Danielle M.
I am very disappointed about my recent news. I was informed that the company I work for uses ADMINISTAFF for their HR needs. Apparently administaff has made a bargin package with United health care and do not treat obesity concerns of any kind- even if they are medically neccessary. I was so happy when I heard I had United because they typically are wonderful about covering WLS. So I have decided to change jobs and locations to the Midwest--St. Louis, Mo and will hopefully have the surgery there. --I will not give up--during my research I have become convinced that WLS is the answer for me....
11/03 Well things have changed since this summer...I have moved back home and have a job at a very good mental health agency---that has (guess what!) good insurence that pays for WLS the only possible hold up is having a "6 months of dr. diet" under my belt--but I think I can get around that (PLEASE!) So I just had my first round of blood tests, my primary dr visit,and my psych consult---so I am just waiting for all those people to send the info in to NEWSTART and my insurence Co. I am having a SERIOUS problem with patience---I want it NOW --I have been looking into WLS for over a year now--I wish I could personally collect all my info, walk it to Newstart and walk it to my insurence company--and camp out while they aprove me.(A girl can dream)--Oh and I am going to get the Roux-en Y instead of Lap-band after checking out more research...
8-11-04
I have been very bad about posting, but I have been doing alot of work. I turned everything into BC/BS in Febuary and I had my regection letter by March--They denied me based on "One year of medical supervised diet" Appearently they just had changed it from 6 months to one year in January. So I jumped back on the horse and started the appeals process. It took awhile, but I got in contact with my old doctor --who was more than willing to write a letter about the diet that they had put me on --and had failed---over the course of a year. So I sent that letter, a personal appeal, a appeal from my mother, and a picture timeline of my weight gain (I should get it just based on my creativity!) As of today--BCBS has not decided anything, but it is being reviewed---more to come---hopefully good!
######It wasn't good--They denied it again and sent me a long list of things I would need to do for a year before they would accept me so I got dishearted and put my weight aside for a while#####################
4-19-05 Wow what a long road it has been! I have never given up though. I was planning on getting banded once my inharitence comes in (love you grandma and grandpa!---then I went with my sister and mother to the casino in our area (btw I am a gambling counselor :) to celebrate my b-day and I WON 15,000! My mom started crying and said " You just won your surgery!" So long story short I am set to have my consult on May 9th---then the surgery shortly there after---I can't believe this is happening! I have been waiting so long. More to come in the future!
5-17-05 Ok so MORE changes. I decided to go with the WISHCenter in donners grove IL instead of the Barix clinic --so my appointment is on the 23rd of May. The WishCenter looks fabulous--they have a very professional website and are great over the phone--they are also cheap 10,500 for the lab band. The first appoitment is a whopper! I go for 6 hours to be looked at and poked by the dietician, fitness person, psych doc, surgeon, and oodles of tests-blood x-rays, sonograms, etc. Then they will give me goals to accomplish and if I do them 6 WEEKS TO THE SURGERY!!!! I have no doubt I will be VERY compliant--and all my friends, roomate, and family will make sure of it. I also have set up a workout buddy--my friend Erin and I will go to the Y starting this weekend.
05-26-05
I went to my appointment--and although I barely had 2 minutes between appointments it still took a full 6 hours. Pretty much what I thought it was going to be--I haven't started my diet yet b/c I still need to go to the supermarket. I have been working 12 hour days this week--I HAVE TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY!!! To help with that I applied for a different (less stressful-more time off) job. The only shocker from the appoitnment was that they found a "spot" on my liver during the sonogram--they said they are doing blood tests and sending the test in for further analysis. But I am going a little bonkers thinking about what it could be. I heard some good news---no cathiter and no drain! I was more worried about those two things than the surgery itself. Tomorrow I get serious and start the program...No caffine, no junk food, 6 meals of protein, exercise every day and NO SMOKING!
7-7-05 Ok so all those changes have been harder then expected--but I am taking my time and slowly changing how I look at food --And I think it is important to point out that I started at eating 3 meals of fast food a day--WITH regular soda. I really need to focus on exercising. I just went for my CT Scan and my Sleep study--which is a total trip--I was wired up out of every crease in my body -stuff in my nose and all over my head--then the guy goes well get comfy and sleep on your back. Sleep? you have got to be kidding me--it was one of the more uncomfortable nights I can think of. Anyway I have my surgery date for Aug 19th!!! I am ready to get this part of the process over with.......
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