Onmyweightohappiness
Consult with the surgeon is scheduled!
Mar 23, 2010
I remember back in November when I started this journey I felt like it was going to take forever and the time would never come. Well now I am 4 weeks of completing my 6 month diet and realized um I need to decide on a surgeon and get the rest of my requirements completed!
So after much research, reading people's reviews, talking to people I have decided to go with Dr. Carlos Ferrari. I was amazingly impressed with his history, his creditials and all the great things people said about him. I have yet to find something bad. So I called Dr. Ferrari's office yesterday to talk to the lady about exactly what is my next step, what do I need to do from here to prepare? She was amazing! She explained everything in great detail, I asked I swear a million questions she answered every one of them and didn't seem annoyed. She said the first thing she needed to do was obviously call my insurance to verify benefits and that way I could know what I would be responsible for on my end. Then we need to set up a consult with Dr. Ferrari to start the paperwork process and get the other appointments/requirements that I need to complete prior to submitting paperwork. I have my consult with Dr. Ferrari on April 9th, 2010 at 3pm. I could of gotten in this week or next but the days she had available my co-worker is gone so that didn't work. So what is left for me to complete is they will give me orders to go get a psychological evaluation done, nutritional evaluation done, I will also have to do a panel of bloodwork, EKG and possibly an ultrasound of my gallbladder prior to even submitting approval for surgery. They need to know I am emotionally and physically ready for surgery. Wow this is really happening. Still seems unreal!
My worry thru out this whole process has been the financial part of it. My insurance does cover 75%, I am responsible for 25% up to my $3500 out of pocket maximum and once that is met Cigna kicks in at 100%, I also have my $500 deductible which I have met already when I had to get my CPAP machine so that is atleast taken care of. But she said there will be out of pockets for going to his office ($40 co-pay), the nutritional eval is typically not covered by insurance so that is I believe $80, the psych eval is covered but I am sure I will have a $30-40 co-pay, and I bet anything when I do the bloodwork, EKG and ultrasound I will have either a co-pay or part of the bill I will be responsible for which is fine because if I can knock that out of pocket maximum down the better it will be closer to surgery. Because once it boils down to surgery she said typically Dr. Ferrari wants his 25% upfront, which she said is typically no more than $400 again depending on insurance. And then we have the hospital which I know will require money when I walk in the door, if I am reading my policy right I will have to fork over $200 to be checked into the hospital and then the remaining of the bill should be billed to me. So it is a lot of money to fork over but atleast I have insurance for it. Just praying all the expenses I can afford. Going to see if I can continue working over time to start stashing some money aside. Gotta love health insurance right? Sometimes I feel like what is the point you are always dishing over a butt load of money it seems. But I am thankful I have insurance so I can't complain too much.
So this process is coming a long. The last leg of it is here! So if all goes well we will be submitting approval for surgery the beginning of May I think. If we didn't have vacation planned I probably could get it all done in April but don't think it's gonna happen but you never know! I am just so ready for this. My body has failed me and I refuse to allow it to keep failing me. I have my life to live for. I have my son to live for. And I guess I have my husband to live for. HA HA Kidding! And also my family and friends. I pray that the last leg of this journey goes smoothly as it can and I will get my wish. I just want to be healthy, I want to be able to do things I use to be able to do or have never done. I am tired of this weight holding me back from life. I am going to reclaim it back this year you will not hold me hostage anymore!
Till next time.....
0 comments
So after much research, reading people's reviews, talking to people I have decided to go with Dr. Carlos Ferrari. I was amazingly impressed with his history, his creditials and all the great things people said about him. I have yet to find something bad. So I called Dr. Ferrari's office yesterday to talk to the lady about exactly what is my next step, what do I need to do from here to prepare? She was amazing! She explained everything in great detail, I asked I swear a million questions she answered every one of them and didn't seem annoyed. She said the first thing she needed to do was obviously call my insurance to verify benefits and that way I could know what I would be responsible for on my end. Then we need to set up a consult with Dr. Ferrari to start the paperwork process and get the other appointments/requirements that I need to complete prior to submitting paperwork. I have my consult with Dr. Ferrari on April 9th, 2010 at 3pm. I could of gotten in this week or next but the days she had available my co-worker is gone so that didn't work. So what is left for me to complete is they will give me orders to go get a psychological evaluation done, nutritional evaluation done, I will also have to do a panel of bloodwork, EKG and possibly an ultrasound of my gallbladder prior to even submitting approval for surgery. They need to know I am emotionally and physically ready for surgery. Wow this is really happening. Still seems unreal!
My worry thru out this whole process has been the financial part of it. My insurance does cover 75%, I am responsible for 25% up to my $3500 out of pocket maximum and once that is met Cigna kicks in at 100%, I also have my $500 deductible which I have met already when I had to get my CPAP machine so that is atleast taken care of. But she said there will be out of pockets for going to his office ($40 co-pay), the nutritional eval is typically not covered by insurance so that is I believe $80, the psych eval is covered but I am sure I will have a $30-40 co-pay, and I bet anything when I do the bloodwork, EKG and ultrasound I will have either a co-pay or part of the bill I will be responsible for which is fine because if I can knock that out of pocket maximum down the better it will be closer to surgery. Because once it boils down to surgery she said typically Dr. Ferrari wants his 25% upfront, which she said is typically no more than $400 again depending on insurance. And then we have the hospital which I know will require money when I walk in the door, if I am reading my policy right I will have to fork over $200 to be checked into the hospital and then the remaining of the bill should be billed to me. So it is a lot of money to fork over but atleast I have insurance for it. Just praying all the expenses I can afford. Going to see if I can continue working over time to start stashing some money aside. Gotta love health insurance right? Sometimes I feel like what is the point you are always dishing over a butt load of money it seems. But I am thankful I have insurance so I can't complain too much.
So this process is coming a long. The last leg of it is here! So if all goes well we will be submitting approval for surgery the beginning of May I think. If we didn't have vacation planned I probably could get it all done in April but don't think it's gonna happen but you never know! I am just so ready for this. My body has failed me and I refuse to allow it to keep failing me. I have my life to live for. I have my son to live for. And I guess I have my husband to live for. HA HA Kidding! And also my family and friends. I pray that the last leg of this journey goes smoothly as it can and I will get my wish. I just want to be healthy, I want to be able to do things I use to be able to do or have never done. I am tired of this weight holding me back from life. I am going to reclaim it back this year you will not hold me hostage anymore!
Till next time.....
Fifth doctor's appointment
Mar 21, 2010
Five down and one to go! So exciting. Doesn't feel real yet. I think once I meet with the surgeon, maybe get approved for surgery and have a date then I think it will set in that this is really happening.
Today at work and on my way to my doctor's appointment I finally had a chance to call some surgeons. A few weren't in my insurance's network, a few only did lap band and so far I have found one that is in network and does the RY gastric bypass. So they basically told me once I have all of my insurance requirements done, to make an appointment and to bring all the paperwork in, get everything filled out we need to and get paperwork submitted the way I am understanding it. So this week I am going to do some more research on this surgeon just so I feel more comfortable, but really I don't have a lot of choices with my insurance. Which sucks but it's also a good thing because my insurance has strict requirements for the bariatric surgeons they approve. And the other ones I thought of using are downtown and I would like to avoid that if it all possible.
So my 5th doctor's appointment was good. Did the normal as usual. Then had some questions for my doctor. First I showed her the sheet of approved surgeons from my insurance company, of course the ones she knew were downtown and she even agreed that it's not worth driving all the way down there. It's too bad the hospital she works in the bariatric part is opening the end of May/June. I don't want to wait that long for those surgeons to have rights in that hospital. Then I had questions for her as far as regards to what exactly my insurance is requiring. I have the print off from my insurance company. So I have to complete a pysch and nutritional evaluation yet. She said to contact the surgeon's office for recommendations or they possibly have specific people they use so I will call them tomorrow. I want to get those appointments set up ASAP so I can get that out of the way. Then I showed her my insurance benefits print out because I wanted to make sure I understood it because the way I read it it says weight loss surgery is covered at 100% and that's exactly how she read it too. So I am really hoping that is the case, again will call the surgeon's office to find out exactly. I don't need any last minute surprises! So after that I was talking to her to make sure next month we have all documentation in place because my insurance requires each month that she records my weight, the diet program and exercise program she recommends or that I am doing. She has that so that was another sigh of relief. I have my last and final appointment with her on April 27th. We will have my last weigh in, talk and then she will have all paperwork ready for me as well. I opted for the end of April because I would like to get the psych and nutritional eval done first, then we have vacation the middle of April than that way she is my last appointment of the month and then set an appointment with the surgeon hopefully the beginning of May so we can get the paperwork submitted. Really hoping surgery can be the end of May or June but really whenever they can do it is fine. Just praying I get approved and this all goes smoothly!
I can't believe it's coming so close. I never thought this would end. But now that it's nearing closer it feels like it's forever away. I am so ready for this. After years of thinking this over I have finally decided it's time to take another action plan because my plans haven't worked or don't work long term. We have made a lot of healthy changes around the house already to prepare and changing bad habits. And I have made up my mind that I am going to quit smoking by or before April 30th. That is my deadline. I want to be smoke free for surgery, and likely will be required to anyways. Plus I look at it like this, let's get rid of all the bad habits, memories etc and start fresh! It's not going to be easy but I have motivation to keep me going.
I am ready for a change, I am ready to move on with my life, I am ready to be healthy. I am just ready!
0 comments
Today at work and on my way to my doctor's appointment I finally had a chance to call some surgeons. A few weren't in my insurance's network, a few only did lap band and so far I have found one that is in network and does the RY gastric bypass. So they basically told me once I have all of my insurance requirements done, to make an appointment and to bring all the paperwork in, get everything filled out we need to and get paperwork submitted the way I am understanding it. So this week I am going to do some more research on this surgeon just so I feel more comfortable, but really I don't have a lot of choices with my insurance. Which sucks but it's also a good thing because my insurance has strict requirements for the bariatric surgeons they approve. And the other ones I thought of using are downtown and I would like to avoid that if it all possible.
So my 5th doctor's appointment was good. Did the normal as usual. Then had some questions for my doctor. First I showed her the sheet of approved surgeons from my insurance company, of course the ones she knew were downtown and she even agreed that it's not worth driving all the way down there. It's too bad the hospital she works in the bariatric part is opening the end of May/June. I don't want to wait that long for those surgeons to have rights in that hospital. Then I had questions for her as far as regards to what exactly my insurance is requiring. I have the print off from my insurance company. So I have to complete a pysch and nutritional evaluation yet. She said to contact the surgeon's office for recommendations or they possibly have specific people they use so I will call them tomorrow. I want to get those appointments set up ASAP so I can get that out of the way. Then I showed her my insurance benefits print out because I wanted to make sure I understood it because the way I read it it says weight loss surgery is covered at 100% and that's exactly how she read it too. So I am really hoping that is the case, again will call the surgeon's office to find out exactly. I don't need any last minute surprises! So after that I was talking to her to make sure next month we have all documentation in place because my insurance requires each month that she records my weight, the diet program and exercise program she recommends or that I am doing. She has that so that was another sigh of relief. I have my last and final appointment with her on April 27th. We will have my last weigh in, talk and then she will have all paperwork ready for me as well. I opted for the end of April because I would like to get the psych and nutritional eval done first, then we have vacation the middle of April than that way she is my last appointment of the month and then set an appointment with the surgeon hopefully the beginning of May so we can get the paperwork submitted. Really hoping surgery can be the end of May or June but really whenever they can do it is fine. Just praying I get approved and this all goes smoothly!
I can't believe it's coming so close. I never thought this would end. But now that it's nearing closer it feels like it's forever away. I am so ready for this. After years of thinking this over I have finally decided it's time to take another action plan because my plans haven't worked or don't work long term. We have made a lot of healthy changes around the house already to prepare and changing bad habits. And I have made up my mind that I am going to quit smoking by or before April 30th. That is my deadline. I want to be smoke free for surgery, and likely will be required to anyways. Plus I look at it like this, let's get rid of all the bad habits, memories etc and start fresh! It's not going to be easy but I have motivation to keep me going.
I am ready for a change, I am ready to move on with my life, I am ready to be healthy. I am just ready!
Anticipation
Mar 17, 2010
is killing me! I have never been so ready for something in my life. I swear some days it consumes me. All I sit and think about is what surgery will be like, what after surgery will be like, will surgery go smoothly, is there going to be any surprise costs for surgery, to be able to lose weight without having to starve myself and that doesn't even work lately and on and on I think. It's driving me crazy honestly. And maybe it's because the end is nearing and the time is getting closer. I can not wait honestly. I am sooooo ready it's not even funny. I just need a tool to help me, I need something to work, because no matter how careful I am about what I eat and working out like crazy, it's not helping at all and it's fustrating beyond belief. At times I sit and think how embarrassing it is that I have to resort to surgery to help me lose weight. And then I have to tell myself with all my medical issues it's almost impossible for me to do it on my own. I have tried and after 8 months 20lbs was it and I didn't budge after 4 months on the scales. On Monday I will have my 5th doctors appointment, one more to go and paperwork is submitted. I have no idea how long it will take for insurance to respond. I pray they don't take forever. I still have to decide on a surgeon. Going to bring in a list on Monday to my doctor to see if any of the ones I know for sure my insurance covers she can recommend. I just haven't had the time to call these surgeons to discuss things with. But I need to get on it and have something set in stone by the end of this month. I just really pray that by the end of May or early June I can have a surgery date. Just something to look forward to, that knowing it's set in stone. Right now it's like playing the lottery. Will my insurance give me the "winning" ticket?
I have just been so disgusted with myself the last few months and it's almost getting worse. I am embarrassed of the way I look and honesty I am only like 5lbs heavier than I was 3 years ago but yet I feel like I am around 50lbs heavier. Sad how we do this to ourselves honestly it is. I beat myself up so bad and can't stop. I won't look at myself in the mirror anymore without clothes, rarely with clothes. It makes me want to cry. Why me? I am excited to go home in April but I don't want anyone seeing me like this. I want to go back to church, we haven't been back since Gage was born, and my excuse I have nothing to wear and I am to embarrassed to be seen like this. Like God cares? Swear some days I just want to scream. It's so fustrating. And I feel so alone about it. My husband doesn't fully understand, he fully supports me, thank heavens! But I have no one else to vent or really relate too. My girl Layla is about the only one. She knows what I am talking about when I say I feel fat, I am disgusted etc etc Swear we were twins separated at birth sometimes. I have known her for almost 3 yrs, we have never met but I feel so close to her. Crazy! And I don't want to feel like that is all I talk about or no one will want to be around me. I think I am just fustrated with it all and sick and tired of it all. I want, need and crave the change so bad. I pray insurance doesn't deny me and accepts me as soon as they can. It will be a blessing in a half. I need this for me, my son, my husband, my family and our life. I can't and refuse to live like this the rest of my life. I will move heaven and hell if I have to to make this happen. I am so determined.
Ok time to stop venting! Just had to let it out. Been on my mind for awhile. I feel better releasing it!
0 comments
I have just been so disgusted with myself the last few months and it's almost getting worse. I am embarrassed of the way I look and honesty I am only like 5lbs heavier than I was 3 years ago but yet I feel like I am around 50lbs heavier. Sad how we do this to ourselves honestly it is. I beat myself up so bad and can't stop. I won't look at myself in the mirror anymore without clothes, rarely with clothes. It makes me want to cry. Why me? I am excited to go home in April but I don't want anyone seeing me like this. I want to go back to church, we haven't been back since Gage was born, and my excuse I have nothing to wear and I am to embarrassed to be seen like this. Like God cares? Swear some days I just want to scream. It's so fustrating. And I feel so alone about it. My husband doesn't fully understand, he fully supports me, thank heavens! But I have no one else to vent or really relate too. My girl Layla is about the only one. She knows what I am talking about when I say I feel fat, I am disgusted etc etc Swear we were twins separated at birth sometimes. I have known her for almost 3 yrs, we have never met but I feel so close to her. Crazy! And I don't want to feel like that is all I talk about or no one will want to be around me. I think I am just fustrated with it all and sick and tired of it all. I want, need and crave the change so bad. I pray insurance doesn't deny me and accepts me as soon as they can. It will be a blessing in a half. I need this for me, my son, my husband, my family and our life. I can't and refuse to live like this the rest of my life. I will move heaven and hell if I have to to make this happen. I am so determined.
Ok time to stop venting! Just had to let it out. Been on my mind for awhile. I feel better releasing it!
The lastest
Mar 10, 2010
Surgery update.
Not a whole lot to update really. I have my 5th doctor's appointment on March 22nd. Wow I can't believe its my 5th month! Next month we will be filing the paperwork. How exciting! It all still seems unreal. I think until I have a surgery date and walk into the surgeon's office then it will hit me. I am so ready. I am becoming impatient lately. It seems like the more time goes on the more I hate my body, the more I hate how I look, the more anything I put on I cringe when I look in the mirror, the more I get angry at why I was stuck with this body and crappy genes. But I just have to breathe and tell myself soon things will change, the tool will be here soon to help me become a healthier me. I so need new clothes, the clothes I have are starting to get wore out, but I don't want to buy anything yet. So I am just gonna look like a scrub for a few months HA HA I still have to find my surgeon. I have a few to choose from that I know my insurance covers. Hopefully next week I can call them and figure out exactly who I want to do my surgery. I need to get on this because before I know it April is going to be here!
Today the lady came over to deliver my lovely CPAP machine. I wasn't looking forward to having the machine, let alone wearing it but I keep reminding myself that this could save my life. And hopefully after surgery my apnea gets better. Anyways I was talking to the lady about me going thru the weight loss surgery process. And she says she had it done two years ago. My mouth probably dropped because looking at her you would of never guessed she was once over weight! She said total she had lost around 120lbs. I couldn't believe it! I was telling her my biggest fear is having saggy skin. She told me the best advice is to make sure to keep up on working out after surgery and drink lots of water. She showed me her arms she had nothing saggy or moving. I was shocked! So she totally put my mind more at ease, to physically see someone, talk to them and get advice felt good. Although I have gotten great advice from others but to see her face to face, granted I don't know what she looked like before but wow. She got me even more excited about surgery! Then after she left I tried the mask on again and Dominique busted out laughing and said can't they make that thing more sexier? LOL I died laughing. Sorry babe I don't think you can fit sexy and CPAP in the same sentence LOL.
0 comments
Not a whole lot to update really. I have my 5th doctor's appointment on March 22nd. Wow I can't believe its my 5th month! Next month we will be filing the paperwork. How exciting! It all still seems unreal. I think until I have a surgery date and walk into the surgeon's office then it will hit me. I am so ready. I am becoming impatient lately. It seems like the more time goes on the more I hate my body, the more I hate how I look, the more anything I put on I cringe when I look in the mirror, the more I get angry at why I was stuck with this body and crappy genes. But I just have to breathe and tell myself soon things will change, the tool will be here soon to help me become a healthier me. I so need new clothes, the clothes I have are starting to get wore out, but I don't want to buy anything yet. So I am just gonna look like a scrub for a few months HA HA I still have to find my surgeon. I have a few to choose from that I know my insurance covers. Hopefully next week I can call them and figure out exactly who I want to do my surgery. I need to get on this because before I know it April is going to be here!
Today the lady came over to deliver my lovely CPAP machine. I wasn't looking forward to having the machine, let alone wearing it but I keep reminding myself that this could save my life. And hopefully after surgery my apnea gets better. Anyways I was talking to the lady about me going thru the weight loss surgery process. And she says she had it done two years ago. My mouth probably dropped because looking at her you would of never guessed she was once over weight! She said total she had lost around 120lbs. I couldn't believe it! I was telling her my biggest fear is having saggy skin. She told me the best advice is to make sure to keep up on working out after surgery and drink lots of water. She showed me her arms she had nothing saggy or moving. I was shocked! So she totally put my mind more at ease, to physically see someone, talk to them and get advice felt good. Although I have gotten great advice from others but to see her face to face, granted I don't know what she looked like before but wow. She got me even more excited about surgery! Then after she left I tried the mask on again and Dominique busted out laughing and said can't they make that thing more sexier? LOL I died laughing. Sorry babe I don't think you can fit sexy and CPAP in the same sentence LOL.
About Me
Houston, TX
Location
25.0
BMI
Surgery
06/17/2010
Surgery Date
May 18, 2010
Member Since
