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My name is Frank Rushing and I am 53 years old. My GI problems started in 1996 when I had my gall bladder removed and developed a bad staph infection. In 1999 I began suffering from frequent small bowel blockages. These attacks would force me to rely on an NG tube for suctioning and I was not able to eat or drink anything. Eventually, I went to Vanderbilt and they said they could not help me and I could live on liquids the rest of my life. While on sick leave from work, I researched the 100 best hospitals in US (US News and World Report) and went to the Cleveland Clinic. They operated for scar tissue from gallbladder surgery and colon surgery. I was there for 47 days. My local gastro started me on TPN until I could be helped by Dr. Abell, a top motility specialist. I saw him in March and April 2002. Dr. Abell said I was a good candidate for a gastric pacemaker and assisted me in locating Domperidone. He applied for Blue Cross-TN for me since I was a State employee with this insurance. Blue Cross denied both Dr. Abell's and my request. I asked Dr. Abell and his nurse, Allison, how to approach appealing the Blue Cross decision. It was then Dr. Abell introduced to the GP support group website and I posed a few questions about this subject. Several people suggested that I write all the politicians in the state and request help. I proceeded to do this and got four answers. The most helpful one was a congressman who my wife and I were acquainted due to my wife teaching in his home county. His office had called Finance and Administration and talked with the chairman of the board I had to appear before and directed me to the person in F & A who was in charge with insurance appeals. Although I met the criteria for approval for the pacer implant, I had to document from 3 different doctors which took some time. Also, Dr. Abell and other members of this group suggested I contact Medtronics (manufacture the pacer) for information and help in my case. They sent me baseline study, 5 year study, how pacer saved a lot of money on hospitalization etc. I included in the documentation to the insurance company Medtronics information, letters from politicians, and some emails from members who had pacers placed and had good results. I sent this information and a formal letter to have a hearing on my behalf. On June 4, 2002 my wife and I each made about 10 minute presentations to the board detailing my problems, what had been attempted, and that nothing had worked. The decision was overturned by the State Board of Finance & Administration with a lot of help from my doctors and the support group. I went to Jackson, MS on July 18 for additional testing and gastric emptying test which confirmed Gastroparesis. The surgery was performed on July, 30, 2002. I began to sip liquids on the 5-6 day after surgery. By the ninth day I was eating solid food. My pacemaker was checked and was deemed good. I have been able to eat most things, although spicy ones give me problems, since discharge. I have little or no nausea and my colon is functioning rather well. I of course do not know what the future holds for me and this pacemaker, but I can say it has been a revolutionary circumstance to be able to eat as well as I am and my colon is functioning better than it has in 5 years. I appreciate all the advice I was given by the support group.
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