Plateau Busters

03/07/06 Went to first Doctors appointment today with Dr.Kodali Suryam from the NeWeigh which has some of the friendliest staff and the most helpful I had found after calling a lot of different doctors in the Houston area. Well now I have to see a psychiatrist and a nutritionist before they can submit a request for surgery so that is where I am as of now. My weight 460 lbs height 6'0 tall and BMI is around 62. They tell me from there past experience that my insurance should take 4 to 6 weeks to be approved so the wife and I are keeping our fingers crossed they should have no reason to approve me being that on the insurance book we got when we first signed up that they cover up to 25k in WLS.

03/15/06 Went and seen a clinical psychologist today he said I was a tad depressed which was good because he said it was connected to my weight and that if he did not see that he would think I was going into the surgery for the heck of it per say. I go to see the nutritionist tomorrow which I have to pay out of my pocket insurance said they do not cover it. Glad it is only 96 bucks. After I get these two done the doctor will get to send in my paper work for approval..

03/16/06 Seen the nutritionist today it well went really good she was very nice and had tons of information.

03/17/06 Had the ultrasound on gallbladder today then was back to doctors office to have blood taken for all the blood test that Dr.Kodali ordered. Well now I am awaiting the psychologist and the nutritionist reports so NeWeigh can submit for approval. So now it is hurry up and wait. I have to keep myself from getting excited untill I get approved if I do get approved. Funny now that I have started down this road I feel more short of breath when I walk and a few other things not sure if I was just ignoring it before but I will be much happier if I get a chance to use this tool to better my life and the life of my kids and wife.

03/21/06 Well what a stressful week I have my nutritionist and the psychologist reports in to NeWeigh those were the two they needed before they could send my info into my insurance for approval or denial. So let’s keep our fingers and toes crossed for the best. Still have to see the cardiologist and sleep apnea test. Oh and the EDG not looking foward to that one for sure.

03/28/06 Ok I received a letter from NeWeigh saying they have submitted my paperwork to the insurance company and for me not to contact the insurance company. So now it is hurry up and wait

03/31/06 Well I have schedules my appointments for the EGD, stress test and the sleep test. Still have not heard from insurance on approval. My PCP had my blood work back today I have elevated cholesterol and some low acid I did not get a chance to get the spelling.

04/06/06 I went and had a sleep study done on the 4th of April. It was not very much fun that is for sure the technician said that when I am on my back I have severe apnea and while on my side I have moderate apnea not that she can give me results but she said that she would see me back when I to get fitted for my cpap machine. "Great" not really, Well they woke me up at 5:30 am I left went straight to work then at 2:00 PM I had to go see the cardiologist I did the stress test and ekg he said he would give me clearance for surgery, YAY I was really worried about the cardiologist visit, I still have to go back and have a echocardiogram on Monday. I only have one doctor left to see and it is the EDG I had it scheduled for tomorrow but insurance wanted 500 co pay so I have to go to my wife’s hospital since the co pay will be waived if i have the procedure preformed there. Well that is all for now I have been poked and prodded for a month now.

04/10/06 Man this stuff is a lot of work and a lot of waiting, I had my echocardiogram today and also got surgery clearance from my cardiologist today, I have the appointment on Thursday for the egd doctor. This should be my last doctor to have any test run. Still waiting on approval from insurance I am worried it is taking so long, Well I do have to go back to the sleep doctor on the 17th to get results.

04/13/06 Went and seen the EGD doctor today have it scheduled for the 17th at 7:30 am then I also have the follow up with the sleep doctor will be a busy day still have not heard back from my insurance on approval. Still staying positive. After the follow up with the EGD doctor only thing left will be insurance approval and clearance from my pcp.

04/17/06 Ok had the EGD done today. Well to describe it for the ones who have not had it I do not remember much besides gagging and trying to pull it out once. But they let my wife watch she said they kept having to add more Demerol because she said I was gagging and then threw up she also noted that my o2 level went down to 80 and they had to keep telling me to breath because I would not breath. After all of that I came home and took a 2 hour nap then got up and drove myself to the sleep doctor for a follow up he says I have moderate sleep apnea and I will be going back to have the cpap or bypap fitted and sleep with it he did tell me i snore loud and that it means something when the sleep doctor says you sleep loud. Well my throat is sore they took four biopsies of four polyps. I have to return to the EGD doc for details in a week. Well I always seem to think I am near the end of doctor appointments then there are more and more follow up's. But I have done them all now I just have a follow up with EGD doc and sleep doctor and one final clearance from my pcp, then it is back to wait on the insurance to approve my surgery if they will.

04/27/06 Well I have completed all pre-op appointments except for internal clearance which I will do tomorrow. My info went to my insurance company on the 18th this month well that is the day they had it entered from what I understand. I want to be a loser really bad and it seems it has been a long journey already being that I researched this for four years or so before I started it now nothing seems to be happening fast at all. I get disgruntled at the fact insurance has not just given the approval I believe if I get a denial I will go nuts. But lets hope for the best I know my plan covers it just has to be medically necessary. So I am nervous that just because my bmi is high that may not be enough other than that I have found out I do have sleep apnea I had been wondering why I was always tired during the day. When I went in and slept with the cpap I felt so good the next day. Cannot wait till I get my own machine. Well until next time all be well.

05/01/06 Ok I have completed all of my pre-op visits now on to the hurry up and wait on the insurance to make there decision. And softball for my girls only has like 8 more games left I was hoping to be done at least 100 by next season so I will feel comfortable enough to coach. Both girls are doing really good my oldest hit her first home run the other night I was so proud she is a big girl as well so it takes a lot for her to make a round tripper with out getting out but she done it and was all on her on she hit it to the fence. And that is a way long way out there. My younger daughter is doing well she never hits off the tee anymore, there both growing up to be wonderful girls as for the third one she is my two year old that never takes a break and she has already learned the concept of the ball and bat. She will be our next all star. It is good to be daddy just cannot wait till I can be Coach Daddy. Or be able to run that lap with them around the park. Hopefully that will all come in time. I should also thank my wife for supporting my though this ordeal being it is her insurance that we are using and there has been a few times where she was ready to quit that job but he sucked it up and went back because she knows how much this means to me. I have had some talks with my oldest girl who is also considered obese she has said she is ready for a change I asked her if she wanted to go on a diet with daddy then I told her to scratch that idea that we would learn to eat right and eat good not a diet then we will both loose wait. She is just overweight because of mine and the wife’s bad eating habits when we were young kids having kids. I just have to keep her inline with me on how to learn to eat right and we have decided we will not call it a diet because that is not what it is, it will be the way we eat and what we eat a true life change that will be diffluent at first but with her and I we believe we can do it.

05/07/06 Well I am still waiting on insurance to make a decision seems like they are taking forever, But I come back to go through the before and after pictures each time I get tired of looking at everyone else happy and losers I save a shortcut to desktop that way I can pick back up where I left off. But the pictures keep me motivated I just feel like if I can loose this weight it will make my life and the quality of life for my family and I so much better. Plus the doc says that once I loose the weight I can loose this mask I sleep with every night. One of my biggest goals is to be able to be small enough to be able to coach my girls next year in softball. That includes showing them how to run the bases how to stretch etc. Well feeling a bit down waiting on the insurance so thought I would update good night to all wish you all the best on your journeys where ever they take you.

05/12/06 I am so mad. I have done everything and sent in everything that there policy stated that they needed, Well guess what even though all my info was submitted before a policy change I now have to have a IQ screening and a EDI-2 or EAT-26 test done I about fell out of my chair when I heard this because when I first read there policy it did not have any of these things listed in them I go back to same policy and boom it is there scroll down and the revised date on the page is 4/13/2006 and I know my paperwork was in there before this date. Now I will get to spend more money for more test that they do not need. They sat on my file two weeks until the policy changed to do this we called before and they always said it was in review well after policy change they call and say we need more test. I feel like running up there bills just for fun. So if anyone is thinking of having this done or is working on it with blue cross be prepared. For yet another set back. The review nurse @E#@(*#&$*(@

06/01/06 Well still no good news. Have been really bummed because of the Insurance problems they sent me a letter telling me I had 5 days to submit the IQ screening and a EDI-2 or EAT-26 test results, or they would deney me. Well I could not find any head doctor that could do or even knew what a EDI-2 or EAT-26 test was I even called BCBS prvoider line and got them to give me all of the shrinks within 50 miles of me and called every one of them and mine said these test were all based on women and were trash test and would not be suitable for a male to take. So we added the IQ test to the first set of test that were done. And since he works with a lot of lawyers he added his professional view on the two test and said we would have something to sue the insurance for since the test were all based on female's and not men and there was no way it could test a male. Well I guess I am doing what the insurance wants me to do "giving up" yeah right they do not know me I will track them down and pull every hair they have in there head till they approve me. Well good luck to all of you. I am off to bed.

06/06/06 Well we submitted it all minus the EDI-2 or EAT-26 which are eating disorder test that were all based on the study of women at the college level. That test was not even a test on the had to do list when I started they updated there policy 2 weeks after I had thought we had submitted all my info so they wait 2 weeks and they hit us with the EDI-2 or EAT-26 and a IQ Screener test. I was able to get the IQ test done but I called 40 Psychologist yes 40 out of there online provider book and either they did not know what the test was or they said it was a worthless test and they did not have it. I did have one say if my insurance company would up front him the 300 bucks for the "trash" test then he would give it to me but that it was trash and he was not going to invest in it to use it one time. So here we are sitting and waiting will they make a polcy exception or will they deny. I have 100 on deny. Well till next time. Have some good luck because I am having a bunch of bad for all of us>.........

06/13/06 Well still waiting I have been calling every other day. They just keep saying it is going to take 7 - 14 working days well we are on the 8th day all I am doing is getting a bit more pissed about it all everyday. I would be very grateful for a positive out come to my problem but if they deny based on the eating disorder test my enter demons tell me to sue them based on the info my psychologist provided and the research he did on the test and how they relate to men. Other side is saying have them tell me what doctor has the test and willing to administer the test. I have tried to give them me that info already and they never have any luck and neither have I. Wish everyone luck on there journey.

06/20/06 Well I received a letter today which is very confusing first it says it denies me then it seems they approve me. Neweigh is checking into it as they were confused as well here is what the letter said once I find out what this means I will post again. BCBS of TN received and reviewed a request for predetermination for the above reference member for Deny bariatric surgery as the documentation does not meet medical appropriareness, For search of policy on bariatic surgery go to www.bcbst.com, click providers, click manuals, click Medical Policy search of policy on bariatric surgery, The first two policies that appear are the ones needed for us. The first one just gives the bariatric tool and the second one the policy with the bariatric tool link. This request is being handled as a courtesy review and is not a requirement of the member's benefit plan. Based on the information provided, we determined the requested service is Medically Necessary. The determination that this procedure is Medically Necessary should not be misunderstood as a confirmation of coverage or benefits. Payment of benefits remains subject to all contract terms, benefit limits, conditions, exclusions, and member's eligibility at the time of services are rendered. If the member is still within his/her pre-existing condition waiting period, benefits will not be available if the condition is determined to be pre-existing. This predetermination is effective untill the end of the member's current benefit period, not to exceed one year. If an observation stay on inpatient admission is required for this procedure and it has not been authorized with this request, then a separate authorization is needed for the stay. If services are received out-of-network or outside the state of Tennessee from a non-BlueCard PPO provider, the member's benefits will be reduced.

06/28/06 Well guess what?? No you have to guess.......... I got a call from BCBS today saying I am approved and I should be getting the letter faxed tomorrow, w00t w00t w00t, It was a long road lots of insurance policy changes. I can tell you one thing once you start your journey make sure you keep a close eye on your policy for changes they can make for lots of headache's. I will feel better once I have the letter in my hand tomorrow. So I should be a looser before long. I never wanted to be a looser in life till know:)

07/02/06 Well I had BCBS fax over approval letter had it in hand on Friday. Now I have to sit and wait for the doctor’s office to call to schedule pre-op visit and to schedule the procedure. Now I have to do my home work on what food's are best what protein drinks etc.

07/17/06 Life has been moving fast, I have a date July 27th after that date you all can call me a loser (smiles) I go in tomorrow on the 18th for my last pre-op visit with the doctor and also going to hospital to have pre-op test and to meet with the anesthesiologist. Also have to take my cpap machine in with me so they can inspect it. Wish me luck I will take my laptop with me so once I wake up I can post. Oh and I am supposed to be on a 10 day liquid diet it is very very hard to stay honest on it I am doing my best. Good Night

07/18/06 Well I went and did my pre op at the hospital today and my insurance has a clause in it to where if I do not use one of there hospital’s I have a 4k co pay unless they cannot perform it then it is dropped down to 500 co pay but I have to have a letter stating they cannot do it. Which they cannot do either open or lap. Well I already knew about this and had been trying to get the letter for about 3 weeks with no success I called again and they said the insurance gave me the wrong info and co pay was 2500 no matter what. Well I ended up paying the 500 co pay we all figured we would figure out the rest afterwards. So after that shake up I head over to doctors office. He had wanted me to loose about 20 lbs before surgery, I step on the scale and I am 8 lbs heavier. He decides to re schedule the surgery which will cause a lot of inconvenience for my wife far as she already traded for those days off. I am so mad I lost an inch off my waist but gained 8 pounds I do not see how. I was so mad I did not speak anymore for I was afraid I would say something way wrong since I am a bit redneckish. I ended up canceling him the Doctor. And asking for a new one so now we are trying to see if Dr.Marvin will do it. After my long trip from the south side of Houston I got to thinking about when I weighed in the first time and I am kind of fuzzy about it but it seems I was not in shoes because I had to take my pants off for the doc to check out my legs. Well I get home and take off my shoes which are size 13 and there a dr martin work boot type and they weigh about 10 lbs. So we found out that Dr. Marvin is in my network but now we have to see if he can fit me in on the 27th I plan on sticking with my liquid diet and hope for the best if I would of known Dr. Marvin was one of he doctor’s I could of chosen in the first place I would have went with him from the beginning he has much more reviews than my doctor which only has 4 reviews and of the 4 only one has had surgery and it had complications and I am one of the 4 reviews. Well that is enough to kill my excitement to be on the other side, for a day. Not sure why I had not lost more weight I had been prepping for liquid diet by eating better food and smaller portions I even started the liquid a few days earlier but had a meal in the middle of the day to try and adept to the no food. I was dieing on the first day of all liquid but it got easier with today. Well that’s it.

07/19/06 Well no news today which I am sure means it is not going to happen on the 27th well I am bummed all I want to do is sleep and tell everyone to f@@k off,,, but that is just a want and not a need, wife said she wished I would get out of this funk / snippy mood so I am trying to get back to the positive side but it is hard. I cannot believe I spent all my time on this doctor to have him flake I am thinking on invoicing him for all of my time which I charge 65 a hour for regular clients that have been with me for any time. But I think he will fit better in the new customer category the 89 dollar a hour bracket. And being the owner of the company I think I will hell I might even call my lawyer see if I can sue him for some dumb reason. See now my sadness is turning into anger and hate. hehe well have to run company coming over later.

07/25/06 Well have not updated in a while I really have no news to report other than I would like to take my surgeon back behind the barn and whoop his ass. Yeah I know it sounds extreme or red neck but that is what I am feeling. He was lucky I did not do it at my last appointment. Guess that is what I get for going with one that neweigh picked for me. They have a new one lined up for the 31st we will see how far out he is going to schedule me out. I swear my first surgeon threw off everything now it is going to be a lot harder on my wife and I with the kids and her work and my work. Well that is it just in the ass whooping mood still. If I ever do get the chance well I better not put that in writing. Later.

07/31/06 Hi. I met Dr.Marvin today what a change a doctor that seems very confident with his self and his work we have a new date of 14th of next month. Not much to say other than that I am happy with him. He talked to me not through his assistant he had a swagger which was great, “The I am good at what I do” swagger makes me feel a lot safer about everything.

08/13/06 I want to thank everyone for singing my surgery page and all the prayers. I will be leaving around 9 am in the morning for the hospital surgery is not till 1 pm but I have to be there by 11 am. I want to take my laptop but not sure if they have a wireless connection there plus I like my laptop so I think I will leave it here at the house. I have not packed my bag yet not sure why just waiting to the last minute I guess. I do have everything ready just need to put in my bag. My girls are at there nanny's house I had long hugs and some kisses before they went. This will be my last post on my profile until I return to the house. Wish me luck. And I wish everyone else luck on there journeys.

08/20/06 NOT home yet was in 12 oaks they sent me home on 16th I threw up all night went to methodist where my doc was on the 17th they ended up having open me up i had 3 liters in my old stomache that was where all my liquids were going still not right in head from all the dope I will revise later just wanted you all to know that I am still alive.

09/02/06 I came home last Friday I ended up having to have 2 surgery’s first was the bypass my doctor said it was like a puzzle my bowls were backwards which he said was a genetic thing the first hospital sent me home even though I was not feeling well I was sick the whole night I was home my wife called the doctor the next day and she drove me to where my doctor was they did a cat scan and found out my old stomach was not draining they then cut me from chest to past my belly button I will try to insert a picture of it. They installed a g-tube and a few other tubes I stayed in ICU for a few days my wife tells me then I was transferred to a room in Methodist downtown Houston which the staff was great. But if it was not for my wife I do not think I would have done as well as I have, she took care of everything me, my shop the kids. She would come up and give me a bath, she would also keep me in line which is hard to do at times. Here lately I have been in the regretful stage you know the wishing I would have never done this and she has helped me through it. I am still in that I regret doing it stage but I know it will pass in time. I went for a doctor visit yesterday I have to keep the g-tube in another 2 weeks. I have lost 37 pounds since surgery 52 lbs over all. I still hurt it took alot out of me getting cut from chest to belly button after already going through the first surgery. Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

09/10/06 Well it has been a few days since I have wrote anything. I am still at home I am supposed to go see doctor this coming Friday and the g-tube is supposed to come out it is the picture in the top right that has the green stuff in it. I feel a lot better compared to a week ago I can say that my head is clearer my fingers are not tingling as much I still have a bad day from time to time. Still pain in stomach area but I guess that is to be expected since I had to be opened up. I still take liquid pain killer but only when I am in pain not every 4 hours or anything, mainly in the evenings. I have to eat or I feel really sick even though most of the time I do not want to eat sometimes. I hate the feeling of being sickly so much even though it is just like stomach stuff. Every time I eat something I tend to not like it anymore. I do know that tuna and I do not get along I tried it the other day and I threw up. Getting hard to find something new to eat all the time. I can say this, my pouch is pretty tough I have only dumped once and that was on my isopure protein drink. Dumping = not a good feeling.

09/17/06 Well I went to the doctor on Friday the 15th he took my gtube out and of course it did not go as planned I was laying there on the table while he and his pa were cutting the stitches they then suck the water out of the balloon a gtube is like a catheter it has a bubble on the end. So they take the liquid being it water or what it was and start to try and pull it out and no go I can feel it pulling on the inside was bit painful at that time he stops pulling looks down at me and says you make everything difficult I just lol then he looks back and says ok I am going to pull really hard ready me laying there arms out fist tight and plop it finally came out. They patch the hole up I stand up and bloody water looking stuff starts soaking into my shirt then down my shorts then on there floor. So I lay back up there they re patch and I am good. We changed the dressing once and it has not leaked much since getting well good I am down to covering it with half a pad as of now just to keep unwanted stuff from a semi opened wound and applying some 3 in 1 antibiotic cream over them. But I am tubeless wee I weigh 404lbs as of Friday. That is from 468 pre-op I had lost 15lbs before so since surgery 49lbs gone. My staple line is healing well too. I was cut so many places’ not much space to tape the pads to, to cover the new hole. Now I do have a problem with the protein I just need a different way to get it in my system I am sick and tired of the shakes with isopure. I feel a lot better my head is so clear fingers are not tingling / numb. Still get in a chair/bed like a pregnant woman also on the getting out part was well. That is not to belittle pregnant women just from being cut from chest past belly button makes it that way till muscle's get back in order. My wife is the one that told me I look like a pregnant women getting up and down. She says I am not the same since we had all this surgery she thinks I am more emotional and sensitive and after 10 years of marriage she is not used to it but the doctor said he did see any reason to put me on medications for it. But weird last time I cried was when my grandma and grandpa were killed in a car crash. Now I can cry just thinking about someone I could not help or about the stress I put her through or not telling the kids goodbyes before I left for surgery the first time. We were laying in the bed the other night and I was telling her that I was with her through thick and thin since I will be thin one day and my sweet wife is a bit thick I wanted to reassure her that I was married to her and loved her and I almost started to cry and she caught me lol. I guess the whole picture is not here but you have to imagine me 6’1 big guy old country boy. We were not supposed to cry. But lets not dwell on that if any of you guys are thinking about having surgery and have any questions email me. Women can email to I will try to help as much as I can.

09/25/06 Well been a while since I have updated. Well I wrote last time about them taking out my last tube I was -64 lbs which puts me at 404lbs. I feel alot better still learning my pouch on what it likes and dislikes. I went to work today first time since 8/13 went for half a day did very well. I believe I might start back every other day till I get it all back to full strength. My scars are looking good. Oh I got a haircut today as well I feel light headed now:).

About Me
Cleveland, TX
Location
60.7
BMI
RNY
Surgery
08/14/2006
Surgery Date
Feb 26, 2006
Member Since

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