renegadebkr

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Finally after about 3 years (Including battling with the insurance company) I finally got my revision to sleeve on Monday July 19th, 2010. My long road started back in early 2008 when i came to grips that after quiting cigarettes that food tasted way to good so I went from about 235 to 315 Lbs. when I got to that weight i realized I was on the road to disaster. I then after actually being obese for about 2/3rds of my life I turned to weight loss surgery I studied all the surgeries  and settled on the sleeve. So I did my 6 month weight loss diet with a nut, It was doctor supervised so that went well. I made an appointment for my psych evaluation and that went well. With all complete and a letter from my PCP recommending WLS. I got everything together and sent it all to my surgeons office and with their stuff it was submitted. After about 2 weeks a verdict was returned DENIED FOR SLEEVE
SURGERY......... After the insurance company said that they approved sleeve surgery I asked why. At that time I was told they approve the Gastric Banding not the sleeve. I proceeded to tell them that I was not told that. so I fought them for over 4 months and was denied 3 times so after mulling it around for about 2 months I settled for the lap band which I didn't want but I had to do something I was spiraling out of control. After about a year with the lap band a hole that would not heal ( See Pics on profile ) that nasty band had to be removed so my surgeon said they would handle the insurance company. I was approved for removal/revision to sleeve yep my insurance company started approving the sleeve 3 months after I got that damn band. So my surgeon didn't make any promises that the sleeve could be done at this time and figuring my luck it wasn't done we had to wait 4-5 months so 7 months later I finally got my sleeve and I am estatic about that so now come the dumping of the pounds. What I can't understand is that this whole thing wound up costing the insurance company over $82,000 with the 3 surgeries. What was the method of that madness.

Well at this point in time I am not happy about my first year with the Lap band which is a surgery that I didn't want in the first place. I have lost 55 pounds then I gained 20 Lbs back due to getting discouraged about what the lap band was doing. I had a hole (which can be seen in my pics) that would not heal after a year. I was told on my surgerversary December 11th 2009 that I was glucose intolerant I am Suppose to be 6.0 or below and I am 6.2, I am nowhere near borderline type 2 Diabetic and my surgeon said I don't have anything to worry about. At my checkup and fill there was a red spot showing at the edge of my port and I told the doc that this thing was going to come out of my skin like an alien he said it might not but if it did break through I was to call them immediately. Well on the 15th it broke through as you can also see in my pics. It never got infected not one time because of my time in the medical field I knew how to take care of it til something could be done. I called my surgeon and he started the ball rolling for a removal / revision to sleeve with my insurance company which is the WLS I wanted in the beginning but the insurance company denied me 3 times so I had to go with the band because I didn't want anything rerouted inside of me so I opted not to do Bypass surgery. Well my insurance company would not approve it til after January 1st when my insurance kicked in on the new year ........ Wait a minute aren't I covered 365 days a year with an insurance company I have been with for 23 years or more. So my instructions were that if anything changes the least bit I was to go to G.W.'s emergency room. If nothing changed I am to show up on January 4th in the lobby of the hospital and wait for word of approval and if we didn't I was to go to the emergency room and then they would have no choice but to pay for it. Well after sitting on pins and needles for 2 hours at 8:45 the insurance coordinator for G.W. called me on my cell phone and told me to go upstairs and register for surgery for the Removal / Revision that I was approved for both. So the doc came in ad talked to me about the surgery and he told me right then that if there was to much scar tissue he wasn't going to do the sleeve because my safety was his utmost concern (Thank You Dr. Brody) but said that when I go back to him for my checkup a week after surgery they would get the ball rolling for the sleeve and the insurance company was told why the sleeve could not be done and they agreed but we have to resubmit and they have noted on their records also and everybody seems to think there won't be a problem when we resubmit after the 26th of January to get the approval I finally need since the insurance company just started paying for the sleeve.

Well the hard part is over I am officially on the loser's bench. It was Hell the first 2 days but I am feeling 100% better than I did on Thursday after surgery. I came home on Friday in some serious gas pains they suck. Since my pre Op diet of Semi Liquids I have lost 28.5 Lbs. So I am happy right now. I am not hungry but I am sure that day will come soon after about a week out.

Went and did my nutrition class yesterday at GWU I ordered my supplements for my 3 weeks liquid diet and they should be in Monday at the latest. The nut told me to keep doing my whey protein and protein bars with steamed veggies for now so thats cool . I met one of our OH members yesterday at the class and his name is Rob ( Rdbrooksnyc ) so if ya'll see him in the Maryland room please welcome him he's a cool dude he lives in D.C. but I told him close enough and to come on in. He has his surgery right after mine with Dr. Brody on the 11th. My surgery is at 7:30 am so I have to be there at 5:30 am and Rob's is at 9:30 am and he has to be there at 7:30 am hmmmmm hey Rob wanna switch lol. Anyway i am looking at the finish line with 21 laps to go and i am leading and Rob is 2nd lol sorry buddy. Oh and Rob the good thing about 7:30 surgery is that you have to clean the loser's bench off for me haha. after that I'll be waiting for you. Hopefully they will put you and me in the same room for the night lol. Oh oh that might not be a good thing. Also I'll race you down the hall.