ChristiS1985

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So just now after reading some post I feel like a major jerk face! Here I have been complaining about how long all this is taking and blah blah blah. I just read that some woman had to wait almost a year to see her surgeon for the initial consult and another said it took her 8 months to get her sleeve. I started the process over again on January 4th and I being sleeved on April 9th and I had to do all my stuff over again. Maybe I should apologize to my doctors office and stop being so hard on them. Apparently 3 months from start to finish is a quick turn around time. Im just thankful and feel so very blessed to get a second chance in life and a chance to repair the damage I have done to my body over the past 27 years. Im so happy that im taking care of ME for once. :)

So today I started doing a pre-liquid diet. I dont have to start liquids till the 25th but I figured I would get a head start because the more I lose pre-op the easier my recovery will be...that and im also really EXCITED! I am only 16 days away. I have a feeling that time is going to creep by. But thats ok as long as it gets here eventually. :) So happy and excited about my future. :)

So unknown to me my paperwork was sent to the insurance company on Feb. 26th. It was scanned in on the 28th, showed up online on March 1st and was APPROVED on March 9th (my momma's bday)!!! My surgery is scheduled for April 2nd. Thats less than a month away and I couldnt be happier. Yesterday when I learned the news I had to cry for about 12 minutes before I could get myself together enough to start calling everyone. 3 years ive waited for that news...although im pretty sure it hasnt sunk in yet. There have been so many things in my life that ive wanted to do but cant because of my weight and I just keep thinking about how in a couple of months my limitations will slowly start to melt away. Im so excited! :)))

So had my "last" consult with my surgeon. It went horrible. I was told my 5 year history wasnt sufficient and most of the office staff were just mean, hateful, and not helpful at all. My surgeon was extremely nice and supportive though. I had two different break downs while I was there. Im really suprised they didnt ball up my psych eval and through it at me. Uhhh horrible day. Im depressed and dissapointed in how things went. Buuuuut ill keep fighting the fight and pick up tomorrow.

Febuary 2010
-Sent my initial paperwork to Dr. Ponce's office in Chattanooga, TN to see if my insurance covered WLS.
-Got a call stating that my insurance would infact cover WLS and scheduled my first appointment.
March 2010
-Had my first WLS appointment, talked with the Surgeon and even got to watch my sister have a lapband adjustment done. I was also given a list of requirments to start getting done that my insurance would require.
-Went to my nutrition class and paid $120.00 (thats a lot of money for a Social Worker)
April 2010
-Had my psych eval done which was about $300 (a WHOLE lot of money for a Social Worker)
May 2010
-My Aunt that was more life a grandmother passes away and on the way to her funeral I get a call from my Surgeons office that a mistake had been made and that my insurace would not cover WLS and I owed the their office about $200 for my consulation even though it was their fault.
***Complete devistation. My mother and sister both cried with me as we made our way to the funeral home***
April 2010
-After a couple of weeks of being extremely depressed and down I decided that it just wasnt meant to be and that God must have bigger plans for me.
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Feb. 2011
- I start a new job and get put on State Employee insurance and find out that WLS surgery is a benefit on my plan.
-Had my first appointment with Dr. Watsons office in Johnson City, TN. Everything went great and they start scheduling my test and so fourth to continue with my surgery.
-Get a call a week later stating that even though my plan does cover WLS that I have a pre-exisiting clause and that insurance wont pay till after 12 months. Once again I am crushed. Except at least this time they say its possible I just have to wait.
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Janunary 2012
-01/03/12, My 12 month waiting period falls off.
-01/04/12, I have my appointment to start the whole process over again. I had gained 50 pounds in the last year and was told that my BMI was too high for lapband and they talked to me about the sleeve. After researching and discussing this with my PCP I decided that the sleeve seemed like the thing to do.
-I have my EGD, Ultrasound, 6 month weigh in's, 5 year history, letter from PCP, pap smear, Nutrition and Pre -Op class (again), and my complete psych eval (again) all done by the end of January.  The only tihng I lack is my support group meeting and I go to it on Feb. 10th. My last appointment with surgeon is on Feb.16th. Hopefully all of my paperwork will be submitted to the insurance company on that day too.
Feb. 2012
-Waiting, waiting, and waiting. Im so so excited and nervous all at the same time again. Every time ive been through this process something always happens so one hand I am trying to be positive and the other I am just waiting for it all to go to hell. Ive wanted this for so long and it has been a difficult journey. Thanks to a FB friend she introduced me OH.com and it has been wonderful to read stories about other people going through the same things I am. Hopefully things will continue to go in my favor. Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. :)