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Well I am scheduled for DS surgery with Dr. K in CA.  It is set for Jan 16, 2013.  Planning to fly out on Sunday before and get settled.  Hoping to maybe find someone to stay with rather than a hotel but not sure it is going to work out.  Several good hotels in the area used to working with patients at this hospital.  That might be just as good except for the cost and since I am self-pay cost of everything is being scrutinized closely.

Scared and excited! Looking forward to it and dreading it.

Well, I had my first official consultation with my surgeon, Dr. Gary Anthone.  It was very good, very informative and I really like the folks in the office and Dr. Anthone. I learned a lot and he said I was an excellent candidate for the sleeve gastrectomy with duidonal switch.  He would expect an excellent outcome given that I do my part.

That is exciting to hear.  What is not exciting is that now I have to figure out how to pay for it....  Going after the employer/insurance and seeing how much money I can get together.  Goad $40,000!  I don't know about the rest of you all but that is a big dollar figure.

One thing I do know is that it is going to happen, somehow!

 

 

My surgeon's group puts on a monthly seminar that you have to attend prior to your initial doctors visit and orientation.  I had been supposed to travel for word this week so watched this previously on DVD.  Travel plans changed and I decided to go in person even if it was a repeat.  Wanted to meet folks in person.

It was informative and I enjoyed meeting the folks that work at the doctor's office.  I was able to talk to the lady that handles the insurance.  I have been denied for the reason that bariatric surgery is excluded.  I work for a major employer in the area and I was able to talk with her and find out that my employer used to cover it but changed about 5-6 years ago.  Now I have even more reason to go after them - which I had already planned.

The company I work for is having a big initiative where they are trying to become one of the top companies to work in the United States.  I am certain that this is not the way to get there.  Planning a meeting with the fellow that is the coordinator of benefits here to push for a change and to push for mine to be covered.  It is a large corporation and they are self insured - all they have to do is decide to cover it.  They should change the plan to cover it for all but I will take a special exception as well.

I found out that the surgery that I need costs $ 32,000.  I don't have that laying around.  Now I have to get aggressive with seeking the company to cover it and as a last resort figure out where I can get the money - second mortgage, credit cards, family, friends, folks on this site.....  ;-)   Like I said, get aggressive and creative.

I am looking forward to my initial consultation with the doctor on Monday morning (11-5) first thing.  Hoping to get him to write a letter to the coordinator of benefits where I work.  I am excited and scared to death at the same time.  I am scared of this major surgery,  I am scared of another failure.  I don't do well with pain and am a wimp.  I don't like that feeling.  i am also scared that I am going to fall over dead soon if I don't do something.  6'-1" tall and 410 pounds at 52 years old is the walking dead!

Thanks for reading if you made it this far.  Have a nice day!

 

Well I got the response I didn't want from insurance.  They say that bariatric surgery is excluded by my employers plan.  I got the fine print and they are in fact right.  Now I go after the employer.  A large employer who is after its work force to get in shape, lose weight, quit smoking, eat healthy and on and on.  No help for those with real issues.

I have a lawyer friend who has had sleeve and duodenal switch surgury and is my mentor in this process.  Guess it is time to meet with him and get this going.  I have also contacted an online lawyer that I found through this site to get info from them to see what they recommend or can do and how much they charge.

Appreciate any ideas.  I also scheduled my initial consultation with the surgeon.  I am going to proceed as a self pay.  I don't know how I will pay for it yet but something has got to give - accepting donations....  ;-)

Consultation scheduled for Nov 5.  Could have had it sooner but I have travel scheduled at work and I have to take good care of them even if they......   You get the point.


Have a nice day!!

Dave