micheledgracia

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Okay, you are not going to believe this but yes, I was DENIED!  Reason:  I am under too much stress and dont have a plan to deal with it.  Can you believe that?  Maybe I am under too much stress because I have to deal with them!  I take a deep breath, remember it is on GOD'S time not mine and head off to Glenda the good witch for another one of those "talks" about "you know the answer in your heart..."  I saw her yesterday and she has given the Wizard a plan for Stress Management.  YEAH!  So we are off again to the insurance wicked ones to see if they will leave me to my transformation.  I am starting to feel less stressed already...yeah right.

Well, everything the flying monkeys wanted has been submitted to them.  These were their "issues"
1.   Need  a better dictation from the nutritionist.
2.   They felt the Doctor's dictation was inadequate. They wanted a more complete review of systems.  Now understand I have done medical transcription off and on as my aunt owns a service and I listened to his dictation and it was more thorough than many of the Doctors that I have scribed for.
3.   They now want a five year weight history from my medical records.

4.   They had the nerve to call and say they wanted it by 11am today or they were closing it.  

But everything is submitted.  I have been given a tentative date of October 23, so the prayers are needed if you have any to spare.  I should have an answer by today or tomorrow.  Here is to hoping this is the last time the witch gets an opportunity to attack with her flying monkeys.  I have my bucket of water ready!

Sorry for taking so long to add to my blog.  After my surgery was CANCELLED last Thursday, my job needed me to fly around the country on a special project so I have been swamped at work.  The flying monkeys and the witch have thrown us a curve and asked for more medical records of my weight for the last five years.  They want it by tomorrow or we will be starting over again.  So in addition to being swamped at work I have been begging, pleading etc to get those records faxed over.  As soon as that is done the insurance company as stated they will approve and we can set my new date.

Good news is I was able to eat a real meal.  My husband cooked beef stroganoff and it was great.  Problem is after being on shakes for so long my stomach did not agree and I had a horrible night of throwing up and indigestion.  So was it just too rich a dish after shakes or was my husband really trying to kill me?   I have been sticking to the shakes twice a day and a small meal once a day to be ready for the surgery.  I have lost only 8 pounds in 3 weeks.  I go back to the surgeron today for a "more complete work up" that the insurance company as requested in addition to more records.

We will see what happens this week.  Thank you to everyone for your support.  I appreciate all your notes and messages.  Again I am so sorry it took so long to respond, but I was in areas of the country that have limited internet access, (yes I was surprised everyone didnt have high speed  here in 2007), and I was on a plane in the air more than on the ground the last week.

My pre-op was changed until this coming Wednesday...day before surgery. However we still dont have the "official" approval from the insurance.  It is still listed as pending.  So my surgery date may be changed.   But I will not let the flying monkeys (insurance peeps) get me down.  I have met their criteria, given them everything they want so I am confident they will approve. I am still hoping to have my original surgery date...so hope along with me.

Called the Surgeon yesterday.  They will switch the surgery..no problem.  But it is a problem that my PCP (AKA the Tin Man) has not faxed over my release!  I called the PCP.  She wants to do a EKG (already done) and a CBC.  I was just in her office last Monday, she knew I had my EKG that day (results in my chart) and her nurse took blood for a TSH.  She couldnt have ordered the CBC then?  Does she have no heart?  She knows how long I have waited for this surgery. So today I went for my CBC, results come tomorrow and the PCP is going to fax the release if everything is fine and then the surgeons office will get it to the insurance.  So my pre-op is tomorrow.  I will be starting ALL liquids tomorrow (3 days early) to support my friend Stacy.   She claims to be having visions and a great time on all liquids so I want to join in the fun    

My insurance sort of changes on Oct 1, but it is the same carrier, BC/BS NC.  After speaking with insurance peeps at the surgeons office ( the munchkins) they say nothing will change but my out of pocekt will be a little more.

Oh and today Glenda the good witch (my head shrinker) said my results from my "Psyc Evaluation" came back and she said I was  RIGID!  She also said things like controlling, perfectionist, grounded....but RIGID.  I am not sure I like that word.  I am going to have to think about that.  Best part was these test results said I was under a large amount of STRESS.  Like I needed at test to tell me that.  Just dealing with getting the surgery is a exercise in stress management.  Oh well I soon will be at The Emerald City (OZ) and the wizard can transform me.

Okay, I get it.  I have no support from my husband.  He does not want me to lose weight and is doing everything he can to sabatoge it.  Honestly we have been having "issues" for years and now that I have decided I dont want to live my life as the fat wife anymore he has become ....how can I put this nicely....I can't.  He has become this mean hateful person.  I know his fear is if I actually start feeling better about myself I just might leave him....would I?  I know I dont want to continue living like I have.  I would love to feel great and look great inside and out.  I think this surgery will be a start.  For once I think it is time I did something for me.

I have decied to call Dr. Davidson on Monday and see what happens if I change my mind about which surgery I am going to have.  Do I start the process over?  Will my surgery date change?  I guess I am about to find out.  Ladies, Gentlemen I will be relying on you for my support.  Who can I count on?

Okay, call me crazy!  I went for my head check today to qualify for my surgery.  I chose someone outside of the doctor recommendations and she was great!  But some things I have been debating in my head with the "committee" came out.  I am having doubts about which surgery I chose.  I know the number one reason the band is not successful is COMPLIANCE.  I think I am afraid to fail.  Now this marvelous head shrinker says, " but you could fail at any of the surgeries, not just the band."  I have always thought I needed to have a part in this and just assumed that with the RNY I would not have a part and the weightloss would just happen.  I thought chosing the band made me stronger, but now I feel it may just be my psyco mind setting me up for failure.  The head chick asked me my fear of having the RNY.  I repeated exactly what my HUSBAND said to me and not what I really thought. "What happens if I get cancer, or need a transplant, the RNY would make it difficult to get adequate treatment."  Before my husband said that to me I was willing to do any surgery.  I have researched and researched every possible surgery to death.  I know the statistics, risks, and benefits of every surgery type.  I am the postive person in this relationship and would never think of the future in such a gloom and doom fashion, yet here I stand repeating his fear.  So what do I do now?  I guess I make a visit to Dr. Davidson.

Today I start my semi-liquid diet.  I have to have two meals a day liquid diet and one low calorie meal like Lean Cuisine.  I hate the taste of the protein shakes.  Any suggestions out there for making it better.  Any specific brand better?

I have finally chosen my Doctor!  I have visited five surgeons and have chosen Dr. James Davidson in Dallas.  I went to his seminar and met with him 9-11-2007.  His office staff is great.  He is a lot like my M.D. that I have had since I was 15, very to the point and professional.  I feel very confident with him as my surgeon.  I met with the Insurance Professional, Linda, who is super sweet.  She and I worked together to get everything going on that end.  She feels the insurance process will be easily taken on since I have few requirements, I was well prepared and had already set up those appointments.  Today (9-17-2007) I have my nutritional counseling, stress test, and M.D. visit for TSH blood work.  I have my psych evaluation on Wednesday 9-19-2007.  Linda is so confident she has already put me on the schedule for 10-3-2007.  How is that for fast work?