Dai

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Well today is my one month anniversary.  I have been a little tried, but other than that I feel good.  My eating is good, everything I have tried seems to go down ok.  I have had no problems.  

I am not sure I am doing things correctly, I mean I do follow my doctors guidelines as best as I can.  I have lost 19.5 pounds since surgery.  I am grateful for that.
I do need to start excerising, I just can't get myself to do it. The weight loss has been slow, I am not sure that is the norm or not, but that is the way I am loseing.  I can only hope things will pick up. 

I do find it hard to get in all my water, I do get in approixmately 48 oz. per day, but I must admit at times my stomach feels like it is floating.  Protein is good, I drink one protein 42 just about everyday and eat the rest of my protein.  Most days I get 70 to 80 grams of protein in.  That was hard to do at first, but once I started drinking the protein 42's I didn't have a problem.

Well at my next update I can say I have lost some more weight.  So cross your fingers for me.

Thanks you stopping by.    

 

Well all seems to be going good.  I am home just a day ahead of a winter snow storm.  Thank goodness.  I am feeling good, just a little sore at the one larger cuts.  I am keeping down all that I try, which is broth and fruit smoothie with protein poweder in it, yougart.   

I am waiting for the other shoe to drop, I really haven't had any troubles.  Dr. Pleatman was excellent, I was released one day after surgery and went to the hotel to recover a few days, Dr. Pleatman called me at my hotel on the first day out of the hospital.  Which I found very comforting.  The only thing that is really sore is my butt from just setting around.  But I do get up and move around the house, just taking it easy for about 7 days.


Before I sign off for the day, I wanted to add I have lost 12 pounds from surgery.  Ya!!!  
 

Well a lot has happend, I have changed my surgery selection from DS to VSG.  Why, well every doctor I saw about the DS, kept telling me I wasn't large enough and with the nutritional issues I felt the VSG may be the way to go for me.

So I have scheduled surgery with Dr. Pleatman in Michigan, I will be self pay, cost is about $11,000. and it is closer to home for me.  My husband seems to be a lot more calmer with this surgery.  I just hope I can keep the weight off - I think what scares me is failing at the surgery.  I don't think I could deal with going through a surgery and then 2 years down the road gain alot of weight back.  But I keep telling myself that I will make the changes necessary to keep the weight off.  

I have heard good things about Dr. Pleatman and his office help have been very helpful so far.  The more I read and research about the VSG I feel a lot calmer about it.  

I will update more after my surgery, which is 02/08/2007.

Well I found out that I will have to be self pay.  That just sucks the biggest pile of sh!t..  So now I am on an information hunt for Dr. Ungson.  My husband seems to be ok with it - but I think my guilt in spending so much money has me seeing his dislike.  Part of me is a little concerned about going out of the country for this.  But I can't afford 30,000 for this surgery.

Today I go see a local surgeon to see if he will follow me, you see my PCP isn't on board with this, he did do a letter of medical necessity for me, only because I gave him no choice.  He is one of those doctors that if something should go wrong or my labs are out of whack I will get the "I told you so", which I just can't handle.  Plus during all my conversations with him about the DS I think he kept getting it confused with the RNY.

So with luck this surgeon will be ok with doing my follow ups and ordering the pre op labs.  

Well that about brings things up to date.

I could really use some luck this year.  So please cross those fingers for me.
Thanks.

December 26, 2006

Last week I found out that BCBS has denied me for the last time.  They say I am not sick enough and that I didn't do any behavior modifications and during my six month dieting I agained 3 pounds.  Well I just can't continue to fight them, I have spent one year fighting insurance companies for my surgery. Emotionally I can't do it any more.  

So my husband and I have talked about self paying for it.  Bless him, he seems to understand where I am coming from about this surgery.  So cross your fingers I can find a self pay option that will work for me.  

Bless you all. 

Well I am still waiting to here from DH's employer, they have had there 90 days.  I got some bull shit about having to wait for a supervisor to call me when I called and inquired today.  I honestly don't understand this delay.  How hard is it?  

I am starting to get depressed.  All of my pre op tests, cardic clearance and psych clearance & pulminary clearance will be one year old at the end of this month.  I don't want to have to get them all again because they are out dated.  I could just scream!!!!!!!

November 29, 2006

I am still waiting to hear from DH's company on my appeal.  They are about out of time.  December 7th will be the 90 days, they said it would take.  I plan on calling on December 8th should l not have any information.

Goodness I am praying I get approved.  I have talked with my DH and I will most likely self pay if I have to - but he isn't real keen on the idea of going out of the country for surgery.  And I am fighting the guilt on using our savings for this.   I tell myself I am worth it and it will improve my health but still....

10/28/06

I got my answer back from the IL. Insurance Commission, they stand with Humana's denial - they say the exclusion "Any treatment to reduce obesity, including, but not limited to, surgical procedures", means any and all obesities there is.

Well I am so down about this I can't see straight.  My last hope is BCBS, or rather my DH's employer, I am praying they ok my surgery.  I have told my DH that I want / need this surgery even if I have to pay out of pocket to get it.  He seems ok with it, but doesn't like the idea of going out of the country to get it done, so I am fighting the big guilty feelings because I know it will cost twice as much in country.

I never realized going into this that the roll coaster ride started well before you ever got the surgery done. 

I will hopefully update with better new next time.

On October 17th, I heard from the Illinois Insurance Commission,
apparently Humana did not reply accurately to her request for reason they denied me.  I am questioning the contract language.  My contract has an exclusion "Any treatment for obesity including surgery", well I am not obese but morbid obese.  The main policy covers severly obese, which is the same as M.O. in my eyes.  So on that wording, I am fighting them.  Which the insurance commission lady understood.

She has sent them another request with a two week dead line.  

I think this is good news - 

As for BCBS of IL PPO - still no word, my DH's company has the final appeal - could take them 90 days, I am about 30 days into their review time.

I must admit I am getting depressed with all this waiting.  I get up every morning and think to myself that today could be the day I will get a letter in the mail with my approval, only to get the mail with nothing about my approval in it.

Then I start to think what about the new year - new policies and new restrictions.  Can I get a letter of approval in December - then get a surgery date in January and have the insurance co. turn around and deny me because of some policy change??  Goodness am I borrowing trouble here or what.

I have also started to talk to my DH about going to Mexico for the surgery.  Just in case.  I don't think he is to happy with the idea.  That is a hurdle I will cross when I have to.

Guess that's all for now.

10/05/2006
No news yet.