jarrah

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So I went to to Everett this morning to meet with Linda for my psych eval. Last time I visited NWWLS they were still in Evergreen in kirkland. It turns out that the new location of the clinic is within a couple miles of where I used to live in Everett. I was thrilled I knew the area enough to not get lost!

The new (to me) location of the clinic is fantastic and beautiful and I felt right at home. Where at VM I was refered by my number and barely looked at, every one here greeted me like I was a long lost friend, and not in that insincer fake way, which I appreciated.

I filled out my paper (without any time pressure btw) and then Linda came out and chatted and it was actually alot of fun. I would like to talk with her even if I wasn't going through this process and in fact probably will after. We talked about everything I guess you would think you would talk about, and probably went into too much detail but I don't care I like talking to people and sharing stories.

I really liked that she had a lapband herself, it made me feel like she really could sympathize instead simply empathizing. I liked that she knew what I meant when I said I hated always being hungry and my goal weight is "whatever makes my thighs stop rubbing togeather."

But I passed with her full approval with no hinderences, only to consider upping my antidepressents dossage, post surgery to give me a little extra support while I'm adjusting.

One thing that we talked about that was really interesting was I said that I was really happy this time around I didn't have to do 6 to 12 months of documented medically supervised dieting. She then asked me if I knew why insurence companies required that. I told her I thought it was that the the insurence company wanted to make sure you could maintain the post-op lifestyle and were dedicated to life long wieght loss. She said that she used to work on that side of healthcare and the insurence company is hedging their bets that you can't make it. That between the long months of dieting, and doctors co-pays that you'll give up or fail and they won't have to pay. And that by the end if you do, succeed & do it you'll be below the minimum BMI for surgery and they can deny you then.

The thought of that really pissed me off on the way home. I wish I could help anyone forced in to that boat, just so they could succeed and afterwards we both could give insurence companies the big finger.

Woot. Next up nutritionist.

So I was supposed to have a 2PM appointment with the surgeon on Thursday but got a call from Steve the Nurse on the 17th that the doctor was no longer available to meet with me that but his assistant Kat could meet with me Wednesday morning at 10:30. 

I was a little irritated because I did want to talk to the surgeon, and it was already bad enough that I had to wait for 2 and half weeks for even a consultation. Whatever I'm flexible, 10:30 on Wednesday, got it.

So I show up at 10:20 to process my paperwork like Nurse Steve said and I'm informed that I'm 20 minutes late and they've already moved on and they would need to reschedule me.

After an hour and a half of driving in the rain in morning rush hour traffic and now I'm being brushed off for being on time for the time I was given??

It pushed me over the edge and I started to cry. A lot. I was hysterically bawling and the most help I got from VM was a receptionist who gave me a Kleenex without even making eye contact with me.

To add insult to injury the soonest they could reschedule me? August 10th for assistant Kat, August 21st for Dr. Hunter. Are you frigging kidding me!?!

I called Tom, still hysterical and then drove to work still disappointed and upset. Driving up highway 18 back to the east side, my hurt turned to purposeful anger, and I called the clinic I actually wanted to go to and was preferred by the insurance group that would be paying for it, and the doctor I was with originally the first time we went around with this.

I called 411 and got the number for Dr. Montgomery and the fine people at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery. I explained my whole day and my whole situation, she understood and since I was still in their system from 3  and a half years ago we could just start where I left off and have an express consultation, and best of all they could get me in starting this Friday for my psych eval.

I hope no one else has the same experience with VM, that I had. It was so horrible I can't imagine letting them cut in to me. I'm sure Dr. Hunter is crackerjack but honestly he nor the clinic seemed extraordinary, at least one paper, and definitely not enough to warrant the waiting time and poor service I received. Where NWWLS is much more highly regarded, and everyone there is a complete doll.

Ick I would never refer anyone to the Virginia Mason clinic in Federal Way for anything ever, let alone Bariatric.

I'm not even going to pretend to update this, my real journal is @: http://www.jarrahtherockstar.com