Angie H.

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Well, I am finally posting 2 weeks post-op. It hasn't been a bad two weeks at all. My biggest problem has been that I feel good... then I over-do it and make a certain spot  on my left side hurt. (A spot that he expained is painful because he stitched to a muscle there.) A lot of up and down and twisting makes it really hurt and I guess I forget and get overy zellous and well, there you go!

I was glad to get past all the fruity clear liquids after Week One, Stage One. I am very lucky that I haven't experienced any hunger so far, but those fruity liquids got odd pretty quick. It was a struggle, but it's OVER!!

Week Two, Stage Two has been better with the EAS Carb Advantage Shakes. By about number 4 for the day though, I wll say, that I am sick of them!!!!    I am starting to try some ways to add flavor and interest to the boring choc shakes... Will let you know all that turns out....

So actually tomorrow begins the Stage 3,  beginning of Week 3.... Pureed Stage of certain foods. The most exciting of these foods for me are eggs and tuna. I decided since I am going back to work tomorrow to try some things today. I would rather know how my lil pouch is gonna feel about new stuff at home rather than at work. I tried a soft boiled egg earlier and so far so good!! It tasted good and my pouch did not complain. I think for dinner I will try some tuna... Wish me luck!!!

I still haven't felt real hunger. I am pretty excited about that part of it!! A little nervous about real food.... But hey... My pouch and I can handle it... We are tough... We are invincible... tee heee (Thinking about naming my pouch.... hmmmmm  What do you think?)

I am so excited! Tomorrow is IT!!! I am not nervous or scared... I may get nervous later on but I don't think I will... Just too excited to start my new life!!! See ya on the losers bench!!!

Since I wrote last many many things have changed.....

First of all, I changed doctors and clinics!!! On July 23rd, I called Cenntenienal in Nashville and left a message for the center manager... She called me back at 6:30 in the evening and I knew right away that this was a different experience. The staff is nice and compassionate and caring. All of them!! I haven't met or talked to anyone that isn't going "above and beyond" for each patient!! I feel so ... so... "cared about!"

I knew that would lengthen my time until surgery, but I felt it was the right move... especiall since I have decided that I want the RNY!!! No doubts!!!

So we started the process and not too much later I was approved!!!! August 16th was the grand day for me.... But my hopes were to be dashed when I learned that the first available appointment with Dr Houston was Sept 27 and first surgery date was Oct 10th.... I was really disheartened... Until.... along comes Holly!!!

Holly is his wonderful right hand... and she had a cancellation!!! Not only did she have a cancellation appointment to see Dr Houston on the 30th of Aug, BUT she also had a surgery cancellation for Sept 12th!!! AND she knew how disheartened I was soooo She gave me the appointment to do all of my preop stuff on the 30th, as well as preop class, then see the doc after lunch.

Aug 30th was great. My sister went with me to my appointments. The pre-op class was very informative, and pre-registeration was uneventfull. Seeing Dr Houston was great. I liked him just as much as I thought I would. He sat and explained the surgery, what it would be like, how long I would be there and what I could expect. He answered all my questions, and didn't seem in a hurry to leave. I felt very comfortable.

So.... now I am anxiously waiting on the 12th!! I as so excited that I can't contain myself. I have started clear liquids and that is going well. Now I am just waiting on my turn... My turn to start over... My turn to get healthy... My turn for EVERYTHING!!!

I had decided pretty much 100% that I wanted to have the sleeve. It just seemed like the best match for me. (I was choosing between lap-band and sleeve - - kinda want r-n-y, but surgeon recommends lap-band or sleeve... R-n-y has more complications anyway.... Less complications is better for me, but sometimes I would really like that r-n-y... sigh...)

Anyway, I have a good friend who had r-n-y about 5 years ago. She had pretty serious complications but has done very well since she got all straightened out..... Unitl last year, she had a bowel obstruction due to adhesions and scar tissue. Now she says that 5 yrs out she has slipped back into some of her old ways. That some bad habits have surfaced and her body has adjusted to the r-n-y and she has started gaining a little weight.... That it is hard because of the body adjusting...

On the other hand, is my sister... She had lap-band also about 5 yrs ago. And has done marvelously!! She never had complications, and she has maintained her weight very well..  No problems with the band or port... Is she in the minority?
Or does she have an advantage because she can still have adjustments? And if she starts gaining a little weight, she can get a "fill?"

Now I have more questions..... Uggghhh.....

July 13, 2011

Well I called today to check on the status of my insurance..... I explained that I had a "DCN" number for them to look it up by... I really only wanted to know if precert had "picked it up" and started their review process. I got put on hold... When "Pam" came back she said that it was authorized yesterday. I was stunned. I said lamely, "what does that mean?" lol....
She said the approval letter went our yesterday to both my doctor and me!! Awesome!!!

So (being the proactive patient I am) I called my doctor's office to share my awesome news. They explained that they have to wait for the official letter from the insurance company. ( How did I know that was coming?!?!?!?!) [So, Mr Postmaster, HURRY!!!! Please!!!!] Once they get the letter, they will call me to make an appointment for some "tests" which I think means blood work and an upper endoscopy. Of course I had to ask about how long it takes to get that phone call after they get the letter.... I am sure that they already dread hearing my voice. I don't mean to be a bother.... I just have questions!!! lol... Hopefully they understand!

Ok, so now on the the next step!!!

Pray for me!!

As I mentioned in my last post, as of July 5th my insurance company has my information..... So I decided to call and follow up on it today (honestly NOT my first call to them .) I learned that my info is in pre-cert, but has not been "picked-up" yet. I asked what that meant, and the sweet little rep explained that it means that they haven't even looked at it. She stated that it can take pre-cert 7 - 10 business days to even begin my review.. Uuuuuugggghhhhh....... Then they can take up to 45 days to make a decision.... WHAT?!?!?!?!!? OMG are they going to pull my toenails one by one?!?!?

So I wait....... But I WILL call back on Monday!!!

When I started this journey I was so hyped up... so excited... I attended my seminar in February 2011, went to my first appointment at my surgeons office in March. I set up my appointment with the nutritionist, the psychologist and dove in head first. I took my paperwork to my primary care physician in early March and "got the ball rolling!"

I wanted to be the model patient. I studied my insurance policy daily. I read the clinical bulletins, I made a notebook to compile all my info and organize my records. I requested medical records for the past gazillion years. I joined a gym and hired a personal trainer to help with my exercise program. I set up appointments with a nurse psychiatrist to discuss behavior modification. I enlisted the help of the nutritionist and a iPhone program (food diary) to help me stay on track and make better food choices.

I was doing wonderfully and felt very much in control. I lost 20 something pounds and I cut my Diet Coke down to ONE a day!!!

All was well for a few months until I hurt my knee (again) and I couldn't exercise and THEN I found out that if I lost too much weight (below bmi of 40) that I would disqualify myself. Frustration set in.... But I tried to hang in... It was time to submit to insurance as I was doing the 3 month "fast track" available through my insurance. So I submitted my records to my doctors office on June 7th. My doctor would review and submit to my insurance company for preauthorization approval.

I tried not to get discouraged, but it was inevitable. As I struggled to keep my head above water and not gain any weight, I decided to check on my submission to insurance. It was Mid June, and I called my insurance company only to be told that they had no record of my submission. I called my doctors office and was told that they were "behind" and that it would be submitted later in the week. It was finally submitted on June 20th, but my insurance company kept saying that they didn't receive any records. My doctors office said that it sometimes took a while to get in the system so they wouldn't refax for 2 weeks. 2 long excruciating weeks.... FINALLY on July 1, my doctors office agreed to refax my records.

On July 5, 2011 I spoke to my insurance company, Aetna, and they had my records. Now the real wait begins. The wait where I know that they are tearing my records apart bit by bit. Looking for something to  give them the excuse to stamp "DENIED!!" I know that it could go one of three ways... 1) approval, 2) they could request that I continue physician supervised diet and exercise for 3 more months, or 3) Denial

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference....