Dinka Doo

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Well, I haven't updated this portion for awhile. I figured I'd give it a whirl before I hit the hay. First, I'm back on GRAVEYARD!!! Wooooohoooo - give it up for the nightbirds! I hate HATE *H*A*T*E* working days and now at least I'm getting some sleep. Amazing how one's disposition gets better when they get some sleep!

Second, I gave up on Dr. Mirande in Klamath Falls. He felt the insurance issue wouldn't fly (see the surgeon info for more), and I was sorely disappointed, but turned my focus back to Dr. Aguirre. God wants me to go this route for now, so I am dutifully following. I am anxious to get this overwith, but nervous too. It's getting down to the wire where I have to buy tickets and make reservations and I'm just shaking at the thought of making a decision. I think this has more to do with going to Mexico than with the surgery though. I have never been out of the country, and I'm not fond of travel outside my state much less outside the country!

I have been trying to find a doctor that will do my after-care and finally found my husband's doctor (we call him Dr. Feelgood....long story. Might tell it later) who will do that for me. I have an appointment with him on Friday and we'll finally get that FMLA paperwork sent off to personnel so I can take this time off for surgery. So much to do, so little time!

We did switch gears a little though, my mother is going to accompany me instead of my husband. I just dreaded leaving my 2 year old home with the 2 grandmas and without a parent. He would be fine for most of a day but I think it would be horrible for him and them after that. This just makes me feel more comfortable and at least he will have some routine that won't be disturbed.

Well, that's my update for now. I'll try to be better about posting updates as time goes on. OH - and a little word about email: I have gotten messages from some of you (THANK YOU) and I'm still seeing that I'm slightly confused over what is a post to a forum notification and what is a direct message. If I haven't answered you, it's not because I'm snubbing you. It's just me being a dork and not taking the time to look at what is there in front of me. I *think* I caught up on everything, but who knows.

I haven't updated in awhile but I thought I'd do so while I was "in the mode." I have gone to a couple of PRIDE meetings here in Medford and gleaned a lot of information from the folks there. I met a man there who saw Dr. Mirande in Klamath Falls who has a similar insurance to mine that got his hiatal hernia repair paid for by insurance, but not the gastric bypass. This is fine with me. I will pay my 15% copay for the hiatal hernia repair and the $4500 or so for the gastric bypass out of pocket. It will end up cheaper in the long run over going to Mexico, but I am still not as of yet ruling that out. I'm keeping my date until I get a new one set. Normally I would feel bad about doing something like that, but I know how long of a waiting list there is for Dr. Aguirre, and I know there are several people who would love to be bumped up to March 10th. If all goes well with Mirande, I will go to the seminar January 14th and be scheduled for surgery sometime on February. Since Dr. Aguirre in Ensenada only does the open RNY, that is what I was planning on doing, but with Dr. Mirande, I'm tempted to go lap. I won't be able to do the band because of the hiatal hernia, but I could do the regular RNY. I'm still trying to remember the different procedures, but apparently he just started doing the duodenal switch (I think that's the name). He only does it open, which is something I waiver on. On one hand I'm thinking it sounds like that would be the best surgery for me since I do have the hiatal hernia, and it wouldn't cause any restriction in my throat, which I experience enough as it is. I also have become quite adept at following the Atkins diet and thus have gotten used to low-carb but higher fat foods. This would allow me to follow an Atkins style program without having too many problems. But then there is that darned old scar. Do I care? Probably not. I don't intend on wearing a bikini, but on the other hand, I'm just not wanting to be ripped open. I'd rather have a couple little pokes as the healing time is so much less and less uncomfortable. I had a c-section (bikini style) in 2001, and I guess I did okay with that, but I do remember how uncomfortable it was getting in and out of bed. Those staples! Ouch! But it's all temporary right? And being done "open" is less of a risk, or so I've heard. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - decisions decisions!!!

I'm going to wrap this up and hit the hay. Only 2 more weeks of nasty old dayshift left to go and then I'm back on my favorite graveyard shift! I can't WAIT!

I contacted Dr. Mirande's office in Klamath Falls a couple weeks ago about the possibility of having my hiatal hernia surgically repaired at the same time as the wls. They said they could do this! What does this mean? Well, they get prior-authorization
from BC/BS for the hiatal hernia and while they are in there, they do the wls and I pay for only the extra not covered by insurance! How cool is that? I'm so very very happy! I can't wait to get started!

Oh! And one other thing....I guess there are 2 surgeons in Medford and one in Ashland that are going to start doing WLS! Isn't this fantastic?

I have had contact with a dear old friend who's sister saw Dr. Aguirre in Ensenada Mexico. Now my friend is planning a surgery date with him, and after hearing what people have had to say about him, I am going to call tomorrow to set up a date. You can't beat the price with a stick, and since we sold our house I have enough to be able to have this done. I am using the money we were saving to remodel our great room into a master bedroom/bath to do it, but I had to ask myself if I'd be happier thin in a smaller room without a private bathroom or in a huge master suite and still be fat, inactive, miserable and longing for a "normal" life.

Now I just have to start saving up my leaves and plan for the time off. I hope I don't have trouble with Family leave or disability should I have to take more time than I have to accrue. I can't see why I would, but who knows. The state of Oregon provides full coverage for this surgery through Kaiser, but that is only available to those who live in the Willamette Valley. The rest of us are stuck paying for it on our own. They should not discriminate on leave or disability and I swear if I find they play games with me, I'll find the meanest lawyer I can hunt down and sue.

But enough of the negativity. I shouldn't get riled up over that right now. I don't even know what to expect yet. It's a long row to hoe.

::blah:: DENIED. That's all I have to say. State of Oregon Employee insurance bites the big ol' banana on that one. If you live in the metro area,you can get Kaiser ins which pays, but if you don't, you get good ol' Blue Cross that refuses to pay regardless of your physical condition.

I floundered for a couple years trying to decide what to do. Sometimes I think I got my mind so set on this surgery that I failed to take dieting seriously. I previously was able to lose okay on Atkins, but in the last 2 years I've fallen off seriously and ended up at my heaviest every a couple months ago at 336. Still, even that wasn't enough to get me motivated. I ended up eating some Raisin Bran for breakfast one day and ended up feeling drugged. Went to bed and slept for 3 more hours. Decided to check my sugars from when I had the glucometer from when I was pregnant. Sure enough, they were high. THAT was what did it for me. I've been on Atkins gain since and am down to 320...hit 319 the other day but rebounded.

I'm just going to keep plugging away at this. Maybe one day I'll be able to either get insurance for the surgery or afford it on my own. I'd rather lose it on my own, but I know that with my own will-power it's not a sure thing. Surgery is.