bradshaw0506

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May 4th was life changing.  It's been 16 days since my LBL/BA and things have changed dramatically!  I did not anticipate the recovery that I would endure but it's totally worth it for sure. 

More to come...

I can not wait for this part of my journey to happen and be over so I can enjoy the new me.  I haven't had a flat tummy since I was 10 years old!  Hell, I've never had boobs so I look forward to that just as much.

What am I having done?

1. Lower body lift from knees to breast bone
2. Lipo all the way around
3. 300cc implants

Cost?  Not sure yet but I assume it's more than a couple of bucks. 

So here I am still in New Jersey.  I'm staying so long by request of my surgeon to get me past the delicate post-op stage.  I don't mind it much really but I am super duper himesick and can't wait to leave on Friday.

So far I am doing really well.  I can eat/taste real food and I drink my water and I walk a lot.  I've started taking my probiotic supplement, my lamictal, my sugar meds, and some chewable iron.  Tomorrow I may attempt a chewable vitamin, God willing.

I have no idea if I've weight yet, I'm not hoping for much since I'm still swollen and retaining water.  I already feel like I'm acting as if I have, I feel more comfortable with my physical appearance and I'm so ready to get on with it and buy a new pair of jeans every couple of weeks cause I can't keep up.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

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                           Holy Cow!
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Insurance company received my paperwork for authorization on Jan. 25th.  How long will they take to approve?  Right now on Wednesday, January 31st at 1:16pm CST my claim is sitting in a que waiting for a review/decision.

1. Received fax for authorization - (Jan. 25th)
2. Scanned & Imagined into their system - (Jan. 28th)
3. Assigned a document # - (Jan. 28th)
4. Hard copy to medical policy - (Jan. 28th)
5. Assigned to a Rep. - (Still in an open que)

This is were it stands for now.  It hasn't even been a week since they received it but I'm hopefull they won't take too long.  Technically they have until February 28th to make a decision.
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Received a call from Tina on Thursday, Jan 24th at 4:27pm EST while she was faxing everything to Horizon BCBS of NJ - Blue Card PPO.
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Received an update on Thursday, January 17th at 2:46pm EST that my letter is off to the transciptionist to be written.  Should get it back mid next week and by Friday I hope to have it off to Horizon BCBS of NJ.  I hope to have a decision before month end.

I'm crossing my fingers!!!
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I wonder how long it will take them to get on the ball to go after insurance approval?  I'm nervous!

P.s. But I bought a suitcase.

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Dr. G and email on Friday when I sent off my paperwork and this is what I said:

Dr. Greenbaum and Tina,   Today I sent you a FedEx package Attn: Tina.  It includes all of the necessary information that you requested per our phone consult in early November.  I’m hoping once you review, we can submit for insurance approval rather quickly.  When you do can I ask that you let me know when it goes to BCBS of NJ?  I want to keep on top of the insurance portion as much as possible.   I hope to hear from you very soon.  Thanks so much!

This was his response:

Certainly.  And if you don't hear from us, feel free to contact us to find out more on the progress. dr g

Ever since I was forced to have a hysterectomy I've not been the same.  I've gained weight, I feel bloated, I had my very first UTI and some other female issues I've never experienced before.  

I'll get my neceassry paperwork from my PCP office to send to my surgeon to submit for insurance approval and then I can get a date once they approve.  God, I hope they approve!!!  I can't live like this anymore.

I can't cross my legs now, my back hurts 24/7, and I feel so fat and bloated all the time.  

I wish things would move along faster.

I'm more than impressed with this man.  

Out of all the face to face consults & phone consults I've had, he's the only one who spent more than 5 minutes with me.  Actually over an HOUR!!!!  He took me through the procedure (RNY to DS) backwards and forwards, told me what I needed to do for insurance approval, told me what I needed to do to prep for surgery, and additional testing to complete.

I don't need to fly out to him until it's time for surgery, so technically I won't meet this man until the morning of surgery or is it the Friday before?  Anyway, I'm excited but still have 3 months to wait for surgery due to timing with work and family.  I'm way more than willing to wait for things to fall into place to have the procedure I want.

With that said, I talked to so many surgeons and all but one suggested something other than what I wanted, Dr. G aside.  I really feel like they did that because their just not trained, experienced, or whatever to actually do the procedure.  I highly advise everyone seeking an RNY to DS revision to go to a doc you feeling comfortable with and someone who knows exactly what their doing.  

I'm super excited and need to distract myself for the next 3 months.  Oh Lord!

After thinking of about this all day I've decided to get yet another opinion.  I feel like I'm surgeon hoppin' 'til I get the answers I want.  Not sure why that makes me feel like a flighty patient, I just gotta do what's best for me you know.

I've already spoken to...

Dr. Prachand - only offered lap band over RNY
Dr. Frantzides - has never done a revision, not sure why I called him
Dr. Husted - said yes, but I'm not willing to afford him
Dr. Maguire - would only do distal
Dr. Gagner - said yes, but told me to wait until late January 2008.
Dr. Buchwald - hasn't declined the DS, but did reccommend something else first
Dr. Greenbaum - my next surgeon if Dr. B doesn't work out.

It's not a pyloric valve issue even as far out as I am from my RNY.  We have plenty of revision patients here that had their RNYs back in the early 90's, so I don't see it to be a problem.  Your sectioned off stomach still produces bile, etc.  The pyloric valve is still working even though I'm technically not using it.

I'm calling Dr. Greenbaum's office to schedule a phone consult.  I'm still going to Dr. B's because I'm super curious to know how that will work out.  Besides, my plane ticket to MN is already paid for.