Got my approval letter and the flu this week! Our insurance is changing bariatric coverage the first of the year, so I may have wasted my time going through the process. I probably will have to use another physician at a facility that is company owned (I work for a hospital corporation.) I will call today and cross my fingers that perhaps Dr. Gupta has a cancellation for December.
12/16/03
I'VE GOT A DATE! I went ahead and scheduled for 1/7/4, even though I'm not sure my insurance will cover my chosen hospital. I asked my HR director to intercede and she emailed me back today saying she found something that might help... I hope tomorrow is another good day - one where she points out the plan wording that will allow me to proceed.

12/22/03
Well, no luck so far. I found out Friday that the insurance co. absolutely would NOT cover surgery at my chosen hospital after 2003. Made for a bummer weekend, although I did have a get together with my grandchildren. That made it better.

I was waiting all day for the patient financial person to call me and tell me how much it would be self-pay. I was shocked with the $20,000 figure! Of course, it was out of my price range.

I called later today to cancel and got a very helpful woman who wanted to know why I was canceling. I told her it wouldn't be covered after next week. She acted like she might be able to help me and said she would call me back. No news yet as of end of business, but I'm hopeful again that she will find me a surgeon who can work me in. I'm not choosy at this point. Prayers are in order!
12/28/03
Two days and a wake up before I move to the losing side. I was pretty apprehensive about the surgery risks early on, but now that doesn't seem to be an issue for me. Now I worry about whether I will be able to make the lifestyle changes necessary to be successful. I am a compulsive overeater who really likes sweets. The thought of doing without is numbing!

Two friends of mine will be taking me down Monday night. I have my nutrition class first thing Tuesday morning and then surgery Wednesday morning. (I would have liked the class a little in advance, but once the whole process got rolling, it seemed to take on a life of its own.) They will stay through surgery, then go home and return to pick me up.

I'm going to miss my parents Wednesday. My dad is working (but would have gone down if I wanted) and my mom is still in Florida. I am supposed to be in Florida right now, but couldn't do both that and finish up work prior to surgery. Forgoing Florida was a small price to pay to get surgery scheduled next week.

I have spent a lot of time with my loved ones this weekend - both human and food. I went to a favorite home style Amish cooking restaurant last night and ended up with 15 family members there with me. I called it my "Farewell to Food" party. Today I had Chinese with my best friends. I actually think I've burned myself out on eating - so much that nothing sounds good right now. I'll have one last good meal on Monday and then eat lighter on Tuesday. The only restriction placed on me by the surgeon is NPO after midnight, but I have heard that it's not good to pig out right before surgery.