David G.

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Well...on Tuesday they resubmitted to my insurance co.   In reality it is to the Pre-Certification company which is different from the insruance company.   

Here is something I have learned.   Why is there a pre-certification company different from the insruance company.   The reason is that large coporations can protect/not protect their employees from certain exclusions or rules that the general insruance company carries.   But since the companies then need to pay or not pay for these services they end up having a third party make the decsions.   It is almost like an arbitrator.   

In any case...My pre-cert has been resubmitted.   The intial submittal was followed by a "we need more information".   This was the case, even though I submitted everything they required.   What they wanted, in the end, was all of the pre-op testing completed.  

Now I am just (not so) patiently waiting.   

Yesterday was the Pre-Op Nutrition class.   It is very interesting how you end up hearing little nuggets at each meeting or class you attend.   Yesterday, I learned about the vitamin world and the basics of how I will be eating about a year out.

If I can keep it to the plan, it will be nice.   I am actually going to start the pre-op diet on Monday (even if I don't have my insurance clearance).   I might as well get used to it.   

I am also going to start taking my daily meds on the schedule that I will eventually be taking my vitamins.   This will get me into the routine.

Oh well...More as think of it.

Dave

Had my EGD on Monday.   That was interesting.   Slept through most of it but did wake once to a strange fizzing sensation in my stomach.  It was momentary and I went right back to sleep.    Not much to worry about really.

But you just have to love the practices.   I was referred to the center that did my EGD.   They are connected with my hospital.   In fact, I had to go to the hospital to pick up paperwork, although the procedure was done at an offsite clinic.   

When I was referred, the coordinator said that I needed to give them the fax number so the results would be sent right over.   As instructed, when I checked in, I made sure the fax number was in my records.   Then when it was over and they were presenting me with the results, I mentioned that the results needed to be faxed.   After a 5 minute battle the tech simply refused to take the fax saying that the results would be sent immediately to the requesting Dr.  

Well...here we are on Wednesday and the results are still not at my Dr.   I called yesterday and they promised me they had been mailed out on Monday.    

For crying out loud.   These two Dr's work in the same hospital and their practices are less than 100 yards from each other.   I was referred to this Dr....and they still can't get the paperwork to each other.

In the mean time, I just wait.   Oh well...4 hour Nutrition class next week.   At that point there is nothing more I can do until I hear back from the Insruance Co with an an approval or denial.   

Waiting (not So ) Patiently....
Dave

Well after the testing day from hell, I figured all was now on track.   I had to do a stress test for the cardiologist, but most of the testing was done.

So last week, after finding out that my insurance co is now requriing the EGD before they will approve, I got my packet from the EGD doctor and sent that in.   

This week I figured I would check on the results from all of my testing.   I called the office only to find out that one of 5 test results had been received.   I then immediately called the labs and doctors and each one acted like they were surprised that I wanted the results that quickly but would fax them right over.   UGH.   I figure 10 days is plenty to get the results over to the requesting Dr.   

Lesson learned...keep on the Docs to make sure they do what they are supposed to.   

Hopefully all is straight now.  We shall see.

Still waiting to hear from the EGD doc and from my surgeon that all testing is in and OK.

Enjoy,
Dave

LOL...this was the one of the most intersting tests I have ever done.   

I know many of you will have already done this, but I don't snore and don't stop breathing at night.   I only had this test per pre-op orders.

For those that have done this, just stop reading now.   If you never have, here is my experience (I think it is pretty typical).

Got there at about 8:45pm and was escorted to my room.   Nice little room with a bed (with a headboard) a lamp, two chairs.   Connecting bathroom.   Was told to change into night clothes and relax.    LOL...tough to relax with about a mile of wires and connectors sitting on the bed.    I was just hoping they were not all for me.

After watching TV for about an hour they finally came in and started getting me ready.    They started by putting electrodes on my outer knees and running the wires out the bottom of my sweats.   Then they put two belts on.   One around my chest and one around my stomach.   (Big Belts!  :-)) .  

Just remember that with each connection a small wire is run up and over my right shoulder.    

Next came the head.   They put electrode gel on my scalp and placed 5 electrodes on (generally around the crown of my head).   5 of them in all.    Next came the snore monitor on my neck.   A ground wire was put on my forehead and then 4 more around my forehead.   

I then got one next to my left eye to monitor eye movement,  two on my cheeks to monitor jaw movement and two more down on my chest.  

With that they then put a small device in my nose that looked like was getting oxygen.   It was to measure my oxygen intake.   They also put in another sensor (like the nose one) that told them if I was breathing through my nose or mouth.   

She then told me to get into bed.   LOL...I could barely stand.   Anyway, I worked myself into bed and she hooked everything up.   Then she put on a pulse meter on my finger and left.   

Through the intercom she calibrated everything and then told me to have good night.

I laid there for about 5 minutes and just laughed.   I guess this will tell them something, but it was no where near my natural sleep pattern.   I had trouble rolling onto my side and was not allowed to drink.   I got very uncomfortable by morning (stiff and a very dry throat).   

I had to get up once during the night to use the bathroom.   That was fun...they had to unplug everything and I had to hold the monitor while I went.   Not an easy juggling task.

I was finally done at about 5:30 am.    After they removed half my skin pulling the tape and electrodes off, I showered and got the jell out of my hair.     I wondered out at about 6am.

Two things to note.   I would not have done well trying to work the next day if I had to go in.   I did this on a Friday and am glad I did.    The second thing is that I went to a great facility.   The rooms were quiet and the staff was outstanding.    I was taken care of from the time I walked in until I left.    While I hope I don't have to do this again, it was not a horrible as I had been told.    

If you have to do this, good luck.   Pick a good facility and listen to your friends about choosing the right place.   Come tired and follow the pre test directions.    Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Dave

Well...yesterday was the test day from hell.   It all started at 8 with a cardiological exam.    Met with a Dr. Prestoop.   We talked for a while and then he did a questionare.    I had an EKG and then he did a preliminary clearance.   But he wants me to do a stress test.   Oh well..at this point, whatever they want they will get.

From there, I went on to my adominal sonogram and chest x-ray.    The problem with the sonogram was the fasting.    Due to some circumstances beyond my control, I ended up fasting from about 5:30 the day before.   By the time I finished my chest x-ray, I was starting to get dizzy.   I also could not have caffine because I had my sleep study that eveing.   Consequently, I was very hungry and had a wicked headache.    

I finally got some food in me but the head ache persisted.   I went to dinner before the sleep study and that seemed to straighten me out.   But then I got to do the sleep study.    I will post a seperate post about that experience.   But it was not too pleasant.   

Wow...I am getting back to normal today, but I have an astronomy event this evening so I doubt I will get too much sleep again tonight.   At least my headache is gone and so is my light headedness.

Glad that day is over.....

Dave

Well...I am now in the pre-op test cycle.   I figured I would minimize the pain and do as much as I could in one day.    

Friday will consist of a Cardiac evaluation and EKG at 8am.   1pm will see me in the radiology department getting an abdominal ultrasound and a chest x-ray.    Finally, at 8:30pm I report for my sleep study.   

I am taking Saturday off from everything, including chores!   

Still waiting to hear anything about insurance.   I am headed over to the hospital on Wednesday night for a group session and hopefully I will run into my patient advocate that night.   

Well...more later.
Dave

I have completed everything I can figure out for the insurance requirements.   Thanks to Eileen at Sanai Barriatric (see my Dr testimonial on the left for more) I submitted everything and now we wait.    

In the mean time, I got my list of tests.   EKG, Sonogram, Sleep Study, and more and more and more.   But wow....I went from wait mode to action mode in an instant.   

Hope everything goes well from here.    Preliminary estimates for a surgery date are late Feb to early March.   The one issue with the dates is that my daughter is in a community theater play and the dates are in mid to late March.   If surgery goes as planned, I hope I am up to going to see the show.

Dave

Have not posted in a long while. But recent events have prompted me to start writing again.

Back in March I had a little surgery done to ensure my kids have no more siblings. Things went pretty well. But it got me back to thinking about WLS again.

I have been stalling a bit lately. One of my friends had the surgery about a year ago and I have been watching her very closely. She had her surgery and one week later her husband died. So I was interested in how she would respond. Long story short, she has had little or no trouble and is starting to look great.

So...knowing that my insurance only covers this proceedure if you have had a 6 month, Dr supervised diet, I have started down that path. I have had my intial meeting and am now going each month for follow-ups. He also started me on a med that is intended for diabetics. It is intended to regulate blood sugar but has had some success in increasing metabolisim. We shall see.

More as I progress.

My Dr. finally felt well enough to conduct my yearly physical (he had to have his shoulder replaced after a golf cart accident).

As with each visit in the past everything looked fine. Cholestorol was 191 with LDL being 92. Blood sugar was slightly elevated but nothing alarming. Blood Pressure was in the normal range 135/81. My weight was 336. That puts my BMI at 44.2 . EKG looked fine and all my reflexes were normal. No hernieas (cough...cough)....

So now it was time to talk. I got the standard "You need to lose weight..." and a list of things that are "white" to stay away from (rice, potatoes, gravies...etc). This time however I did not let him off the hook so easy. I let him know that I needed to do something now about my weight.

So he stopped and started offering solutions. We discussed a number of options and settled on trying a 2 month stint with Meridia and working with a diabetic nutritionalist. If results are good in 2 months then maybe things are good. If not then he offered up the possiblity of GBS. I explained about the insurance requirements and he understood. Apparently he had done it before.

So...I am off to do the meds and the nutritionalist and we shall see what happens. More in a few months....

Dave

I haven't posted in awhile. For no other reason than that nothing is going on. My Dr. appt got moved to the 28th due to my Dr having shoulder surgery.

I did get to have a long conversation with my mother-in-law and father-in-law. My mother-in-law (henceforth known as Big Grace) and father-in-law (henceforth known as Harry), wanted to hear what I had found out since their last visit in July. I spent about an hour one evening getting Big Grace up to speed. Harry seemed to already have a handle on it since his sister had looked into it a few years ago.

It was interesting. At first Big Grace was very pro surgery. She thought I should have this done as soon as possible and that Harry should be right on my heels. I spent the first 45 minutes or so throwing out all the possible issues and risks. I think I overloaded her a bit...but right at the point she looked at me and said...don't do it. I starting reminding her of all the reasons it is good and the benefits it would provide. She ended up in the same situation I'm in. Not a clue as to what I should do.

I am now at the stage that I am not sure which way I should go. My plan right now is go through all of the preliminary steps. I will talk to my Dr about it and I want to get on the Dr supervised diet. When that is complete, and I have tried everything else (assuming I am not successful...which is a big assumption), then I will see where I stand.

Just a few notes on my health. I have started noticing that my right knee is really giving me trouble when I come up the stairs from the basement or when I go up any stairs. I have also found that I wake several time a night (even when I am very tired). I am wondering if I am beginning with sleep aphnia....don't know.

Oh well...more as find out more.

Dave