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My WLS journey

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And so it begins

I thought I should start journaling this whole experience in a safe place, so here we go. On October 1st, I had my appt with my PCP Dr. Reyer and as usual, gained weight yet again.  Dr. Reyer suggested that we try yet another diet.  I left there just bawling because i have had enough.  I am at my highest weight EVER, feel like crap, look like crap and I truly can not stand it anymore.  I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. It was on that ride home that I decided that I needed to look into weight loss surgery.  When I got home, I immediately went online to see if my insurance covers WLS.  That is a big fat no.  My husbands employer does not have the rider. So that night was spent looking into Mexico as an option. The next morning on my way to work, I realized that open enrollment is coming up.  Let's see if my insurance covers it.  In to HR I went and sure enough, my employer does have this on the insurance!!!!   I started looking into Doctors that are covered on both my current insurance and my future insurance.  Narrowed it down and scheduled to go to both of their seminars. On 10-11, I went to Dr. Gagne's seminar at Butler Memorial Hospital.  Luckily, I got there very early since i went straight from work.  I was the first one there as the Dr and Kelli his coordinator were setting up.  That gave me a 30 minute opportunity to sit and talk to them one on one.  At that point, I realized I didn't need to go to the other seminar, this was who I wanted to be my Dr. and coordinator. On 10-24, I had my first appointment with Dr. Gagne.  Kelli let me know that with my changing insurance, there would be no problem and also that my future insurance had just changed it's medical policy last month and there is no longer a 6 month weigh in period.  Now the only wait I have is for Highmark to kick in!!! So on that note, on November 7, I have appointments with both the dietitian and my pysch evaluation and then go back to Dr. Gagne on 12-12.  
Jenwill630

Jenwill630

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10-24 Dr. appointment

After about 5 minutes at Dr. Gagne's office the other day, I decided I am really glad I chose him as my surgeon. For starters, having the surgery at Butler instead of going down to Pittsburgh is a big plus.  Especially since I have no idea how I am getting to and from the hospital, so if I have to get the male child or my uncle to do it, I am way better off doing through Butler. Talking with Dr. Gagne...he is very matter of fact, straight forward, yet seems to be very understanding. I had printed off my diary pages from MFP, put them in a binder for him and he said to just continue to eat as I have been doing because it was very good along with the exercise I have been doing.....proof positive that i need the surgery when he sees the work I am putting in and yet not so much as 1 ounce has been lost since my appointment the beginning of the month at Dr. Reyer. With regard to the holidays coming up....he said not to deprive myself, but by the same token please realize I am not going to the electric chair so please do not go overboard.  LMAO   Kelli told us that since Highmark has a change in medical policy, there is no more 6 month wait.  So I asked for an approximate of when I could possibly have my surgery if that is the case...they will be submitting it the day after New Years when it takes effect.  LOL   This is going to fly!!!!  
Jenwill630

Jenwill630

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11-2.....to the PCP I go

So this afternoon, I have an appointment with my PCP.   This will be the first time I have seen him since I decided I want to get RNY done.  I am a little nervous about this.  Why?  I have no idea.  That's just how I am....a scaredy cat when I have to tell people decisions that I have made and am not sure what their reactions will be.    
Jenwill630

Jenwill630

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I worry for nothing.

So my appointment at the PCP went perfectly fine.   There I was, all prepared with a speech in my head of how to tell him of my decision that i wanted weight loss surgery and that oh I must of shrunk because they measured me at the surgeons office and height is different.  I get in there and Dr. has a med student with him.....so that threw me off. Dr. decided to discuss my labs and asked if there was something I wanted to tell him.  I must have looked at him puzzled because then he told me that he saw another lab order in there from another Dr.  So that broke the ice.  He then explained the different surgeries to me and the med student, which one he felt would benefit me more and why.  Luckily it is the one I wanted.  LOL
He then told me that if he were to recommend a Bariatric Surgeon, without a doubt, he would recommend Dr. Gagne that he is one of THE best in the country at the bypass, his reputation is impeccable, his results are fantastic, he ran one of the best bariatric programs in the country at one point.  So hearing this truly made me feel even more comfortable with my decision. He also said he is behind me 100% with opting for surgery.....that's great...would have been nice if he had recommended this a couple of years ago though!  LOL So he very willingly filled out all of my paperwork that Dr. Gagne requires and on my way I went. I got home, looked at the paperwork and realized oh ****.  I forgot to tell them about my height being wrong and now my BMI is wrong on the paperwork I have in my hand!!!!!! This morning I called and spoke to the nurse explaining everything.  Of course she laughed at me (in a good way) and so I need to stop on my way home to get the height notated properly in the file and for the form to get re-done. Could I have waited until my next visit next month?  Probably, but I can't let things sit...my anxiety does not allow that.  If I had let it wait, my mind will play that game of "the worst possible thing will happen and I won't get the form re-done".  
Jenwill630

Jenwill630

0
 

Moving right along.....

The other day, I had my appointment with the NUT and my psych evaluation. I absolutely loved the NUT.  She was SO thorough with explaining everything the Dr. wanted for me to do and then she added in her own additional thoughts on everything as well.  We also discussed the things that I am to start changing immediately to get into some better habits. Well the biggies are not drinking 30 minutes before or after a meal or during.  I had actually started that this week anyway.  The other is not drinking my breakfast and to drink my morning shake as my mid afternoon snack instead.  And then the thing that I never in a million years thought I would have a problem with....not drinking with a straw.  Holy crap is this hard!!!!!!   I have a 32 oz mug at work and a 24 oz mug at home.  At work, I fill my mug 4 times during the day.  At home I fill it once or twice in the evening.  So i do drink alot of water.  Boy did I struggle to "sip" water and not gulp it down.  Who would have ever thought that at 48 years old, I am learning how to drink again?????  It really does suck though.

Anyway, the psych eval went good too with her saying she was sending in her thumbs up.

I guess the only things left will be the pre-op and I don't want to get any of that done until after the beginning of the year.
Jenwill630

Jenwill630

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