candy L.
Hello. I've been a member sense 2002 and as you can see this has been a work in progress. It's taken me so long to even get anywhere from the get go. Every time i get a new Dr. they always tell me I'm not over weight or tell me to wait and try yet another diet. Diet,diet,diet. A word i desperately hate more than the word fat. I have been overweight for the past 10 years. It all started after I thought that the extra 40 pounds i gained from the kids was too much leaving me at 160 pounds so the dieting began, after a couple of years of failed attempts i started doing coke. A couple years later i was down to 115. I quit cold turkey and within that following year the weight came back but more than before. I'm the opposite of those skinny chics looking in the mirror and seeing FAT. I only saw boobs and legs when i look down, forget looking around, no possible way to do that any more lol. In my mind I was still that thin 120 lb woman back in the day. Needless to say photos made me run the other way before they could even be taken. One photo caught up with me last year and i realized there was a HUGE problem. That's the photo over there with me in the light colored scrub. So, over the last few years i was going to the Dr.s and they was telling me there was no problem or try to talk me out of this crazy surgery thing. I'm still here, still wanting the surgery and still not gotten any where with the Dr. So, about two weeks ago i called my insurance and asked them what the requirements were for the weight loss surgery. I was floored when they told me because it seemed so simple...one year of documented weightloss and diabetes. With that in hand i went back to my Dr. and told them what i had learned, at first they were reluctant. I wanted to cry. So they gave me a bunch of tests to do and said that if they come back ok, they would send in for the referral for consult. That's just to talk to a surgeon, let alone everything else. Needless to say I could have been a lot farther here than I am. Next week on the 7th i go in to see about the tests and if i finally get that referral.
So my journey finally begins.
I m 38, my B.m.i is 42.9, diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, depression, gerd, urinary incontinence, asthma, low back pain, leg pain, headachs, sleeping issues, restless leg syndrome, those are just the ones i can remember at the moment. I m so tired of all the medications. I m tired of being sick, I m tired of being tired and left out of fun activities. What I m most tired of is hearing the words " you eat too much" or " control your food portions". When your Dr even tells you this you begin to think it just might be all in your head. I don't breath and think food here, just my stomach does and of course when it says "FEED ME !" i do just that because the empty feeling hurts.
I want to be able to wear cool clothes again and be able to walk through a store without loosing my breath after 5 minutes and my legs hurting so bad that i can't walk another second. I want to be one of those people who go to the gym, but not to be stared at because i m huge and sweating way too much and start to smell before i even pass the first treadmill. And don't let me get going on the cost of boobie holders here. Holy cow! Almost a portion of my check goes toward those things. I m curious about something...is it just me or do other people have the same issue...my ribs hurt from the fat sitting on them...???
Whell i have looked, read, and watched all about this weight loss surgery stuff and i am so ready to start shedding the weight and start a new life. From here on out i will do my best to record everything and put up photos for future readers and seekers of the B.W.L.S. Wish me luck...
******************************************************************************
January 7 2008
Back again all. OK, here's the scoop...called my insurance company and asked them for the qualifications for bariatric weight loss surgery. She said: one year of medically documented weight loss attempts and weigh ins plus diabetes. The search is on! I have had many different Dr's over the years and they did not transfer all my records so i will have to locate them all.
******************************************************************************
February 7 2008
Went to my Dr appointment this morning and it didn't go good at all. My lab work was in because i had called a few days before and asked them and they said yes. So i get there and wait for almost 40 minutes feeling really bad but thinking it was due to lack of sleep i finally get to the back and they can't find the lab results! The Dr seemed irratated with that and said for me to make an appointment to come back. So as i was heading out the door, they found my labs and read through them then the Dr said to me ( on my way out the door ) you have diabetes. Didn't give me any more information than that and said to come back in a week. I was a little mad but made the appointment and left. That morning my head was all foggy and my eyes were not seeing right and i was so tired that i just wanted to go home and sleep. I don't even remember most of the rest of the day. Later on after i ate something a friend of mine checked my blood sugar level and it was sitting at 312, and that she thinks it was way higher like above 450 that morning and that my Dr should have noticed something was wrong, but he didn't. I guess there was a whole bunch of stuff in the labs that were high or bad.
******************************************************************************
February 8 2008
Went out and bought a blood sugar kit. Didn't have enough money for the test strip which i thought came with it so i had to borrow some money to buy them. Sold my lap top for $60 and put that into a coin bank that i have to keep all the money i save in it for the surgery. Paid back the money i borrowed for the test strips . So far i have came up with $122! Have my first meeting for a seminar on the 20 th and same day i might be able to get the first appointment to go to the bariatric program. Had to scrape every penny just to get that much. Instead of buying my soda i kept the money. Instead of going to B-king i put that change into my jar. Have appointment for the 14 th with the Dr so hopefully i will get some where with the issues and get that referral too.
******************************************************************************
February 9 2008
Cried for most of the day yesterday and kept to my self. I have many thoughts going on in my head and seems like no one wants to listen here in my family. I am so thankfull to every one out here to be able to get some information on the diabetes and read up on other people's story's to know a little of what to expect. I still feeling like crying. The only thing stopping me from being able to start this weight loss process is money. I now have $200 saved up but out of resources for the rest. I don't know which to feel more depressed over: not coming up with the money or being diabetic ! I thought this was going to be easier than it is. And if my Dr tells me that i eat too much one more time i swear i will throw him in a river of food ! I think i can find one some where lol. Only $ 550 more to go !!!!!!
******************************************************************************
February 14 2008
Happy Valentine's Day everyone ! OK, went to my Dr.'s today and finally got the conformation that all my blood work numbers were too high or out of wack. Was put on Actos, Metformin, and high cholesterol meds. Took the metformin and ended up later on in the bathroom dumping yellow poo. I hope this was normal. Well, i didn't get my referral. He wants me to come back in a month and see how the meds are working and how it affects the diabetes. OK people here, I m very confused...he doesn't want me to continue the home monitoring with the kit my insurance sent me.? He actually seemed angry that i had called my insurance and told them that he said i have diabetes. I only called because i wanted to know if they would cover any scripts for more blood strips but said no unless the kit was their kind, which bummed me out because i had spent $60.oo for the kit i just bought and can not take it back because it was used already. So i got the new one from them tried it out and all but now wont be able to use it. I looked up other PCP Dr.'s here that my insurance will cover. I have been waiting for 5 years for this all to really happen and now being told to wait AGAIN. I m not going to do that. I m going ahead with an appointment at the center with or with out that referral. Some one told me here that maybe if i would have had this surgery already i would not have diabetes now. I totally agree with you on that one. My bmi is almost at 43. I have only one kidney and you would think that they would push this along better than what they have ( my PCP ). Tomorrow i will be calling my old Dr and tell them that i would like to come back. I know she has had other patients have this surgery so she is bariatric friendly. So far sense taking the meds my blood sugar has been getting very normal. No 200's at all today. Normally i wake up with numbers close to 160-170, so we will see what the morning will bring. Hopefully another day like today! No ups and downs.
******************************************************************************
February 16 2008
Three days and sugar count is still maintaining ! Changed back to my old PCP Dr Wiggins. Insurance cleared it once i told them what all was going on. Have my first appointment on March 4th and this Monday they said i can come in to sign to have my file transfered to them. I just hope there is no hard feelings from my PCP Dr that they end up holding my files. But i have that covered too, already talked to a lawyer and told me that the Dr has to send over the files to Dr Wiggins in a timely manner. So I am praying that those files are there before my appointment on the 4 th. But then all they really need is the blood work faxed to them for now. I officially have today $340.00 !!!!! Almost there for the deposit. Yeah! Wait, just made another $10.00 to baby sit for 3 hours cool. Now I am up to $ 350.00. Here i come surgery!
******************************************************************************
March 02 2008
Back again. Not much to talk about for today. I have the $850 so that's cool. Tomorrow I go to a seminar for two hours. They only have a four week group session and I m curious to know why some are longer than others. My insurance already said that i do qualify just have to get the process going and send in the paper work. OK, Will be back tomorrow to fill in how the seminar went.
******************************************************************************
March 12 2008
Went to my doctor and explained to them what i wanted and that i went to a seminar and got all the information needed from them now my doctor needs to send in for authorization for consult and 6 follow up visits. Once the insurance gets that and says yes then it goes to the bariatric center then they will call me for an appointment to come in. Just got off the phone with the Doctor's office and they are getting ready to fax it over to the insurance company. So tomorrow i will call them and make sure they have it and see how long that will take.
******************************************************************************
March 14 2008
Man can this process take any longer? Called my insurance company and she said that they have not received anything from my Doctor yet. So later on today i will be going over to my PCP office to see what's going on with the paper work and try to get that faxed. Some good news though, last night i went to a support group meeting and I am so glad that i did! Got some more information on the surgery, weight loss, food and exercise from people who have been there where I am trying to get to. It was so positive to actually see people in person telling some of what they went through and seeing those who have lost the weight already. I m looking forward to the next one and have it on my calendar already. Going to another seminar on the 19 th for more info on the gastric bypass and re-constructive surgery. Looking forward to that. So right now I am still awaiting for that authorization fax.
******************************************************************************
March 17 2008
Called my PCP office to see whats going on with that authorization. Said again they will fax it right over, called my insurance 3 hours later and still nothing. This is crazy. But it will happen i just have to wait this out.
******************************************************************************
March 24 2008
Again I called my PCP office and they were saying the same thing. Was having some difficulty with communication's with a staff there, he wasn't understanding what i needed ,kept saying something about needing a referral to go to the weight center and I kept telling him no, that i need an authorization to be faxed into my insurance company. Long story short, i ended up calling the bariatric center and explained what the problem was and she ended up calling them to explain it to him. She called me right back an told me that they were faxing it right over. So i wait some more.
******************************************************************************
March 25 2008
OK, finally getting somewhere. Just got off the phone with the insurance company and they got the fax. Said that I am authorized for one visit to the center. Cool, that gets my foot in the door. Going to call the center later on and see when they can fit me in. I also found out that my exact out of pocket expenses are going to be $709.00 which is cool because i have that already. So on to some other things going on...i don't think the metaformin is working, been having that ucky feeling back in my stomach. Tomorrow i go back in to see the PCP Dr. so i will mention it and see whats going on. My family has been coming around about this weight surgery. My mum was having difficulties with it at first because this is a major surgery and i could die from it, which i do understand but i needed her to understand that will die from the weight issues if i don't get help here and besides no one is guaranteed tomorrow. I have never been afraid of death and i wont start now. She went with me to a support group meeting and they made her so much at ease with tons of information answered for her. And it was cool that we got to do this together. I am looking forward to getting this all started. I have read that while I am waiting for the surgery date i will have to do some testing and go to some classes and one of them is to see a nutritionist, that I am looking forward to. Crazy hugh? I want to learn to eat better and learn anything new that i do not know yet. OK, so i will be back hopefully later on with any more info.
******************************************************************************
March 28 2008
Weight management center called. They got the fax from my insurance and my appointment is for April 2. Found some books at my local library to read while passing the time. It really helps.
******************************************************************************
April 1 2008
Yesterday i got the paper work from the center. Had it all filled out in no time. It was nice to be doing something for once pertaining to the surgery. Have all my information ready to go for tomorrow. Sounds like I will be kinda busy the next few weeks. OK with me because it is better than just sitting here doing nothing. Getting closer...
******************************************************************************
April 02 2008
Every thing went really good at the center. Did my medical evaluation, body composition and MBMD forms. I go on the 16 to do the history and physical, body gem and then the behavioral intake (psychological evaluation). I m almost there. The center is going to send out for a copy of my last ekg and stress test because i just had one done not too long ago so they are going to use that so i wont have to wast any money redoing it. The center said that I am qualified . After the 16 I wait for all the testing to come back in and see if every thing is a go from there. YEAH!
******************************************************************************
April 16 2008
Hello every one. I m excited today to be getting the rest of the work up done today. I chose to do it all in one day rather spread out several different days. I have packed a lunch and i am ready to go. Today I will be doing the body gem, physical, history and then talk about the results from the questions i had answered last time. So far everything has been a good experience for me. The process takes a while to get through but if you keep your self busy on other things to do that time goes faster. I m not working right now so i have been occupying my time with being out doors and doing yard work and what they say as spring cleaning. That's always fun fun fun, yuck, but needs to get done. So, I don't know if i have mentioned yet that i quit smoking 9 months ago. Yeah! Actually it was easy to do, I m a Capricorn. So, with this new change i also changed a few things in my life. Quit drinking whole milk and changed to 2 percent, quit eating regular bread loaded with carbs and changed to whole wheat bread, every morning instead of not eating breakfast i now have a breakfast shake, instead of loading up with carbs, sugar and junk food for lunch i eat a salad and banana or a salad and yogurt, dinner is the easy part, i changed to eating one weight watchers dinner and then a yogurt for snack later on before bedtime just to make me feel better that i got to eat some thing sweet. That may sound boring but i like staying to doing the same things. Any way, so i will be back on later to tell you all how things went today. All went great today. Was a little different than I had thought but went good. Was told that the psych eval i did came back looking great so now I am awaiting for the ok to go ahead and see the surgeon, after that they will be sending my information in to my insurance for pre-approval and so on. Will hopefully hear something next week on that.
******************************************************************************
May 06 2008
Passed the psych evail last month and got the OK to see the surgeon.
Going in to talk with the surgeon on June 04. While I am waiting I have joined Weight Watchers and going to the gym again. I will be back in June.
******************************************************************************
June 5 2008
Meet with the surgeon, that went well, though I didn't have any questions because I have been researching this sense 2002. Have to go on the 23 to have a scope done for the acid reflux then all of my paper work will be ready to send into the insurance company.
******************************************************************************
June 17 2008
Sitting here wishing that this whole process was done and over with. Of course there would have to be a hang up here: my insurance didn't have my surgeon in their list of providers or something and they said verbally that they will but we are waiting for it in writing, other wise I would have been farther along than this. Waiting is worth it because I do not have a car so getting to Flint would have been a major issue. Being able to stay locally is even worth paying the small out of pocket expenses. So it looks like as long as I am willing to ride this out I will be getting the surgery, just not when I would like. What's a couple of months? Next summer will be a lot of fun for me.
******************************************************************************
July 18 2008
Another month and still nothing. I was really hoping to have been done by now, my daughter is having my first grandbaby soon and we are going on vacation in March of 09 and I wanted to have itleast 6 months of healing first. Starting to get depressed here because I have been waiting for 3 months now just for this one thing.
******************************************************************************
July 21 2008
Called the Bariatric center today and I guess last week sometime they finally received the paperwork we have been waiting on. They also sent into my insurance the paperwork for approval for the surgery. Someone out here was praying for me and who ever it was ...THANK YOU ! Now I waite to get a yes or no from the insurance company. I was told I should know or hear something within two weeks. This is the worst of the waiting, but all will go good, I know it will, my faith is that strong. So, I will be back in a couple of weeks with some good news.
******************************************************************************
July 27 2008
One week later and no word yet. Spent most of the weekend looking at how long most people get their response back from their insurance. Kinda a bummer that I haven't heard anything yet. But tomorrow is another day and maby with some luck and hard praying they will call.
******************************************************************************
July 22 2008
Finally got ahold of my case manager from my insurance today. She said that she needs to have the medical director take a look at my file because they do not have the proper documentation of the past year's weight attempts. I feel totally lost here. I have been going in to my PCP office every month and tell them that I have been doing the weight watchers food program along with slim fast and the last three months i added meridia to those yet here at the last minute when i thought every thing was taken care of I find out that they never even wrote half of that stuff down. What more do i need to do here, do it myself !? Crap...I go in, I tell them what I m still doing, why, how, who, what, when and where basically and that I need all this in my file...still didn't get done. I m totally sick right now thinking about how far I have come and how close I am here just to be right back at square one! This crap makes you want to go back to smoking. Yeah, It's been a year now sence I quit...for the surgery! Tomorrow I am heading to the Dr office and I am not leaving untill some one gives me what they were supposed to be doing on paper. I am also going to call back my case manager and explaine all of this to her and see if they will still go ahead and approve me. I DID MY HALF...and it just is not FAIR that I may not get to continue because some one did not do their job !
******************************************************************************
July 30 2008
OK, yesterday I was a little mean and being selfish. Had time to think about this whole mess and you know what...I know that I will get approved for this surgery, it just may not happen in the time frame that I want it to happen. So what to the fact that the only person who is going to take care of me for 3 weeks after the surgery only has that time off in September, and so what to the fact that we are supposed to go on vacation next March to either Georgia or New Mexico, so what...can I get an applause here for thinking that people can get things right after being told several times how to do something? So...today I called the weight center and informed them that my insurance is going to deny me because they did not receieve all of the proper paperwork, you know, that paperwork that brings you back to step one? Wow. I need a little good news right about now. To any one out there considering wanting weight loss surgery...before you do anything...make sure you know for a fact that your PCP has actually written down in their notes what you are doing and what you want. I found one of my doctors notes with my weigh in, guess what else was on it ? Scribble. The PA's assistant was scribling and making hearts on my paper when she was supposed to be writting down what we were discussing pertaining to the weigh loss surgery. Can I get a HOOT... ? ! Somebody knows how to draw hearts. Well enough of this ranting here. Hopefully good news is on it's way.
******************************************************************************
August 2 2008
I do not think that the Meridia is working any more. Been on it from May untill now. Waiting to pick up my next script for it. It looks like my weight is going up instead of down. Still feeling bummed out that I may have to do the medical monitored diet for another 7 months. If so this will be my third year doing the same thing because nothing was noted in my charts about coming in every month specifically for my weight. When i think about it I get angry. How hard is it to simply write on a paper...weight. Any way, no new news yet. Going to fax to my insurance the notes that i picked up from my last Dr.
******************************************************************************
August 07 2008
I got APPROVED !!! I am so excited. The next step is I have to waite for a call to start the 4 week class and Optifast program then its off to surgery. This has been a long 6 years of hoops, loops and running around to get things done. I am on cloud nine right now. I t has been good for me anyway today because I had lost my favorite pen that I use in my journals a week ago and found it today. Lost some important paperwork on my dog and found that too today. Finally received her AKC papers today also, been waiting for them for a coupl of years. The first owner lost her paper work and never filed so I had to do some locating, but now she is finally regestered: to me ! All mine. Will be back on to let you all know when i will start the Optifast program.
******************************************************************************
August 11 2008
OK, got that call I have been waiting for today. Man I am so excited to finally be at this moment. I have my surgery date: SEPTEMBER 22 2008 @ 12 noon ! Now all I need to do is keep myself busy for the next month. Fun Fun Fun. I am so ready for a life change.
******************************************************************************
August 28 2008
Getting ready to go to my first weekly group and the prep class. Not sure what all I will be doing, so after I get all done I will post again how it went. I have to be there from 2pm-6pm.
I will also be starting the Optifast untill my surgery. OK, meeting went good. Bought enough Optifast for one week until the next group meeting. This is going to be so easy. The chocolate is tasty.
******************************************************************************
September 17 2008
Tomorrow is my last class for the optifast and things. So far I have done great with it. I have lost around 13 pounds. On Monday is my surgery. I wish time would go faster. I heal great and to me it's mind over matter so everything will go great. Next time I sighn on I will have had my surgery and will post photos as i go. I'm finally here...
******************************************************************************
September 21 2008
Only ten more hours to go until my surgery. Things have been going good so far and I have lost some weight with the Optifast. I had to ask for an Ambien so that I can sleep tonight otherwise I would end up being up all night. Have to get up at 4 am and be at the hospital at 5 am, then my surgery is at 8 am. They changed it from 12 to 8. Be back in a week, maybe sooner.
******************************************************************************
September 22 2008
Had my surgery and everything went great. I was hurting a little in the stomach area but thats about it. Had some queezyness but all in all it all went fast and good. Was a Monday when I went in and a Wednesday when I left. Had some issues with getting comfey trying to sleep after I got home, miss that hospital bed!
******************************************************************************
September 28 2008
Doing good so far. Having problems with my throat. It always feels like there is something in it and I keep caughing up phlem. On the day of my surgery I weighed in at 237. It has been 6 days and I am down to 219. So far I am averageing 3 pounds a day. I m getting in the 67 grams of protein but still feeling low energy and my butt is dragging along.
******************************************************************************
