Melissa Nicely
I am 37 years old, female, mother of 3 wonderful children and I have a boyfriend whom I have been with for 7 years. When I started my journey I weighted 437 pounds. I developed a huge umbilical hernia and had to have surgery in May of 2012. When I went to the surgeons was the first time I had been weighed since I had gone to my 6 week checkup after my daughter was born 5 years before. I was so shocked, I knew I was bigger, but I had no idea I had gotten so huge. I made up my mind then and there to have WLS.
I went to my PCP in June and talked to her. I was encouraged by what she had to tell me and she was behind me fully to have the surgery done. I went to my first seminar a few weeks after that. I was disappointed to learn that I had the wrong type of insurance and that I couldn't change till December. I talked to the insurance woman over the Weight Loss Clinic and she informed me of the requirements that my new insurance would want in December. I started seeing my PCP every month, doing weigh ins with her and having her document my diet and exercise routine. My insurance expected 9 months of this, with no missed months.
In December I was finally able to switch insurances to the one I needed. I got to meet my weight loss clinic staff and my surgeon formally (he had conducted the seminar that I had attended in June). I have had my pre-surgery blood work done, met the dietitian twice, passed my psych evaluation, passed my exercise evaluation and had a group meeting with the Psych to talk about what to expect after surgery.
I have my endoscopy scheduled on 1/10/12 and meet with the cardio dr on 1/15 to see what all he is going to have to need to approve me for my surgery. If I get everything done in time I get to submit my paperwork for the insurance company on March 1st.
