whoops, fingers flying too fast.....glad to know we have football in common!

Sharon, we are neighbors!  I'm from Columbus, very near Columbus Air Force Base!  Welcome to the Mississippi Board.  I love it here and together we are going to have a good time and learn a lot on this Board.  I've seen it become more active in just the last month.  It's so nice to be in good company!

Good Morning and I hope everyone stayed safe during the storm! If you had to leave your home, I hope it isn't long until you get to return!Seems just like Monday, huh? Sure proud it isn't! 4 day week...woohoo! Well, I need to get out of here and get ready for work.  Hope all have a good day! Looking forward to hearing from each of you.

I miss everyone and all the get-togethers we use to have!  I miss our Queen Arlies and her words of wisdom, but I know she has her hands full right now with her family.... 

Okay here is my story - my name is Marci and I am 36 years old.  I looked into having weight loss surgery for two years, I found out that my insurance had an exclusion policy and would not pay for weight loss surgery  but I was finally able to get in with Vocational Rehab.  The day I was suppose to go for my first consulation with the surgeon, I called my Vocational Rehab counselor to make sure everything was a go, only to find out that funding had been pulled and Vocational Rehab would no longer be able to pay for any gastric bypass surgeries.  I was crushed, especially since I had gone thru the hoops and nobody, not even my VR couselor,  had bothered to even call and tell me that funding had been pulled!  I searched and searched for other options and my husband and I realized the only way I would be able to have the surgery would be to take out a second mortgage on our home.  I had RNY Bypass surgery in May of 2006 at CMMC with Dr. Cleveland.   I know that Dr. Cleveland helped saved my life and I will always be greatful to him and Adam at CMMC.  I had gotten up to 350 pounds when I realized I had to do something or I would not live to see my babies grow up!  On the day of my surgery I weighed in at 332 pounds - I am now at 169 pounds and feel great!  I have always been obese, so this is so new to me.  I had to learn not only how to eat all over again, but also how to shop for clothes.  I was never able to shop at Wal-Mart or regular stores before surgery, I always had to get my clothes from Lane Bryant or Catherines. 

My husband was very scared of me having the surgery, but he told me if I felt I needed to do this then he would be there for me.  He is happy with the outcome, but said he did not want me to lose any more - he does not like being able to see my collarbone!  Once I get the second mortgage paid off, I want to go and have all this loose skin removed and breast augmentation since I lost them in the process! 

Melissa, you will have to fill me in on your plastic surgery so I will know what to look out for when I get ready to tackle that obstacle!   

Same here... I was a self pay patient as well and the cost of my surgery was to cover everything plus 1 year out check up!  I received bills constantly from both the Dr's office and the hospital before and after surgery, seemed like I was having to call the Dr's office atleast twice a month to tell them this was incorrect.  It was always a mistake, the Dr's office and the hospital both said the account had been coded wrong.  When I went for my 1st post op visit with my Dr. I ended up getting a big bill for his office as well as another bill from the hospital - however I did not go to the hospital for any services.  So again had to call and get them to straighten this out! 

When I went to the 1st seminar before my surgery, I asked them how much the post-op visits would be and they said it would cost $25.00 - they did this to encourage patients to return for their routine visits after the surgery.  After getting those two bills after the 1st post-op visit which were more than $25.00, I have been to scared to go back.  It was always very frustrating to have to call and tell them each time that the bill was incorrect.  I love my doctor and the people in the office, but their billing department left much to be desired.  I had to take out a second mortgage to pay for my surgery so I do not have extra money for unnecesary bills or to go in expecting a $25 office visit only to get bills for much more.  I just decided to let my primary physician do my lab work and check all of my blood levels during each annual visit to her - I  am very determined on having my lab work done, I don't want to take any chances.  Don't stress about those bills, if they told you that your cost would cover everything - then it is probably just the fact that your account has been coded wrong.  Frustrating as it is, just keep calling them and letting them know this is an error!

Best of luck!