queenieredhead
Wednesday, Sept 5th - 1 week post op
Sep 05, 2007
Figured I better check in and update my blog. I had surgery last Wednesday, August 29th @ 7:30 at Huntsville Hospital. I arrived at the hospital bright 'n early at 5:30 and got checked in, vitals taken, more blood drawn. Then I was moved to a room and changed into my beautiful surgery gown. Jackie was my nurse that morning and she asked me a bunch of questions, none of which I hadn't already been asked a zillion times. She started an IV in each arm. The one on my right arm was capped just as an extra line in case they needed it later on. I was informed my surgery was bumped up a little from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 - 8:15 a.m. My surgeon had put a simple case in front of me but that didn't delay things very much at all so I didn't mind. The anesthesiologist and his student came to visit me and asked a bunch of questions about my previous history with anesthesia and had my stick out my tongue and say "ahhhh" I guess so they could measure what size breathing tube I'd need, etc. etc. Then Dr. Mailapur came in to see me and told me he'd been seeing me real soon and wanted to know if I had any last minute concerns or questions and asked if I was ready to go. I had no questions and told him I was as ready as I ever was going to be. He smiled and said he'd see me soon. About 30-45 minutes later, two nurses entered my room with scrubs and the cute little elastic caps and told me they would be my OR nurses and gave me a beautiful little stretchy surgical cap like theirs and they helped me get it on and get my hair tucked underneath it. They chit chatted with me for a little bit and told me they'd be back shortly to get me. Didn't seem like too long at all, maybe 15 minutes...and they returned to wheel me to surgery. I said my goodbyes and off I went. Down the halls, and several turns. I remember turning the corner and feeling really cold air. As they were getting ready to push me into the OR room on the right, there was a man sitting outside putting on his surgical booties, and I commented to him "Oh so yall knew I was coming and turned on the air conditioning for me. I appreciate that." He chuckled and the nurses wheeled me in. They pulled me up to the OR table and asked me if I could move over to it. I said sure. I scooted over onto the OR table. They told me to scoot up over the hump. There is a little hump towards the top of the table that you lay on that makes your head drop back just a bit. I'm guessing that helps with your breathing and them putting in your breathing tube after you go under anesthesia. I looked up and I could see the anesthesia student standing behind me and she told me to relax and they were going to take real good care of me. She put a mask over my face and I asked if I was going to sleep right then and she said no, not yet. She told me to breathe in thru my nose and take several deep breaths. She explained that the oxygen would help me to relax. The anesthesiologist commented to me that I looked nervous and a little scared and I told him no not really. I hadn't been given anything for anxiety so I was very sober. He chuckled. After 2-3 minutes, she told me that I was going to start feeling sleepy. I could feel the sensation going thru my body and I don't remember closing my eyes. I woke up in recovery at approximately 11:30 a.m. I was in NO pain which I was VERY happy about! The bad part was that Huntsville Hospital was running short on rooms and I had to lay in recovery until 5:00 p.m. to get a room. After I got in my room and got vitals taken and situated, things were better because the bed was MUCH more comfortable than that little gurney I had been laying on. The day after surgery was a little rough because I spiked a temp and my white blood cell count went up and my heart started doing funny stuff. They hooked me to a heart monitor and I had to go have an echocardigram which is basily an ultrasound of your heart. I felt like crap the rest of that day and from about 2 p.m. on, I don't remember very much at all. I was sick. I woke up Friday feeling better and was able to get up and walk 5 times. The doctor said he was going to keep me one more day to be sure everything was ok. I got to go home on Saturday morning. Since I've been home, each day has gotten a little better. I walked approx 3/4 of a mile yesterday. I still get really tired after my shower every morning and have to sit down and rest before I can brush my teeth and get dressed. I don't know how much I've lost but it should be pretty good after the swelling goes down a bit. I have my first appointment with the doctor a week from tomorrow so I'm looking forward to stepping on the scales for a change. I probably won't update 'til then. Keep me in your prayers and I hope everyone has a blessed day!!
Hugs, Vicky
Hugs, Vicky
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Aug 26, 2007
3 more days 'til surgery! Woo hoo! I FINALLY got my approval this past Wednesday right before I left work. It's been a whirl wind since then. I been scurring around trying to get this and that done. Trying to gather up the things I'll need after my surgery so I won't have to stress over going to Walmart and not knowing how I'll feel. I'm doing laundry now and then I'm gonna sweep and mop the kitchen and bathroom so that'll be done. Last thing I wanna do is come home to a dirty house! 
I got a digital camera yesterday so now I can take pics along my journey so I won't forget the little things. I received a box of goodies from my angel Carmen. I'm soo thankful for her. She is such a sweetheart! I can't wait to meet her. I also went got a blender yesterday. I figured I'd get more use outta that later on than I would a Magic Bullet.
I went to Starbucks yesterday morning and met some of the nice ladies on the Bama Board. You guys rock! I had such a goooood time. Poor Jackie's husband was surrounded by all that estrogen! God love him!
Well, gotta get busy cleaning. Hopefully I'll get a chance to post again before surgery. I love all of you!
Hugs, Vicky
I got a digital camera yesterday so now I can take pics along my journey so I won't forget the little things. I received a box of goodies from my angel Carmen. I'm soo thankful for her. She is such a sweetheart! I can't wait to meet her. I also went got a blender yesterday. I figured I'd get more use outta that later on than I would a Magic Bullet.I went to Starbucks yesterday morning and met some of the nice ladies on the Bama Board. You guys rock! I had such a goooood time. Poor Jackie's husband was surrounded by all that estrogen! God love him!
Well, gotta get busy cleaning. Hopefully I'll get a chance to post again before surgery. I love all of you!
Hugs, Vicky
Monday, August 20, 2007
Aug 20, 2007
I was glad to see Monday come. BCBS doesn't work on the weekend. I overnighted my pics and my PCP letter of authenticity to them on Thursday, August 9th. It didn't show up in the BCBS system until this past Thursday, August 16th. I been talking to a nice lady at BCBS who is a supervisor and she sent up a priority on it yesterday. I checked this morning about 11:30 and still no decision. Still pending. I called back late this afternoon before I left work at 5:00 and talked to her and still no answer. She said she'd call me JUST AS SOON as they made a decision. She said she was watching it for me. I guess that's a good thing but I'm soo impatient! How long does it take to look at 2 pictures and read a 1/4 page letter from my PCP??!!?? I know they have more to do than cater to me but I've been trying to get this approved since July 19th. I know some people have waited much longer than that but don't see how they did it! God bless 'em! I hope to hear something from them tomorrow. Or maybe the next day. Surely this week! Surely! The waiting is terrible. But I sent them exactly what they said they wanted so I should be approved this time. Please continue to PUSH (prayer until something happens). I know God goes before me and works on my behalf everyday. I praise God for that too. I owe him all the praise and glory. Until next time...
August 8, 2007
Aug 08, 2007
I was supposed to be in surgery at 7:30 this morning. 
It didn't happen because Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama didn't approve me. But that's ok. I went to my doctor today and showed her my pictures from 2004 and 2005 and got her to sign a letter of authenticity to say these pics were of me and I was morbidly obese then and I'm still morbidly obese now. I'm going to send the pics with the physician letter to BCBS tomorrow and send it "signature required." They said it could take up to 30 days to review them and make a decision but it sure didn't take them but a day or two to look at previous stuff I sent in and say "NO." So I don't think it will take that long. I'm gonna keep calling them until I get a "YES." lol Anyways, just wanted to update so you would know what the status was. Hopefully, they will approve me this time since I'm sending them EXACTLY what they asked for. I hope to be in surgery the end of this month or early September! I'll be on the losing side REAL soon so save me a seat! 
This is just sooo surreal to think I won't be overweight anymore. I've been overweight nearly my entire life...well since I was about 9 years old. Thanks to my Bama family who prays for me daily and lifts me up in prayer. I know God is in control and he's still on the throne. Praise God! To God be the glory, great things he hath done....and continues to do on my behalf. God is sooo good to me.
Hugs, Vicky
It didn't happen because Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama didn't approve me. But that's ok. I went to my doctor today and showed her my pictures from 2004 and 2005 and got her to sign a letter of authenticity to say these pics were of me and I was morbidly obese then and I'm still morbidly obese now. I'm going to send the pics with the physician letter to BCBS tomorrow and send it "signature required." They said it could take up to 30 days to review them and make a decision but it sure didn't take them but a day or two to look at previous stuff I sent in and say "NO." So I don't think it will take that long. I'm gonna keep calling them until I get a "YES." lol Anyways, just wanted to update so you would know what the status was. Hopefully, they will approve me this time since I'm sending them EXACTLY what they asked for. I hope to be in surgery the end of this month or early September! I'll be on the losing side REAL soon so save me a seat! This is just sooo surreal to think I won't be overweight anymore. I've been overweight nearly my entire life...well since I was about 9 years old. Thanks to my Bama family who prays for me daily and lifts me up in prayer. I know God is in control and he's still on the throne. Praise God! To God be the glory, great things he hath done....and continues to do on my behalf. God is sooo good to me.Hugs, Vicky
Insurance Woes!
Aug 04, 2007
I haven't updated in a while so thought it was time. Looks like BCBS of Alabama is not going to approve my surgery. They said I didn't meet their "medical criteria." I submitted an ER record of my weight for 2004 and they said that wasn't acceptable. They think they asked me my weight instead of weighing me and they can't accept it. The weight was 275#. I told the lady at BC that if it was a stated weight, I sure wouldn't of said 275#!!! Then I didn't have a weight for 2005. All I had was a record from a doctor that said I was positive for being overweight. Didn't say how much I was overweight so they won't accept that. They wouldn't accept my pictures either because I didn't have a physician's letter to back them up that they are a true representation of my weight for that year. A bunch of bologna if you ask me! My surgeon's office wrote a letter of appeal to them and so did the registered dietician at the Wellness Center. I don't think this will help but it's the last chance I have. I'm pretty sure my surgery isn't gonna happen next Wednesday or anytime in the near future. That's only 4 days away and I know BC doesn't work that fast. I am still trying to half way eat right and stay away from breads, sodas and sugary stuff. I'm gonna try my hardest to maintain my weight and not gain any. I'll try again in 2009 and I'll document, document, document so that then I'll have everything in order. I just hope I still have insurance then. That's another story for another time....
Waiting for Insurance Approval - July 20, 2007
Jul 20, 2007
I talked to Mary, the surgeon's nurse yesterday and she said she was working on submitting my stuff to the insurance company. She was supposed to of did it the day before that, but didn't. I called BCBS of AL today and spoke to a real nice rep named Andre. He said he didn't see a prior authorization for me so I don't know if she didn't get it filed or it just isn't showing up in the computer system on their end. I tried calling Mary but Dr. Mailapur closes his office at noon on Friday. Sigh. But you can bet I'm gonna call her on Monday morning first thing to see if she filed it. My surgery is scheduled for August 8th so I don't have that long. She needs to get on it so I can get the approval. If I'm denied, then I will appeal it. I didn't come this far to give up. I know yall are tired of hearing me talk about insurance approval but right now it seems to consume me. Just waiting and wondering is very hard. Hopefully I will know something in a few days rather than 2 weeks. I'm learning patience.
