OHAngel2006
Co-Morbities: PCOS, HBP, joint pain, back pain, stress incontinence, loud snoring
I am 38 years old with 2 children who were large babies. My BMI is 54.8. I'm scheduled to see Dr Brightwell on Mon 3/17/03 and am awaiting my PCP to call my insurance for referral. My insurance is Cigna HMO of GA. Anyone else have experience with them please contact me?
4/7 Met with Dr Brightwell after finally getting a referral from my insurance. He will be sending a letter to my insurance to await approval for the surgery.
11/7 i am now reconsidering the TYPE of WLS I have. Nothing against Dr Brightwell, I'm just concerned over the Open RNY and time of recovery. I am not looking into possible Lap.
Cigna denied my Open RNY request. I was considering appeal but now am reconsidering the type of surgery I will have ....
11/10 I have decided to see Dr. Duncan. It does mean I will travel about 1.5 hours from my home, but I am encouraged by all the comments I have read on here of his other patients. I am also encouraged by the different types of surgeries he offers. I am looking for a faster recovery time than I would have had with an OPEN RNY with Dr Brightwell and that's why I have changed doctors... nothing against Dr Brightwell at all.
I have filled out the preliminary paperwork and will mail my packet today. If anyone can tell me approximately how long it takes for them to call you please share with me.
11/27 Thanksgiving day. I called at the end of last week and left a message for Jennifer at Dr Duncan's office to see if they have received my paper work and never heard back from her. I'll be calling again....
12/1... Was told by office to check back next week, she hasn't received my packet yet. Evidently they're in a bit of a backlog with the holiday and vacations.
12/3 Jennifer called today and I am now scheduled to attend the seminar on Dec 16th.
12/10 My journey has ended. Today I learned that Cigna (my employer and insurance coverage) will no longer cover anything for obesity in 2004. I can't get through "the process" of seminars and office visits and insurance approval to have it done by Dec 31st. ................crying...................
12/17 Update- I found out by the Intracorp supervisor at Cigna that I was given some wrong info about having no coverage... BIG sigh of relief!!! Evidently some states and employers will not be covering it in 2004, but mine is not one of them. I attended Dr Duncan's seminar last night. It is very informative and I really appreciate all he puts into his work. They are so wonderful and so organized and helpful. Several of his employees have had the surgery so they completely understand. I also appreciate his completeness approach to winning the war on obesity. I will be calling the offie today in the hopes of scheduling my appt.
12/24 They tell me they will call me for the appt and it will be after the first of the year
1/6/04 I am now scheduled for an appt with Dr Duncan (or one of his associates) for Jan 29th.
1/29/04 Today was my first initial consultation at Dr Duncan's office. They took a group of us back to a conference room where we talked to Jennifer and Joyce. Then one of Dr Duncan's assistants came in and went over a few things as well and answered all our questions. After that, we were put in individual rooms for the doctor to check us over individually. Looks like I won't require any additional tests other than what my insurance requires at this point. They require the psych. eval and nutrition/dietician consult. I'm excited. I'll be starting my diet immediately.
2/18 Friday I have my psych consult.
2/24 I passed the psych visit and also completed the nutritional counseling today. Just waiting now for Dr Duncan to receive all my paper work and see if my packet is ready to be submitted!
I found out today that my packet was submitted to insurance on March 12th. Although when I called Cigna to see if they had received it they could not confirm it just yet so I will check back again. Please remember me in your prayers!
3/29 I found out today that Cigna does have the paperwork and they have referred it to the Appeals Unit because I was previously denied. That previous denial was for open RNY and now I'm going laproscopic. They said it can take 30 days to hear something and the Appeals unit received it on 3/24. Please continue to pray for me.
5/21 Well it took long enough! Today I learned that my 1st level appeal with Cigna HMO has been denied as "criteria not met". I'm awaiting the official letter. Anyone with 2nd level appeal approval experience with Cigna HMO... Please contact me! [email protected]. I also have a nurse at Cigna who is trying to help me with this as well
Today is July 1st... my update... I am now in a level 2 appeal with Cigna. I had paperwork faxed in to show that my doc doesn't always chart your weight loss each time you come in if you don't see him. Problem is this paperwork was faxed AFTER the denial of my level 1 so it didn't help and now things are going into level 2 appeal... sigh! It took them several weeks to realize the LOST my paperwork and the level 2 appeal never got set up... now I bug them constantly and I have a case worker I can call directly...
7/13/04 I just found out I am approved!!!!!!!! I didn't have to plead my case to the level 2 committee. Instead about 30 mins after I was scheduled to speak with them the lady called and said I was approved!!! Praise God!!! s
7/14/04- I asked for my letter via email and received it today so I faxed it to Dr Duncan's office. If you get the approval letter to them by Wednesday, they will be scheduling surgeries on Friday. Hopefully I will know my surgery date in a couple of days!
Friday 7/16/04 I found out my surgery date is August 11th. I have my preop on 7/29/04. I also have to have a H Pylori test, medical clearance and proof of diet papers with me. I have to be under 334 - hopefully 324 by Preop time.
7/29/04- Today I had my Preop testing. I had to be at the Wellness Center of Atl Med Ctr at 7:30am. It was FREEZING at that place! Anyway, I was actually 3lbs under my consult weight and nothing was said to me. They take you insurance card, you sign in, then they give you some paperwork to look over, some to fillout and a true /false quiz to take about the surgery. Then you are called back into a room where they measured my neck, waist and butt. Then you take off your socks and shoes and step on the scale. After that it's back to the room to wait on the doc. He goes over your paperwork, med clearance letters, H Pylori results and asks you medical questions and examines your stomach and answers any questions. After that you go to a conference room with everyone else. A surgeon then comes in and goes over the surgery and answers questions. Then the Director of the Wellness Center who also had surgery discusses something with you. After that you are given your packet, pay any copays/coinsurance you have for the doc. (I had to pay $800. I have Cigna and they pay 90% so I had to pay 10% of UCR). By this time it is lunch. I grabbed a bite to eat and then went over to do the Preop testing. It takes about an hour -2 hours. You register with the hospital. Pay any hospital copays/coinsurance you have ( I had to pay $220) and then I had a urinalysis, blood work, EKG, met with the nurse, the anesthesiologist and had a chest xray. They are very efficient and very courteous! My husband and children were in the waiting room and they brought them coloring books and crayons!!! I was very impressed with the staff and their professionalism.
8/9/04. Ok, the Fleet Phospha Soda is NASTY! there is no easy way around it. Put a peppermint in your moth afterwards to help. I wast hinking there might be more cramping for this bowel prep but there hasn't been. I've done really well today on clear liquids. I like beef broth! I've kept busy taking care of things before I pack to leave tomorrow.
8/14/04 I am actually a Post Op now!!! Surgery went very well. I am very impressed with Atlanta Medical Center too. They were awesome. I had to be at the hospital at 7:30am, but it was hurry up and wait! By 9am I had on a hospital gown and had given a urine specimen. Finally a little after 9am they came to put in my IV. I asked for the numbing shot before the IV. Then they gave me some antibiotics through the IV and a Hepararin shot in my stomach. Then they wheeled me back to the OR holding area. The nurse came and asked me some questions, the anesthesiologist did too. He wanted to open up my antibiotic wide open so I would get it all in before they cut me; however, when they did it began to itch my arm and it got read and splotchy. The nurse turned the IV off and it got better. After that they wheeled me into OR, I crawled over to the operating table, they put a warm blanket on me and that's the last I remember. My husband said they called him from the OR 3 times to let him know how things were going. Around 230pm I was in my room. I had alot of gas! I also had a catheter and the things on my legs to massage them. I was very groggy.
8/14/04 By the evening I was up walking. The first time was awful, but it got a little better each time. That night I had some pain, but only took shots and no PCA pump. The next morning I was walking again and had my leak test. The barium drink is awful, but I was thankful it said "no leaks"! I came back to my room and began to get some watered down apple juice. I had to drink 1 ounce the first hour then 1 ounce every 30 mins. I had no problems. Around 12noon the nurse came and gave me some oral pain meds and said I could start getting dressed and ready to leave! Thankyou Jesus! I have done very well every since. Alot of gas still, but I am walking alot, staying on clear liquids and taking about 1/2 the pain meds dose. Last night I actually slept very well. Each day I get a little stronger!
8/24/04 Today I went for my 2 week checkup. I am down 17lbs already and my BMI has dropped 2 points! They took off the rest of my steri strips and cleaned them. I can now start trying pureed chicken and fish and tuna salad. I can also start working out with arm weights up to 15lbs but no more and no stomach crunches yet. I go back in 1 month
9/13/04- My 1 month anniversary was 2 days ago. I weighed and I've lost 30lbs since surgery. I've lost 50lbs since July! I feel much better already! My BMI is now 48.6!
10/28/04- down 60+lbs already!!! woo hoo!!!
11-15-04. I am now down 88lbs since July of this year and just put on a pair of jeans. I haven't worn jeans in years! Feels awesome! I am now able to tolerate many foods. However I no longer drink milk and am careful of milk products. I am at the stage of some hair loss though my hair is so thick it's a good thing for me. What an incredible journey! I am so happy!
2-2-05 update- Down 111lbs!!!! Feeling awesome!!!
2-18-05. I am 6months and 1 week post op and down 119lbs! WOW!!! Clothes are falling off of me faster and faster.
7 mos post op today and down 129lbs
May 2005. I am down 135lbs now! and hit a plateau.
June 2005 The plateau finally broke. I was under alot of stress with school and think that was part of the problem. The weight has finally started coming off again! total of 139lbs lost so far. Also bought a tankini bathing suit for Memorial Day. Can't believe how thrilled I was to wear it! Life is good!
7/12- Had my 11 month checkup today. I am officially down 146lbs! Rechecked my iron and doc thinks I may need a prescription iron supplement again. Pretty common she says. Don't have to go back for a checkup for a year! Says I am doing great and my numbers look very good!
8-11-05: CELEBRATION TIME! Today I am officially 1 year post op and lost 150lbs and 15 inches from my waist. I am so thankful I chose this surgery. I have had no complications. I have now been able to establish regular exercise and healthy eating and regained control. WOO HOO! I still have 45lbs to goal and know I will reach it.
About Me
Before & After
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