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Surgeon TestimonialJohn Paul GonzalvoDr. John Paul Gonzalvo is the second surgeon I met with. I chose another doctor who quit just as we were submitting to insurance. I think it was a blessing in disguise because when I met with Dr. Gonzalvo I came out with a much better feeling. I was also very impressed with their entire program and the staff. Dr. Gonzalvo even showed up at one of the support group meetings I attended. The previous surgeon never did that. At this point I am still pre op. I have 14 days to go before my surgery. I have been very impressed and pleased with the attentiveness by everyone in their office. I will update more as I continue on in my journey. At that time I can tell you more about my impression right after surgery and then the aftercare I receive post op. rnrnAugust 29th... 2 Weeks Post Op.....rnSince my surgery is in the past now I can better give report as to my impression of Dr. Gonzalo and his staff. I came through the surgery with flying colors. I had very little pain from the time I left the hospital and was able to walk a mile twice a day starting the very next day. I met with Dr. Gonzalvo a day short of my 2 week post op date and he removed my staples. As always he took as much time with me as I needed and did not make me feel rushed. I was very impressed also at the time Dr. G. took looking at each bottle of vitamins that I was taking and advising me on each one. rnI was so happy with my outcome that I wanted to praise him and thank him but he is such a humble, quiet man that he would have none of it. The staff in his office were all so pleasant and excited for me as well. I have not yet met a person on his staff that I don't thoroughly like. It is obvious they are all very dedicated to and love their jobs.rnDr. G. informed me that their surgical team is taking over full control of the WLS program at Morton Plant in Clearwater. They will personally be running the support groups and overseeing the nutrition and after care program as well. Previously Morton Plant had their own staff that worked with the surgeons and patients. I was thrilled to learn that they are doing this and think it is a great step for the patients. rnI HIGHLY recommend Dr. John-Paul Gonzalvo to do your WLS if you are in search of a surgeon. Just read my blog and you will see how well I did after surgery. That in itself is quite a testimonial. Member Interests
- Pets - Owned by a wonderful Maine Coon cat and a very sweet Husky mix
- Pets - Own and run a professional pet sitting business in both NY and Florida
- Theater - Enjoy going to the movies, live plays and musicals
- Music - I like Country, Bluegrass, Folk and Rock.
- Radio & Television - Greys Anatomny, Dick Van Dyke, Seinfeld, Sex in the City,
- Photography - Was a professional photographer for many years but still enjoy it for leisure
- Hiking - I miss hiking in the Adirondacks and need to lose weight to do it again
- Swimming - I LOVE the water... swimming, boating.. love the ocean and lakes
- Road Trips - Love road trips!!!!
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July 31th, 2007 on July 31, 2007 7:00 am
I called the surgeons office this morning with a few questions. I had started my pre op diet last Friday, a little early for good measure. My instructions are to drink a protein shake for breakfast and lunch and an Atkins type meal for dinner. The dinner is fine of course but I am TERRIBLY hungry during the day and wanted to ask Chris, the nurse practioner if she could make any suggestions. I was pleased to hear that I can have a light high protein snack such as meat, egg or cheese late morning and late afternoon. I want to make sure that I concentrate on getting as much protein in as I can because I know that it will help with healing after surgery.
Chris explained that the reason for the pre op diet is not so much to lose weight but in the process of losing weight your liver shrinks. The liver is located right where the main part of the surgery is located and shrinking it makes it easier and safer for the surgery.
So we're counting down the days now! FOURTEEN more days to go!
I made this little ticker graphic to show my weight loss progress. I started out at 250 pounds when I began my weight loss journey last summer ('06) and had some ups and downs over the last year. I am down to 235 pounds as of today, 14 days pre op. The charts say my ideal weight is between 126 and 135. Since I am 53 yrs old, I think I should be at the top of that range so that is my goal weight. As of today, I need to lose 100 more pounds.
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July 26, 2007 on July 26, 2007 11:33 am
I called BCBS again today. They still have no record in the computer system that indicates they have received the photo that I sent them via overnight express.... AND spent a fortune doing so, I might add. HEHE So another day passes and the wait continues. My Mom wants to know how I stand it. I don't know. Do we have a choice? Don't we all know this is not an easy journey when we go into it? It has been pretty much like this all the way. If the saying is true then I guess I'll have built a lot of character going through the process. I guess I just have a lot of faith in God and know that everything happens in HIS time as HE knows what is best. Not that it's not VERY hard but having the peace of knowing HE has a plan for me... and a good one... I know I can ultimately deal with what ever it is HE has for me. Well actually... my Mom always "SHE". I don't think God is a He OR a She. I think our human minds tend to put God into a physical form so that we can comprehend "HIM" better. So how the heck did I get off on THAT tangent. Diversion, Marianne. DIVERSION! lol
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July 25, 2007 on July 25, 2007 6:15 pm
I called BCBS about 10AM this morning to see if they had received the photo that I overnighted to them. I was told that there is no way for customer service to know if they recieved it because once they receive it, it needs to be logged into the computer and that will take about 2 days. Sounds to me like the same old canned answer. I don't fault the person who answered the phone... they are always very curtious but the system is very frustrating. I guess it's in place because of people like me who are crazy and would bug the (blank) out of them. 
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July 24, 2007 on July 25, 2007 12:37 am
As I have every day for the last 3 weeks, I called Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama to check on the status of my pre approval. Every time I call I get the same old canned answer that it is still in process and could take 30 - 60 days and they will send a letter when it has been processed and they have no other information at this time. Well don't they actually have something DIFFERENT to tell me today. They said that I did not submit a doctors visit to show my weight for the year 2005. They need me to submit that OR a DATED photograph from 2005. I ask what they mean by "dated" and they said it has to be pre printed on the photograph.
I know that in 2005 I never went to a doctor at all. That was the year we were selling our house and moving to Florida and I just did not take care of myself that year at all. So I knew I was not going to be able to fulfill that requirement. The only other option would be to find a dated photograph. After many phone calls, a LOT of scurrying around and WONDERFUL help from my WLS angel, Mary J. and her Hubby, Bob, I managed to have what they needed on it's way via overnight express mail which should get to them by tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 8AM.
You can bet your bananas that I will be on the phone with them tomorrow verifying that they did recieve it.
I am on pins and needles now.... especially knowing they ARE working on my case. AND since they did not request anything else... I am VERY hopeful that I will get an approval very soon! 
It is 4:45 in the morning and I've been up for 2 hours because I was laying in bed wide awake most of the night.
I wonder if there is a surgery to fix the brains shut off valve so I can stop thinking and SLEEP.
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July 23, 2007 on July 23, 2007 2:37 pm
Oh the trials and tribulations of the waiting game. I hope my stomach can take all this anxiety. I know everyone who goes through this journey knows just what I am feeling and how frustrating it is. It will be 3 weeks tomorrow since the surgeons office sent the file for approval. I have called BCBS several times trying to get some help from someone but it's as though you speak to a recording every time. You get the same exact answer with the same exact wording every time. They tell me it can take 30 - 60 days to get an answer. I read on the boards that most people hear within a week. So here I write just to vent. Being in limbo is hard and not having any control over this phase is hard too. So the waiting continues. UGH. | Leave a comment.
July 13, 2007 on July 13, 2007 10:57 pm
I called the insurance company today and they finally have it logged into their computers that they have indeed received my pre approval request and it's gone to "Medical Review". So it's possible I could hear any day now. They told me it could take 30-60 days but I'm hoping it doesn't take nearly that long. I KNOW I will be answering the phone one day very soon to have someone on the other end of the phone tell me they are calling me to tell me the good news that I'm approved and that my surgery date is scheduled for August 13th.
I am still in Florida but am flying back up North to "camp" on Tuesday. I'll stay there until the 28th when John and I will drive back together. I miss him AND Shyann and Chooch a lot. It's been nice to have a good chunk of time to myself though.
On sort of the same note but a little off tract...I am doing all sorts of positive "Law of Attraction" imagry and positive thinking. I've been reading a book called The Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks. The very basics of this Law Of Attraction is that we create our own reality through our thoughts and feelings. I was led to this by a website I've been spending a lot of time on a website called Wisdomology. I was led there by a daily inspirational newsletter I get in email called Daily OM. In reading "The Law of Attraction" book I found out about a movie and book called "The Secret". All fascinating stuff. I guess I really knew this but it all confirms to me and adds to what I've known for a while now. I am very energized and excited about and can't get enough reading on it. I find myself up till all hours of the night reading related websites and forums.
Speaking of all hours of the night... it's 2:15AM and I guess I should get some sleep. I'll go to bed visualizing all the things I'm going to do when I get my my healtheir body back. I feel healtheir and more energetic aready!!!!! 
NITE! 
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July 5th, 2007 on July 4, 2007 9:01 pm
Well to update since I last posted. I came back down to Florida and met with Dr. Gonzalvo on June 5th. I liked him very much. He spent a lot of time with me and answered all of my questions very frankly and made a lot of sense in his explanations. I met Jan, Chris and Sherri in the office and was very pleased at how professional and friendly everyone was. I left there and in the next week completed the last of the requirements, checked with his office to make sure they received all of the results and was told that my file was going to Sherri, who will submit to insurance. Well I checked last week and she was on vacation. I called her on Monday and the office staff are all out for training this week so being short handed it wasn't likely she'd have time to submit to insurance this week. Sigh. So I wait. MEANWHILE I had a car accident and am going for physical therapy so am staying in Florida to continue that. My neck seems to be the biggest problem for me and I'm getting a little concerned about why the PT and chiropractic treatments are not helping by now. It's been a month since the accident. They keep telling me to be patient. Do I have a choice?
So I wait for insurance approval. As all of us know... this is very nerve wracking. If I get a quick approval the first time, I should still be on schedule for surgery on August 13. I'll be so glad when I finally get the call from insurance. Then I know I'm on my way. Being in limbo is always hard.
Also for the first time in a year, it's not up to me anymore. I have no control over what happens from here on out. For the last year I have been working feverishly being almost consumed by making sure I jump through every hoop and cross all my T's and dot all my I's.
Let's see.. here is what I have had to do in the last year...
*7 monthly doctor visits for supervised weight loss plan
*Cardio Nuclear stress test
*Cardio EKG
*Cardio Echocardiogram (twice because the first one expired)
*Endoscopy
*Colonoscopy
*Overnight Sleep study
*Pulmonary function test
*CPAP therapy
*Psychiatric Evaluation (2 appointments including a 2 hour test)
*Abdominal Ultrasound
*Chest Xray
*Bone Density Scan
*Blood workup
Also... in the process of all of these tests I needed to make many many phone calls in order to get all of these records sent to the surgeon. In many cases they didn't do it and had to be hounded. To make matters even more difficult I started out in a bariatric program in Albany NY, then moved to Florida and changed to a program in New Port Richey. I had to have all my records transferred to NPR. Then in May I found out that the surgeon in NPR quit so I had to scramble around, do a lot of research to find another surgeon who I liked and get all my records transferred again.
So here I am now in the waiting phase and I have no control. Not easy for a control freak like me.
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....About an hour ago I called the insurance company like I have every single day for the last 3 weeks. I asked if they had record that they received the photo that I overnighted to them. They always ask if they can put me on hold and this time was no different. But this time they kept me on hold for a very long time and I got a little nervous. BUT then the woman came back on the line and told me that I WAS APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Can you believe it! My heart is pounding right out of my chest. I called Dr. Gonzalvo's office to tell them so we can get my date of August 13th set on their schedule and take it OFF "tentative". Kelly, the woman who does the scheduling won't be in until Monday so I will call her then. I am flying high as you ALL well know! 
