I had my pre-op testing done last week at Emory @ Johns Creek Hospital.  I needed some fasting blood work, an EKG, and upper GI (not things you want to do on your birthday, but oh well).  I was EXTREMLY impressed by the hospital.  It's a new hospital, about 18 months young and I have a feeling that their bariatric program is their "bread and butter".

In the waiting room, there were couches and benches for 2-3 people.  While the couple of arm chairs they had didn't look "bariatric sized", I could sit in them too.  In the registration room, the chairs were bariatric sized.  In the lab area, the chair was bariatric sized.  When I had to get undressed, there was no hunting for 20 minutes to find an appropriate sized gown.  I was told the pile of green ones in the dressing room were larger gowns.  Went to do the EKG and had to get on a gurney.  While it didn't seem extra wide, it was VERY STABLE.  I didn't feel like it would fall apart underneath me if I moved the wrong way.  I just thought I'd mention how impressed I was with the whole process.

Well, I went to the "rah rah" seminar at Emory downtown and was not as impressed as I was about Emory at Johns Creek.  2 weeks later when Emory downtown called to follow up on my seminar visit, they told me my BMI was too high for surgery and tried to push me to doing their Optifast program.  That's okay, already decided to go to Johns Creek.

Had my initial consultation with the surgeon the end of May.  He thinks I'd be a good candidate.  We had a good visit.  2 days later, I met with this nutritionist.  I was already trying to eat more like a WLS patient...protein first and lots of fruits and veggie.  It seems to be working, I've lost a total of 31 pounds doing that and going to WW.

Last week, I went for pre-op testing and the psych visit.  The psych should have his report to the doc by the end of next week.  I thought they would already have the pre-op testing, but apparently not.  The only other thing(s) I'm waiting for are letters of medical necessity from my internist (he wants to see the pre-op results first), my rheumatologist, my nephrologist and my cardiologist/sleep specialist.  

Once I have all that, I'll send my packet to the insurance company with my "killer" letter and see what happens.  I have all the paperwork to hire Gary Visco if/when I get a denial.  When I saw the cardiologist yesterday for follow-up, he said if there was anything he could do to let him know.  He said he'd "love to go to court for this one"!  I hope I can have everything mailed off by the end of the month.