Fifth doctor's appointment

Mar 21, 2010

Five down and one to go! So exciting. Doesn't feel real yet. I think once I meet with the surgeon, maybe get approved for surgery and have a date then I think it will set in that this is really happening.
Today at work and on my way to my doctor's appointment I finally had a chance to call some surgeons. A few weren't in my insurance's network, a few only did lap band and so far I have found one that is in network and does the RY gastric bypass. So they basically told me once I have all of my insurance requirements done, to make an appointment and to bring all the paperwork in, get everything filled out we need to and get paperwork submitted the way I am understanding it. So this week I am going to do some more research on this surgeon just so I feel more comfortable, but really I don't have a lot of choices with my insurance. Which sucks but it's also a good thing because my insurance has strict requirements for the bariatric surgeons they approve. And the other ones I thought of using are downtown and I would like to avoid that if it all possible.
So my 5th doctor's appointment was good. Did the normal as usual. Then had some questions for my doctor. First I showed her the sheet of approved surgeons from my insurance company, of course the ones she knew were downtown and she even agreed that it's not worth driving all the way down there. It's too bad the hospital she works in the bariatric part is opening the end of May/June. I don't want to wait that long for those surgeons to have rights in that hospital. Then I had questions for her as far as regards to what exactly my insurance is requiring. I have the print off from my insurance company. So I have to complete a pysch and nutritional evaluation yet. She said to contact the surgeon's office for recommendations or they possibly have specific people they use so I will call them tomorrow. I want to get those appointments set up ASAP so I can get that out of the way. Then I showed her my insurance benefits print out because I wanted to make sure I understood it because the way I read it it says weight loss surgery is covered at 100% and that's exactly how she read it too. So I am really hoping that is the case, again will call the surgeon's office to find out exactly. I don't need any last minute surprises! So after that I was talking to her to make sure next month we have all documentation in place because my insurance requires each month that she records my weight, the diet program and exercise program she recommends or that I am doing. She has that so that was another sigh of relief. I have my last and final appointment with her on April 27th. We will have my last weigh in, talk and then she will have all paperwork ready for me as well. I opted for the end of April because I would like to get the psych and nutritional eval done first, then we have vacation the middle of April than that way she is my last appointment of the month and then set an appointment with the surgeon hopefully the beginning of May so we can get the paperwork submitted. Really hoping surgery can be the end of May or June but really whenever they can do it is fine. Just praying I get approved and this all goes smoothly!
I can't believe it's coming so close. I never thought this would end. But now that it's nearing closer it feels like it's forever away. I am so ready for this. After years of thinking this over I have finally decided it's time to take another action plan because my plans haven't worked or don't work long term. We have made a lot of healthy changes around the house already to prepare and changing bad habits. And I have made up my mind that I am going to quit smoking by or before April 30th. That is my deadline. I want to be smoke free for surgery, and likely will be required to anyways. Plus I look at it like this, let's get rid of all the bad habits, memories etc and start fresh! It's not going to be easy but I have motivation to keep me going.
I am ready for a change, I am ready to move on with my life, I am ready to be healthy. I am just ready!

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