Amy L.
Waiting, Waiting, Waiting...
Sep 15, 2010
I know I shouldn't complain because I am one of the lucky ones who doesn't have to go through a 6 month waiting period/diet plan. But, UGH. So, I saw my PCP on Monday for my annual checkup and got my letter of medical necessity for Dr. Caruana's office. Mailed that out to them on Monday, so it should be in my file by now. On Friday I have appt with my Cardio to get clearance & letter from him, and then I just have to stop at my psych's office with copies of both letters and they will give me a clearance letter for surgery as well. All will go in the mail to the surgeon's office on Friday afternoon, so hopefully I will get a call early next week to set up my appointment with Dr. Caruana. When I called his office last week, they told me I'd get in to see him with in a week or two after they got all the paperwork, so let's keep our fingers crossed! After he does his exam on me, and goes over everything, signs off on the surgery it all goes out to the insurance company for approval which I am told should take about 2 weeks. I plan on calling both the surgeon's office and BCBSwny after 1 week to make all the paperwork has been sent out and received. I don't like to leave things to chance. I think that's why there are delays and problems with paperwork so often. So, I am taking control of the situation myself. I am keeping copies of everything. I am sending the letters to my surgeons office myself instead of leaving it up to the staff at my other doctors offices- who knows how long it would take them. It just gives me peace of mind to know that I have some control over the process, and that I know things are going where they need to, when they need to.So, I am hoping to get in to see Dr. Caruana by early October. I am a SAHM, so my schedule is totally open, both kids in school all day. So, I can always ask to be put on a cancellation list to get in sooner. If the timeline holds true, then insurance approval should come in by mid-late October, and I should get a surgery date in mid November. Hopefully.
Once the ball is rolling at Dr. Caruana's office, I have to go to a NUT class, a fitness class, and a support group meeting. I am hoping to knock them all off the same day, or atleast in the same week. Then, ofcourse, there will be some pre-op tests. With the patients of his that I have chatted with on OH, he doesn't do too many pre-op tests, unless you have certain health conditions. Thankfully, I don't have asthma, breathing issues, sleep apnea, or anything like that. No GERD or any digestive issues either. So, all I am really expecting for him to order is typical bloodwork, chest xray, and ekg.
Wish me luck!
On a side note- I got a flu shot on Monday, and like clockwork, it kicked my ass. I mean, I feel like I have been hit by a truck. Low fever, total body aches, really tired. Usually lasts me a few days, and then I am fine. But, I suppose it's much better than getting the full blown flu or swine flu. Oh- this is a great example of something---- I get totally sick from the flu shot- a pretty rare side effect. Most people are just fine from it. But, not me, I am sick every time. Nothing I can do about it, no way to prevent it, and I had no idea it would make me sick until the first time I got the shot. But, I still get the shot, because I know it's what is best for me. Well.....there are some people on OH who LOVE to scare the shit out of other people on here with their stories of how bad their post op experiences are. I am not going to name names, but there is one in particular that really pisses me off. This person has such a holier than thou attitude, shouts through the rafters to anyone who will listen about how bad their post op experiences have been, how they want to warn everyone and anyone who gets RNY that they could very likely end up in their boat. Well, MOST of OH people stick to their diet. MOST of OH people listen to their surgeons orders and plans for them. MOST of OH people do not dump regularly. Hmmm...could this be why you are in this situation? So, needless to say, this person LOVES to scare the shit out of everyone on the OH boards telling them about their complications and how they think more and more people will have them- especially newbies. LOVE IT- NOT!!!! I've done the research, many. many. times. More than most doctors do. I am a well educated patient. I have a thirst for medical knowledge, and I read constantly about anything and everything medical, especially things that pertain to my own health or that of my family. And, so my current passion is RNY. I can't get enough info on it. And I am here to tell you that this persons attitude and information is not factual- it is based on their own experience. Just one of hundreds of thousands of people out there who have had RNY. So, don't let this person scare you with their "information". Get the facts yourself, from real medical personnel, from real medical research. It's not that hard to do. SO- what I started to say in the beginning of this paragraph is ....just like I am among the very rare few who get sick from the flu shot, this person is among the very rare few who have suffered their complications post-op!
OK, enough ranting for today. I feel better now.
3 Comments
About Me
Buffalo, NY
Location
20.0
BMI
Surgery
11/22/2010
Surgery Date
Aug 29, 2010
Member Since
