Teresa K.
I have a wonderful supportive husband. My husband does so much for me. He even buys me clothes!!! When we've been skiing he has always taken the time to help me find ski boots that would fit my fat legs and has always helped me get them fastened out in the snow because due to the elevation and my being over weight I couldn't bend over long enough and still breath to get them fastened. Now that's an unselfish man. My husband has never said one thing to me about my weight. He has never complained or made fun of me because of my weight. I've attending a Lap band meeting earlier this year and checked into a couple of things and then began putting everything off because I found out my insurance was going to require a physician followed weight loss of 1 year. I recently did a follow up w/ my pcp (actually I saw his nurse practitioner) and we discussed how I had been feeling with all my issues-- most weight related. I had big tears in my eyes and was really attempting to hold the tears back. I explained to her that I had been to a meeting previously and my insurance issues. She told me that my file had plenty of weight history and with all my medical problems she thought I was a perfect candidate. I was so shocked -- I said you really have at least one year of weight history in my file-- you think that will work and her reply YES. I started calling them getting them right on it, but only to find out the doctor I wanted to use from Lap Band solutions wasn't accepted on my insurance, (which is the Lap Band Seminar I had been to). 12/19/2005 (Monday)****** My pcp gave me another name, so I looked up some info on him and what hospitals he worked out of and then called my insurance company to make sure he and the hospital I wanted would be on my plan. Yes they were. I called my pcp back and let them know. They turned right around and called my insurance company and found out all I needed was a referral written on a script. I'm going to pick it up in the morning. I immediately called Dr Wade Barker's office and scheduled an appt. My first appt is Jan 5th @ 8:40 am. Wish me luck!!!!! I know I have a lot ahead of me but I'm going to take it one day at a time. 04/14/2006 (Friday)****** I met with Dr. Barker his office gave me a list of things I would need to complete before they even submitted anything to my insurance company. I met with Dr. Barker in Jan. 2006. I've completed the 2 night sleep study and YES I have sleep apnea. The sleep study doctor also did a pulmonary test and that was fine. I still need to visit a heart doctor for clearance and also do the psych evaluation and the nutrition evaluation. My insurance requires a 6 month doctor supervised diet. so I went to my PCP this week to finally get this going. I have put it off since Jan thinking my insurance would make an exception with all the weight history info (losing and re-re-gaining) in my file. NOT I've got to stick to this so I can get this all behind me. I want to be thinner, feel better, look better and have lots of energy. I want to be beautiful-- well that will never happen but I can certainly look better for myself and my husband. I just want to feel better, not ache every single day. 10/15/2006******** Its been a while but on 9/30/06 I completed my 6 months doctor supervised diet. I didn't lose a lot but I lost some, but on the last visit I had gained three pounds. I met with the nurse practitioner and she was very to the point with me since I had gained three pounds. She really upset me telling me I would be on insulin with 3 years and she didn't want to end up losing my sight a limb or have kidney trouble along with heart problems. I cried all the way to work that morning and even after I got work and at lunch. I know what she said was true it was just depressing. You know all your life people tell you if your overweight to just accept who you are and the way you look and be happy. I can't accept who I am because its not healthy and I don't want to be more miserable than I am now in a few years. I called and made my appointment for the psych/nutrition evaluation and the cardiac clearance. I've faxed over all my doctors notes (6 months) to Dr. Barker's office. I completed the psych/nutrition evaluation on Friday 10/13/2006. My cardiac clearance appt is on 10/28/06 unless I can get it moved up. I would really like to get everything to Dr. Barker's office so they can send it all in to my insurance company before the end of the year!!! It would be so great to have the Lap Band done before the end of the year. 10/23/06 ****** I called and scheduled my EGD Test for Nov 15th, this is the earliest available unless I get an approval before that. I'm hoping my paper work from the psych/nutrition eval was received by Dr. Barker's office today. Dale from his office told me on Thursday this was the only thing he needed in order to submit it to my Insurance for an approval. I'm praying for an approval and a date ASAP!!!!!!! I know the earliest would be 2 wks and that's probably pushing it. 11/10/06******* I found out today that I've been approved!!!!! yea!!!! My doctor's office faxed over my paper work on 10/25/06 and my insurance company shows receiving it on 10/27/06 and today 11/10/06 I was approved!!!. Have my EGD test on Wed 11/15 and a follow up appt w/ Dr Barker Thurs @ 4:30 pm on 11/16/06 and then I get to schedule my date. 11/16/2006 ****** I had my EGD Test Wed and it was fine -- no problems. I went for my final consult today with Dr. Barker (he is such a nice and kind person). I HAVE A DATE!!! YES YOU READ THIS RIGHT-- I HAVE A DATE. MY DATE IS wED 11/22/2006. My pre-op diet begins tomorrow. E
