I got a DATE!...

Feb 28, 2011

Never would I have thought that going into Dr. Dicicco's office today, I would come out with a surgery date... It seems all very surreal right now. I mean I thought I'd be uber excited or something. Maybe it's because I've decided NOT to tell anyone? As of right now, just my best friend Carlista, and my mother know about my surgery.

So let me give you the WHOLE story...

As I stated in previous posts, I'd been planing to have RNY with Dr. Murr; he is THE Bariatric Surgeon at Tampa General Hospital. Well, working here you come into contact with SO many people. One day I got a chance to speak with a Cardiac Monitor (CMT) and a Patient Care Tech (PCT/CNA), who both worked on the same floor; they had LapBands placed on the same day. I recieved a lot of helpful information from them, but my main concern since the beginning has been the price. I have insurance that covers WLS at 100%, but Dr. Murr, requires an additional $750 on top of whatever out of pocket fees my insurance leaves me. Now, I understand the severity of this surgery or of any WLS surgery, but $750 just seemed like a ripoff especially since you're already getting paid in full by the insurance company!

So I spoke with these two ladies and they told me that, of course TGH covered they're WLS at 100% except for the liquid diet, the surgeon consult co-pay, the psych consult co-pay, and a hospital co-pay of $150. So I asked them which doctor they went through, and this is how I found out about Dr. Dicicco. I looked him up through OH, made sure he was also affliated with Tampa General through their website and then decided to call and make an appointment.

The first time I called I spoke with Babara. She took down my info, I told her where I worked, and she said that they excepted my insurance and that it shouldn't be a problem. She asked if I had attended one of their seminars, which I hadn't. I attended a WLS seminar and WLS support group meeting at TGH. She gave me a website to go to where I could view an online seminar about WLS and then specifically about LapBand. So, I watched the videos at home while lying in bed, literally, and then I phoned her Friday (2/25) to make an appointment.

Barbara called me back, we chatted on the phone, while we compared calendar dates for an appointment, Then God shined down on her little black book and showed an opening for Monday (2/28). I was more than happy to rearrange my Monday to go in for an appointment. The sooner the better! So I went in, with my best friend Carli in tow, paid a $35 co-pay, and saw the doctor. He did a quick physical (listen to my lungs/heart, checked for pre-existing hernias), and asked me a couple of medical history questions. He went over the LapBand really quickly (which I'm glad, because I feel I'm well educated on most of the WLSurgies, and I didn't want to hear that record again!)... then he asked if I had any questions.

I was honest with him, and told him that I was more interested in the RNY at this point. Now, between you and me, I know both RNY and the LapBand are both tools, and I know this may sound a little superficial, but I was all gung-ho about the RNY becuase I like the results it provides,  and I also like the thought of a "quicker" weight loss with the RNY than with the LapBand, even though I know everyone is different. So, Dr. Dicicco told me that he had not done an RNY surgery since 2005. He stated that he wasn't against the surgery, he just felt that the LapBand was less invasive, it's reversible, and if it doesn't work, the patient could always do RNY or any other surgery after that.

Now, I thought about this prior to going into his office. I mean I saw on OH that he was certified in RNY and LapBand, but someone had already told me that they didn't think he did RNY, so I prepared myself for this. After getting to his office, speaking with Barbara, who had the LapBand 6 years ago and has maintained her weight; after seeing before and after photos of their patients, after being able to actually speak with two Post Op patients in the waiting room, I felt like the LapBand could be for me... I felt like if they could use this tool, then so could I. It's all about motivation!

So, after seeing the doctor I filled out more paperwork and Barbara gave me a date of April 21st! At first I thought this was just a tentative date, but she said no, this was my actual date. So dumbfounded I asked about all the insurance hassle and the 5yr weight history, and sleep test, etc... "Nope, nope, and nope" ... She told me they weren't going to have any issues with the insurance, and that I could go ahead and purchase my liquid diet (which I did, totalling my whole visit to $135).

So, I went in expecting to just speak with the doctor, but came out with a Surgery date and everything. They also gave me a number for a Psych consult with a man named, Dr. Joseph Baum over in St. Petersburg. So I called his office and they called me back within an hour and I have an appointment with them on March 15th....

I'm so shocked at how fast this is falling into place... I mean this whole time I've been waiting, and waiting, and going to classes, and saving money and now I'm here, and it's about to happen...

Well, my weight today was  295lb...
I can't believe that soon, I will be embarking on one of the BIGGEST journeys ever! (And all before my birthday! I'm so glad there will be a new me come JUNE 25th!)

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