In 2002 I was surfing the internet looking for anything that might help me lose weight. I've tried Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Cabbage soup diet, prescription diet pills, LA Weight Loss, and even Metabolic Research Center. You name it I tried it and nothing worked, I even went to a Nutrtionist once a month to help with a diet plan DIDN'T WORK! No matter what I did nothing seemed to work for me. The doctors did all kinds of test and finally found that I had a low thyroid but not too low to prescribe medicine and also I was borderline diabetic. I started to research WLS and had a second cousin-in-law who had had the RNY done by a doctor in town. Well I called their office and they sent me a packet to fill out and asked me to write a Angel Letter to my insurance company explaining why I thank they should approve the surgery. In the Angel Letter I explained that I was a 27 year old mother of 2 (1 girl and 1 boy and I have 2 step daughters that live with me as well) and weighed about 288lbs at the time. I explained about my family history of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, and lung cancer. Healthsmart denied because it was an exclusion on our insurance anything that had to do with obesity was automatically denied. The doctor's office tried it again with appeal and still no help so I gave up. One year later in 2003 I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes and Polocystic Ovarian Syndrome and had to start taking 1000 mg of Glucophage, 8mg of Avandia a day not to mention all the medications for my asthma and even though we had insurance the meds still cost a lot. I was getting sick all the time due to both diabetes and asthma, I was missing lots of work and that wasn't good either. Spring Break 2004 my husband and I went to San Antonio to take the children to Sea World and Fiesta Texas. It was so hot at Sea World just me walking made the inside of my thighs fill like two pieces of sand paper rubbing togather (I would even get little boils there). It felt like I had to stop walking every 10 minutes just to take a breather. The next day is the day that would change my life forever. We went the second day to Fiesta Texas and my daughter wanted to ride this UFO ride that you stand up on and it goes all over the place and the only thing you have is those shoulder hoist to lock you in. The only way Brittany could ride this ride was with an adult so we get on the ride and the compartment is not that big so I lean up against the backing and the ride attendant is going around seat buckling the straps that hold the hoist in place well its my turn and the shoulder hoist will not lay right on my chest due to my stomach (I then weighted 315lbs). So this attendant is then pushing the hoist agianst me trying hard to fasten it (in front of all these other riders) then he says LOUD "Ma'am I'm sorry but you can not ride on this ride your too big and this is a safety issue. I am just sittin there with tears in my eyes everyone is looking at me so I then get off feeling like this BIG FAT UGLY CREATURE. My daughter has no one to ride the ride with her and she's upset. That following Monday I called the new doctor that took over the WLS clinic and they too sent me forms to fill out but this time I have two insurances so one or the other should be able to help with this type of surgery, Right! Wrong! Both companies denied they feel that this is a cosmetic surgery. Then I search on the internet to see if there is any programs that help with this. I'm a social worker and I refer people to Texas Rehab Commision all the time for vision, dental and other types of stuff. I call TRC and explain the situation and that it is medically necssary for me to have this procedure. They say No we don't help with that. I then call the doctors office and ask if they know of any programs they say TRC does because they just paid for one of there clients. So i call TRC back talk to them and then aaahhh they finally remember they do help. SO I had to take them copies of all medical records (which had more pages then the bible) a doctors statement showing refferal for the procedure. This all started in March in July they barely turned in my paper work to Austin because I had to see a psych, heart doctor, lung speacialist and have a sleep apnea test done. Two weeks later my caseworker calls and says it was denied. DENIED HOW I asked and he stated that they wanted to know where was my support team. My caseworker failed to tell the doctor that I was attending monthly support group at UMC to get more information and to talk to people who are waiting like me for approval. That same day I call Advocey Inc. and they stayed on TRC behind and things started to heat up I was seeing results. Finally October 7, 2004 I was the only applicant out of 20 in the state of Texas to get approved for the Gastric RNY. Then I was able to have my surgery November 29, 2004. I didn't have a hard time but my intestines were very thinned out so Dr. Frezza had to hand stitch everything Lyproscopiclly. I was in surgery for five hours and in ICU for four days then in a regular room for two days and finally sent home. I lost 30lbs first week and was over 60lbs loss within a month by my sixth month I had already lost my 100lbs. Now 2007 I'm doing great and I'm waiting on approval for my TUMMY TUCK. Now the insurance is giving me a hard time about this but you know what "theres a God theres a Way" Good luck to all of ya'll who are trying and if your insurance wont help go to Rehabilitation Commision every state has one. Don't give up because if I would of tried alittle harder the first time I probally would of been 5yrs post op. Just to let ya know we took our family back to Fiesta Texas and that UFO ride was the first ride we rode when we got there. It felt so good to actually ride a ride and your bottom lifts up when the ride jumps. I was so use to being big that I couldn't even move when we rode a roller coasternot even a little lift going up or down. I cut my hair off (short) I would of never done that when I was heavy, had to keep it long so my chubby cheeks wouldn't show. Plus I don't just wear sweats, oversize shirts, elastic jeans, or the color black anymore. I can finally wear jeans that zip up and button, skirts, tank tops, pretty nighties, pastel colors and finally but not last a bathing suit Ok you caught me a TWO PIECE........THAT IS!!!
