ccsrn
My story...........................
Mar 22, 2009
The Beginning..................I started my weight loss journey in 8/07 when I went through the whole process to be denied by my insurance. Because they didn't approve the bypass surgery they also did not pay for any of the pre-op work up. I paid a total of $2500 to get no where. Well I did learn I am an extremely healthy fat person! To help pay for the medical cost, I entered a clinical research trial for fatty liver disease and was able to earn $1800 of it. Since doing the first clinical trial I had been checking the web for other clinical trials that would help with weight loss. I had gone to a couple of information seminars and decided "no way - that one is not for me" Most of the clinical trials were in the city- a 2 1/2 hour trip for me. I finally found one that was being done 30 min away called the Toga. It is even being done out of the office my original work up was done in. I felt that was a good sign.
I had to do some other things to get started with the study.
1. I went to the university hospital and had a fitness test done- this wasn't for the study, but something the office requires for every patient. I learned ways to hide my exercise, so I could get the hour and half of it in a day. That cost $100.
2. I had to have a psych eval done within 90 days of the procedure. I took off work which is 1 1/2 away from the appt- I learned that the psychologist had called in sick and the office had called my work number instead of my home phone. So I went shopping instead and had to reschedule.
3. I had my EGD/mannometry scheduled. My mother in law passed away after a long bout with breast cancer and of course they scheduled the funeral for the day my EGD was scheduled. I had to reschedule and by this time I kept telling myself that everything happens for a reason.
4. I had my surgery scheduled for Feb 2nd. On January 18 I came down with a horrible case of bronchitis. I immediately went to the doc hoping it wasn't viral. I took my antibiotics and steroids hoping I could be over it before my surgery.
5. I was called to see the doc the week before my surgery to be cleared from my bronchitis for surgery..................yeah I passed.
Feb 2nd- Surgery day! Beginning the journey...................Weight 254