Sandra N.

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I'm five months out and feeling great! I never had any of the "bad" symptoms after weightloss surgery. I didn't get nauseous or have a difficult time sleeping. I have been able to walk now and am up to 3 miles a day. I have lost about 82 pounds, though still hate having my picture made. So for now, all you will see is my cat Motorboat in the birdbath. LOL! I can't wait to see my sister-in-law and her boyfriend Memorial weekend and get their reaction to my better health. Last year I could hardly bear to sit outside with them much less do anything. It's like having a whole new world open up for me. My husband is also walking with me on average 5 times a week. It's been wonderful, we get in exercise plus we get away from the T.V., the phone, the animals and kid!
Well, that's all until next time. Gotta go back to work!

Finally, the big day was December 8, 2008! After getting all the clearances and only having to fight with my secondary insurance company I got the surgery. After two years of being on this quest I can't beleive that I'm on the other side of the rope now. I was getting high blood pressure, have hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, plantar's faciitis, and other things. But now it just seems that I am "Somewhere over the rainbow"! Thank you God!

Well I am down to the last clearance and that is the 6 month weightloss clinic on Monday August 11th.  I went to the pulmonologist on Monday August 4th. I didn't score very well on the lung capacity test, only about 50%. But she did say that it was probably due to my weight and my lungs not having very much room to expand, I am really getting anxious and tired of all the doctor visits all at one time. I have to go to foot therapy about twice a week, then it's either one doctor or another. I am really exhausted, I work so many hours and make up the time for the doctor visits but it takes time away from my family and it's hard to work in what exercise I can.That's all I do work and go to the doctor. Who has time for a life?  I'm so afraid that the insurance company wants more tests and more evidence, I've been on this venture for two years. How much more do they want out of me?

I have made more phone calls this week than I ever wanted to make. After working in sales for over half my life the phone kind of sickens me now. But I have made phone call after phone call. Some of the time I got the answers that I needed other times it was like pulling teeth. I called a doctor that I had gone to years ago and they were going to make me drive over 150 miles to PAY for my records. I asked them if they could just mail them to my doctor but they said I had to sign a release. I had faxed other doctors letters with my signature and they sent my records right on to where I needed them. I am having difficulty getting in touch with my insurance consultant. I wish they knew or at least had compassion for what all we are going through. I mean most insurance companies make you go through the fire and back again to even get approval, they could at least be there to give you an encouraging word every once in a while. I guess they just need to make sure that you are totally committed to the cause. Anyway, I had my first psyche evaluation,  I think it went ok. I go to see her two more times. I have a call into the pulmonologist and an appointment with the nutritionist. Thank God for a lady named Keva, I went to the Lifesteps program and she was the exercise guru. She has worked her magic and got me into a class. I just continue to pray and ask others to pray that things continue to fall into place. And thank the Lord for all the answered prayers so far.

I have started this process and am really scared that my insurance won't see the benefit in my having the surgery. I have clearances from my heart doctor, my sleep apnea tests and my primary care physician. I even have a letter of recommendation from the heart doctor and my primary care physician. I am going to contact the insurance company the middle of next week. I really need prodding to keep on top of this, sometimes the journey seems so long you just want to give up and quit!