HeatherDoll76
10/30/2008
Oct 31, 2008
I just got a call from the patient coordinator at Bariatrics...my info. is being sent out to my insurance for approval ....TODAY. I could have surgery as soon as December 3rd. Now I wait for their decision. Will it be approved or denied?
10/27/2008
Oct 31, 2008
I thought I'd update…nothing too exciting going on. I still have 6 lbs. to lose to make my 5% weight loss goal. I did get a call on Friday from the patient coordinator; she said my "packet" is just about ready to go to insurance. I initially thought that the "packet" would have to go to my primary insurance first, to be denied. They don't cover anything obesity related. Turns out…I can just submit the portion of my benefits booklet that states the exclusion of anything obesity related. So, that cuts a little more time off of this horrible waiting. The only "glitch" at this point is my secondary insurance requires '6 months of supervised weight loss' one of my bad habits is throwing stuff away. I throw EVERYTHING away. That means I have nothing from the times I have gone to Weight Watchers. The only thing I have is records from Monarch Medical Weight Loss clinic. I have about 3 months worth and I have 3 months of seeing the dietician through this program. I called my insurance and was told that they do not need to be consecutive, so it might work. Worse thing that could happen is waiting a few more months. If all goes well I could have surgery as soon as, December 10th. I have a feeling that I won't be having the surgery until early 2009. Either was though, I am fine with either. IF I am to be totally honest…I want Dec. 10th. I am just not good with waiting and waiting and waiting. I am just not real good with the waiting. *sigh* 
10/10/08
Oct 17, 2008
Just an update…nothing too exciting. I have all my appointments done. I am working on my 5% weight loss. I have lost 9 lbs, seven more to go. As soon as I am done with that or least very "close" to it, the paperwork can go to insurance. "Get this show on the Road" I say! I am getting antsy! I am continuing with "therapy' … going once a week. I actually really like that. I am glad I found someone who I relate to. I think this is a very good thing for me. I am taking handfuls of vitamins. I can't believe what a huge difference they make. My skin is awesome, muscles and joints feel a lot better. Makes me realize that I am missing a lot of nutrients in my diet…I think if I decided to not have WLS surgery tomorrow (this will not happen) I will always take vitamins. Huge difference at a fairly low price. I love "lurking" on obesityhelp.com and beforeandafterhelp.com…I really enjoy reading all the posts. I have not really posted much at this point, just reading or lurking…LOL. There is a real swing in what people post…they either do awesome or they "fall off the wagon" and start eating corndogs and chocolate chip cookies again. I am really looking forward to getting my CPAP machine….sounds weird…I want to sleep again. I never sleep well and feel tired, exhausted, drained most everyday. Uggghh… I am super tired today, actually. Things I've Given Up: Delicious Coffee as well as, Non-Delicious Coffee Soda Fast Food Candy Chips Ice Cream Pie Cake Almost all thing delicious Is it worth it? Yeah…it sure is.
Things I've Given Up: Delicious Coffee as well as, Non-Delicious Coffee Soda Fast Food Candy Chips Ice Cream Pie Cake Almost all thing delicious Is it worth it? Yeah…it sure is.
9/30/08
Oct 17, 2008
So, the psychologist called me last night and told me he fully supports my decision to have WLS. He has sent my recommendation letter to Dr. Read and my PCP. Good news!!!
I am going to continue to see him for issues in my life.
I am really excited to have his help post-surgery, as well. I feel like things are really falling into place here. That was my last "big" appointment. Noel and I are going tonight to Dr. Read class on the actual surgical procedure. 
I am going to continue to see him for issues in my life. I am really excited to have his help post-surgery, as well. I feel like things are really falling into place here. That was my last "big" appointment. Noel and I are going tonight to Dr. Read class on the actual surgical procedure.
9/26/08
Oct 17, 2008
I had my appointment with the Psychologist on Wednesday morning; I must admit I actually liked him. We did talk about weigh and the related issues. He focused on post-surgery issues….what I would need to change about myself, eating habits, grocery shopping habits. It was really enlightening to go over that stuff. I have been pretty focused on the "present" getting to all my appointments, changing my diet, losing some weight, adding in exercise. Don't get me wrong…I feel like I know what I will need to do after surgery, I just have not really had anyone really ask me about it. One of the things he wanted to know was if I knew what I will be eating in the first four week after surgery. I thought I did pretty well with this… Week One = CLEAR LIQUIDS ONLY, 48 oz. daily. Week Two = Clear Liquids (64 oz), Creamy Foods i.e. Cream Soup (strained), Cream of Wheat, No Sugar Added Smooth Yougurt, Sugar-Free Instant Pudding. Week Three = Clear Liquids (64 oz.), Mushy Protein i.e. cottage cheese, scrambled eggs Week Four = Clear Liquids (64 oz.) Soft, Moist Protein i.e. deli meat, dark meat poultry, soft cheese, moist ground beef Of course, starting in Week Two the rules are: 1 to 2 oz. 3 times per day, chewed 30 times, small bites and your "meal" needs to last 20 to 30 minutes. HUGE CHANGE, right? LOL. He said he will be calling me in the beginning of the week to let me know if I have his recommendation for surgery or if he needs to see me for more visits. Either way… I am cool with it.
He said he would have no problem continuing to see me for "issues" related to the Bariatric surgery. Excellent! I have skeletons! 
Don't we all?
He said he would have no problem continuing to see me for "issues" related to the Bariatric surgery. Excellent! I have skeletons! Don't we all?
9/24/08
Oct 17, 2008
I just got a call and my Psych. Eval. got moved from 11/04/08 to tomorrow! This is my last "big" appt. before my info. can be sent to insurance for approval. 
9/23/08
Oct 17, 2008
I had my consult with the surgeon that will be doing my RNY, yesterday. I was really looking forward to this appointment. I felt like after meeting him I would know for sure if I am doing the right thing…I totally am. He is fabulous! He is very informative, caring and seems to really understand all this weight crap. He was a vascular surgeon before doing these types of surgeries. I think if he can perform heart surgery, stomach surgery should be ok. He has an awesome track record…very low mortality and complication rates. Of course, there is ALWAYS a risk involved when anyone touches you with a sharp object. He outlined all of that and I still feel like this is what I need to do. If I don't lose this weight, my health is going to kill me eventually, it is just going to get worse as the years go by. Am I living the life I should be, I don't think so? He has done around 450 WLS (Weight Loss Surgeries) up to this point and I am very confident in his abilities. I did "Google" him and everything on the net is good! I have lost 6 lbs. so far another 10 to go before I make the 15% weight loss. My main concern is INSURANCE at this point….what if they say no? What then? 
9/15/08
Oct 17, 2008
Ok, update time! I had a sleep study done on the 9th…not a real great experience. You show up at 7:00 PM for a fun filled evening of sleeping while hooked to many electrodes and various other crap and to make this even more pleasant, the "tech" I had was a total douche bag. They do give you your results the next morning, which was nice. They confirmed what I already knew…I do have sleep apnea and I need a CPAP machine at night. It basically showed that I never get "good" sleep. This causes a lot of problems both mental and physical. I am actually looking forward to getting the CPAP machine, it will be grand to sleep again and feel refreshed. I went to my first appointment with the patient coordinator of the Bariatric program. We went over my medical records from the last 5 years, making sure all was in order. She is the one that will be sending the "packet" of info. to my insurances for the approval to have the surgery. We also discussed what I need to do to prepare myself for this procedure. She also gave me a binder with before and after information as well as, a book written by a lady who has had the surgery. Next I saw a dietician, specifically trained to work with Bariatric patients. We spent several hours discussing my diet…which is not good as we all know. She implemented some changes that I can actually make…I really liked her. I also needed to begin a vitamin regimen to get me in good "shape" for surgery. I will be continuing to take these after surgery, in a different form. It takes a little getting used to; I am taking a lot of pills now between medications and vitamins. I see the surgeon on the 22nd…this will be my consult appointment. I am looking forward to meeting him. I have like a billion other appointments coming up…the count is at seven from now until the 11th of November. I have my consult, the 2nd informational class with the surgeon, 2 Bariatric Program Support Groups, Psychological Exam, and 2nd Sleep Study. I am working on losing 5% of my total body weigh at the moment. This is a requirement of the program and my insurance; this is a pretty easy task. I can make this whole process go as quickly or slowly as I need to. At this point, I am ready to go…I need to get the appointments above out of the way so the "packet" can be sent to my insurance…more to follow.
9/05/08
Oct 17, 2008
So, I have made the decision to have Gastric Bypass surgery. It was a hard and long thought out decision. My health was a big factor in the decision. I have had hypertension for many years now, I have sleep apnea and I have the early on-set of diabetes. Super! It makes me sad when I think that I have done this to myself. When I sit and think about my weight, I realize that there are many things I have avoided doing in the last ten years, I don't want to continue this cycle. This is a MAJOR life changing event. I have many things to give up. Smoking being the thing I am concentrating on now. I still have several months of the "process" to get through before surgery. The "process" has begun, getting all the paperwork and crap for the insurance company. I am waiting for all my medical history from the last 5 years to be faxed to Samaritan Bariatric, when all that arrives I can make my first appointment out of three, before surgery. I will be updating this; it is kinda soothing puting it on(virtual) paper.
