michi202
Hello everyone!! I am currently in the midst of this wonderful process ( and I say that with a wink and a smile). I do not currently have a surgery date, but wanted to share my story as 'advice' to others who are waiting to have this surgery. I first started on the bariatric path in the fall of 2005 and had a surgery with another physician scheduled for Jan. of 2006. However, I became ill and had to cancel. In that time I found Dr. Gluck and his staff and went to an informational meeting on May 4 of 2006 with my friend who was interested as well.
During this time, I went through a personal situation that pushed my surgery date back to November of 2006. Unfortunately for me by the time my surgery date came around, I had to choose between starting a new job (which I love love love btw and needed) or having my surgery. Well logic and practicality wins out and I took the new job and moved two hours from my family.
Relieved to have a job and adjusting to my new life I was excited when I learned that our insurance was BCBS, however in my naivety I chose the wrong form of the insurance and chose the HMO which requires 12 months of monitored physician weight loss, instead of the PPO which doesn�t even require prior consent. So, once again a hurdle to navigate, but I am persistent so I found a new physician in my new town and once again, February of 2007, started hurdling and counting down the months.
I highly encourage those of you with insurance choices at work, make sure you know what each one covers and does not cover and the pre-requisites of each!! Had I done that, I would be on the loosing side as I was hoping for March of 2007. So here I am, and just found out that the PPO has no pre-req. I can switch my insurance enrollment as of December 1 but will not have it in effect until January 1, 2008. So, then I call Dr. Gluck�s office last week to make sure we are on track only to find that my psych eval has expired and I have to get a new one. Here goes another hurdle but guess what??? CHECK!!!!!!!!!! I completed that this past Monday and the results will be to the doc sometime next week(350+225 = very sane woman paying lots of money to find that out!!! *lol*). Also found out I have to attend the initial nutritionist appointment again as well (boy this is getting to be an expensive lesson in insurance research before just taking the one that everyone else has *lol*)
So that brings us up to date, I have my nutritionist appt on the 23rd and an appt. with Doc that same morning. We are getting all our ducks in a row and shooting for Jan.1, 2008 to schedule me a date. I am already primed to get myself on the cancellation list because I have waited over 2 years by the time I get my date. I am not scared, I am just counting the days. This will mean better health for me and the ability to live the life I have imagined!!!!
I can not begin to tell you how wonderful the staff is at the office and God Bless Tristan!!!!!!!! She has answered every question without fail!!! She has helped me get my ducks in a row, sympathized when I felt discouraged and encouraged me when I was down. If there were gold medals for the insurance people in the office she would get it ten times over in my book. Doc. Gluck is awesome too, he has answered every question I have had when I have seen him and leaves me feeling confident in his capabilities and the support that is offered!! I can not wait for my date!!!!!! It is well worth it!!!!!
1/25/08 addendum ... I suppose I should have started my story with stating i have not always been overweight.. i was a three sport athlete in school, a great basketball star and as skinny as a rail. i got pregnant in the 11th grade and had to get married, therefore all sports stopped, i was depressed and ate like a cow and packed on 100# in a severely short amount of time. i was divorced before i even graduated high school. i married again and for all the wrong reasons, security, a positive figure for my daughter and that lasted all of 5 years. during this time i ballooned up to 420+ #'s. my weight has fluctuated from 229-420+ time and time again but have never seen 135 since high school. mind you i am not aiming for that cuz as i said i was a rail, but 160 would be nice.... still a lil padding and curves where they need to be... anyway... thought it important to include the beginning too!!! lol
1/25/08 addendum... SOOOOOO totally forgot to mention that in December of 2007 our company changed their insurance carrier and I spent two weeks chasing people to see if i should opt out or if the surgery would be covered!! God bless my boss for tenaciously seeking the answers with and for me. So, truly I NKOW KNOW KNOW that this path was meant for me..... I have worked hard mentally physically and emotionally to get here..... and I am better for it and better health is on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1/28/08 addendum... I found this and it is perfect for me:
Faith of the Heart
Russell Watson - Faith of the Heart
It's been a long road, getting from there to here.
It's been a long time, but my time is finally near.
And I can feel the change in the wind right now.
Nothing's in my way.
And they're not gonna hold me down no more,
no they're not gonna hold me down.
Cause I've got faith of the heart.
I'm going where my heart will take me.
I've got faith to believe. I can do anything.
I've got strength of the soul.
And no one's gonna bend or break me.
I can reach any star. I've got faith, faith of the heart.
It's been a long night. Trying to find my way.
Been through the darkness. Now I finally have my day.
And I will see my dream come alive at last. I will touch the sky.
And they're not gonna hold me down no more,
no they're not gonna change my mind.
Cause I've got faith of the heart.
I'm going where my heart will take me.
I've got faith to believe. I can do anything.
I've got strength of the soul.
And no one's gonna bend or break me.
I can reach any star. I've got faith, faith of the heart.
I've known the wind so cold, I've seen the darkest days.
But now the winds I feel, are only winds of change.
I've been through the fire and I've been through the rain.
But I'll be fine...
Cause I've got faith of the heart.
I'm going where my heart will take me.
I've got faith to believe. I can do anything.
I've got strength of the soul.
And no one's gonna bend or break me.
I can reach any star. I've got faith, faith of the heart.
Cause I've got faith of the heart.
I'm going where my heart will take me.
I've got faith to believe. I can do anything.
I've got strength of the soul.
And no one's gonna bend or break me.
I can reach any star. I've got faith, faith of the heart.
