ObesityHelp

I'm a 44 yr old married mother of a 4 yr old daughter, who is adoreable :) I also teach preschoolers with handicaps. I've been overweight my entire life, have tried everything..and now it's time to lose this weight once and for all. I'm willing to do anything to lose it...I want to be able to ride a bike with my daughter, go on long walks..ride rollercoasters, just be "normal" I guess. I've attended the seminar and have a consultation this week! I'm soo excited about it. My consult is with Dr. Patterson and I hear such nice things about her! I enjoy reading the message boards TREMENDOUSLY and have learned SOO much from them! Thanks to everyone who posts!!
6/10/02 Been a while sense I've updated..Let me attempt to get caught up. I had my initial consult with Dr. Patterson..for an OPEN RNY. That consult was in March. I was approved in April, but found out it would probably be October before the surgery. Forget that..I'm a teacher :) The place where I'm getting my surgery now has a new doctor, who does the surgery laproscopically. I called the clinic and got right in for a consult with him...that was in May. I found out last week that I had been re-approved for the LAP. Just got a call today, I'm having surgery July 11...and I'll be his FIRST LAP at this practice..he's done MANY others at the Univ of Va. So, as of today, I'm so excited I'm euphoric :) Will update more later :)Ok get ready for a rather lengthy update :) 6/27/02 Pre-admission testing..a LONG day but I came thru all the test with flying colors, except my iron count and blood counts were low . I had to go see my PCP to get treatment for the anemia and then they were to fax a letter to my WLS doc stating that they had treated me. I came home from the tests only to find a letter from my insurance stating I had been DENIED for surgery, due to my doc not being in the network! Arghh...I thought this had all been taken care of! I called my doc's office..couldn't find out anything...Friday, 6/28/02..called my PCP's office to go see them about the iron count..couldn't get in..but was told to call in on Monday at 9am to talk to the doc...knowing I'd never get to talk to her on the phone I elected to just go in. I also talked to the billing office about the insurance issue, of course again, the person I needed to talk to wasn't there. Now I just have to wait til Monday for everything!! Monday, 7/1/02..10 days prior to my scheduled surgery date. I go to my PCP's office..only to have to wait 2 hours to see her. She's a little freaked out over my iron levels, although they are only one one hundreth of a point away from being normal! ARGHHH..anyway..she orders additional tests..urine, blood, STOOL ...I return home and call the billing office about the insurance issues. The "correct person" is there now, but can't give me any answers..it seems that the surgery MAY NOT go on as scheduled due to this "network issue"...@*$#*$*#...Go to bed that night..worried, depressed..sick :( Tuesday..7/2/02..9 days til the scheduled surgery..I get a call around 11 am from the WLS office..the insurance issues have been resolved..it seems surgery is ON again..WOOHOO..my PCP however, calls, about 2:00 and wants me to get on extra iron right away..soo, is my PCP going to clear me for this surgery or not? God only knows...4:00, I get a message from the WLS office..it seems my surgery has to be postponed..the insurance issues aren't worked out after all...GEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...I'm soooo depressed...lots of tears...feeling sicker and sicker. I call my mom who was going to be watching my daughter..and tell her the surgery is off..we go thru the "everything happens for a reason" discussion..I feel a little better, but still extremely BUMMED OUT! Wednesday, 7/3/02...8 days til the scheduled surgery...I call the WLS office, as I was told to call the billing person today. She tells me she's "working on something" and it MAY still work out...to make a LONG story short, she calls me back in about an hour and tells me I'm scheduled for surgery July 11..everything is worked out!! YEA!!!!!!!!!! Now, I have an appt with the WLS doc at 430...go to the appt, he's ready! He's not worried about the iron or blood counts..thinks they are very normal for a morbidly obese person. SSOOOOOOOOOOOO ,it LOOKS as if I'm gonna have the surgery JULY 11! WOOOOOOHOOOOO..now, of course, I'm scared to death..lol..gonna start working on tasting protein drinks and getting the necessary food into this house..wow..what a roller coaster! I'll update more later..hopefully it'll be GOOD news!!!! God Bless!!