Grrr........ SO mad that I turned down the show "Botched"

Thank you all SO much for your responses! As for contacting "Botched" back again, I'm so close to wanting to do it because they might have the proper reconstructive surgeon (it's called an Oculo Plastic Surgeon) in their teams. I haven't been able to find one here. There's supposedly a decent one, but he's in Miami, and we're 5 hours away. This isn't a one-surgery type deal. I'd have to go to see him numerous times over the span of a few months (best case scenario). I work and don't drive that far, and DH has heart issues that make it difficult to drive that far, that often.

Elaine: Thank you for that post. I should have made it much more clear about my case. I lost an eye due to a bb gun shot when I was a kid. That's why I needed ALL of the surgeries. I rejected many, many implants and surgeries. My Uncle (a top anesthesiologist in CA) found a wonderful surgeon in Manhattan, and he fixed things up, finally. I've been steady for such a long time, but I didn't know it wouldn't last forever (like boob implants, etc......).

Like you, I had to go to doctors within my plan, and they had NO IDEA of the scope of my situation. None. I was the first one in the world to have my exact implant surgery, so it's hard for other "specialists" to understand it, although some were in awe that I had that surgeon. Anyway, I found this angel of a surgeon via a website/messageboard I moderate, regarding eye issues. He agreed to meet me privately and review my CT scans and everything to assess what was going on. He pinpointed it and told me who to go to for the surgery(ies) I'd need. He was just retiring and going to work in the V.A. I wish i could have used him, but there was no way.......... so I went to his protegee.

That surgeon (Oculo Plastic Surgeon) said that my chances weren't too great, considering ALL of the previous surgeries, but he'd try. He relieved a lot of that new pain, which was a miracle, but the implant he did, didn't really take. I keep going back for tweaking and next-step ideas. This was ALL approved by my insurance company, with insistence from me, because they had no capable surgeon within my plan, so they had to accept this doctor.

By this point, this was about the 10th opinion. I'm glad I went with him, because he understood what my situation was, and he had his approach about how to do it. It didn't work out as expected though. I'm sorry for your situation.

Mallie: Your post greatly interested me because you seem to understand the situation. My NY surgeon was the top #1 Oculo Plastic Reconstructive Surgeon in the U.S. Even though he did so many surgeries, my particular case was different, so he had to come up with something new, and it did "take" for all of those years. Now I need an equally experienced Reconstructive Surgeon who could try to fix this. I can't find one. None of them want to touch me because the chances of anything working are so low (due to excessive scar tissue from the 30 previous surgeries). It stinks. I haven't found a quality Reconstructive surgeon here in FL, unfortunately, and definitely not anywhere near I live. I found my surgeon in Tampa (about an hour drive for us), so it's really been a trek going there for every follow-up appt. I miss work/$$, and still get nowhere. Can I ask you how you researched or found out about the surgeon you ended up using? Where do I find that information?? I'd appreciate any input with regard to that, asap, as that's my only hope.

I'm torn between staying the way I am (which is pretty bad & painful), or trying "Botched" or trying to find another GOOD surgeon. I just don't know which to do.

Thank you all for posting and reading.

P.S.:
Rhondito: Yes, it was the same situation and I had HIGH hopes......... It didn't turn out as expected. I'm left with extremely swollen eyelids and feeling like I have sand in my eye 24/7. I use mineral oil drops and constantly clean it, but I get red/infected ALL of the time. It's distrupting my life, but I'm grateful that that surgeon took my main (newer) pain away. That was amazing. I just wish he could be equally amazing with the rest of my recovery. I'm losing hope.

uksue: Funny, my own surgeon met the surgeons from "Botched" and he said that they use a team of expert surgeons to do what they can't do. I'm just wondering whom they would choose to do my surgery because I'd love to know for myself (although the show generally pays for you to stay there until you're 100% recovered--they pay all medical bills and pay you a salary, which I'd need).

anxiousmom: Yes, I checked and my "angel" surgeon friend checked and there's no one in FL who has experience dealing with Oculo Reconstructive Plastic surgery here. There is a center in Miami who MIGHT be able to handle it, but they've never done this exact type of surgery either.