Reached my 1 Year Anniversary

Jul 20, 2012

I reached my 1 year and I'm doing awesome! Things have been great! I'm down 95 lbs and still going strong. I love every second of my life and feel so much better that I'm off of all my medication I use to take. This was the best thing that I could have done for myself. I embraced it and I'm giving it 100%.
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6 Months....Checking in.

Feb 25, 2012

I have reached my 6th month and I'm doing Fantastic. I've had no complications and things are moving along wonderfully. I feel great and so full of life. I'm down 86lbs. My start weight was 289lbs and I'm curently 203lbs. This has been the greatest thing to ever happen to me in my whole life....besides my 2 wonderfull children. I no longer take a handfull of medications, I do still take pain meds for my back pain wich I'm sure I'll have troubles with for the rest of my life, but each day is still worth waking up to with so many posibilities.

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Surgery Date

May 04, 2011

I got a surgery date of July 19th I wish it was sooner......much much sooner!!! 2 years of waiting I guess a month and a 1/2 won't kill me.... /sigh
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Just when you think its working.

Nov 03, 2010

Well here's an update; I was 3 months in with my nutritionist visits (6 month supervised visits with the nutritionist) low and behold, BAM!!!!
Well Medicaid dropped the ball and I believe they are going to make me start over my 6 month diet and exercise. I'm so mentally drained from fighting this for almost 2 years now. I just want to lay down and die. I can't seem to win for the life of me, even tho theoretically I won.
So instead of doing 6 months of diet and exercise I will have to do 9. I was half way done! I needed 3 more months and I was good as gold.

As much as I want to fight this, I'm just to emotionally drained. So I'm giving in and praying this 6 months rushes me by.

So to top it all off I'm going to be making a trip over the pass from Spokane to Seattle in the winter (WLS consult with the surgeon). I'm really terrified to drive in the snow but, I'm not going to give up on making the trip. I waited this long! I'm going, even if I have to walk over the pass in the snow.

I need a miracle...... I wish Rockwood clinic took my medical. It would save me from making that dreadful trek in the snow over the pass.

~Rant Off~

-Billie
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More delays

Oct 04, 2010

Just a lil update/documenting from my end of the process.

Well I got the approval from the review judge on August 31st 2010. Hummm, I'm waiting on the finale letter so I can go see the WLS surgeon. Well lets see its been over a month whats going on??!!!

I called Medicaid to see what the hold up was and, low and behold they never received the letter from the review judge. I did some poking around and decided to call the Board of Appeals. I got lucky and was able to speak with a supervisor. It turns out the Lawyer for medicaid was suppose to fax/send the review to medicaid. The supervisor even looked up my case and told me that Trudi ***** was in charge of that. She told me to call her and see what the hold up was.
Soooooo I called and left a message and got a return call the next day. I explained to her that the review/approval needs to be sent to Medicaid so they can process the proper papers to get me in to see the surgeon.....

Grand Fennel....wait for it !!!! wait for it!!!!

She asked me if I knew the Fax number to Medicaid BAAHAHAHA. OMG! To much for me to handle. I gladly gave her the Fax number and held back my amusement. God bless her soul. I have faith in her. I do!

It is Monday Oct 4Th 2010. I think I might call Medicaid and see if they received the Review. After all it has been over a month ~cry~

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4 Years and Counting

Sep 02, 2010

I've been a member of OH since 2006. I've been trying for 5 years to get the help I deserve. I've struggled with stress, pain, depression etc...
Now its time for me to shine!!! 
I look forward to checking off the things I always wanted to do....

"The Initial Order is Affirmed." The Appellant has met her burden of establishing that she is eligible for stage two of the bariatric surgery process.

I'm 2 months in with the requirements of Medicaid. It has NOT been an easy journey. But when I look at it, this process has made me that much stronger (even tho I'm crying like a little baby with this good news). They did not make this easy on me at all but, I refused to give up. Just because I'm on a state medical program does not mean I'm not entitled to equal health care.

I'm so very grateful for the people who stood behind me and kept pushing forward right along side of me (my #1 support my Daughter Felicia). Medicaid was a pain in the butt to deal with but they had to do their job. (Que-headache) And everyone who has helped me also suffered at the hands of medicaid,

I'm moving on to finish what I started. I'm so looking forward to the surgery date. I'm also praying Medicaid will just back off and let me finish this. I'm still kind of stressed because I've herd about people reaching the date of their surgery and Medicaid pulled the approval and issued a denial. What a nightmare that would be!!!

 I truly feel like I'm almost there, This will all be over soon, and I can move on to

A new life....


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Could it be True?

Jul 29, 2010

I'm still kind of clueless about whats going on with the approval process . I'm not sure if this could truly be happening or not. So far I'm in stage 2.. I  hope I am. I just had a visit with the Psychologist July 28Th. I'm going to see the nutritionists July 30Th. It sounds like I'm in stage 2 but, no one has said anything yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed in hopes of reaching this long awaited goal .

I think I'll believe it when I receive an approval letter saying I can have the surgery. Till then I'm going to keep going .

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Don't forget the kicker....

Jul 06, 2010

To add insult to injuries....
My Doctor called and told me she spoke to David R. Flum from University of Washington.
He told her when I receive the approval letter I should start stage 2. That consists of nutritionist visits 2 times a month, psychologist visit and 1 hour visits to her for 6 months. I'm in stage 2 but I'm waiting on DSHS (medicaid) to catch up with the rest of the world....
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Always to good to be true...

Jul 06, 2010

~Rant-on~

Just when I thought I was headed in the right direction.... WHAM!!!!
There always seems to be one person or thing to stand in your way....

My Lawyer (pro-bono) called to let me know that the attorney for DSHS (medicaid)
pulled my case and is asking for a review to over-turn the Adjudicated law judges decision of approval.

She is stating that I did not supply them with supportive evidence that I have tried the less costly and less risky alternative to treat my co-morbid conditions. I have all the proof she is saying she has never seen. It was sent to her by me and by my lawyer. She is basically lying. Why would she want to say that I have not provided evidence of the treatments that I have failed at? Only thing that comes to mind is she never even looked at my case. Who knows!

I have over 500+ pages of documentation. I have spent countless hours trying to make sure everything was covered and all my ducks were in a row. I just don't understand why they are making it so difficult for me?
I send them stuff that they ask for, and they say its not good enough, and they need more.
Aside from having my fingernails ripped out, I'm not sure what else I can do.
She has stated that all of my co-morbid  conditions will not be cured or resolved with bypass surgery.
It takes me a few seconds to goggle the benefits that bypass surgery has on people who suffer from diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, GERD, depression, degenerative disk/joint disease etc....

She states that bypass is very risky due to stitches failing and infection! That could happen with any surgery. All surgeries have risks right? Its not rocket-science.
Am I concerned of the risks? Hell yes I am, but I would still feel the same about back surgery or any surgery for that matter.

I don't think she would recognize the truth if it bit her in the ass...I'm so very upset with the whole process DSHS (medicaid) puts a person though. Its so stressful. I feel like I'm going to go crazy if this continues. My mother did not raise me to be a quitter so I'm hanging on....I'll win my approval someday I hope.
They would rather pay for a back surgery that could go terribly wrong then pay for a laparoscopic less invasive surgery like the gastric bypass.  
Mind you I have already had a failed back surgery before and it hasn't gotten any better. There is mounting evidence that this surgery would resolve most, if not all of my co-morbid conditions. 

When you get into a car you put your safety belt on... right?  Why?
Because you know it will save your life! Do you every think you might suffer some injuries from the safety belt? Or die if you don't wear it?
Yes! of course you do! but you still put it on.... right? Why?
because you know it will save your life and all other scars will heal in time....

Its common seance to treat peoples "common co-morbities"  who would have known! ( I say common co-morbities because common people die each day from them) It was mentioned that my common co-morbid conditions have other treatments available to me and are less costly to the department. Go figure! Again I submitted well documented tried-and-failed treatments available to me.....

This whole mess makes no sense to me. What really boggles my mind is how some people can claim the job title "attorney" and get away with it.
Calling yourself an attorney and Acting like one is two different things.
To earn the respected job title "attorney" you are required to present yourself as such... 

My lawyer has been a god send to me... I hope someday I'll be able to return his kindness and generosity....
~cry~

~Rant-off~


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AMAZING DAY, EVER!!!

Jun 05, 2010

This is the most amazing day ever. I received my approval letter to move forward to stage 2. HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY.
 I'm just so over come with Joy and excitement....

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About Me
Spokane, WA
Location
44.3
BMI
RNY
Surgery
07/19/2011
Surgery Date
Aug 16, 2006
Member Since

Friends 17

Latest Blog 24

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