Hellen

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Well, it's truly not just myself I'm thinking about today.  I have been saying prayers for a few special people around me, so bear with me while I tell you about them:

*My best friend, Robin!  She was having stomach pains again yesterday and has gone back to see Dr. Byrne.  I haven't heard back from her, so I pray all is well and she's feeling better.

>Anther friend at work who recently had the surgery, has lost 55 pounds and is doing ok.  I pray he follows instructions and gets to his goal.

~A sweet young girl at my office who wanted a quick fix to her obesity to the extent that she had liposuction done Wednesday & the doctor (?) removed 5000 ccs of fat under a local anaesthesia (sp?), in the office, with no release instructions.  PLEASE PRAY FOR HER!  She's in need of a lot of maturity, but more importantly, a MAJOR REALITY CHECK!  I only hope that it's not one in mortality.  God be with her....

I am still patiently waiting (and calling) CIGNA to follow up on the paperwork sent by my PCP and Dr. B's office.  (Thanks, Robin, for keeping on my BUTT!)  God's time will come for me.

My love to all & thank-you for listening to me!

Well, my friends, the 6 months is over.  My doctor wrote the letter.  She faxed it to Dr. Byrne's office and 4 separate CIGNA fax numbers with documentation and one copy to me.  It reads:

"This letter is in reference to Hellen Gable, ID# U- - - - - - -.  She was denied for Lap gastric bypass surgery.  She asked me to write an update since my last  letter in March 2007.
For the past six months she has been under my care in a weight management program.  We have met monthly to weigh her and discuss her diet and exercise routine.  We also have had her taking an appetite suppressant.  She has changed her diet to more healthy fruits and vegetables.  She is exercising 30 minutes a day.  Her blood pressure and sugar levels are improved.  We do not see any weight loss.  She has gained 2 pounds in the last month.
Please reconsider her for gastric bypass surgery.  Thank-you.
Sincerely,
JoAnn Hiott, M.D."

Thanks to Robin's persistance (on my behalf this time), I called Friday to make sure CIGNA got the letter - they did and the young lady I spoke with was very nice, but also said it can take up to 15 days.  Then I called Lisa @ Dr. B's to make sure she got it.  She was out so I left her a message and will follow up on Monday.

Step by step, my friends.  Step by step.  Keep those prayers coming!  I'm more excited now than ever!

****** OH YEAH!  I GOT A PROMOTION (with raise) AT WORK!  So good things are coming.  Could it be a sign?! *******

Well, folks, here we are again - not much to report other than I only have one more month to go on my 6-month program.  I'm beginning to think my PCP (Dr. Joann Hiott) is as excited for me to get this surgery as I am!  She is a wonderful woman & very supportive.  Let's just hope that after July 17th when I go for #6 that it won't be tooooo long after that.  By tooooo long I mean another 2-3 months.  Bless her heart, I had Lisa at Dr. Byrne's office pencil me in for surgery in September just so I'd have a goal to look forward to.  Hopefully, it won't take that long, but if it does - I'm cool with that too.

I want to say a special thanks to the best support buddies a gal could have - Rebecca & Robin.  I love you two!

I am about 2.5 months away from completing my 6 month physician supervised program... ugh...  What amazes me is the way things work.  A guy I work with was approved and scheduled for surgery in less than a month.  His situation was evidently critical.  He's scheduled for surgery tomorrow (June 6th, 2007).  I pray for him and his successful surgery, quick healing, and even quicker weight loss.  I pray for his mental attitude that he's prepared for what lies ahead.  He is a very nice guy and I am excited for him.  Go, Rich!

God will work on me in His time.  The pain in my legs, ankles, and back just seem to get a little worse every day.  My doctor had me do a glucose tolerance test because she thinks I've developed Type II diabetes.  If so, it may be a blessing/curse situation.  It could prompt the insurance company to speed up my approval so the surgery can be done sooner.  At this point, I believe it will be by the end of the year!  I have a wonderful support team - my partner, my friends, my God.

Thanks for listening...
Love to all - Hellen

Well, I gave Cigna a call today just to let them know I was still alive and kicking and pursuing the surgery.  Got a nice gal named Donna.  She was a little confused as to why I had called since I'd already been denied, but when I told her that I was in month 3 (that's THREE, TRES, TROIS) of my 6 months and I wanted it noted on my records, she was very cooperative.  So my point being made, I closed the conversation & updated my blog.

And actually, I'm at home right now with a doozy of a cold or something... got a 100F temp and feel like death warmed over, but like I said, I'm still alive and kicking (tho maybe not so high right now...)!

My love to everyone out there - especially Robin & Becca - you two are the bestest friends a girl could ever ask for...  =`)  makes ya wanna cry...

I recieved my official denial letter from Dr. Wilson Defore, Medical Director of CIGNA.  No big surprise, tho.  It basically restated the fact that ... "There remains no documentation of active participation within the last one to two years in one physician-directed weight-management program for a minimum of six months without significant gaps." Well - I've already completed one month with my PCP, Jo Ann Hiott, so we're on our way. I have been told over & over by more than one person that it will happen, but it just takes time.  I'm understanding it more and more now.  God works in his time, not mine.  So I won't be upset & I won't be impatient.  I'll do my best 'til August '07 when the paperwork will be resubmitted.  
My prayer:
"Lord God, let it happen on your time, not mine. In Jesus name - Amen."
Once again, thank-you all for listening to my rantings...

Well, it's almost 10pm DST Sunday evening & I'm getting ready to go on to bed.  This weekend has run from one emotion to another and I feel like crap (sorry, mama).  Not just physically (my legs are swollen tree trunks, my right knee wants to quit but screams at me quite often, my head is pounding) but emotionally (my elder daughter turned 31 on Saturday and we've been having major communication problems to the point that she is sending her birthday card back and she hung up on me when I called).  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not totally without fault here.  It's just we are SOOOO much alike in some instances (tempers for one...) that we can't seem to get along.  I pray about it often.  I pray for her everyday.  I did get a call from my younger daughter today & of all things, she wanted to know how I made my chicken and dumplings!  Talk about Susie Homemaker... My daughters are wonderful people and each unique to me in their own ways.  I love them both.  But I miss them, too. (They're in TX, I'm in SC.)

Thanks for listening to me vent. I'm gonna go to bed now.

P.S.  Please keep the prayers coming for approval.  Thanks!

Well, it's not much, but I did my weekly follow up with CIGNA OAP & got a really nice (young) man named "Dan" in the Authorizations Dept..  He's one of the best people I've talked to so far.  He went out of his way to talk to the Appeals Unit, review my account, and suggest that I have my doctor send a "fresh" letter stating any & all changes since October '06 (the last time my PCP wrote).  I just want to give this man some KUDOS.  He was a "Ray of Sunshine" to an otherwise frustrating situation.  

Oh yeah, I'm at the end of month 1 of my 6-month program.  Time really does go by fast when you're having fun!  LOL...

This candle burns for Renee - to read her story, go to:  
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=145242581

I read a very clever & memorable quote yesterday so I thought I'd share it with everyone:

"C"onceive it in your mind +
"B"elieve it in your heart =
"A"chieve it in your life

To attain any goal in life you must remember your CBAs!