Vickie W.
2/6/07 I am 2 months out from lower body lift surgery and because Aetna would not pay for it I was self pay. Worth It! I am please with my results and Dr. Katzen in CA rocks. He is truly an artist.
9/18/06-Well, Aetna denied Lower Body Lift again. I even sent pictures, letters in to independent review and the denial was upheld. I applied and was approved for Medical financing for Lower Body Lift. It stinks that I qualify by my insurance requirements but have to pay for it all myself. But I want to get rid of all this extra pannis hanging and releive my back pain and rashes. I have a date for 11/29/06.
6/15/06
Can it be that long since my last post. I need to update my picture too. I was down to 173 lbs and have gained a few only because I have not been as strict with my diet and excersise as I should.
I am trying real hard to get back on track.
I have visited Dr. Katzen in CA a WLS specialist Plastic Surgeon.
He is appealing an initial denial by Aetna for reconstructive surgery.
Lower Body Lift, Breast lift and arms. My primary care physician is involved and is baffled why insurance companies pay for WLS and then deny reconstructive claiming its just cosmetic. When you lose this much weight the extra skin hanging creates more health problems. I hope to have the surgery soon. To all of you starting your journey, please document all rashes, irritations, back pain, shoulder pain to your Primary Care Physician, and copy and fill any prescriptions ordered for said conditions. Even if you are not sure you will have plastic surgery. It will at least be documented just in case. Take pictures of rashes and such also, to give your doctor who can send to insurance company. Good Luck to all of you and I will update more often and put a more recent picture on here. TTFN (Hugs)
MY STORY BEGINS HERE:
9/2003
Starting weight 260 lbs
I am in the process of going through the hoops and pre-testing for the insurance company. I had my phych exam and the insurance person at my primary care physician is submitting to the insurance company all the documents and test results they had asked for. Hugs to all!
10/16/03
Have had my psych exam and my primary care physican's office have faxed all paperwork required to HealthNet for review. The Insurance Liason at my PCP said that the rep called her and said that he got it and they would probably have an answer in 5 days if I will be approved for Surgery.... so once again I wait.
I am so anxious to get started on my path to health and normalcy.
Will post again soon.
10/24/03
I have been approved!!! Got word from my PCP today! Will schedule consult with Dr. Suh at the Crown Surgery Group and hopefully soon have a date.
Will keep you all updated. Now the nervousness sets in.
Happy to be approved, anxious to have the surgery and be on the losing side, hoping and praying everything will go well and no complications....Won't have to be off work too long.
Hugs, Vickie
10/27/03
Have hit a snag! I thought it was too good to be true.
Dr Suh's office won't take my insurance, even though in the past 2 years they have done Health Net, even a HMO. I have a PPO which is supposed to be better than an HMO. Well, I guess he takes it but Healthnet PPO only pays $1500-$1800 dollars towards the surgery and I would be responsible for the rest. But, Dr Suh gives a break for people paying cash, so my part will be about $5,500.00.
I have heard such good things about Dr. Suh and his staff and hospital they use, I will have to discuss it with my husband and see if we can sell something and/or put this on a credit card and pay if off over time.
I attended a support group meeting for Dr Suh. Boy, a lot of information, support and questions answered. I am not the only one like this... I will be attending whenever I can. More later.
Vickie
11/5/03
Have a consult date!!! Nov 11, 2003
11/11/03
Got my blood test today, and my consult with Dr. Essien in with Crown Surgery. I like him alot and feel that I will be in good hands. He was very good at explaining everything and answering all my questions. I also went for my EKG and on Tuesday 11/18/03 I will get my Upper GI, Chest X-Ray, and Abdominal Ultrasound. Then wait for a date.
11/20/03 All tested inside and out.... Waiting for results and news about a date.
Hugs, Vickie
I HAVE A DATE!
I am scheduled to have the surgery and begin my journey on the losing side 12/10/03 at 10:30 am. Inland Valley Hospital. (909)677-1111,
12/14/04
Hey all, Well I am on the losing side. Checked into the hospital on Wednesday Morning 6:00am, my surgery had been moved up to 7:30am. Took me in right away and started two IV's, my doctor came in and talked with me and then the anesteologist.
Then they moved me out. I was out before you know it with what they were giving me in my IV. The next thing I remember was waking up in my room with my DH and daughter there, this was about 3:00 in the afternoon. I was in and out the rest of the day. I remember them telling me where the button was for my patient administered morphine. That was good. Woke up practally every hour all night what with all the noise in the hall and the nurses waking me up to take my vitals.
Thurs morn my doctor came in early and checked everything and said that I could be taken off morphine and gotten up and given liquid pain med. Boy, the first time up was terrible.. Dizzy, slow and awkward with the heart monitor, thankfully I brought a robe to put over the gown and my robe had a pocket to put the monitor in as the gown did not have one. Getting out of bed was hard but I remember on this website reading someone who said to put the head of the bed all the way up and roll and hold the rail. It worked like a dream. Staples pulled a little but was able to roll partially onto one side with a pillow at my back.
Was up several times Thursday and walking slow. took the leg things off that helped keep blood clots away, so I could get up more. Thursday evening they gave me dinner which was Protein broth, sugar free jello and apple juice. I had a couple of spoonfuls of broth and a couple very small bites of jello. I was full or just not interested, I was not hungry at all. I saved the apple juice for later. Well later I thought I would sip some apple juice and it did not agree with me at all, I had the dry heaves and they had to give me a shot. I tried to lay down and sleep after that I was pretty miserable. In the middle of the night I had a terrible headache and got up to ask the nurse for a cup of tea. I thought I had a caffine or sugar withdrawal headache. The tea seemed to help but still noisy up and down the hall, and then someone else was out in the hall getting sick and that did not help my nausea. Finally I did sleep fitfully and between I got up and walked making sure that my nurse saw me, so she would report to the doc that I was up walking, so I would be sure and go home on Friday. Woke up friday morn and went in the bathroom and washed up a bit, still had the IV ports in but was not hooked up to anything. They were just there for meds and in case I needed to be hooked back up. Doctor Essien came in about 7:30 am and checked everything out and said that he would release me to go home. The nurse came and took out the IV ports and unhooked me from the heart monitor and I was able to wash up a little better and get on some PJ pants and a big shirt and sweater and slippers. I was ready to go when My hubby came at 8:30am. Got home and just rested on couch. Called and made an appointment for my one week followup. Thursday. Just a little sore. Had popsicles and sips of water and herb tea. Things seem fine. Burping like crazy. All the gas from the LAP.
Wore out fast and went upstairs very slowly around 8:00pm. Was nice to get into my own bed. Took my liquid pain med and positioned my pillow and finally slept all night. Woke up and very slowly took a shower, put some PJ pants on, (only thing that feel good on stomach and staples, with bandaids over.
and a big shirt. Came downstairs for the day and had some jello for breakfast, then about 1 hour later a popsicle. Rested on the couch then took a walk up the street and then my mom came to spend the night and help out. Thanks MOM! Not too sore, but still aware of the staples and a little pulling. Nothing too terrible. Can't sip much at a time. Still burping alot.
Went to bed Saturday night and slept good again. Woke up and took a shower and dressed and went downstairs. Mom cooked breakfast for my hubby and hers and I had jello. :)
Feel pretty good! Spent sunday walking and watching Movies.
Going to bed now so I will update again soon. Hugs Vickie
12/21/03 Had my 1 week check up 12/18/03. Lost 19.5 lbs. Yahoo!!! And so it begins.
Staples were taken out and everything looks like its going well.
The one week clear liquid diet was not all that bad.
Now I am cleared for the soft diet 2 oz at each meal. Came home and had 2 oz of egg salad that I had made the night before in anticipation of the soft diet. Yogurt, baked salmon and scrambled eggs, taste great.
I have also found some cheese called chederolla, which is individually wrapped in 3/4 oz packages. A soft cheese easy to take on the go with you. Ate it in traffic on the way to christmas shopping on Saturday. So far everything going well with the protocall from surgeons diet. I hope all of you have a great Holiday and Congrats to all who have been approved and those who are beginning their journey.
Hugs, VICKIE
12/31/03
Well, I am 3 weeks post op and things are going very well.
I am still on a soft food diet and Christmas went well. So much was going on that no one noticed that I only ate 2 oz of potatoes and gravy. I am looking forward to 2004 and losing.
I have vomited a couple of times once when I drank too soon after eating and once when I swallowed a piece of scrambled egg that I thought might be too big. Other than that all is well.
Looking forward to my one month check up on 1/8/04 to see how much more weight has come off. Hugs Vickie
1/8/04 Had my one month check-up with Dr. Essien. I have lost 30 lbs. Yahoo!
I am now released to try chicken, soft cooked vegatables, cooked rice and pasta. Still having protein drinks twice a day. I have found a wonderful hot chocolate drink that is good to dring on the way to work in the morning and it gets me 14 grams of protein right off the bat in the morning and I have a little yogurt or cheese at around 10:30am and then cottage cheese for lunch. I am still kind of afraid to try things at work for fear that I will vomit. I did go to Olive Garden over the weekend with my DH and we shared Chicken Marsala. He had soup instead of salad so I could taste it since I am not cleared for salad for another month. I had 3-4 small spoonsfull of soup and It was great. Then I had about 2 oz of the chicken with a couple sliced mushrooms and it was great. I just cut it up real small and chewed like crazy and ate real slow. It went down fine and tasted like heaven. Hope you are all doing fine and good luck to those with upcoming surgeries. Hugs Vickie
5/12/04 - 5 MONTHS ON THE LOSING SIDE. I AM DOWN 65LBS AND FEELING GREAT! I have vomited a few times and find only a couple things that really bother me. I had a hard time learning to eat slower!!! I have gone from a size 24/26 pants and 2X pants to XL petite tops, and 16 petite pants. People are really starting to notice. I have started losing hair and have been on a major plateau. It has been suggested to do more protein and water. Good luck to all who are waiting and congrats to those on the losing side. Hugs to all!
6/15/06
Can it be that long since my last post. I need to update my picture too. I was down to 173 lbs and have gained a few only because I have not been as strict with my diet and excersise as I should.
I am trying real hard to get back on track.
I have visited Dr. Katzen in CA a WLS specialist Plastic Surgeon.
He is appealing an initial denial by Aetna for reconstructive surgery.
Lower Body Lift, Breast lift and arms. My primary care physician is involved and is baffled why insurance companies pay for WLS and then deny reconstructive claiming its just cosmetic. When you lose this much weight the extra skin hanging creates more health problems. I hope to have the surgery soon. To all of you starting your journey, please document all rashes, irritations, back pain, shoulder pain to your Primary Care Physician, and copy and fill any prescriptions ordered for said conditions. Even if you are not sure you will have plastic surgery. It will at least be documented just in case. Take pictures of rashes and such also, to give your doctor who can send to insurance company. Good Luck to all of you and I will update more often and put a more recent picture on here. TTFN (Hugs)
9/18/06-Well, Aetna denied lower body lift again. I even sent pictures, letters in to independent review and the denial was upheld. I applied and was approved for Medical financing for Lower Body Lift. It stinks that I qualify by my insurance requirements but have to pay for it all myself. But I want to get rid of all this extra pannis hanging and releive my back pain and rashes. I have a date for 11/29/06.
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
