December 2, 2005
I saw everyone today. The internist ran some more blood tests and did and EKG, but told me he would give me the go ahead for the surgery. Saw the Psychiatrist and she said I was good to go. Also saw Dr Mueller, I was so at ease with him. He did a great job of explaining everything and answering all my questions. So now I am playing the waiting game. I have to wait for all the doctors to transcribe their notes and send them to Dr Mueller. Then they will send all the stuff in for written approval. I am trying to stay positive and tell myself that they gave verbal approval so why not a fast written. Guess only time will tell.
December 6, 2005
I have seen people on OH saying the waiting was so hard and I didnt really understand until now. I feel like it has been months, when it has only been a couple days. I am going nuts!!!!!!! Glad I already saw the Psychiatrist.
December 19, 2005
I got the call from the insurance specialist at the doctors office today. After telling her that the procedure was covered 100% they now say no it is excluded. They are saying my employer had a written exclusion included. I cried like a baby wanted to roll over and die, then my mom yelled at me and told me to stop acting like a baby. Now I am angry and ready to fight. I am not ready to die from my weight and I am not going to let the healthcare company I work for let me.
December 30, 2005
Ok I knew I was denied and I knew I had a big fight ahead of me, but today I got the denial letter in the mail. Wow did that ever make it more real. I am getting all my medical records and everything ready for the attorney. I am just afraid I am going to spend this money on the attorney to fight my employer and still not get it covered and then have to come up with the money to pay cash. I knew this would be a difficult process, but it is such a emotional rollercoaster, I feel like I am going looney. Oh well all I can do is fight as much as possible and pray God guides me through this. January 19, 2006 Well I cant say this new year is going as good as I would like. I finally got all my medical records and sent them to the lawyer. They got them today. I still feel hopeless because I know that the appeal letter will do no good and so after that we have to go after my employer. They just cut our pay so I am losing hope that they will cover my surgery. I have no idea how long I will have to weight and I dont know how to deal.
January 23, 2006
I got an E Mail copy of my appeal letter today. Wow my lawyer sure knows how to stick it to the insurance company. The letter was 26 pages long and I think very very good. I hope it does some good. Although I am not expecting it to since my insurance company already has said it is up to my employer. Oh well, it is in Gods hands.
February 11, 2006
Well I am still waiting to hear anything and I think I am going crazy. I am so emotional because it seems like something new is wrong with my body everyday. I am so tired of being stuck in this body. I am tired of hurting and being swollen and taking all these meds. If it wasnt for everyone here on OH I know I would not be handling this as well as I am.
February 14, 2006
I have never been a big fan of Valentine's Day as it is and this year it is even worse. I called my lawyer yesterday and got an E Mail back saying it is too soon to have heard anything. I am 28 have a great personality and men wont look at me because of my weight. As of right now I am unable to maintain hope. I am really starting to think this will never happen.I hope I pull out of this funk.
February 16. 2005
I saw my pcp today. I have pitting edema, he had to change one of my BP meds. He also put me on Lasix and Potassium. I also have a Ganglion (hernia in wrist joint) so he put me on Celebrex. I am now on 11 prescription meds a day. I feel like I am falling apart. My pcp is so frustrated with my insurance. He asked me if they were trying to kill me. I am starting to wonder. I am very depressed right now. I am praying things start moving quicker.
February 28, 2006
Well I was denied again. I got the letter in the mail today. I was so hoping for a positive outcome that this hit me like a ton of bricks. I am sad and depressed, but will not stop fighting for this.
March 1, 2006
I talked to my lawyer today and they are pissed I got the denial letter. It should have gone to them. They are going to do some investigating. Next step is another appeal letter, this time to the plan administrator. So keeping my fingers crossed. I would be so lost without all the support I received here on OH.
March 13, 2006
Well I have been having loss of sensation in my arms and across my back. My neurologist thinks it is weight related. So I have to go in and have a nerve test done. My doctor is afraid that if I dont have the surgery soon the nerve damage will be permanent. I am also have Gyno problems, they are testing my Thyroid levels and doing a pelvic ultrasound. I really feel like I am falling apart. My mom who has been very supportive is even getting frustrated. I know it has to be hard for her to see her only daughter getting sicker and sicker. Sometimes I wish I would go to bed and just not wake up. It can be too much to deal with sometimes. I just keep telling myself to be strong and that God is watching over me and it will happen in his time. I just hope it happens before my weight wins. My lawyers have sent an appeal letter to the Plan Administrator for my companys self insured policy. So now it is a waiting game again.
April 17, 2006
I thought not knowing the exact date the appeal letter was sent in would be a good thing. I wouldnt be counting down the days until I should hear something. I was wrong, it has been driving me crazy. Today I called my lawyer and found out that due to my insurers and employers lack of communication with my lawyer they took it the next step. Although I live in California my insurance is out of Maryland where my employers corporate headquarters are. So my lawyers filled and grievence/appeal with the Maryland Insurance Administration/State Attorney General. I signed the release today when I got home. I also found out that even if my employer is self insured and excludes the surgery with some self insured policies if the exclude a surgery the state has to pay for it. This has helped me feel a little more mentally stable, I am still counting days and feeling low, but this helps me have hope. Everyday is still hard, my body hurts from head to toe. I am spending so much money on prescription copays that I am always broke. I was hoping to have the surgery before the warm weather came, but looks like I wont so now I have to buy some new clothes. Things just have to get better.
May 2006
Well my employer has decided to change health plans around. I know that it is silly but I feel like it is personal. I need hand surgery and they arent approving it. The new BCBS plans are more expensive and you have to pay copay plus 10% of allowed benefit for everything and they still exclude WLS. I am really hating my employer now. We has 2 weeks notice of the change and only 12 days and limited info to decide what plan. When I went on to enroll in the new plan it said to enter waive here is you chose Kaiser. No where has there been any info about Kaiser. I didnt even know it was an option. I call the 800 number and they E Mailed me the info about the plan. Well it is much less expensive, better copays and from what a lady at Kaiser told me an employer cannot pick and chose what is covered on a Kaiser HMO plan so WLS is covered. So I have a little hope, but at the same time I am so discouraged that I have to start all over. UGH!!!! June 1 Kaiser takes effect so I will be on the phone that day getting the first available appointment and getting the ball rolling. Some good news is my lawyers said she will help me cut throught the Kaiser red tape. Day after day I just pull myself along waiting for some good news. I so love my OH friends for having faith that this will happen for me and helping me keep the faith!!
June 29, 2006
Well it has been a while since I have updated my profile. I was just named SYSK by Christine and it really made me feel good. I am glad people appreciate the support I have to give. As for me I have had Kaiser for 29 days now and things are moving. I couldnt see my new PCP until the 30th so I went through Positive Choices. I have been to their orientation, turned in all my paperwork. I have had my first appointment for the health appraisal which Kaiser requires. I have my follow up health appraisal appointment scheduled(July 14). I also have my appointment with Dr. Ray scheduled(July 12). He is who decides for sure if I get into the options class!! The next class starts July 19th and I am hoping to get into that class. Once I am in my lawyer will do whatever, she says I dont have to take the class and that she will try to get me out of it!! After how slow things went with BCBS, I am amazed with Kaiser. Even if I have to take the 6 month class Kaiser will be faster and I will actually end up having WLS!!
August 13, 2006
Been awhile since I updated....I got into the Kaiser class that started on July 19. I have been to 4 classes so far. I have to say I am very disappointed with Kaiser. The class is very negative toward the surgery, it is geared toward talking you out of having WLS done, but if I have to do the class then oh well. My lawyer has sent an appeal letter to Kaiser and the class leader even says I am ready to have the surgery. Hopefully Kaiser will talk to her about the appeal. If they deny it then we take the next step. Not like I have anything else to do, just sit and wait for someone else to decide when it is time for me to be healthy again.
September 2006
Well Kaiser lost my appeal. Big surprise! Pissed my lawyer off like crazy. So she called all the higher ups she could and within a week I was denied, again!! I am not surprise, I have decided Kaiser would rather me die than take care of my health. I am still going to the classes, the counselor that leads the class is great and everyone in the class is nice, that is the only way I am standing the negatives of Kaiser and WLS. I am hurting more and more everyday, life is becoming more of a struggle with every breathe. Also as if 10 meds a day arent enough, as if I didnt already have enough negative diagonosis to choke a horse I am now borderline diabetic. My doctor is waiting for me to have a glucose tolerance test, but she is fairly sure I have full blown diabetes. Sometimes I really wonder what happened to the healthy overweight person I was. Once upon a time I took 2 meds a day and had no weight related diagnoses, that has all changed and I am wondering how long this body will last!! Oh well on to appealing to the State Managed Care Board and Kaiser at the state level. What fun!! I always have hated the waiting game!!
October 6, 2006
Well I got a call from my lawyer and Kaiser is tired of dealing with me and my appeal. So they approved me!!!!!!!!! I am so happy, I was starting to think I would never hear those words!!! I am floating on air right now!!!
November 5, 2006
Well I have done all my bloodwork and pee tests for my Pre Op stuff. I am waiting on a gallbladder ultrasound date. Kaiser is scheduled through 2/2007 so they are outsourcing them. I am suppose to be hearing any day now about scheduling it. Then on to the surgeons. I went to yet another Pac Bar seminar and they are scheduling 3 weeks out, so I am still hoping for a date by the end of the year!!
December 8, 2006
I met with Dr Tanaka today, he will be my surgeon. He was a lot nice than I was expecting. I was afraid he would tell me I had to lose more weight, but he didnt. He said I was an excelent candidate for the Lap RNY. I also saw the Internist and Psych today, all of them said I would do great. They are going to try to have their dictation to Pacific Bariatrics by Monday so I may have a date within a week. I will admit I wasnt all that excited about today, after all I have done it all before. Now it is sinking in though, that this is really going to happen. I am so happy and feel like things are really starting to look up for me and I cannot wait to be healthier!!!!
December 19, 2006
Well I got home from work and my phone was ringing, first though, who is calling me? No one calls my home phone. It was Dr. Tanaka's office, I have been scheduled for surgery on January 2, 2007 at 1030 in the morning. I am so excited, I am floating on cloud nine. I cannot believe that I actually have a date. This has been such a long journey for me and I am so happy it finally has a date!!!
January 5, 2007
Well I am home from the hospital and doing good. Everything went fine with the surgery, my gallbladder didnt end up coming out. I had one episode of vomitting and it was because of a migraine, so I did good with the anesthesia. I am walking and sipping and sipping and walking!!
January 21, 2007
Well I am doing really well. So far I have tolerated just about everything I have tried. I have eaten eggs, cottage cheese, beans, creamed soups. The only thing that didnt agree with me was some SF pudding I bought. I can live with out that though. It has been 19 days since surgery, I am still tired easily, but getting stronger every day. I weighed myself today and I am down 24lbs!!! I am so excited 24lbs in 19 days. My shoes went from 9 wide to 8 1/2 regular. I am so thankful for this surgery!!!
February 2, 2007
Wow has it been a month already. I cannot believe how time flies by. I am doing really good with my tool. I have lost about 30 lbs, I see people who have lost so much more and get a little sad, but I have to remind myself how often have I lost 30 lbs in a month!!! I have only had one episode of trouble with my new pouch. I have no clue what happened, I ate slow, chewed well and stopped when full, but it still was unhappy. I felt a little better after getting rid of my dinner, but the discomfort lasted 24 hours. I will be very happy if I never have to go through that again. Otherwise, energy still isnt all that great and I am finding it hard to work and exercise. I know it will get easier when I am 100% again!!
March 23, 2007
It has been a little while since I updated my profile. I am doing fairly good with my tool and new life. I feel like I am losing weight slowly and while I know this is ok and a good thing for my skin it makes me a little frustrated. I did finally hit - 50lbs today. Must say that made me very happy to know I am half way to losing 100lbs. I am slowly getting my energy back and I am walking more and getting more exercise. I find I am tolerating most foods well, the only thing I have had trouble with is one type of fish, Scalpin. Both times I have had it I threw up so I am going to go a while without eating it. Maybe down the road I can tolerate it again. I really am very thankful for my new life. Less meds, smaller clothes and I feel better, what more could I ask for!!
April 21, 2007
Well today I hit the -60 pounds mark. I am down from a size 28 to a size 18. Why do I say both? Well let me tell you about the OH Conference in Irvine last weekend. People ask are you post op? Yes. When did you have surgery? Jan 2nd. How much have you lost? 56lbs. Ohhhh you are a slow loser, sorry. You have any clue how bad that made me feel. I am at a event that is suppose to make me feel supported and I am being told how slow of a loser I am and how sorry they are for me. No one asked how many sizes I had lost. People who knew me as a pre op were all like WOW Nikki you look great!!! That is what made me feel good. I am having to learn to ignore the numbers, so I dont feel like a failure. I am working hard at not comparing myself to anyone else. I see people who had surgery a month or more after me and they have lost more than me. It isnt my fault, I am doing better than I ever did at any other attempts at weight loss. Everyone loses different, so my advice to anyone reading this....how do you feel, are you proud of yourself, do not compare, look at inches not pounds, clothing sizes, there are so many different factors. Find out what your thing is and concentrate on that. Not everyone is the same and dont let everyone else bring you down!!! I am working so hard on this right now. I am down 60 pounds, some maybe down more and some maybe down less, but I am damn proud of each of those pounds and I have worked hard for each one of them!!
June 9, 2007
So this morning I got on the scale and was amazed at what it said. 199, can you believe it. I am below 200 pounds. That makes for 101 pounds list since July 2006 when my insurance was switched to Kaiser and they made me weigh in on a regular basis and 75 pounds since surgery on Jan 2. I am so happy. I never imagined losing this much weight and knowing it would not come back to me!! I am such a happy girl today. It has been a lot of work, but worth it!!
January 2, 2008
WOW, One year today!! I can barely believe it has been a whole year. I am very happy with my results. I am down 119lbs, I weigh 155lbs now and I think most of what is left is skin that has to be removed. I have reached all my goals. I can move so much easier, I can walk without being out of breath, tie my shoes, fit easily in an airplane seat, my medication list is cut dramatically. I am so thankful for WLS. In terms of inches
Starting Now
Chest 55" 41"
under chest 43" 32"
Waist 44" 29"
Hips 57 1/2" 37"
For 60.5 inches lost just in those areas, wow!! I know I couldnt have done this without the support I have from my family and friends and of course OH. I have found so many wonderful people on here I would be lost without. I guess the next step is saving up money to try and get some plastic surgery done so I done look like a deflated blow up doll, lol!!
August 25, 2008
Ya I know I am bad haven't updated in a while. I think my body has decided it is at goal. No matter how well I eat, how much I exercise my weight stays within the same 4lbs. Dont get me wrong I am ok with where I am at, I just really wanted to get down about 13 more pounds. Hey I am healthy, thats what it is all about. The best part is I have started the next stage, Plastics!! I had my breast reduction/lift Aug. 5th and I love the results and I am healing well. I have also been approved for a exteneded pannilectomy, which means they are going to take all the extra stomach skin. Upper and lower, YAAAA, I never thought they would cover the top part, but surgeon said you need it so we will do it!! Now I just have to wait for a date which according to surgery scheduling will be about 2 months,UGH, but I am approved!!! So that means I only have to save up for the lower body and arms. That will be a while, lol!!!
Feb 21, 2008
So ya I have been bad and havent updated in too long. I did have my reduction/life and extended panni. Unfortunately after all the healing all is not well. The extended panni didnt work for some reason and I still have lots of loose skin above my belly button and there is folding skin on my side of my breasts under my armpits. I discussed it with the doctor and showed him and he was so very sad and upset. He has no clue why the panni didnt work and has never seen the skin as bad from the reduction, some yes as much as mine no. So I will go back in for surgery in May once my probation at work is done. The worse part is I will be in an abdominal binder/support garmet for a year, but if it helps with the rashes I am STILL having I will live with it. I knew the skin part post WLS wouldnt be easy so I am not surprised by it. On the weight loss front I want to be 140 when I have surgery again that is 20lbs from where I am so I have until May to lose it and it is a goal I plan on meeting!!! I am still so very thankful for my WLS and everyone on OH for all their support!!!
