ErinMoses
October 29th, 2007
Oct 28, 2007
I have good news since my last "update"...
My PCP visit went great this month...he actually DID sign off on the papers, which is fantastic. 
I am going to be sure to include every little detail so BC/BS doesn't give me any grief over "what ifs" if they decide they want to deny me (which I HOPE is not the case!). Also, on my monthly PCP papers that I was taking to him, I got some more from my surgeons office and rewrote all of the ones he had (b/c they were very messy..things crossed out, folded up, etc etc). And of course, he signed off on them. So my new thing is going to be after each one of my visits with him, I'm going to come directly home and write up my summary on progress/lack thereof and my stat papers (with height, weight, bmi, etc). Therefore, everything will all match..I'm kinda OCD about that. I'm just TERRIFIED of not getting approved. 
I also got the answers I was looking for at my surgeons office.
*He is definitely certified in WLS
*He has done over 1000 surgerys
*He has high success rates
..and they wouldn't tell me the death rate. They said he could only talk with me about that, and that I'd have to make an appt about it. So, I'm going to hold off on making that appt until I get approved. I sure hope he has LOW death rates. Well, I guess thats obvious. 
And lastly, my IUD decision. I have indeed decided on having an IUD put in so that I'm not tempted to change my mind and get pregnant on a whim (not that it would EVER happen..as I'm not very fertile). Anyways, I want it put it just in case..my mind is definitely made up about that. I just have to make an appt with my OB/GYN to see if I could do it before my surgery or what.
It seems like I am working so hard towards this WLS, I just hope it turns out in my favor. This is such a bumpy road to take and by no means the "easy way out". 
My husband has recently been looking at a job out of the state. We live in Alabama and he's looking at a job in North Carolina. If he gets it, I'll have to change PCPs, so I'm a little nervous about that. Anyways, I'm sure it will all work out how its supposed to.
Anddddddddd, my doggies won this HUGE Halloween contest. They won a certificate and their picture is going to be placed in this "Worlds Cutest Pets" hardback book that will be released in 2008. I'm so excited. I homemade their costumes, so of course I worked REALLY hard on them. I'm not sure how to attach a picture, but I'm going to put the link up if yall want to take a look. They went as "The Wizard of Oz". I have Boston Terriers, and there are 4 of them, so I had:
Hooch~The Scarecrow
Shellie~Dorthy
Cleatus~The Tin Man
Muscles~The Cowardly Lion
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/ERINMOSES/DSCN6608.jpg
Update coming after my next PCP visit (Nov 19th), unless something else happens before then.......which I hope nothing does of course!
October 16th, 2007
Oct 15, 2007
I called my surgeon to ask a few questions I forgot to ask in my first meeting with him.
Questions such as:
*How many surgerys hes done?
*How many deaths?
*Is he board cert in WLS?
*Whats his success rates?
Do I get any answers? NO. Not to one frikkin question. Everyone says they have no idea about any of these answers and that they'd have to do some "research" to find out. What in the world?? Shouldn't they know at least ONE answer? This was last Monday I called. They said give them time to find out and they'd let me know something. Well, I gave them a whole week and I haven't heard anything. So, I'm calling them first thing in the morning. It really makes me angry.
...And it kind of worries me. I mean, shouldn't I be worried if they couldn't answer common questions such as these??Moving on.
I had my meeting with my OLD PCP today back in my hometown. We discussed some comorbidities that I have (IBS, MVP, GERD, & JOINT PAIN). So he wrote a letter and sent it to my surgeon stating that he recommends me for this surgery and that I am now under the care of Dr. Mark Mcdaniel (new PCP) because the patient (me!) moved 4 hours away & is seeing a new PCP. However, she has been my patient for the last 4 years and she still comes to see me from time to time with any problems. I sure hope that helps my approval process.
On another note, I am going FRIDAY for my next visit with my PCP. At this appointment, I will take my stuff I printed out from my last 2 appointments with the things I took note of myself and typed up..in order to cover any and every question that BC/BS may have about my visits. Like I mentioned before in another post, I feel as if he is too vague and they may deny me because of that. Here is hoping he will sign off on the stuff that I wrote!!
And lastly...I am kind of sad. I am currently going through this "Do I want this surgery more than kids right now?" moment. I KNOW that I do, but its so hard to keep the faith when all of my friends and family are pregnant. My husband and I tried for a year and a half before the doctor finally told me that I was going to HAVE to lose weight to be able to conceive without IVF. At this point, I'm thinking "Well..everyone else is pregnant...I can put off surgery & go ahead with the IVF!". I know its not really what I want, I'm just tempted. Sooo, I'm contemplating having an IUD put in. They wont put me on BCP because of my hormones that are off balance. I'm tired of using condoms (TMI, I know)..so my only other option is an IUD. I'm going to elaborate on it a bit though.
OK..so next time, I'll update on the surgeon questions, my next PCP apt, and my IUD decision.
Thats it for now!!!!
September 28th, 2007
Sep 27, 2007
SO, I called my insurance coordinator at my surgeons office and she said that my 5 yr history of BMI did actually qualify for the surgery (or atleast THAT part). So I got all excited of course. Then she said that I needed to hurry up & send in my diet history (which I'm in the process of doing now..). She was so very patient with me and I LOVE LOVE LOVE her. She called me back in like 2 minutes after I left her a message. I forgot to ask her something so she even called me back. Shes so sweet..her name is MARY. Ok, anyways. I'm super paranoid that I'm not going to get approved. SO, I'm going to make an apt with my OLD PCP (back in my hometown) and get him to see me for my really bad acid reflux (possible GERD?), MVP (Mitro Valve Prolapse), IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and Joint Pain (Most pain is in my back..does that matter?). I had NO idea that those kind of things would quailfy me more for surgery. Like SERIOUSLY..why didn't I know this?? That in itself makes me more hopeful that I will get approved. What do yall think?? I have calculated 180 days (of my pcp supervised diet) from Aug 29th & that leaves Feb 25th. I should mail in my letter for approval on 2/25/08 & hopefully get approved FAST! (Wishful thinking, huh?). AND IF I get approved fast, hopefully I can have my surgery by MARCH. I'm so so so SO excited.
But also at the same time, very very NEROUS! ..Do yall think I have anything to be worried about??? Back when I was trying to get approved through my husbands OLD job's insurance, I went ahead & did the psych eval & nutritional assesment. Does anyone know if those "expire" ? I had both of mine done in Oct/Nov 06 and I'm hoping to send in my letter Feb/08. My surgeon/insurance coordinator hasn't mentioned anything about psych eval & nutritional assesment before sending in my letter, but everyone else I've talked to (and also in my prior experience) has had to do it. I'm soooo confused!! 
What to do? What to do??So my to do list for NEXT week...
**Get my OLD insurance Coordinator to fax my NEW insurance Coordinator my pschy eval & nut assesment from Oct/Nov 06 JUST IN CASE. I'm thinking it doesn't hurt to send too much..righT?
**Make appointment with my OLD PCP in my hometown for my acid reflux (GERD), IBS, MVP, & Joint/Back Pain..and then get them to send all 4 of those to MARY, my new ins coordinator to put with my paper work.
**Finish my diet history form & send to Mary to put in my file.
**Schedule my appt with my NEW PCP for October 20th. (3rd visit..woohoo). Make sure he is ok with me typing up my own progress notes & have him sign off on my 1st & 2nd visit notes.
I THINK THATS IT LADIES. Thanks for listening if you made it this far. Any advice/opinions/comments are very much appreciated!!
September 25th, 2007
Sep 25, 2007
I'm new to this so please bare with me! I have read so many people's profiles and my favorites are those who kept a journal/blog of the whole process that they went through. Its nice to read people's entire journeys. For example, first you start reading their preop post..as far deciding to do the surgery, making their first appointment, finding out their insurance requirements, jumping through hoops to get approved, getting approved, setting a date, doing their preop testing, and then having their surgery. Then starts the weight loss process where they tell how much they've lost since last post & put pictures up so everyone can follow them in their journey. After you go through all of their post, you feel like you've been right there with them..through all of their ups & downs, which makes you want it even more! I WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT EVERYONE READS ABOUT!!!!
My current situation......
I have just recently made the final decision to have gastric bypass.....I have already had my first consultation with my surgeon (Dr. Lane), and I think him & his staff are WONDERFUL so far!! I have gotten my list of requirments from the insurance (BC/BS) which includes the following:
*Complete physical & referal from my surgeon (DONE IT!)
*Complete height & weight history from the last 3 years (SENT IT!)
*6 months of a physician supervised diet (DOING IT!)
I have done everything & am working on my 6th month diet. I have my 3rd (out of 7) appointment made for October 14th. Then I'll almost be halfway through! If everything goes right (
), I should send in my letter for approval in February (when my 6 months ends) and hopefully have my surgery before the end of March!! I am so paranoid that I am not going to get approved. I've heard BC/BS is strict as far as the notes of progress/lack of progress that the doctor writes down at each visit, therefore, I'm a little afraid that what the doctor is writing down at each visit isn't quit enough. SOOO, I decided I was going to start typing up my own things that we discused at each visit & let him sign it..that way I know that all of my bases were covered, know what I mean?? I sure hope he goes for it! I guess we'll know here soon..Anyways, thats all for now! My first post of my journey!! WOOHOO!
