My opinon

Ok, everyone has an opinion. I am fixing to give mine on three subjects. These are all based on my experiences (and pain) and if I can help just one person out there, then maybe it wasn't all in vain.

In my opinion, please do not EVER use Dr. Elliott Clemence in San Antonio, TX as your orthopedic surgeon. In May, 2005 I started just falling down. This is not fun. Just imagine walking somewhere and you never know if you are going to make it to your desitination or, in one instant, be on the floor. Someone referred me to Dr. Clemence. He was in Jourdanton at that time. I have sinced learned that he was once in Beeville (no longer there), Kingsville (no longer there), Alice (no longer there) and Jourdanton (no longer there). This should say something. So, anyways, I went to Dr. Clemence thinking I would get a cortisone shot. Nope. He informed me that I would have surgery in July. So, on July 27, 2005, my life was changed. I had a total right knee replacement. Aspirated. Spent 12 days in ICU. Came home with two stage three bedsores (does this mean that Southwest General Hospital really took care of me?!?!). Now on the other side - they assigned Dr. Riveria, a pulmonary dr, to me and he was fantastic !! He was caring and an excellent doctor. Dr. Clemence would come to the door of the hospital room and not even enter - it was like "eww, you have cooties and I am not even going to get close to you.". Not Dr. Riveria, he would come in and hold my hand and ask how I was doing. Once home, I started getting other symptoms - Dr. Clemence would just ignore those and say "that has nothing to do with your knee". After going to another doctor, I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. If Clemence had listened to me and cared for me, he might have diagnosed this earlier. In one short year, another orthopedic doctor has informed me that I need another knee replacement - on the same knee. I have heard of this happening to two other women that had Dr. Clemence. So, in my opinion, please do not ever use Dr. Elliot Clemence.

In my opinion, please do not use AFLAC. AFLAC came to my place of employment and when I told them my story of my knee surgery and ICU, the man said that I would have gotten at least $35,000 from AFLAC if I had signed up with them. Well, being the dummy that I am, and gullible, I fell for it and signed up immediately. With my knee and spinal stenosis problems, I missed a total of 52 days and was docked 1/10th of my yearly salary (yep, a lot of money). Did AFLAC help me? NO. You have to fill out tons of paperwork and then they come up with every excuse under the sun why you shouldn't get any money. A doctor gave me a prescription to go home and keep my feet up for 10 days. I filled out the paperwork and turned it in to AFLAC. I waited from September to March to get that $200. And this was after speaking to man from AFLAC and turning in the paperwork twice.

In my opinion, do not ever drive a KIA. This was about 8 years ago, I bought my son a brand new KIA. Within 6 weeks, it had already broken down three times. Now I am not saying that my son was the best driver but these were major breakdowns. Maybe they have improved KIA's since then, but I wouldn't drive one if someone gave me one.

Remember, these are just my opinions (and I am sticking to them!!) :) Everyone has stories about something and that is one great thing about blogs - you get to share them with anyone willing to sit down and read. Besides, like I tell people, that is why I usually get away with saying anything I want because no one listens to me. So, I get away with writing anything I want because no one reads my blog. :) But, if I have helped one person, then GREAT !!