Well I am sitting here recovering from my my spine surgery known as radio frequency neurotomy wondering what the future holds for me now.  I am some what depressed yet I should be overjoyed. The surgery so I was told was a success and I should start to see postive results in 1-1/2 to 2 weeks which I guess means walking without the 2 canes.  As of today I am walking in the house only (which is short distances as my home is less than 1,000 square feet) with the one cane and I feel I am walking straighter but  my left leg has this clicking sound and popping  going on. Not sure what that is  all about but I am sure it is because for the first time in about 18 years I  am walking straighter. 

As for the WLS the more I read on these boards the more I am convinced  this WLS is not for me. I was going to have it done as I thought in May it was the last recourse for me. At that time I had no idea I would be having the RFN and would get to walk again.   I had lost over 190 pounds with WW and NS and when I stopped NS I was able to keep off 150  of the 190. I am seriously thinking of doing it the WW way again along with Curves and other exercise.   So I suppose I will continue to stay here on the boards but will be moving over to the non surgical weight loss forum.  Thanks to all the friends I meet over the last few months and I do wish you all success in your surgeries but I am probably going to be looking for non surgical weight loss friends now as I will have more in common with them. 
Happy Journey everyone till next time

I have nothing but trouble with all insurance companies, whether it be house or medical.  I just got word today from the WL surgeon that The Medicare Advantage Plan I have with Secure Horizons thru United Health Care has DENIED me the lapband surgery.   How can they do that when Medicare approves it?  I have been talking with Medicare, the Medicare Advantage Plan, the PCP and the WL surgeon most of the morning to try and get this straightened out.   Than later today somewhere on the web I read that Medicare will only pay for one lapband fill.  How in the world are you to get restriction on one fill. I am disabled and can't afford fills.    I am at the point  where I am ready to say F*** this!!! and go back to WW.

HI all
Well here it is September 9th and I am still waiting for my pre op meeting with the Dr and a surgery Date.   I called last week to see what the delay is as I had all my evaluations done and hadn't heard anything.  Turns out the Psych and Cardio evals were not into the Dr . I called those 2 Dr and pleaded for them to get the evals in.  Hopefully they will get ther e soon.

In the mean time I heard back from my Pain Management Dr ( he was moving during the month of August) in regard to the Radio Frequency Neurotomy for my L3, L4 and L5 spine problems.  He would like to do these procedures on September 18th and I am ready for them.  They are going to cut the nerves and hopefully this will allow me to do away with the scooter and once again walk without the canes.  After these procedures are done I will be ready for the WLS and will call again about a date if I don't hear from them soon.  Please wish me luck with the RFN so I can at least get back part of my life.
Happy Journey till next time

Ater the July 22nd visit with Dr Bass I got busy with making appointments for the evaluations. I had 2 weeks off from work so I tried to schedule most of them during that time. On July 24 I had the Psychological evaluation.  July 28th I had the blood work up done again even thougth my PCP had me do it in May. Dr Bass wanted a more up to date report and different tests. July 31st I took both Nutrition classes. Aug 5th I had the Cardiac evaluation and on Aug 12th I had to have a stress test as there was something on my EKG they did like.

My pain management Dr also had me do a sleep apnea test. He was a bit surprised when I told him Dr Bass didn't include that in the evaluations.  The sleep apnea test was doneon Aug 8th  at home by the Doctors Choice Sleep Solutions a new company that started in February of this year. A lady came at 10 pm hooked me up to all the wires, set up the laptop and the web cam, called the company in Fort Lauderdale and they had me do all kinds of movements to make sure everything was hooked up correctly. She left and I went to bed, didn't really sleep much until maybe 4am. When I woke up at 7:30 the laptop and web cam were off and at 8 am the lady came back and took all the stuff away.   It was so nice sleeping in my own bed with my own pillows. 

So now I sit again and wait to hear what the results are of all these evaluations and hope and pray I get a surgery date soon.  The sooner I get this surgery and get this weight off the sooner I can get my hip replaced and I can once again Live Laugh and Love. 
Well until next time Happy Journey Everyone

After waiting for 6 weeks I finally saw the Surgeon on July 22nd. He felt  I would be a godd candidate for the Lap Band. He wants me to take 2 Nutrition classes, get a Psychological Evaluation, a cardiac evaluation (I have no heart problems so not sure why) and bloodwork done. He also wants me to get with my PCP and find something other than Voltaren to take for the pain. Plus I need to get with the Pain management Dr to get off of Lyrica. It seems the Lyrica causes weight gain.

I already had the Psychological Evaluation this week. She also said I was a good candidate and will send the info the Dr BAss ASAP.  She suggected we get together for a few more visits to come up with a plan to work on how to reduced the stress and pressures of life without  binge eating.  I had  the blood work done today and Thursday will be the first Nutrition class. I have the Cardiac evaluation scheduled for Aug 5th. I still need to  schedule the 2nd nutrition class. When the Surgeon's office has all the evaluations I will be able to see him again, get a surgery date, final insurance approval and attend the preop class. When I asked how many more weeks he stated about 6 to 8 weeks. So we are looking at a possible Sept surgery date.

In the mean time on July 17th I had three Thoracic Facet Joint Injections in my spine and have been finally able to do things for the first time in over 10 years. I still have some pain but not the knife stabbing, take away my breath kind of pain. I am walking about 6 to 9 minutes with 2 canes where as before I could barely walk 1 to 2 minutes. Instead of rolling around on the desk chair in the house I am now walking. I am   walking from the living room to the bedroom or laundry room without the canes.  I have been swimming and in the hot tub as I can finally lift my leg high enough to get up the stairs. I have taken day trips down to Fort Lauderdale and loving every minute of the drive. I am finally living and not just existing. I just hope and pray the pain does not come back as I will be even more depressed and upset if it does.
Till next time have a great journey!