neverett
Hello....I am a 31 yr old single mother of 2 VERY active boys, ages 5 & 8. I first started looking into wls last Dec. but got very discuraged with the long waiting time to get seen (thought it was a call to dr. then time/date set up for surgery.) Little did I realize all the testing/procedures needed first to have the approval/surgery. I do not have any health complications so far with my obesity of 15 yrs. but, I know they will start creeping in. Thank God for this site to totally fill me in on everything needed. My journey has begun & hopefully soon I will be on the losing side to a whole brand new life!! :)
6-11-03 Searched the net to find a dr. in the Houston area, called Dr. F & took first available, not till July ...WOW...but 1st step!!!
7-3-03 Consult with dr. completed & sent home needing to complete several testing required.
7-22-03 Completed all testing required & all tests came back negative.
7-28-03 Letter sent to insurance company, but insurance company review team changed address so insurance team never received paperwork. CAUTION TO ALL CIGNA PPO PLANS!!!!!
8-11-03 Insurance review team finally received all the paperwork needed & now dr. & nurse review teams are reviewing my case on the basis of 1st come 1st serve. Hopefully soon I will get an answer!!! Patience....
8-22-03 Found out that yesterday I was denied on my first letter :( I called Dr. F. & they said I have to wait till the denial letter comes in to see what exactly they are wanting for an approval. I had a feeling that I would of been denied since I don't have a recent 6 month diet history with weekly weigh-in's...my insurance company's #1 "golden rule" so..... This afternoon I have an appointment with my primary care physician to see if he can help me out some so....I'm in it for the long haul & won't give up!!!! :)
8-25-03 Seen my pcp & he put me on a 1,500 calorie diet with monthly weigh-in's! Blanca said that they will appeal in Feb. 2004 & hopefully that will do the trick. I am very upset & sad..not till 2004 to try again?????????? WOW... In the mean time I am working on cigna's explaniation & trying to follow my dr's diet! YIKES!!!!
10-1-03 I am appealing the denial with some medical records. They will be sent to Cigna's Intercorp tomorrow. Hopefully this will get me the approval I sooo... need! In the mean time, I am still on my PCP low-cal diet & exercise program. The end of this month will be 3 months of info... Please pray that I get the approval soon!!!!!!! :)
12-2-03 I couldn't appeal the insurance denial with my past records..seems they were too old to use for now (1998 records.) I am having to wait until the end of my 6 month diet history with my PCP. I am having no luck in losing. I have lost 2 pounds in 4 months :( The end of Jan. will be the end of my 6 month history soooo..hopefully in Feb. I can appeal & get the approval for a surgery in late Feb. or March! I really don't understand the insurance denial for my 1998 records...history is history right??????
1-21-04 Yesterday I went to my monthly PCP visit & he said I am thru with my 26 week supervised diet. He gave me all my history & I faxed them to Dr. F. I am now waiting on the "lovely" Cigna peps to respond. I need lots of luck & prayers plzzzzzz...... :) I am sooo.. ready to do this!!
1-23-04 I called the insurance company to make sure that all info. was sent & they said yes, they received everything & they will make a decision within 15 working days. I am sooo.. hoping that this works out for me! Keep those prayers & good lucks coming!!!!! :)
2-3-04 1st appeal denied: Called Cigna insurance this morning & was told that a decision was made late yesterday afternoon & that I am still denied. Seems like my clearance for sugery was illegible. I have noooo... ideal what is really going on with Cigna?????? They are full of !@#$ & now I have to get a typed letter from my PCP using my last level of appeals (2ND.) I am waiting on a fax from my PCP so I can fax it to Cigna. We'll see if it does the trick????????? Has anyone else heard of this denial reason?
2-5-04 Called Cigna & found out that my 2nd appeal is being reviewed. I fought with the insurance all this morning on how come it is my fault & I have to use up my last appeal, that the insurance dr. is "pretending" not to be able to read my PCP dr.'s handwriting. grrrrrrrrr....I have another 15 days to wait until a decision is made. I am sooo lost in this but I am not giving up! I am praying that I will get the ok I sooo.. need! Blanca says that this is a first for her & hopefully not a sign to come for the new year (2004.)Sooo..word of warning to all... don't get your clearance for surgery handwritten by your PCP, get it typed! :(
2-9-04 APPROVED!!!!!!!!!! :) THANK-YOU LORD!!! I called my insurance this morning to see what are my next steps on what I need to do if my 2nd appeal was also denied & I was told I can't do anything because I was approved for the surgery & all I have to do is have the surgery!! SUCH A BLEESING!!!! :) YAHOO!!!! I was screaming & crying all at the same time!!! Co-workers knew I was trying sooo. hard for this & they also rejoiced fro me!!! :) I called Dr. F. & Blanca gave me a date of Feb. 23rd at 12 Oaks Hospital. I have sooooo much to do to & prepare...still in shock....I didn't expect a date sooo.. soon!!! But I'll take it!! :)
2-19-04 Yesterday I had to do all my pre-op's & hopefully all results will come back good & well!!! Tomorrow is a last visit with Dr. F. & then I am the first surgery scheduled on Monday & have to be at Twelve Oaks at 5:30am. My lovely sister, Bethany, will be with me..she is a blessing & I love her dearly. This weekend I am going "home" to Refugio, (by Corpus Christi) & picking up my dad who will be with my boys at home/school to make sure all goes well with that end. Yesterday my sister & I went to join Curves since there is a special going this month & they were soo.. nice that they said I could come back in a month & get the same special!! sooo...I'm pumped & soooo ready for all of these life changing events!!!! Hopefully I can post soon after surgery. Thanks for all the blessed words & wishes for a speedy recovery!!!
2-26-04 I'm finally on the losing side!!!! YES!!!!!!!!! :)
My surgery was Monday, Feb. 23rd, I went in weighing 263 lbs & all went perfect, had lap done & no complications! I went in at 7:30am & was out by 10am in ICU. I really didn't have too much pain, just constantly telling myself to breath deep by smelling the roses & blowing out the candles! hehe!! I was in ICU all of Monday & Tuesday till noon. Tuesday I went for my leak test & passsed so I was put into a regular room & then Wed. at noon I was released. I had no drain or ng tube put in so I think that was a big help also. Seems That Dr. F. is not using ng tubes any more sooo.... I am walking every hour & drinking my shakes & liquid in-between. I am thinking about donating my long hair today at the beauty shop to Locks of Love (hair for cancer kids) because it's really getting in my way. I have hair that hits my waist & it's getting really knotted from laying on my back. Everything went as expected except the care received in my regular room. The care my room-mate received (beautiful lady named Patti who had same procedure after me in surgery) was not professional & she & I both voiced on that. The ICU nurses were top professional & I think that made the experience start out perfect. I have my 3 wk visit on March 15th & I am excited to weigh-in for once!!! hehehe!!!
3-4-04 Tuesday I came down with strep throat!!! YIKES :(((( I had to get shots & my drinking & walking have almost stopped. The dr. weighed me & I didn't want to look except he almost lost it when he noticed I have dropped almost 30 lbs in 1 week. YIKES!!! Today is Thurs. & I am still sick, but able to get my fluids in & back walking. I am soo..sensitive whenever it comes to drinking out of glasses in public. I know straws are a no-no but I think next time a staw out in public glasses will be fine for me!!!
3-9-04 I went in today for my follow-up from my strep. I have lost 31 lbs in 15 days WOW!!!!! I feel I have lost more in inches thought. I also donated 14 inches of my hair to Locks of Love & still have plenty of hair left...hehehe!!! I am enjoying being on leave from work & spending time with my 2 boys while they are on spring break from school!!!
3-30-04 I went back to work on March 22nd & everything has been good. I am on a 10lb weight restriction for 2 weeks since I lift close to 50lbs multiple times a day. I haven't been good about getting my protien shake in, tired of the thick milky stuff, going shopping for the kool-aid kind now. Last week I took a beautiful swan dive to the pavement while walking & so far all has been ok, no busted stitches ect...I landed straight on my tummy but knees, arms & face got busted really good grrrrrrrrr.... Trying all kinda soft items & so far all things have been good to me :) Need to go shopping for new bra's...the cup size (DD/E) is still working, but the around (48) is doing me no good, I have to pin it to get tight :) Love these milestones!
4-6-04 I have added the most recent photo I had before surgery. I was at 270lbs. I am now at 230, 40 gone forever!! :) I will have my 6 week check-up tomorrow & have some questions to ask. My last monthly cycle was a week before surgery & I haven't had one since. For all I care it can stay gone....hehe!! I have tried all kinda foods & all have been good. I don't know if that's good or bad...yikes!!
5-11-04 I learned that my company will be closing down soon & I am there till Oct. 29th. I am trying to really lose this weight fast so I can be able to have a breast "lift, fluff & re-stuff" before all my health coverage stops. I made my 3 month appointment for May 26th & I am excited to see if I am on track with my losing. This afternoon at Curves I weighed in at 212lbs. I have really stuck to the soft food list of things because that is what I enjoy most. I can go thru some containers of cottage cheese :) I have reached lots of milestones lately & I need to really go shopping. Today at work I was told that now another person can fit inside my pants & shirts with me. My oldest also asked me if I was allowed to wear the saggy/baggy look to work. HEHE
6-8-04 Lots have been going on lately. My company is shutting down & my last day is in Oct. well, I was flown out to California to interview with the company over there & they made me an offer. I took the offer but now I am having things tell me not to go there, to just ride it out till Oct. here. I had to reschedule by 3 month visit to June 16th & from all the stress, my body is really taking a beating!!! I have not been eating right, taking in my fluids, or exercising. I have been at 202 for the last 3 weeks & I gave myself a personal goal to be at 200 by Friday. I am going to concentrate 100% this week to be under 200!!! My hair is falling some & when I went with co-workers Friday to lunch one lady said you are really losing & the other 2 chimed in... ya she is really dropping the weight... & the 1st lady said I was talking about her hair...hehehehe!!!!!
Gots to luv em'!!! I get soo much support at work, I'm blessed!! There has not been one day that someone doesn't come & sit for a talk about how things are going with the wls. I even get all kinda lunch offers knowing that they only have to pay .86 cents for pinto & cheese from Taco Bell!!!!!! hehehe!!
8-26-04
Things have been going really great for me. I am down -90 pounds in 6 months and currently weigh 180. Next week I have my 6 month check-up & hopefully by then I will hit the century club of -100 lbs. I have gone from a size 5x to a 16/18. I work out daily at Curves & on the weekends try to stay in some sort of physical activites with the boys. I recently went for a consultaion with the great Dr. LoMonaco, plastic surgeon, & since then have found out that insurance approved me for 3 plastics. I am having a breast reduction/lift, an abdominoplasty, & thigh reduction. I am scheduled for my breast reduction Oct. 15th. He will do the other 2 probably the first of next year :) My personal goal is to be at 140 & I am working really hard to make it there soon :) I will update my pic. when I make it to the century mark.
9-23-04
I made it to the century mark!!!!!!!! In 7 months I would have never thought I'd lose 100 lbs. I am sooo.. excited & blessed to have this tool. I have 30 more lbs to lose to make it to my personal goal of 140. The losing has slowed down but I am more pumped than ever to get to goal.
10-11-04
My breast reduction/lift surgery has been set back to Nov. 17th. My company is shutting down at the end of this month & we are not allowed to take vacation ect... soooo....my new surgery date is next month. I am really excited & can't wait until then. This Wed. is my b-day & this weekend I am going "home" to celebrate. I am going to see family members that haven't seen me since surgery & I am sooo.. nervous as to what they will say....hopefully it will all be good things :)
12-16-04
I had my breast reduction on Dec. 8th. Dr. LoMonaco worked miracles with the "girls." I am sooo.. excited with them I can't wait till they are 100% healed. I had stayed the night after surgery because I had no draines, then I started to drain & he just wanted me there to be on the "safe" side. I had no pains from the surgery & the only discomfort was my back hurting. I am scheduled for my other 2, Feb. 1st. I lost 11 lbs already from just my front part gone....can't wait to see what I will drop after all said & done. I am 5 lbs from my personal goal of 140. At the end of the month I will be moving to Refugio "home" so.....
2-21-05
I had my surgery Feb. 2nd and all went sooo.. well!!! I am now 127 lbs & loving my new smaller frame. He took off all stomach loss skin & pulled me sooo.. tight I still can't stand-up straight. He also repaired a hernia & did upper & lower lipo. He also did my thighs. I have some sweeling & having to go to him weekly to get checked-up on that. I really didn't have pain either. I had to use about 3 tsp. of my pain meds only. I had some pics taken & will update as soon as I get them back. I have had all positive feeback from family & friends. Thanks Dr. LoMonaco!!! Luv ya!
My #'s in 1 year......
START SIZE FEB 23rd, 2004 Weight: 263
Shirts: 5x/womans 26/28
Pants: Woman 22/24
Shoes: 7 1/2 some 8
Size Now FEB 23rd, 2005 Weight: 126
Shirts: Juniors small/med.
Pants: Juniors 5/6
Shoes: 7 some 7 1/2
I am sooo.. blessed to have this surgery & if South Texas had mountains, I would be screaming all day from them!! HA!
4-8-05
I am having another round of plastics on April 25th. Dr. L is going to do my inner thighs & touch-ups on my breasts & arms. Everything is going really great with my recovery & the swelling from my tt is going down.
10-20-05
Wow..time has flown by...to pick back up, I've had my inner thighs & touch-up on the sides of my breast done. All went well & when I woke up my WONDERFUL Dr. LoMonaco did my arms also. What a blessed man he is. I can honestly say there is a special place in heaven for that man!!!
The arms were the most painful surgery I've had sooo.. far. It's a slow recovery process but bearable. The inner thighs were also a sore recovery process, but something well worth the pain for :)
11-20-05
Last Friday my wonderful Dr. LoMonaco put implants in me. I had 325cc implants that were filled with 400cc saline. I have little to no pain & everything is looking really good. I can't say enough about Dr. LoMonaco, he is a blessed man that is the WORLD'S best plastic surgeon.
2-6-07
WOW....ALMOST MY 3 YEAR ANNIV....
Much more has gone on....In March 2006, the blessed Dr. LoMonaco did a lower body back lift & re-touches on all my previous "dog-ears" that sooo.. needed to go.
Last Friday, Dr. Ferrari repaired 2 abdominal hernias & I'm recovering nicely from that....
6-15-07
I had severe abdominal cramping, fever, & unable to keep anything down...thought it was bad "hot" wings...BUT...I was wrong..I had emergency hernia repair surgery AGAIN..YES....a hole was opened up in my wall that allowed my bowel to fall "into" & become trapped....Dr. Ferrari was out in Cali. so his back-up Dr. Jayakumar performed the surgery..WHEW...I'm recovering nicely & just love him...Thankfuly all went well & I'm back...
Would I do this all over again??? YOU BET!!!!!
