Today at Womack

Ok- Overall it was a good experience. I met another one of the 3 surgeons today, (Dr. Hiles) He also was really nice (He looked 18, LOL I had to giggle)

So my fears about the program are gone- they are VERY thorough- but very strict on their rules,,, which is the bad news for me. All of the Pre-op work I did at UNC (my psych, my nut, my support groups) NONE of it counts. Not a bit of it. So, I have to start from scratch.

And another rule that is going to set me back is the 3 and 3 class rule. Every pre-op must attend 3 educational classes and 3 support group meetings before my surgery. They are only held once a month. SO I am looking at January before I can be eligible per Womack's standards. Which also makes me mad- I have been to 8 (yes 8) various educational classes and several support groups (all documented) I just feel like all my efforts have been wasted.

My only hope is that the blood labs, ekg, ect that I have already had done will count. Plus, a lot of my pre-op work-up from 18 months ago may count too. (like my sleep study) If THOSE count then it will help move things along immensely.

They kept stressing that this is "not a race to the surgery table" and I could not help but grind my teeth- I have been running the race and running it HARD for two months just to get picked up and plopped back at the starting line..

I am just emotionally drained and I feel slightly lost in the process right now. I am going to not think about it anymore tonight.

Hopefully I will hear something from the Nurse Monday- Looks like a lot of miles will be put on my car to Ft. Bragg.....

Kim,

As I was reading this, all I could think was *Bless her little heart* - a good ole Southern term....

Please don't look at all the educational and support meetings as wasted - it gave you a chance to meet people, make friends, and ask more questions.    I know that it has been an emotional roller coaster - do something good for yourself tonight - get a bubble bath with some candles lit - just pamper yourself.

Take care...

Shelia

It took me nearly 20 months to get to surgery.  I too was frustrated at all I was forced to do and the waiting, etc.  It was a race for me - - a race of the bank account.  I was self employed and had nearly 1000 a month premium for health insurance.  Finally I ran out of savings and gave up my business and got a job that pays most of my health insurance but not much more! 

Sometimes there are reasons things take time.  Take your frustration and turn it into something positive. At least you are not unhappy with the folks at WOMACK.

hugs,

Fre

Kim,

I'm so glad that you are comfortable with the program at Womack, if not with the setbacks. I know that Ben was so very disappointed when he suffered setbacks with his insurance too. While I'm sure that it's disappointing to not have them 'credit' you for the work you've already done with your educational programs and support group meetings, I'm sure that you garnered a great deal of information and support from them and will continue to do so as you make your way through their program.

I guess it's a good thing that the price of gas has dropped.

Get some rest,

Barb

Hey there, I guess you will just have to look at this as having had a little detour and now you are on the straight and narrow!!  Don't get discouraged, just damn the torpedos and full speed ahead!!  (sorry couldn't resist 24 yr Navy Wife) 

You will get there in God's time not yours and it will be the right time.  There is a reason behind the delay although we may not see it until it rolls around. 

I started to research WLS 3 years before I got mine.  They would not pay for Lapband and I was afraid of bypass.  So I delayed.  Finally decided to check and see if Tricare would pay for Lapband now and lo and behold they did. So I started the process and it only took me from March 18 (my 1st appt with surgeon****il Aug 12 to have my surgery. It was just the right timing. 

Hang in there! Sending hugs.

Kim, I know it is a pain to begin over again, but maybe I can help you feel a bit better.  Your labs and ekg should be fine for Womack as long as they will be no more than 1 year old as of when they are going to do the actual surgery on you.  I don't know how far back they go on the sleep study, mine is about a year old this fall I believe and it counted just fine. 
Have you gone to any of the support group or educational meetings yet?  Those do count as long as you signed in instead of making you wait until after todays appt.  Another good thing that sometimes helps is that occasionally they have ones that count for both such as the one we just had this month.  Thanks to it, I now have all of my mandatory educational meetings done with only one more support group one to go, so the November educational meeting will actually be an extra for me.  Maybe you can also try and schedule some of your appt's on the same days as the meetings so that you can combine trips to save some gas money.
I know it is horrible to have to wait when you have done so much, but I know from having to wait because of unexpected things like that for past surgeries I have done that it all works out in the end and the timing is just right, no matter how much i hated the waiting.
I hope your 3 months goes by quickly!

Saprina

Kim,

I'm so glad that your fears about Womack have been put at ease.  :)  Yes, it is a very thorough program and they're pretty adamant about doing things their way (but hey...that's because it works, and it's pretty hard to have a problem with that rationale!)  ;)  I know it's frustrating because you've been working so ard already, but maybe you learned something along the way that you wouldn't have learned otherwise.  I don't know...I'm trying to cheer you up...probably not quite working, is it?  :)  Hang in there...I know 3 months sounds like a long time, but hey, now you can enjoy your holiday season while you're working your way through the process.

Good luck!

Kim
Im glad you got to check out Womack. I know it sucks to have to redo some tests results but you will have a date in no time best of luck to you!!

Darcie

"You've got mail!"