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ChristiS1985's Blog
ChristiS1985's Blog


Ima jerk!
on March 21, 2012 11:31 am
So just now after reading some post I feel like a major jerk face! Here I have been complaining about how long all this is taking and blah blah blah. I just read that some woman had to wait almost a year to see her surgeon for the initial consult and another said it took her 8 months to get her sleeve. I started the process over again on January 4th and I being sleeved on April 9th and I had to do all my stuff over again. Maybe I should apologize to my doctors office and stop being so hard on them. Apparently 3 months from start to finish is a quick turn around time. Im just thankful and feel so very blessed to get a second chance in life and a chance to repair the damage I have done to my body over the past 27 years. Im so happy that im taking care of ME for once. :)
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One step closer!
on March 19, 2012 10:59 am
So today I started doing a pre-liquid diet. I dont have to start liquids till the 25th but I figured I would get a head start because the more I lose pre-op the easier my recovery will be...that and im also really EXCITED! I am only 16 days away. I have a feeling that time is going to creep by. But thats ok as long as it gets here eventually. :) So happy and excited about my future. :)
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For Real? :)
on March 10, 2012 1:38 pm

So unknown to me my paperwork was sent to the insurance company on Feb. 26th. It was scanned in on the 28th, showed up online on March 1st and was APPROVED on March 9th (my momma's bday)!!! My surgery is scheduled for April 2nd. Thats less than a month away and I couldnt be happier. Yesterday when I learned the news I had to cry for about 12 minutes before I could get myself together enough to start calling everyone. 3 years ive waited for that news...although im pretty sure it hasnt sunk in yet. There have been so many things in my life that ive wanted to do but cant because of my weight and I just keep thinking about how in a couple of months my limitations will slowly start to melt away. Im so excited! :)))

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Another blow!!!!!!
on February 16, 2012 12:41 pm
So had my "last" consult with my surgeon. It went horrible. I was told my 5 year history wasnt sufficient and most of the office staff were just mean, hateful, and not helpful at all. My surgeon was extremely nice and supportive though. I had two different break downs while I was there. Im really suprised they didnt ball up my psych eval and through it at me. Uhhh horrible day. Im depressed and dissapointed in how things went. Buuuuut ill keep fighting the fight and pick up tomorrow.
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My journey so far....
on February 2, 2012 4:41 pm
Febuary 2010
-Sent my initial paperwork to Dr. Ponce's office in Chattanooga, TN to see if my insurance covered WLS.
-Got a call stating that my insurance would infact cover WLS and scheduled my first appointment.
March 2010
-Had my first WLS appointment, talked with the Surgeon and even got to watch my sister have a lapband adjustment done. I was also given a list of requirments to start getting done that my insurance would require.
-Went to my nutrition class and paid $120.00 (thats a lot of money for a Social Worker)
April 2010
-Had my psych eval done which was about $300 (a WHOLE lot of money for a Social Worker)
May 2010
-My Aunt that was more life a grandmother passes away and on the way to her funeral I get a call from my Surgeons office that a mistake had been made and that my insurace would not cover WLS and I owed the their office about $200 for my consulation even though it was their fault.
***Complete devistation. My mother and sister both cried with me as we made our way to the funeral home***
April 2010
-After a couple of weeks of being extremely depressed and down I decided that it just wasnt meant to be and that God must have bigger plans for me.
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Feb. 2011
- I start a new job and get put on State Employee insurance and find out that WLS surgery is a benefit on my plan.
-Had my first appointment with Dr. Watsons office in Johnson City, TN. Everything went great and they start scheduling my test and so fourth to continue with my surgery.
-Get a call a week later stating that even though my plan does cover WLS that I have a pre-exisiting clause and that insurance wont pay till after 12 months. Once again I am crushed. Except at least this time they say its possible I just have to wait.
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Janunary 2012
-01/03/12, My 12 month waiting period falls off.
-01/04/12, I have my appointment to start the whole process over again. I had gained 50 pounds in the last year and was told that my BMI was too high for lapband and they talked to me about the sleeve. After researching and discussing this with my PCP I decided that the sleeve seemed like the thing to do.
-I have my EGD, Ultrasound, 6 month weigh in's, 5 year history, letter from PCP, pap smear, Nutrition and Pre -Op class (again), and my complete psych eval (again) all done by the end of January.  The only tihng I lack is my support group meeting and I go to it on Feb. 10th. My last appointment with surgeon is on Feb.16th. Hopefully all of my paperwork will be submitted to the insurance company on that day too.
Feb. 2012
-Waiting, waiting, and waiting. Im so so excited and nervous all at the same time again. Every time ive been through this process something always happens so one hand I am trying to be positive and the other I am just waiting for it all to go to hell. Ive wanted this for so long and it has been a difficult journey. Thanks to a FB friend she introduced me OH.com and it has been wonderful to read stories about other people going through the same things I am. Hopefully things will continue to go in my favor. Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. :)
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My Story

I am 26 years old and I cannot remember a day in my life that I HAVENT been overweight. It has been a struggle that I have struggled with since I can remember. Every major event in my life has some how been overshadowed by my weight. As of right now I have no major health problems but I know that its just a matter of time before my genes catch up with me if I dont get my weight off. Both of my parents as well as grandparents on both sides are diabetics. My father, mother, and sister (before her wls) are/were morbidly obese as well. I am TERRIFIED of needles. Im not sure what I would do if I was to become a diabetic. My sister had the lapband done about 3 years ago and it has totally changed her life and her health. It was seeing her success and how much it has helped her that has prompted me to go fourth and try to get approved for wls. In the begining I wanted to do the band because it seemed less evasive. I went through the process of classes, psych exams, tests, and so fourth only to learn 2 months later that wls was an excluded benefit through my then insurance. I actually got the call on the way to my Aunts funeral...needless to say that was a bad day for me. For anyone that has struggled with their weight and all the stigmas attached to being overweight im sure you feel my pain and can understand why I would take such a drastic measure to get my weight under control. I switched jobs and insurance and found out that wls surgery was included in my plan. I was so ecstatic that I called the day I found out and made an appointment to start the process again. Everything went well up until a week after. My surgeons office called and said that I had a 12 month waiting period before my insurance would pay for any pre-existing conditions. Here I was again...back to square one and devastated. My waiting period was up on Jan, 2nd of this year and I had my appointment on Jan. 4th haha. I have decided now to go with the sleeve. I have all of my paperwork ready and I have done all requirments that my insurance company required. Now im just waiting till Feb. 16 when I have my last appt and then they send my paperwork off to the insurance company. Its been a long, hard road but it looks like im seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Just gotta play the waiting game with the insurance company. :)