There is hope afterall
Jun 18, 2007
I called TriCare today and asked to have my sleep study referral changed to somewhere closer. They changed it from Levenworth to Manhattan! Much better! My appointment is this Sat. at 7:30pm. I hope the results return what we were hoping for! Rhonda and Pam at Liv-Lite in JC are filing my appeal this week. Then will send more info to Tricare later. This will get the ball rolling again. I am trying to be patient but for someone who is used to getting what they want all the time, when they want it, its really hard! 
LOL. My hubby spoils me...its his fault! I sure hope everything turns out good. Im really starting to have shortness of breath and panic attacks. It feels like Im smothering! Everyone pray for me! I need every prayer I can get! In the mean time Im hoping for the best and trying to stay in high spirits!
Well...its not all good...
Jun 15, 2007
Ok, Where do I begin? I got denied by TriCare so I have to file an appeal. Before I do I have been advised to have a sleep study done. I had to wait a minth to see Dr. Nath, My PCP. He was shocked TriCare denied me. He was mad too! He set up a referal for my sleep study. Now Im waiting for an appointment date for it. I have to go to a VA hospital in Levenworth, KS to get it done. Thats OK though. I dont mind. I just hope its soon. Dr Nath basically told me that we will do what we have to do to get me appoved. Its an "If theres a will theres a way" kinda thing. So Im sure glad he is on my side! Hopefully TriCare will approve me after an appeal. Dr. Nath said that I was his first denial in years! Weird that they just started denying people here recently. Dr. Narcisso said that he has had several denials from Tricare lately. Maybe they got a new Medical review board? Dunno. Anyway, this is where Im at at this point. Im getting more depressed every day. And the pain in my back is getting unbearable! I hope this surgery happens soon! Dont know how much more I can take! I also have a new goal! After my surgery and while Im losing weight Im going to go back to school so I can join the Army. My hubby thinks its a great idea. Im going to try to enlist as an officer. If youhave enough school you can do that apparently. That would be great, but Im scared of basic training. Hubby says if I live in the gym for 3 months prior to basic that I should be fine. Wish me luck on my journey! I need all the luck I can get!
Hurry up and wait......
Apr 24, 2007
OK...so Ive done my consultation and everything. I met with Dr. Narscisso. He is wonderful! He is young but very knowlegable. I did get some rather discouraging news while in his office though. A girl that was there that morning at 6 am was scheduled for surgery at 8am was denied by Tricare. They rarely ever deny anyone, but the denied her! Can you imagine how devastating that must have been for her? But Dr. Narscisso said that if theres a will theres a way and he would do his best to try to find a way to have me approved. Because Tricare changed their policy you have to have a BMI 40 or higher (mines 41.1) AND have high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, or a severe breathing problem. I have none, except sleep apnea and he said they werent sure if that would fit the bill under severe breathing problems. But he did say that since my back is messed up and Ive had an Army Dr tell me that theres no way for him to fix it unless I lose weight that he would take X-rays of my back and send them to Tricare. So if Tricare denies me we will have a back up plan for an appeal. X-rays of my back, a look at my esophagus (sp?) for signs of GERD, and do a complete workup of my blood and problems as detailed as possible. (Bladder incontinence, GERD, heavy and painful menstrus, Stress and depression, back and knee problems, and sleep apnea.) Liv ite has already sent in my papers for authorization, and its still showing "pending" on the Tricare web site. Im on the edge of my seat here just waiting... I also found out that whether Tricare appoves me now or later that I cant have surgery until July because both Dr Bollman and Dr Narscisso do the surgery together and they wont do it seperately (which makes me feel good, but) they are taking vacations through June so I wont get surgery until July (they just booked the last May patient) Maybe someone will cancel and Ill get their spot. (I had a dream about it last night that my surgery was on May 22.) Hope it comes true because hubby leaves for Iraq Aug. 7th and I need him here to help me. Anyway. Ill write more when I find out if Im approved or not. I should know by Friday (its Tuesday). Not too much more waiting.....hopefully.
Im on my way!
Apr 04, 2007
So now Ive done the MMPI and got the green light from Dr Howe. She sent in my referral from her today. The people at Liv Lite were really suprised to get it so soon. My medical records from GA have come in also...now I have an consultation appointment!! YAY! Its on the 17th at 1:00pm. And will last until 5pm. I'll get a surgery date on the 17th! Then Ill do a preop later that week and then they send in for approval. She said its just a formality really because they have never had a denial. Im sooo excited! I was also extremely worried about not being able to carry my 5 month old for 5 weeks, but she said that if I bring his baby bed and changing table downstairs that it would probably be fine to pick him up at chest level after 2 weeks. After the staples come out. Sooo Im definately on my way! Im getting a little nervous, but I guess thats normal. Im sure Ill be fine. YAY!!!!!!!!Cant wait to be on the losing side! Ya'll pray for me!
Just a thought....
Mar 30, 2007
I was reading a few peoples profiles and saw that many women divorce their husbands...all I can think is to ask "WHY?" If he loves you while you are in the worst shape imaginable, then what changes that is so bad you must divorce? Im not ranting or getting on anyones case...just pushing for info. I love my husband more than I can ever express and frankly cannot live without him. He is my rock...my best friend. I could never imagine being without him. I would never under any circumstances divorce him. Im just curious...what is so drastic about losing weight that neither of you can live with? My husband and I have talked about this several times and both agree about me having surgery. He has told me that he will probably become a little more jealous...but I dont mind that. Would kinda make me feel good! Right now IM the jealous one...lol. He is a rather good looking man! Anyway, if anyone could give me some insight on what happens to peoples marrages after weight loss surgery????
MMPI's...uuggghh!
Mar 27, 2007
Well...went and did the MMPI today and boy do I have writers cramp! I HATE bubble answer sheets...If I never see a bubble answer sheet again it would be to soon! I talked with the psychologist...she seemed like she could care less about what I was saying. She looked like she was going to fall asleep at any moment...I dont care if she was standing on her head as long as I get my referral from her! LOL. Im supposed to go back on April 3rd and get my results. Hope all goes well...keep your fingers crossed for me! Picked up my med records from the hospital today and am going to bring them to Liv Lite tomorrow and hopefully the ones from the hospital in Georgia will already be there. My PCP referral STILL hasnt gone through Tricare yet...hmmm... Anyway... I must clean now since hubby let the kids destroy the house while I was gone! Later!
I got my referral!!!! YAY!
Mar 22, 2007
Well I got my referral today! I dont know what I was stressing! The Dr was sooo nice! It didnt require any begging or proving anything...just told him and he said OK. Sooo next is my psych eval. Thats next Tuesday. Im sure it will go OK! Im sooo happy. Im finally on a roll! Cant wait til Tuesday! Every appointment is one step closer!
Got my Psych eval appointment made!
Mar 15, 2007
I called and made my psych eval appointment today and it wont be that long to see HER afterall. I'll see her on the 27th...now if I can just find the hospital in Manhattan...lol. I guess I can just follow the little blue "H" signs..lol. I cant wait. I have to see my PCP first so Ill know if Im going to get the referral or not. If he says no, then the psych eval wont matter and I wont have done it for nothing so its good that its after my PCPs appointment. HE however is a hard man to get in to see. I called today trying to get an earlier appointment, but hes booked until April 12th! SOOO I guess Ill see him on my original date. Im just sooo stressed out waiting. Good or bad I just want to get it over with! Anyway Ill write more when I see him. And other good news is that my medical records are all coming in at Liv Lite! So thats some worry off my mind! Later! And good luck to Nichole...she sees her DR tomorrow!
No Psych eval...
Mar 14, 2007
Well, come to find out my Psychologist that Im currently seeing cannot do a MMPI in the state of KS. SOOO...I have to go see a Dr In Manhattan. Dr. Marta Howe. I hope it wont be too long to see him/her. Rhonda at Liv Lite said today that the other more commonly used Psychologist in JC normally takes 6 weeks to do a MMPI so she said see DR Howe. Maybe that means it doesnt take as long. I hope so. I did a weigh in a Liv Lite. For 5'2 and 220 My BMI online is 40.2, but she said it was a 41. Im not going to argue...lol. They also got some of my medical records today..YAY! And my other ones from GA should be sent off next week sometime. I also went to my OB/GYN in JC and signed a consent form so now all I need to get is Irwin Army Hospital. And Ill do that when I see my PCP there. No biggie. Im soo happy! Everything seems to be falling in line. Maybe its a good sign, Ya think?
OK...went to the seminar
Mar 13, 2007
Well...I went to the seminar and I think it was a big dumb waste of time. After reading all I could get my hands on about gastric bypasses in the last 3 1/2 yrs, I couldve probably put on the seminar myself. I knew everything they were saying. BUT there were a few things that I learned so I guess all was not lost. The questions the other people asked were some questions I had never thought of. So the answers were helpful. And the nutritionist was very informative. But still, I couldve found all that stuff out on my own. However, it was nice to meet the surgeons, nutritionist and the mental health lady (dont know what her formal title is yet). All in all Id have to say...it was OK. At least something to get me out of the house. And to be with people that are like me was nice. Bt I felt like I wasnt as bad as those people and I felt like they were all staring at me thinking "why in the heck is SHE here?" People, I have mastered the art of sucking it in and hiding it with clothes. So I wear my fat very well. LOL. Ive even had doctors think their scales were broken because they didnt see how I could weigh as much as I said I did. Dr Bollman eyeballed me for a while...made me wonder what he was thinking. Was it.."she has potential to weigh very little" or was it " I hope that girl dont think she's getting surgery from me". Im just so dang nervous about it all! It stressing me out so bad I can hardly sleep at night. Ill just be so relieved when or if I get approved or even if I dont. I wont have to think about it anymore. Another thing Im worried about is that Im just over 40 BMI...they say they ask you to lose some weight before surgery...well if I do that I wont be eligible for surgery anymore...but Ill gain it right back and will be eligible...so it will be a great big cycle of getting denied. So what do I do? Anywho..better get some sleep. Ive got an appointment with my shrink tomorrow. Wouldnt want to be grumpy...he's giving me my eval papers tomorrow! LOL. By the way... I met a wonderful new friend, Nicole. I hope she gets the surgery too! Bless her heart! Well going to bed now...Ill write more tomorrow.
