Kristi911

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Well, I called the insurence company with my hypothyroid question.  They had no answer for me other than "you'll just have to apply and see".  That doesn't make me feel any better.  So I called the surgeons office agian to see if I could talk with the woman that deals with the insurence, she transferred me to a nurse, who transferred me to another person.  The #3 person told me to not fret about it, that she has never seem anyone denied for having a thyroid problem as long as it is under control by the time I have the surgery.  So I guess I'm in a 'keep my head down and plug along' mode.  Chugga.... chugga.... chugga....

Okay, I feel just a little better now but not completely.  I posted the question on the message board and had a lot of response.  Mostly positive.  It seems I need to find and endocrinologist asap.  I will get on that in the morning.  I hope this doesn't shoot down my chances.  I'm also going to suck it up and call me insurence co in the morning and ask them.  So I'll post how it goes as soon as I know.

On a lighter note.  I had a pretty good day overall.  I worked my second job... EMT for volunteer fire station.  We didn't actually run any calls but we were productive.  A boy scout troop came in for a tour and they absolutly loved climbing up in the big fire trucks.  They had a ball and so did we.  After work I went and had my nails done all pretty for the holiday.  Now I'm home, in my jammies under a blanket trying to think happy thaughts.  Ciao!

OK, so I'm WORRIED!!  My labs came back from the PCP... My thyroid level is through the roof!!!  So she gave me a Rx for it but she thinks it might make my insurence company deny my request.  So I'm worried.  I called the surgeons office and the doc doesn't seem to think it is an issue.  A support group lady just called me and she doesn't think it would be an issue.  I'm still worried.  I want to call and ask my BCBS NC provider but I'm scared to do it yet.  Maybe in a day or two.  Right now I'm just going to try to think about the holiday comming and getting the house ready for Christmas.  Oops!  Gotta go... more later!

     Well, it's been and excitiing day.  I went to the surgeons office for my appt.  They were very supportive and helpfull.  The nurse said she believe a goot weight for me would be about 160lbs.  I, however, would like to get to about 130lbs.  I know I can do it.  I also spoke to the insurence laison, she didn't seem to think my insurence would have a problem approving me.  They think I will be approved by the 15th of Dec.  I know it seems wierd to say but, her "over-confidence" makes me worry.  I know she has experience dealing with insurence but... I guess I'm going to worry until I have official approval and get scheduled.  All in all it was a great visit.
     Next, my husband and daughter met me up at the hospital for a seminar on bypass.  It was mainly so they could get a clearer understanding of the procedure and aftercare.  They both said they found it very informative.  I was glad they came.  
     So now it will be 2 weeks until my next appt.  I see the Psycologist and Nutritionist first thing in december.  Then they will have what they need to apply for the approval.  It seems like like such a long time to wait but I know it really isn't.  I'm sure it will fly by especially with the holiday.  I'll update more later....

Well, Tomorrow I go to see the surgeons office for my first appt.  I'm excited and a little nervous.  I know it will be mostly an informational appt but it is a big step and I'm excited.  After the appt, in the evening, is a support group meeting.  My huband is getting off work a little earily, picking up my daughter and meeting me there.  I hope to learn a lot of helpfull info at this meeting.  I hope they get a lot out of it too.  There is a lot for my family to know and understand about this process.  So keep your fingers crossed for me and I will update after my appt.

     Ok, Hope everyone is doing well.  Like I said before, I had my blood work today.  The surgeon should have the results by monday.  I was able to pick up my medical record.  It's not too bad, but it sure is difficult to pick out some of the handwriting to find the date and my wieght.  I'm sifting though it.  
     Had a minor setback today, my psych appt had to be changed to Dec 5th.  the doc had his own doctors appt and had to reschedule me.  I was disappointed but it's okay, no need to rush things.  I'll just go with the flow.  
    

    Okay so i chose the color red for this entry because I just had my initial blood work done.  It was totally painless and quick.  I had called the surgeons office to have them fax over an order to my pcp, it was simple as that.  
     Of course, all well laid plans sometimes have speedbumps... I called last week to have my medical records copied and ready for me to pick up today.  They don't have them.  I don't know what the deal is, but I hope they can get them done by the end of the day.  We shall see.

     So, I went to the neck doctor yesterday too.  He gave me some muscle relaxers, some steroids and a neck brace thing.  I'll take the meds but I'm having doubts about the brace.  it's not comfortable and looks hidious on me.  I would rather just prop up my head on a pillow and be done with it.  Course I might have to use it if the pain comes back strong agian,  All in all it was a pretty good visit. 

Well, I am going to see the doc about my neck pain today.  I'm not all excited though.  It's been 3 weeks since the pains started and I have taken an anti-inflamitory the whole time, so I'm really not feeling the pain anymore.  I hate to go to the doc when I'm not actually in pain.  I feel stupid, like I don't think they will find anything wrong.  But I guess I will go... we'll see what happens.  

Also I made my second appt with the NUT.  It's Dec 4th.  One more step!!

So, I'm at work and I felt like babbling a little about stuff... I go to the doctor tomorrow afternoon about my pains in me neck.  I hope that will be resolved.  It's not so much painfull now as it is annoying.   As for my WLS... I go to the psycologist on friday morning.  I have to take a 3 hour personality test and then meet with the doc.  Sounds like so much fun.  My friend, who had the surgery 3 months ago, told me he was very nice and funny.  Just another step in the process.  I'm really looking forward to the meeting with the sugeons office on monday.  I think I will really get some answers then.  My goal is to be approved before the end of the year.  I would like to have the surgery in january.  I'm crossing my fingers for it to all fall into place.  

I'm loving the message board on here.  I'm getting lots of good information and making a few connections. 

This is a little retrospective.... So I went to the doctor on thursday 11-02-2006 because I was having a lot of neck pain.  This is something I have had before and it is usually corrected by a trip to the chiropractor, but I havn't found a good one here yet so I went to my PCP.  So you know they have to weigh you every time you go to the doctor... I almost fell off the scale.  I was 283lbs.  This is the highest I have ever been.  I didn't feel any different.  I didn't think I looked like I weighed that much.  I'm thinking of words like "just shy of 300 pounds" and "almost at 300".  So I asked my doc about having WLS.  To my suprise she was very supportive.  She said I should first check with my insurence to see what is covered and what I need to apply.  Well, later that day I did.  I called Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.  These are the requirements based on my policy:  BMI over 40, BMI over 40 for 4 out of the past 5 years, patient is fully grown, patient can't have a desease that causes weight gain, have a physical and psych exam, the surgery must be part of comprehensive care.  This was the first time I started to realize that WLS was an actual possibility.  

11-06-2006
Got a call from my doctors office ref to my BMI for the past 5 years.  I qualify!!!  I was so happy.  That was the one thing I wasn'y 100% sure of for the requirements.  So, on a friends recommendation, I made an appointment with Dr M. Melkonian.  The apt is Nov 20th.  So ecxited!

11-07-2006
Got a packet in the mail today all about the requirements for the surgeons office.  1 have to have a psych eval.  2 have to see the nutritionist 3. lots of blood and lab tests  and 4 need to send them over a copy of my medical records.  I'm not wasting any time with this.  I made the psych appt for nov 17th and I see the nutritionist on Nov 9th.  I called to have a copy of my reocrd made to be picked up next week.  My lads have to be ordered by the surgeon or my insurence won't pay for them.  

11-09-2006
Saw the nutritionist today.  She was very helpful and informative.  She seemed to really want to help me and encourage me.  She wasn't there just scolding me about what I'm doing wrong.  She told me to start a food diary.  I hate those, but if it will get me to the surgery I will do it.  I will see her agian before the surgery to make sure I'm better prepared for the changes that will happen in my body and to my habits.