Brandi Herrington

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I had and made it through the surgery.  The first week was really tough, but I made it through.  It was actually a lot worse than I thought it would be.  Eight days after surgery, the hump came and went.  I was starting to feel better and gaining strength each day.  I didn't throw up for the first time until 17 days after surgery, which is great.  My scabs are starting to fall off and my insides are only sore in one spot still.  I started sleeping in the bed again at around 14 days out.  I'm a stomach sleeper, so I think that's why it took a little longer.  

I've lost 33 pounds in almost 3 weeks.  I've been fighting to lose 5 pounds for years now, so this has made me extatic.  I'm realistic, and I know the weight loss will slow down.  So many people have called and one of the first things they ask is how much I've lost, how much do you want to lose, what weight do you want to be by when?  My answer remains the same.  I don't have expectations, I just want to enjoy the ride.  

I'll check in again later. 

February 15, 2006 -I have my clearance letter from my family physician. My primary physician will have plenty of information to send to the insurance company. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

February 20, 2006 - I visited the seminar that is required before I could get an office appointment. It was very informative and helped my spouse to be even more supportive. I made my appointment for 3 days later.

February 23, 2006 - I saw the nurse practioner and got weighed. She went through my entire family history and asked me a list of questions. At the end of our time, she told me that it could take up to 60 days for them to get in contact with my insurance company to find out what all they would require. Then they will call me and tell the part of it that I need to get toghether. I suppose they will contact my doctors and get all the neccessary things they can, also.

March 10, 2006 - I called my primary physician's office to see if anyone had requested any medical records yet, and they said no. I was disapointed that nothing had happened yet. This waiting game is hard.

March 16, 2006 - And the waiting game continues. From research, I know all the primary things that my insurance will reqire. My doctor has access to all the documentation that they will need. So waiting on the actual surgeon's office to call and find out something that I already know is making me go crazy. After they find out what all needs to be sent into the insurance company, then it can be up to another 2-3 months before the insurance company makes their decision. The stress and anxiety from this was causing me to eat in excess. My hubby brought me back to earth and helped me realize that I don't need to be gaingin weight during this time. Because of the anti-seizure medication I'm on, in 2 weeks of overeating, I gained 10 pounds. I'm back to eating on my Nutrisystem plan again though and I'm doing better. I'm trying to put the waiting game factor out of my mind.

March 22, 2006 - The fact that I hadn't heard from anyone in a month was bugging me. So I did what I wasn't supposed to do, I called the Clinic. They said they mailed off my letter on March 7th, but I'm not sure what letter she was talking about. The nurse practitioner told me that they would be getting in touch with my insurance company in the next 60 days, during my original visit. So did they "mail" a letter asking for the requirements needed? Or did they mail an approval letter? I should have asked the lady on the phone, but I get so nervous when I'm talking with them. Plus, she seemed sort of aggravated, which make me even more anxious. So I just said, "Thank you," and hung up. I need to call them back and ask if there is anything I can get done before they have to ask. Like, pulmonary visit, sleep test, psych evaluation. If I can go ahead and get those things done, then that will eliminate one step. I'm just so afraid to call back and ask.

April 7, 2006 - I recieved my letter from the insurance company and the letter from CMMC stating what my insurance company needed in order to do a proper review of my account. I have to get documentation of being morbidly obese for the past 3 years, documentation of being on a medically supervised diet for the past 6 months, and have a history and physical done by my bariatric surgeon. The letter from CMMC stated for me to gather this information from my physician, then send it to them. But my physician said that they don't normally send medical records out to patients. So anyway, I gave them the address to send it to and I guess my records are on their way to CMMC. After they get them, I suppose they'll get my file completed and ready to send back into the insurance company. I called CMMC today about the physical. The lady that answers the phones took my info. and said someone would call me back. I called early this morning, and as of the end of the business day, no one has called. A pattern is starting to form with these guys, but I will continue to overlook it for now because I know they're busy.

May 4, 2006 - Well, I waited as long as I could. I finally had to email Adam Dungey, who has been SOOO much help, about the progress of my file. He contacted Jeanie and she said they still hadn't received some stuff from my family physician. I filled out the form for that at my FP a month ago. So I'm glad I called asked, otherwise, it could be another month later and nothing was being done. She also said I needed more info from my Primary Care Physican. I glad I got in touch with them before waiting for them to get in touch with me. A month could have gone by with nothing being accomplished. This way, I could find out what needed to be done, and get on it. So here's what they need to complete my file:
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Proof of Nutrisystem

Proof of Weight Watchers

Letter from Primary Care Physician about medically supervised weight loss, programs and medication he put me on because of my weight.

Records from Endocrinologist (I saw one about 6 months ago)

Records from Nutritionist (I saw one in March of 2005)

Records from Family Physican showing my weight and prescriptions he wrote to aide weight loss.
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This is the list AFTER I'd sent the stuff in that was requested in the initial "Requirements to finish your file for the insuranace" letter that they sent out a month ago. So anyway, I got o the ball this morning with getting the list taken care of. I'll probably call again in 2 weeks. I know they're gonna get tired of me, but I can't help it. I want this done as quick as possible. My health is deteriorating quickly and I'm miserable.
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August 7, 2006-

I had my psych eval, had a chest x-ray done, had all my info and requirements in. Then CMMC completely failed me.

Well, after a long battle with CMMC, they sent me a letter around June 10 that said the surgeon had decided not to do the surgery. I was devastated. I was peeved though, because they didn't include a reason in this very vague letter. So I called to find out what was going on, and was told to talk with Adam, but he was on vacation. To make a long story short, I called and emailed for 6 weeks and never got a response from Adam, Jeanie (who is now no longer with CMMC), or Sandra. I was very disappointed and felt let down. I remained calm in all my emails and messages, because I was trying to remain civil. I knew being agry and ugly would get me no where. Well, being civil never did either. I called my psych. to ask her if my report was positive, thinking that might be the reason the doc wouldn't do the surgery. She assured me that the report was more than positive and definitely wasn't the reason. She did mention something about my seizures though, and said she was 90% sure that part had scared the surgeon. She told me all I needed to do was get my Neurologist to speak with Dr. Cleveland one on one and guarantee that it would be fine. My neurologist was the very one who suggested the surgery, so I couldn't understand this hold up. Since I couldn't get a response or talk with anyone directly about my case, I ended up taking the next step.

I finally got frustrated enough to contimplate going elsewhere. My husband's cousin had used Dr. Salameh and she had great things to say about him. So I called CMMC and told them to fax over all my info to Dr. Salameh's office. I was finished and never going to look back. I figured it wouldn't be much of a battle somewhere new, because I'd already gone through most of the requirements and was self-pay. The sad thing is, I emailed Adam one last time to beg him to tell me the reason Dr. Cleveland decided not to do the surgery. No response.

So now, all Lori needs (the nurse at UMC) is my weight records from 2004-2005 and a copy of my insurance card faxed over. Josh, my husband, faxed the copy this morning. I called my neurologist's office this morning and they are getting the weight records together.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will have this surgery before Christmas. It's been a long and ridiculously frustrating journey since February, when I first decided to pursue this. I'm ready for something positive in this whole process.

Oct. 3, 2006 - Well, I finally met the surgeon yesterday. My appointment went heavenly......for the first time during this process. I've been at it since Feb. and the other place I dealt with nearly sent me into a nervous breakdown. He was sooooo nice and positive. He said that I was a perfect candidate for the surgery and that i'd done most of the testing already. He didn't see any reason why we couldn't move forward.

So yesterday I had to take a Pulmonary Test, a Arterial Blood Gases test (tests for % oxygen and % carbon dioxide in my blood), and a fasting lipids blood test.

Next, I have to go back in 3 weeks and take a medical evaluation and a nut. class, which is the last step before I get a surgery date.
A couple of weeks after that they will call me with all the results and schedule me with an appointment to come up and have the pre-op tests done and give me my surgery date. So I should have the surgery at the least 2 months..............the most, at the beginning of the New Year.

December 14, 2006:  I've got a surgery date!!  January 8th is when I get to start my new life.  Everything has been smoothe sailing since I switched to UMC from CMMC.  Better communication, they treat me like a person instead of a patient, and the staff is amazing.  I'm very comfortable with Dr. Salameh and Lori is a blessing.  I'm so excited!!!!!