are so blessed to be only 2-3 hours away from them! i turned down an appt with Dr. C (could have had it in March) and am holding out for Dr. Hibner. Maybe it's a mistake, but I feel like my cause is very complicated and unusual. I have a lot of biomechanical issues so I think I probably will see Loretta. What do you think caused your PN pain by the way?

[TracyB7777]

I honestly have no idea what caused my initial pain. After reading all of your histories and doing my own research I'm wondering if I haven't had issue's with it for a while, but they never lasted long so I wasn't worried about it. Last January is when things started going downhill for me but nothing that I can pinpoint except being off for two weeks over the Christmas break and laying around reading and doing housework. By late last April I was no longer sitting. This is a bizarre health issue to deal with. Today I took my boppy into a meeting of 50+ ppl just so that I could try to sit for the hour meeting. Now I'm wishing I had just stood through it. Alas, as you all know, we deal with this daily, live and learn.

[donstore]

TracyB,
I am currently getting my records together to send down to Arizonia and I was hoping that you would clarify one thing for me. Is it true that if you see Dr. Castellanos for your initial consult that Dr. Hibner would be the one to perform your surgery if they offered it in your case ? Since the waiting time for surgery is so long after the consult, is it possible that Dr. C would be the one to do the surgery ? Just wondering. Keep us posted.

Don

[TracyB7777]

You know, I didn't ask that question. Sorry. Originally when I asked for Dr. Hibner I was going to have to fax everything before they would even call me to set the appointment. However since I was willing to take the appt with Dr. C they said I could just bring my records with me that day. And there has been no mention of an appt with Loretta before hand either. Soooooo, I'm not sure if this will at least get me in the system as a patient of theirs and bump up the time frame for me on care or if I'll end up in a holding pattern for Dr. Hibner. I'll definitely keep everyone informed as I learn more.