cathysimmons58

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Well let me start with last week.  I went to my first support meeting last thursday and It was finally nice to meet a few people there and Dr. Fuzz was also there.  I didn't really get a chance to talk to him because he was only there for a breif moment.  He does seem to be very nice and very knowledgable with the WLS.  I have confidence that he is one of the best around Docs.  At the meeting I think there was even someone there I knew but I didn't get to chat with them.  Small world.

Anyway... you know I'm just waiting on our insurance information to find out if they will cover the surgery.   Well as some of you know I did recieve my card in the mail and I've registered online and it has the WLS information.  The only problem is it says that I need to check our insurance booklet to verify that our policy covers this.  :(  Now that was real depressing.  I've asked someone else who knows about this insurance and they to didn't want to discourage me but he said that some companys choice not to cover WLS to keep the price down.  Well until we recieve the insurance policy from his company which could take another couple of weeks I won't know anything.  So I ask that you be praying that if it is Gods will he will allow me to go forward with this surgery.

Also!  FYI   I had another nutritionist meeting at my docs office and I am now down another -5 lbs.  Total loss of 6 lbs.  I have 3 more months to go if that is what insurance requires.

Gotta run cuz I'm at work!  Just keep prayin'

Well I really don't have much to say.  I had my second visit with my nutritionist last week.  Because I have definately decided to do the RNY I've gone back to that old way of eating.  I'm still trying to make changes but I guess I didn't make enough.  I can't believe Christmas is almost here.  Our insurance goes in effect on Jan. 1st and I'm still waiting to find out exactly what they will cover.  I'm still working weekend to raise money for the out of pocket stuff.  After I see Dr. Fuzz I will start doing that stuff.  I just had a friend that I made on here that got approved today and her surgery is the 19th.  I hope it happens that easy for me but I think I would have waited till after the 25th!  Anyway... I'll keep you posted as I learn things.  Have a great Month shopping!

Hi!  I just spent almost an hour listening to this site.  It is real educational if you want to learn about the possible risk.  Just remember that they are required to tell you about the risks and they are no different than if I were to have open heart surgery.

http://www.surgerycme.com/120105/flash120105.html

November 16, 2006

I received this email from Susan at Dr. Fuzz office yesterday.  Looks like I will keep going to Nutritionist in case new insurance requires me.  I already got 1 month down and 5 more to go unless we hear otherwise after I know more about new insurance.  

Cathy,

Well we just got home from going to the mountains to visit my In-laws.  They are the sweetest people and I luv them to death.... It is so beautiful up where they live.  I sent my original email out to everyone a long time ago encluding a niece who lives with them and she was suppose to share it with them but never really did.  I was nervous about talking about  it because I didn't know what they knew.  When I asked her what she thought about me having the surgery she didn't know what I was talking about so I broke down and told her and I waited for her big lecture and was suprise that she really didn't get mad at all, she was very concerned about the dangers of it and I explained to her that yes it was a major surgery but no more dangerous than any other major surgery.  She doesn't like the idea and said she would be praying for me for whatever I decide.  I told her the truth... I said look at these pants...  I am sqeezed into a 24 and its killing me.  My health is deteriorating and it's scaring me.  I think about the fact that I have gained 10lbs just since July!  Imagine if I continue to gain at that rate.  

Anyways... lets go back to friday.  I was so excited friday morning when I got a call from Dr. Fuzz's office.  They said that I had an appointment with Dr. Fuzz on Dec. 1st (which I had no idea).  They said he wouldn't be in the office that day and needed to change my appointment.  Well I was so excited to get that call.  The only problem is I informed her about the new insurance that will take effect on Jan. 1st, 2007 and she    thought It would be safe to wait until the new insurance goes in effect.  So my appointment will be on January 19th.  That seems like a long time but it will give me some time to come up with more money.  I have to pay for the Psychologist, dietician and nutritionist myself and everything has to be done before they will submit my case to the insurance co.  I knew this would be a long process but I think it's getting longer.   I was told that if Dr. Fuzz agrees to do my surgery I will then follow up with Dr. Smith the Psychologist  first $500 smackaroo's out of pocket and then Mary Martha the nutritionist.  I will have to continue to work with the nutritionist after the surgery to.  I was thinking today when I would like to have my surgery.  I was really hoping to have it on the first day of spring which is March 21st but I'm afraid that will be to soon.  So my next hope is to have it maybe May 14th and hopefully I will have a speedy recovery and beable to return to work by June 4th. Anyway..  heres a link to Dr. Fuzz's site at the hospital.  Please sign my guest book at the bottom so I know you've been here.  Until I hear more news...

http://www1.wfubmc.edu/gs/residency/training/clrotations/Laparoscopic.htm

Nov. 7, 2006 

I sent Susan a message this morning about my new insurance taking effect starting Jan. 1st.  and the link to the insurance qualifications.  This is the reply I got to her email.

November 7, 2006

Pave is the weight to weight loss success.  Yep I went to the meeting last night in hopes to meet Dr. Fuzz and he was not able to attend.  I did however meet his RN Susan who cordinates and works with all his patients.  She is a very nice lady and I will look forward to working with her.  I took Tommy my husband with me and after hearing all about the program he has agreed to support me.  It isn't going to be a easy thing.  When its all said and done there will be no carbonated drinks, no caffeine, NO GULPING, avoid chicken and steak for a while and avoid concentrated sweets or fried foods because I will get what they call the DUMPING SYNDROME...  yuk...  nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, flushing, abdominal cramps, sweating... and bottom line is you can get extrememly ill temporarily.  Sounds great huh!

Anyway...  Tom's said he would support me and so thats where I'm heading.  I'm figuring that it will not happenin over night for me.  I am working part time to save money because I may have to pay some out of pocket stuff. Plus I need to build up some time off from work because I can be out of work anywhere from 2-6weeks depending on my recovery. 

Anyway... I did go to see a nutritionist at my doctors office on October 30th because they said they would tell me the prose and cons of WLS.  They recommended the lap band but after talking with Susan last night the Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is the best way to go.  They will make my stomach the size of an egg and that is why people who have this surgery have to eat several times a day because you get hungry more often.  My friend snacks on a pop tart all day while at work. 

Okay... as for insurance company.  Tommy and I have been talking about changing our insurance company to his because it is better and cheaper.  Medcost has raised their prices and we think thats crazy since I work at the hospital.  He signed up today and it will go in effect with Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield January 1st, 2007.  I was worried about their coverage on the surgery so I spent the whole day in-between patients, trying to find what ever I can.  I went on the OB forum in NY and NC since Empire BCBS is out of NY and some one sent a link on the coverage for WLS...   It looks like it will be much easier to work with and I'm so excited about that.   Well gotta run.. I've typed enough for today.  I will try to keep you posted as things happen.  It's my bedtime! Nite zzzzz 

 Alls good today. Still up in the air what I want to do about WLS.  I am going to the meeting at the hosp. on the 6th and I have a appointment with Dr. Fernandez on Dec. 1st. and a meeting with the Dr. Kumar at the sleep center in Jan.  I'm going to try and get that sooner.  Anyway, we had 3 earthquakes yesterday.  First one around 5am and I was awaken from a very loud boom.  I didn't think it sounded like thunder but I knew it was different and being a big crime watcher I thought I'd better look at the clock and see what time it was in case someone was shot.  Then half dazed I turned over and I felt myself shaking in my bed.  I figured it was just my imagination because I had heard about Hawaii's earthquakes.  Anyway... we had 2 aftershocks that were smaller last night but I didn't feel them.  Gotta run!

October 14, 2006

It's pretty late so I will try to be quick. I finally got a call from Dr. Fernandez nurse Susan friday afternoon. She is a really nice lady. I can tell that she is very concerned about all her patients. Anyway.. after I talked to her I was so mad but I knew this was going to be a very long process and many people have told me to do what it takes and don't give up. The said challenge the insurance companies because they really don't want anyone to do this surgery. She told me that I have not been morbidly obese for the last 5 yrs and of course I told her that I had a BMI of over 35 for the last 5 years which is what they required from what I saw on the internet and some health issues. She said that I am still borderline with my weight and if I tried to get the insurance co. to pay now they would probally not do it. She suggest that I do their weight loss program because having the Bariatric RNY surgery is very serious and by doing their WLP would be my last resort before turning to the surgery. They only require you to lose 10% of your body weight which means I only have to lose 23lbs. and she said if I do this and it doesn't work then my chances with insurance co would be better. The insurance company requires that you have your endocrine system checked to be sure that theres nothing wrong and they also like to have record of Sleep Apnea. So monday morning I will be calling to see what me and Tommy (myhubby) can do to have a sleep study done. I wake up sometimes choking and gagging and this will show if I have sleep apnea. I'm sure Tommy does. The whole street hears him snore :) . Well in the meantime while I am having some test done. I am going to start working a part time job. I'm pretty sure I have one and I will start working next weekend sitting with some old people. Shooot I can do that for $9 an hour.... From what the computer says I have to do this WLP at the hospital and no where else. It is $795.00and the insurance will pay $1700.00. I'm not sure what you do but you work with the same Doc that does the surgery, his nurse, nutritionist and psycologist. It is a very intensive program. I was told that you get 3 months free at the hospitals fitness center which is affiliated with the local YMCA's. Susan would like for me to come to the hospital with my husband on Nov. 7th to learn more about the Bariatric surgery to see if this is what I really want. So I will update after I follow through with some of this. I will also post my BMI for the last 5 years in the next couple days and list the things the insurance company requires so you can see. I'm off to bed now. Church comes early tomorrow and we have 5 kids in this house to get ready... zzzzzzzzz

October 9, 2006

Here I am again! I'm not sure how I feel today. Over the last couple weeks I've be up and down about this surgery. I have read several peoples journeys and some made me want to cry but most were good. I still want this because I feel like I would get my life back and not have to worry about gaining all this weight back again. The thoughts of being thin again totally thrills me! So I went ahead and got my medical records from my PCP. Everything seems to be ok. I'm figuring they may ask me to have a sleep study which is fine with me. I contacted the insurance company again and they showed me where to look for the qualifications online. I finally found it and there are 6 things that would qualify you for the surgery. I got thru 5 and knew I still qualified and then when I saw number 6 my heart sunk and I wanted to cry. I looked at it so fast and even had Susan, my friend at work look at it and from what we read I had to have been on a diet under a physicians care for 6 months. Well I've been under a nurtritionist and Dietition and I don't think that counts. Well today I decided to pull out those papers again and re-read it. This is what it says.... #6) Surgery must be a part of the comprehensive weight management program at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, including the medical weight management plan. The patient must have completed the weight management program at WFUBMC, (patient pays $795; Plan pays $1705) and are approved for bariatric surgery. So you tell me what does that mean... Anyway.... I got all my stuff together and sent it to Dr. "Fuzz" Fernadez office on friday to his nurse Susan Butler and now I wait patiently to hear from them. Pray... Pray... Pray... It's my bedtime now... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Oh yea... I didn't have to have surgery on my elbow and it's healing rather quickly with not many problems. Still a little stiff in the elbow but other than that it's okay and I think I'll live!