Trish-Cooper
I am so LUCKY!
I have 2 Angels
Anna & Kimberly ! They are such special ladies.
THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU!
I GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!!
SCROLL DOWN TO JULY 21 2005 FOR DETAILS!
I am 35 yrs. old. I have been overweight most of my life. I have diabetes & high blood pressure due to my weight.
I have seen Dr. Schauer once already. I have my pre-op tests scheduled.
As soon as the results are in they will schedule my surgery.
I am having Lap RNY if all goes well.
I have had all my pre-op tests done. I am now waiting on approval from my medical card.
12/31/2000
Well, here it is the last day of the year and I am still waiting to get a date for my surgery.
It has been since Nov. 6,2000 that all my paperwork was faxd to My Dr.'s office. I hope to hear from them real soon!
1/7/2001
I Was denied!!!!!!! I just found out today that my medical card I have thru WV for my SSI will not cover this surgery. Even with appeals and attorneys they will not approve it.
I AM NOT GIVING UP!!!! I will keep searching until I find a way to get this done for myself.
PLEASE E-mail me if you know of any way to get help with this surgery.
2/22/2001
I am in the process of appealing my surgery denial. I have been in contact with Walter. The attorney from the Obesitylaw.com site. He refused to help me for 2 reasons.
1) I am on SSI and do not make enough money to pay his fees. (How does he know I will not get the money from a loved one?)
2) Because I have a West Virginia Medicaid card he will not help me. He will not fight them.
I AM ON MY OWN WITH MY APPEAL! PLEASE SAY A PRAYER FOR ME!
I DESPERATELY NEED THIS SURGERY!!!!
4/25/2001
I had my appeal hearing today. I met with a Mr Ron Anglin, State hearing examiner for WV Dept. of Health & Human Resourses.
We had a phone conference with a Dr. Joseph from Charleston,WV area as well as an attorney for the state of WV.
I had no attorney. I had 2 witnesses there in person with me. They were Sally Underwood, my Mother & best friend. The other was Carol Golden, a friend who has also had LAP R-N-Y with Dr Philip Schauer in Pittsburgh, Pa.
I also had a witness via telephone, Kathy Sisler. She is my sister and also a registered dietition.
I feel the Dr. that the state had was VERY UNFAMILIER with the current procedures that are now being done with WLS.
She has only had 2 patients who had previously had WLS back in the early to mid 1980's. As we all know the type surgery they did then is no longer done.
I ask her how much they had lost from their WLS. She had no idea. She only knew that they weighed 250 to 300 lbs. I then ask her how much they had lost from the surgery. She said she did not know because she was not their Dr near the time of their surgeries.
She had no idea what their starting weight was. So they very easily could have weighed 500 or 600 Lbs. before their surgeries.
The procedures now are very modern and obviously much, much safer than before.
I can only pray that Mr. Anglin see's just how much of a neccessity this surgery is to my life.
Please keep me in your prayers.
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Well I was denied at the hearing. BUT I AM FIGHTING ON !!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sept. 18, 2001
Well I have finally found a Lawyer that will fight the state for me!!!!!!!!!
I have already signed papers for them to appeal for me.
I know this will take a while. But I am NOT giving up. I am going to fight till the end.
Thanks to all my famil;y and friends for standing by me on the long journey. Without your love & support I could not keep going.
August 18, 2002
Well I am still waiting to hear from my attorney. It has been in the judges hands since May. So, I hope to hear an APPROVAL soon!
This has been the hardest thing for me. I have to keep reminding myself that something worth having is worth waiting for. But, this is getting out of hand.
But, again I will not give up no matter what the decision is.
I WILL HAVE THIS SURGERY OR DIE FIGHTING FOR IT.
It has been 2 years now since I first started the process of getting this surgery. My first visit with the Dr was over 2 yrs ago.
But, I WILL WIN!!!! I may be 90yrs old by then.... but I will have this surgery!!!!!!
Hmmmmmmm....I may be the oldest oldest patient to have this done huh! :^)
Till next time ---
Thanks for all the loving support from everyone.
April 17, 2003
Well it has been three years since I started the process of getting this surgery. And I am STILL WAITING!!! It has been before a judge in Charleston for the last 11 months. I am getting worse health wise and am hoping that I can get a YES answer soon. Even if I have to go to a different Dr than planned.
Please keep me in your prayers.
June 2003
WE WON! The judge has ruled in our favor. The state must cover this surgery. They do have until Sept. 30, 2003 to apperl though. Our lawyer says they will probably appeal but we will take them to state supreme court. I WILL NOT GIVE UP!
Nov. 2003
The state DID NOT appeal!!!!!!!!! Which means that they will have to make changes to their policy, as ordered by the judge, and start covering WLS. We just aren't sure when or what guidelines they are going to make now. Time will tell.
Dec. 1, 2003
I received a letter from my attorney. It has a copy of the new guidelines in it from the West Virginia Dept Of Health and Human Resourses. (DHHR) I took it to my Dr this morning and
was told that I DO meet all the criteria. So now I will make an appointment with Dr. Mark Johnson in Morgantown, WV. I have attended a group meeting there and have talked with Dr Johnson and some of his staff.
Will update again soon!
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Well I have an appointment for May 20,2004 With Dr Mark Johnson in Morgantown,WV to start getting the pre-tests again. This is my first consultation with This Dr. I had to get a Dr in WV. So, PLEASE Keep the prayers comming in for me! I NEED THIS SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sat. Feb. 28, 2004
I met with the woman who takes care of the insurance billinb for Dr Johnson yesterday.
I DO meet all the needs in the guidelines set for WLS as set by WV Medicaid. So now I have to get 3 pre tests done and the meet wit Dr Johnson in May.
I am going to contact my PCP on Mon. and see if she can schedule these pre-op tests before I go in May, that way I will have these out of the way when I go see the surgeon.
It has been almost for years since I first started this process.
I now think I see a light at the end of this tunnel. :0)
I will update again soon.
Sunday May 24, 2004
Well I had my consultation with Dr Mark Johnson on Thursday.
(May 20, 2004) It all went pretty good. I have to start on the South Beach Diet now. He says this is about the same type of foods WLS patients eat after WLS so this is to see if his patients can/will do this. I know I can....but I'll humor him anyway. LOL!
I have my pre-op tests scheduled once again. I have an upper GI & a ultra sound and just as soon as they are done I go to see the Nutritionist. All of this will be done on June 2, 2004.
In Morgantown, WV at Mon. General Hospital.
Then I have my Psych. Evaluation on June 23,2004. Which is also
my hubby's 45th birthday. LOL what a gift.... LOL
At least I am closer to WLS... I HOPE!!!!!!!!! Please pray for me!!!!!!!
Wednesday August 11,2004
Well here I am again. I have had all my per-op tests done again and have been waiting for a month or so to hear from my surgeon about my surgery date.
I called them yesterday to see where things are standing only to find out that he will NOT be doing my surgery!!!!!!!!
THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE DECENCY TO CALL & LET US KNOW! THEY HAVE KNOWN FOR 2 OR 3 MONTHS NOW!!!!!!!
I understand what has happened. But, it is the DISRESPECT from the Dr and his staff I am FURIOUS about!!!
The company he had insurance with pulled out of WV. & he had to get another company to cover his surgery insurance. (for malpractice insurance)
Our state Dr's have been having trouble because of the insurance rates here.
The new company they have now will not cover them for ANY gastric bypass surgery. There are tons of Dr's all over our state that are affected by this.
Now I am back at square ONE YET AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!
****************UUUHHHGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*************************
2/23/2005
Well, here it is 5 years and still fighting to get WLS. But, I again have a lead.
I have an appt. to attend a WLS seminar on 3/1/2005. Then they will set up an appt with the surgeon.
He is in Huntington, WV. Which is about a 4 hour drive for me. But well worth it.
A friend I met here at this site, Richelle Lucas, also from WV
told me about him.
THANKS CHELLE!!!!!! YOU ARE WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!
She has already attended his seminar & had her first consult. So she should be getting her surgery date soon!
Best wishes Chelle......can't wait till we're both on the post op side!!!
I will post more after the seminar.
Wed. March 2,2005
WEll the seminar was WONDERFUL! The weather on the otherhand was not so good.
It took me about 4 hours to get there. But, coming home took closer to 5 hrs. The roads were extremely hazardous.
I took an over night bag & my meds. with me so I could get a motel room if it got to bad.
But, quess what......I left my insulin sitting by my door at home! DUH!!!!!!!!!!!
So, needless to say, I HAD to come home.
It was a nerve racking drive...but I made it SAFE & SOUND.
Turned in all my pre-op test results from Dr. Johnsons to
Dr. Neases
office while at the seminar. They said I only need 2 papers from My pcp. Then they can set me up with an appt. with Dr. Nease.
I have a
Dr.'s appt with my pcp,Dr Frances Murray, tomorrow morning. So I'll get it then.
Friday, March 4, 2005
Well I finally have an appt. with Dr. Neace. It is for Mar. 15, 2005.
I had to run myself ragged to get the paperwork to them. Yesterday while at my pcp's office, I had them fax the papers need to Dr Neases office.
I came home & called Dr. Neases office to see if they had an appt time yet.
They did not receive the fax. So I called Dr. Murrays office & ask one of her nurses to re-fax the paper.
She told me she WOULD NOT RE-FAX anything. If she faxes something and it doesn't go thru.....they will only Snail-mail it.
GIVE ME A BREAK.
She said I could pick it up & send it myself if I wanted to. SO
this morning I called to make sure it was ready. Had to be there
before 11:00 am because they close at 11 on Fridays.
So, I got in the car, picked up my Mom & drove 35+ miles 1-way,
to pick up a paper that I
took over to where my husband works & faxed from there. I Went back to my car...called Dr. Neases office where they said...
QUOTE...I was just ready to dial your number to tell you the fax just came in......UNQUOTE
So, she said she'd make the appt for me. It is for Tuesday,
March 15, 2005.
So, PLEASE keep me in your prayers. I desperately NEED this surgery.
More later. And thanks for taking the time to read my profile.
March 15, 2005
Well I had my consultation with Dr Nease today. He said there should be no problem doing Lap R-N-Y for me.
I do need one more paper from the physch. Eval. I had in
May of last yr. So, I called Morgantown & they said they would give her the message. They will let me know.
I also met the Doetition at Cabell Huntington Hospital while I was there to see Dr Nease. She was also very nice & understanding. Before I left there they set a date for my dietition classes. They are next week! WOW! I can't believe it. They are really on the ball there! My calsses are for Thursday, March 24, 2005. It is at Cabell-Huntington Hosp. also.
I have to be there at 9:00am and it will last until about 1:00pm.
All I need is the letter from the Physc. in Morgantown and they will send my info in for approval of the surgery!
More later........
March 16, 2005
Well I called Morgantown back today. There secretary told me that she mailed the letter out to me in todays mail. so it should be here tomorrow. Finally!
March 17, 2005
HAPPY ST.PATRICKS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I got the paper from Morgantown in todays mail. I have tried to call Dr Neases office but had to leave a message.
I decided to go ahead and fax the letter to Kim at Dr. Neases office. That way she will have it the first thing tomorrow morning. (Friday)
Maybe.......just maybe they will be able to send out my information to Charleston tomorrow for approval!
Wouldn't that be wonderful!!!!!!
3/25/2005
I had my Dietitian Classes yesterday. So today I talked to Kim @ Dr Neases office & she said they are getting the papers ready to
submit for approval.
I should know something in a few wks.
I met Anna W. from Huntington on Wed. nite. We had dinner together in Huntington.
She is so sweet. I am so glad we got a chance to finally meet.
I hope to get with her again when in Huntington sometime.
She looks wonderful.
I hope I look half as good as she does after wls.
Will post more when I hear from Ins.
June 27, 2005
Well, I have had some good news. The state has responded to my dr's request for my surgery. They want me to have another physc. eval. and a pulmonary clearence. So, I had them done on the 15th & 16th of June.
The pulmonary Dr requested a chest x-ray and an echo cardiogram.
So I had these done on June 23.
These tests came out just fine. So, now it is just waiting to get theses results in to WV medicaid to get approval for my surgery.
They wanted all this info back by the 19th of June, But Dr. Nease's nurse, Tabitha, called medicaid.
She explained to them that it took a while to get me worked in to get these tests in and also that there were additional tests required by the pulmonary Dr.
They gave us an extension for 1 month.
Hopefully soon I will hear a YES!
Please keep me in your prayers.
More later.
JULY 21, 2005
******I GOT APPROVED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After 5 long years and a long fight I finally got approved!
I will hear from Dr. neases's office next week for a date.
I AM SO HAPPY!!!!!
THANK YOU to my family and friends for all the suppor these last 5 years.
Without you all I would not have been able to make it.
More later.
Monday July 25,2005
I HAVE A SURGERY DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday August 22,2005 four weeks from today.
This is a super-special day for me. This was my grandma's birthday.
And now it will be my re-birthday!
Wednesday July 27, 2005
Well I went yesterday and had an ultrasound done of my gullbladder.
Dr. Nease wanted it done in case I have anything wrong he can remove it during surgery.
The results will be faxed to his office within 24 hours.
Now all that is left to do before surgery is the following:
Wed. Aug. 17, 2005 I go to an education class to learn post op info.
and have blood work done.
Fri. Aug. 19, 2005 I have an appointment with Dr. Nease in his office
to go over what will be happening on Monday the day of my
surgery.
Mon. Aug. 22, 2005 SURGERY DAY!!!
Monday October 3, 2005
Well I did have surgery, but I DID NOT HAVE GASTRIC BYPASS. Dr Nease started out doing LAP. then he had to go to open. But, he said my liver was enlarged and when he moved my liver aside to get to my stomach I started having breathing problems. My heart rate went up and my oxygen level went down. So, he opted to abort the surgery and sew me back up.
This has been such an emotional roller coaster for me. I have fought over 5 years to have this done. Only to NOT be able to have it.
I guess I really was not meant to have this surgery. Now, I am going to have to figure out another weight loss program that is long term successful.
More soon.
Monday Dec.26, 2005
It has been a while since I have updated my profile. I am STILL having complications from my surgery. I still have an opening that is NOT healing. I have been going to a wound care center for over 2 months now and still am having trouble.
I may have to have my wound reopened by a surgeon. I may find out tomorrow. I am praying that this is not needed. I am not sure I am able to go through this again.
I am really getting worn down from all this. I have been trying to keep
a positive outlook on all this......but, I am starting to lose hope.
Friday July 28, 2006
I know it has been months since my last posting. I am still having problems from my surgery. I may have to have adhesions removed in the near future.
I did finally heal on the outside. It was the end of February. So, it only took, what, Aug. to Feb. that's.......6 months to close up!
I am still having a lot of pain. I still have to keep pain pills with me. If I walk much at all I get hurting so bad. My incision hurts so bad I have to lay down 2 or 3 times a day to ge the pain to stop.
I also wake up most mornings with welts on the scars from the staples.
I am really confused about this. Some of them are as big as a nickel.
Just from those tiny white staple scars the size of a pin head.
I am not able to do as much as I did before my surgery. I sure wish I had this to do over again.
NO WAY would Dr Nease touch me.
At least I am alive. That is all I can say.
I never was able to get Dr Neases office to call me back and to send my records to me. My PCP requested them 3 times and got absolutely NO response.
I hope no one else has these problems with them. I will pray for all who go there.
Will post again soon. I hope.
Thanks for reading my profile.