ObesityHelp

I've just started investigating the possibility of WLS and I'm hoping to find some answers and support here.
10/11/04 - After numerous months of research, I've decided to move forward with having WLS. Until today, I was waiting to see what my insurance options would be for 2005. I now know my carrier will be UnitedHealthCare of Ohio. Of the three hospitals I am researching, all are considered "in network". I will be attending an info. session for Ohio State's bariatric program this week and I have a consultation scheduled with Barix clinics in November. I can't believe I've finally made the decision to go through with this and I have had a number of nights where I've woken up and thought "I can't have this done, what am I thinking?". But, in the light of day I usually become realistic and know that this is my best chance for now.



11/4/04 - I've just come back from a 9 day vacation in Florida and am more convinced than ever that I want this surgery. The heat made me miserable and I just didn't have the energy and stamina to enjoy all the activities with my friends. Walking and standing for any period of time more than 10 or 15 mins. just seems to be too much. I was able to get tickets for Cirque Du Soleil in Orlando and then didn't fit into the seats. I was so humiliated to have to follow an usher through the whole theater as she carried an armless chair to a handicapped seating area. I have my appt. with Barix clinics this coming Monday and if I'm not comfortable with them for any reason, I hope to contact Dr. Curry in Cincinnati.

My faith in God is helping me through this whole process and I only hope I can be more effective for Him once I am on the losing side.

11/22/04 - My appt. at Barix in Groveport went fine, but since they will only do an open RNY, I decided to keep investigating. I had a consultation with Dr. Trace Curry in Cincinnati last Friday and it went very well. He confirmed he could do lap RNY for me (assuming all goes well during the surgery). I talked to Tracy, the insurance person, just this morning and she is going to submit my records for insurance approval this week (hopefully). I am now in a wait mode. Once I'm approved (not if, but WHEN) I will schedule my surgery. With any luck, I'm hoping to have it in Jan or Feb of 2005. My biggest worry right now is being successful at the 10 day liquid diet required by Dr. Curry prior to the surgery. I know I can do it, but I'm sure I won't be happy about it.

12/14/04 - I finally have insurance approval and I now have a surgery date of 2/7/5. I could have been scheduled sooner, but due to some roadblocks here at work, I needed to delay it until February. I'm okay with that though, I need some time for it to sink in that I'm actually having the surgery. I'm excited but also feeling a bit subdued about the whole thing. I know I'm going to miss having food as my support system and I just hope I can handle it. I'm currently in counseling and will continue afterwards, but I've been eating this way for a long time and I'm going to miss the immediate comfort I found in eating. But, I'm trying to focus on the new things I'll be able to have in my life once I get more energy and can become more mobile.
1/2/05 - Happy New Year everyone. Well, I may be putting the RNY surgery on hold in order to research the duodenal switch more thoroughly. I am scheduled for RNY on 2/7/05, but the more I read about the DS, the more I'm thinking it might be right for me. I am calling the New Life Surgery Center in Dayton, OH tomorrow to get an appt. for a consultation or at least find out about an info session. If I finally decide to go with the RNY, I can always reschedule with my current surgeon. I have also decided to take my real name off of the site and use a screen name instead. I know it will take awhile before a google search of my real name will no longer point me here, but I'm hoping it will stop eventually.

1/3/05 - I scheduled an appt. for 2/18/05 to visit New Life Surgery Center in Dayton for an info session on the DS surgery. I canceled my RNY surgery for 2/7 and will reschedule if I decide I would prefer RNY over DS. I'm feeling good about making the decision to delay my surgery until I have learned more about DS. I think the thing that is scaring me the most is the pain associated with an open surgery since they don't do lap DS there. But, I'm trying not to worry about that right now.

3/9/05 - I went to an info session at New Life Surgery Center in Dayton Ohio on 2/18/05. This center does both RNY and DS, so I was able to get an excellent and balanced view of both surgeries. We also were able to speak to two patients, (one from each surgery type). I am totally convinced the DS is right for me. My next steps required getting a letter of necessity from my PCP (which he took care of on 2/23/05). I also need to take 3 different psychological tests and get a pscyh eval. My regular counselor can do the eval and give me one of the tests, but it has been kind of hard finding someone who will administer the other two. But, I did finally find someone and he will let me take the tests on Monday 3/14. Once the psych eval/test results are sent to New Life, they will submit to my insurance for approval. I had previously been approved for RNY surgery, so I'm hoping I won't have a problem getting the surgery type switched to DS. I know my policy does not have an exclusion, so I'm praying it will work out okay.

3/15/05 - My surgeon's office had said they wouldn't submit my paperwork for insurance approval until they had my psych test results, but they did anyway. I am approved and I have a surgery date of 7/11/05. I had to schedule quite a ways out due to circumstances at work. I'm still pretty stunned that I'm approved and have a date, but I'm very excited.


4/21/05 - My surgeon's office called a few weeks ago and needed to move my surgery to 7/21 instead of 7/11. The Dr. is going to be out of the office. I only wish my work situation would allow me to have it sooner. But, I'm just thankful I'm having it and my insurance is covering it.


05/09/05 - I called my surgeon's office last week because I had a few questions and ended up talking to Vickie, Dr. Maguire's assistant, for about 20 mins. Although my nutrition counseling and testing is coming up next month, it was still great to talk to her. I'm still pretty nervous about the pain, but I'm excited to finally have the surgery. My pre-op surgeon's appt is on 6/21, my pre-admission testing is on 6/30 and my surgery is on 7/21/05. I just need to focus on the long term results. Immediate gratification has always been my number one vice, so focusing out a number of months is a challenge.

06/24/05 - I had my in person pre-op surgeon's appt 3 days ago. My Mom went with me and I'm so glad she did. She has been terrified of this surgery for me but felt so much better after talking to 3 different people in the waiting room who had already had it. One man had lost 235 lbs. She now can see that this can work for me (although she knows there are still risks). This was my first time to meet my surgeon. Although he was polite, his bedside manner is not his strong suit. However, I completely trust him and personality isn't the criteria I should be using to measure my doctor. I know he is a caring man, just not a bubbly personality kind of guy. I tend to be known for my sense of humor, so I'll just need to learn how to connect with him in a different way. Only 27 more days until surgery. I'm still very anxious but not doubting my decision at all. I have my day full of pre-op testing next Thursday so I'll try and update more then.