SaritaRN
Update on 1st appt!
Nov 16, 2008
Well, I had my first appt on Friday to see if I qualify for WLS. Dr. Jabro was soooo nice! He had really done his homework about my medical history and even talked to my PCP. To make a long story short, based on weight, BMI, medical issues and risks, I do meet the criteria for the surgery, whether I choose RNY or LB. The only kink, of course, is that my insurance requires a 6 month, physician supervised, weight loss program, or documentation of something like that. I haven't had that, so that's my first step. And while at my drs appt, he was asking me about PCOS. Apparently I have a lot of signs/symptoms associated with it, so he had me get some labs drawn etc. Weird. That was out of the blue! LOL But after my appt I did some research on it, and wow... I have a lot of the criteria for PCOS! (polycystic ovarian syndrome) So that will be interesting to find out as well. I have an orientation meeting for a weight management program offered by my work, they'll be able to tell me what my insurance will or wont cover for the program. I certainly can't afford $395 for 12 weeks! That would be almost $800 for the 6 months required!! Yeah... I don't think so!! I can do Weight Watchers for cheap! LOL
More updates to come later...
Oh... re: my knee... my rheumatologist thinks I tore my meniscus... MRI on the 22nd... I'm too young to be falling apart like this!!!!
Oh #2... they told me my height was 5'4 1/2!!!! am I shrinking??? Last time my height was measured I was 5'6!!! LOLLLLLL ah well... it made my BMI jump from 45 to 48... that could be a good thing! LOL
More updates to come later...
Oh... re: my knee... my rheumatologist thinks I tore my meniscus... MRI on the 22nd... I'm too young to be falling apart like this!!!!
Oh #2... they told me my height was 5'4 1/2!!!! am I shrinking??? Last time my height was measured I was 5'6!!! LOLLLLLL ah well... it made my BMI jump from 45 to 48... that could be a good thing! LOL
First Appt
Nov 12, 2008
Tomorrow morning is my FIRST appointment related to my WLS journey. Now, because of my insurance, I have certain hurdles to jump through lol. This appointment is with Dr. Jabro, an MD at Sharp Memorial Hospital, where I would have my surgery (since I'm a Sharp employee). My understanding, is that this is a consultation where we discuss WLS, criteria, and decide if I am appropriate for the surgery. Then, I get a referral to the surgeon, which I believe would be Dr. Mueller(sp?). So, I was told I don't need to bring anything, but I feel like I need to bring notes or something!!!! Tonight I will jot down various diets I've done, weight ups and downs etc. And I will update on how the appointment went tomorrow!
*trying to calm down the butterflies*
*trying to calm down the butterflies*
My first step...
Oct 17, 2008
So, early this morning I had an appointment with my Doctor, just a follow-up about a knee injury I sustained about 6 weeks ago. I had been telling myself for months that when I see the Dr, I would talk to her about WLS and see what she thought, and how the process works with the insurance/hospital I have now. But every time I went, I didn't open my mouth. This time I needed to be strong and unashamed and just open my big mouth! (I rarely have a problem any other time LOL) So after we discussed my knee issues, and a probable sprain or small tear of my MCL (great), my referral to a Rheumatologist, and Physical Therapy, I mentioned I wanted to talk to her about my weight. She was so attentive, I was shocked. She listened, and actually agreed with all I was saying and thinks I'd be an excellent candidate. I think it helped that I was fully armed with information on my health, the surgery itself, and being a nurse helped too. I knew my BMI, my weight history from a teenager to now, and went over all the things I've tried. My problem now is that I have bad knees, a back with degenerative discs and bulging discs, and bad arthritis with my feet. Not to mention the 2 surgeries I've had on my foot! How can you exercise in pain? You can't! How do you lose 100 pounds of weight without exercise? You can't! Ok, well maybe you could if you starve yourself for years! LOL So she referred me to an MD who works with their Bariatric program. The receptionist told me that it can take up to a week for his office to get back to me to schedule an appointment. I thought, that's cool! That was quicker than I was expecting anyways! Then, to my suprise, I get a call this afternoon from his office. They were calling to arrange an appointment for my initial consultation!! THEY ROCK!! LOL So, my appointment to meet Dr. Mark Jabro is on November 13th. I am not familiar with him, and I didn't find anything about him on this site. I am just going to take this process one step at a time. I'm just glad I made the first step.
