cherrylc
I've struggled with weight all my adult life. After the birth of my two daughters it really ballooned. In my late 30's I began to have many health problems. By the time I hit 40 the weight and health went down hill even more. I had comtemplated WLS several years ago, but never followed through with it. I guess I hadnt faced reality on just how big I had gotten. Sure I tried many diets , some with short success of 40 or less pounds dropped then gaining most of it back. In July of 2005 I became a Grandma for the first time. A real eye opening hit me as I sat holding that precious little boy in my arms. At the rate I was going both weight and health I might never live to see him grow up! I cried hard, life couldnt be that cruel. I immediately joined Weight Watchers determined to lose the weight. I weighed in at 320 pounds then. After 3 months I was down to 289 and so excited. But that poor health kicked in and they found I had a hernia which needed surgery and a long time off work. So Weight Watchers stopped and than began poor habits again and by this past summer I found myself almost back where I started. That precious little boy was now a toddler and into everything. When he came to visit and stay overnight, the next day Grandma was exhausted. I needed my hubby there if he was staying with us more than a few hours, I just couldnt keep up with his energy or him, and I would of felt horrible if anything happened to him in my care. That was the final straw...I spoke to all of my specialist and my pcp about my health problems and the outcome from them if the weight didnt come off. They all agreed WLS was my only hope. So began my journey.
September 25,2006: My pcp sent in a referral to my insurance company of my interest in gastric bypass surgery. ( I figured would be a dead end since I had spoke to case managers at insurance company before and never got anywhere) To my amazement later that night I got a phone call from my case manager ( LOL - you get one of those when you have many medical problems and cost insurance companies lots money) she said "Cherryl, I'm holding in hand a referral for you to have gastric bypass". I started crying, I couldnt believe it. She said to call St. Agnes and sign up to go to a seminar on it then decide if was still a choice I wish and make apt. to see the surgeon. She would send me all the paperwork and guidelines required by my insurance company to try and get approved. I hungup and called St. Agnes.. lol went that same night to a seminar. ( no sense getting cold feet) Next morning I made an apt. with the surgeon for Oct. 12th. When I called the case manager to let her know of the apt. she encouraged me to get "all my ducks in a row". So I started calling specialists and my pcp for all my medical records, the letters of medical necessity and anything else that would help me get the surgery.
Oct 12, 2006: Met with Dr. Singh today. One word describes him "Awesome". We talked for quite a while and he agreed with my other doctors, that WLS was the route for me. That it would be RNY-lap and while in there in would take care of some other medical issues for me. He assured me that once my other required apts. were out of the way and all reports from them sent to his office they would submit the request for surgery. That he didnt see any reason why I wouldn't be approved. I left there overjoyed but at same time keeping in back of my mind that insurance companies don't see things as we do.. so still could be hitches.
November 2006: The last of the needed reports were faxed to Dr. Singh's office. I spoke with my case manager and updated her. She said if I didnt hear anything from her on it in 2 weeks to call her back. I began vacation that next day and sort of put it out of my mind. On 11/9 my phone rang and it was my case manager... she said "Your approved" I bawled like a baby , keep saying "I am? really? no fight? She assured me all was fine, I only had to wait until Dec. 1st. ( was my 3 year anniversary date with the insurance company and one of their stipulations in approval) But heck.. what was 3 weeks more? I called my husband, my kids, my mom elated that I would be getting this second chance at being healthy. Surgery was set up for Dec 1st. LOL no since in putting off!
