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 Well, a lot has changed since my last update.  I have been laid off from Lovelace Behavioral Health.  My wife and I have relocated to Farmington NM, to be closer to family.  I am still seeking employment, but my wife has started work at the local hospital.  The Good news is that the insurance they offer is going to cover the procedure.  At least that is what we have been told.  I have to wait two months for the coverage to kick in, but as soon as it does, I hope to have my first anointment with Dr. Blackstone.  I attended one of her seminars and am pretty sure I’ve found my clinic.  I got a good feeling talking with her, and her office has contacted me on several occasions to try and get things worked out so I can be a patient of theirs.  I only hope things work out like I have been told they should.  Only time will tell, but I am hopeful for the first time in many months. 

3/20/2006    Happy First Day of Spring Everyone.  Well I joined an online support group for pre and post WLS patients here in Albuquerque.  I attended my first meeting last week 3/15/2006.  While there I learned a great deal from their Guest speaker (a psychologist) about eating and various disorders.  I have some new ideas on how to try and improve my mental well being, and my eating habits.  I also learned that one individual with the same insurance I have, recently got approved in Scottsdale AZ with Dr. Blackstone.  I immediately requested my PCP to put in a referral, and now I'm waiting to see what happens.  I really don't have a good feeling after talking with the health plan.  They do not think even with "Medical Necessity" on my side, that I can get the procedure covered.  We will see.  I refuse to give up.  My life is worth the fight!  I know in my heart that WLS is my best hope for long term successful weight loss.  I do not want to be obese anymore.  507 lbs is way bigger than I ever wanted to be, unless I can make a living in Sumo.  I don't think so either. 3/23/06    Well, I as still waiting to see what my health plan does with the request my PCP sent in for a referral to Scottsdale AZ.  So again I find myself with little to update.  I am still determined and ready to get this done.  In the mean time, I’ve created a list of things I want to do when I’ve lost weight.  It helps to keep me focused.

-           I want to sit in any vehicle I choose, and not touch the steering wheel with my stomach.

-           I want to go shopping and not get winded walking through the store.

-           I want to go shopping and actually find clothes in a regular store.

-           I want to begin training the martial arts again.

-           I want to go hiking and camping

-           I want to ride a bike again (a real bike, not a motor bike, although I’d like to ride one of those again as well)

-           I’d like to be able to fit into a phone booth (believe it or not, we still got them in Albuquerque)

-           I’d like to go parasailing

-           I want to go to a theme park and be able to ride any of the rides I choose.

-           I want to have children and chase them around and play with them.  I also want to play with my niece and nephews.

-           I’d like to be more adventurous with my wife ;-)

-           I want to ride a horse

-           I want to have a good career, use my degrees, and be able to participate in field research.  My size limits what I can do severely

-           I want to be comfortable in chairs with arms

-           I want to Join my friends in a good game of air soft

-           Mostly, I want to live a longer, healthier, and productive life.  Reduce my joint pain, reliance on medications, and free myself of the limitations my body currently has.Please God, help me to get there…. 

Well, I guess this is my first real entry.  Since I do not have anything to discuss as far as progress toward my surgery, perhaps I should explain how I got to this point in my journey.  I have always been an overweight person.  I do not recall a time in my life when I wasn't the "Fat Kid".  Despite this, I always tried to lead a fairly normal life.  I played football and trained in the martial arts.  Running 200 yards during practice at 350lbs is not easy, but I did it, and was always amazed that I didn't loose more weight.  During my 5 years training in the martial arts I would train for 3 hours 3 nights a week.  Still little noticeable change in my size.  Now that I am 31 years old, I can really feel the co-morbities catching up with me, and fast.  I have hypertension, degenerative joint disease, and sleep apnea on top of the shortness of breath and inability to do prolonged activities.   My Aunt has been the biggest promoter of WLS surgery for the last 10 years, as she has tried many times to convince me to do it.  I was convinced that I could do it on my own.  After all, I was still working out, and I was feeling fine.  As the years passed, I found myself less able to keep up with the life I wanted to have.  Then about 3 years ago, while a student at the University of New Mexico, I saw a UNMH doctor.  He suggested that I consider the surgery.  My Good friend from high school Jim (Colorado) had scheduled a consultation.  I decided that there was no harm in talking about the surgery, so I agreed to a consult.  The waiting list was a year out.  During that year, I got married and changed insurance.  When I got a referral from my new insurance for the consultation, the Doctor performing the RNY here in New Mexico was no longer able to perform it due to some deaths.  Now I would have to travel to Lubbock for my consult.  Once I got that scheduled, I only had a month to get a prior authorization, because my insurance was changing its coverage.  After December 31, 2004 Bariatric surgery would not be a covered benefit.  I didn't get along with the surgeon, and left his office feeling neglected and rejected.  Dr Freeza was the only surgeon contracted with my insurance, and I found myself with out any options.  That pretty much brings us to my current situation.  I am pursuing other options, such as changing jobs to get different insurance, and seeking pro-bono options.  I really feel that this surgery could give me a new lease on life.  Improve my health and my career opportunities.   Perhaps God is trying to help me, I've been notified that I'll be laid off.   4/14/2006 will be my last day.  Perhaps this is my opportunity to find a new job (and insurance) which will cover the procedure.  I hope so.   

PS.  My friend Jim is now 2 years out and has lost 230lbs…  I hope someday to join him as a looser!!!