Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🌈 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0
  • entries
    41
  • comments
    82
  • views
    4,881

About this blog

My Journey through Lap-Band Land

Entries in this blog

 

Impatient

It's been nearly two weeks since everything was submitted to insurance, and still haven't heard anything about approval or denial.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

January 1st needs to come soon...

This past weekend was not good regarding food choices.   'Nuff said.   The past few days I've toyed with questions such as, "Do I really wanna do this?" "Have I researched this enough?" "Will I have complications"   Stuff like that. Just any old excuse, I suppose, NOT to be banded.   Then I think about what transpired this past weekend. If I were banded, I wouldn't be sitting here feeling guilty right now, because I wouldn't have been able to stuff my pie hole the way I did.   I gotta get a grip.   I'll be covered insurance-wise for this procedure on January 1st. It can't come soon enough.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

Five days now...

You people are wonderful. If I ever get time, I'll respond to all of the comments I'm getting. Don't think that I'm ignoring you, please. I'll find some time to respond today while I'm on my lunch break.   Wow. Five days without a cigarette. Several quits ago, I tried the "tapering down" approach, and it was disastrous. I didn't know why then, but I know why now. I would go for hours without a cigarette, looking forward to having one at my predetermined time, holding out until then, and feeling the sweet relief once I finally got to light up again. Well, that didn't work for me because, logically, I was simply putting myself through a constant "quit and re-start" phase over and over again. I would quit for five hours, my body would start to rid itself of the nicotine, and then I would simply reintroduce the drug again. I would deny myself the nicotine for six hours, light up, get that nicotine in me again, and start the withdrawal process over again.   I was in agony for a solid week before I realized that, logically, that simply wasn't the best way to quit. It makes me wonder, however, what's gonna happen when I go from using this 21mg patch to the 14mg patch. Will I be in withdrawal? Hmm. I guess I'll hafta wait and see.   Well, it's nearly time to get ready for work. I can't wait to go back, really. I've had four days at home and I'm going batty trying to find things to keep me occupied.   *sigh* Big breath. It helps most times to feel that clean air bouncing around my lungs. It feels good to be able to take a big breath without coughing and wheezing afterwards. But I'm still wanting to smoke in the mornings -- especially the mornings. I can't wait until I don't feel a void anymore -- a void I can't seem to fill just now.   I was going to type here how many hours it's been since I had a cigarette, but it's getting too difficult to calculate in my tiny brain. It's now easier to say how many days it's been. So, it's been 5 days and 12 hours since I've had a cigarette. I'm breaking my arm here patting myself on the back.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

I have hope again.....

I haven't had a response to the email I sent to my surgeon, nor the messages I've sent online (on his website), but that's probably because of the holidays. He probably is trying to catch up on everything, just like I am here at work!   But I did call and speak with the office manager, and I have an appointment to see a different psychiatrist in my surgeon's office on 01-15-07.   I'm very glad of it. I have hope again that I can have this surgery.   I'm also very glad and VERY proud of the fact that I didn't cave and smoke a cigarette!!!! Today makes 35 days smoke-free, and I am feeling better today than I ever have since I've quit smoking.   Wow. I can actually say it now. I've QUIT SMOKING. After 22 years of smoking, I have quit!   I've also gained a lot of weight since I quit. Now that I'm feeling more like my old self -- instead of always being edgy and gritchy and irritable -- I'll be able to focus on losing these extra pounds I've gained.   Thank you, everyone, for your comments and support. It means a lot to me.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

I was approved.........

I received my approval and am scheduled for surgery May 4th.   This past Friday morning, I started the two-week pre-op diet, consiting solely of Medifast.   By Saturday night, I was ready to rip someone's head off.   I'm doing better, however, because after MUCH research I decided that it was okay for me to eat two lettuce leaves in the evening, with a very thin piece of turkey (Buddig).   While my surgeon has said NOTHING but Medifast, I realize what my body is capable of, and I'm doing this so that I CAN make it through these two weeks and still have shrunk the liver enough to have the surgery.   Friday morning I weighed 293.8, and this morning I weighed 288.   I am scared about adjusting my life around the band, but I know that I can do it. I just don't want to be at work and PB or have something stuck and then not being able to function.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

The day is getting closer...

I weigh 287 this morning, so I've lost 6 pounds since starting the Medifast diet on Friday. Not too shabby. I go for my pre-surgery testing tomorrow.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

What a difference a shrink makes....

Wow. Dr. Sampang RULES. She is simply incredible, and FULL of energy! I absolutely loved meeting with her, and she indicates so far that I am an EXCELLENT candidate for this surgery!! I just have to finish completing a packet concerning my beliefs about food, hunger, and weight, fax it to her, and then call on Wednsday -- tomorrow -- to have the insurance coordinator submit everything to insurance!   I am HYPED.   Also, I went on a job interview today and would love to get that job. Although I am comfortable here where I work now -- and I would miss my co-workers terribly -- I must go where there is a future for me, a rate of pay I deserve, and benefits I need.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

And so it begins...

I made an appointment with Dr. Trace Curry in Cincinnati. I'll see him next Wednesday, November 8th, at 11:00am.   What impressed me so much about Dr. Curry so far - without ever having met him -- is that he answered an email I sent to him, and I found out later that he wasn't even in town when he answered it!   Wow. Talk about a doctor who has "checked his ego at the door"!!! I like him already.   Everything seems to be falling into place already. I'll be covered with good insurance starting January 1st -- and have found out already that they do cover this procedure -- and I have three weeks of vacation to use if I need it. I'm aware that Dr. Curry requires me to have a psychological exam, and I don't know whom to see for that, but I'm sure that he will recommend someone.   I'm excited.   And so my journey to being healthy begins.....
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

I've got to get a grip...

I keep thinking, "What if Dr. Curry says that I'm not a candidate for this procedure? What if he won't let me get banded? What if I just keep getting fatter and fatter, until I end up bed-ridden?"   Yeesh. I've GOT to simmer down.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

Insurance

I keep reading posts on these boards about insurance, and the need to document the information I get from the insurance company. I guess I'll write it down here.   Thursday, 11-02-06, 6:30pm, I called the toll-free number on the back of my husband's UHC insurance card. After pushing a few buttons to get through to customer service, I talked with a man named LeLand. I asked him this question (straight from the paperwork supplied to me by Dr. Curry): "I am inquiring about my policy benefits on surgical weight loss. Is surgery for morbid obesity a covered benefit? In particular, I'm inquiring about lap-band surgery.” LeLand: "Yes, it is. Lap-band surgery is a covered benefit." Me: "May I please give you the code for this procedure and would you please check to see if this particular code is covered?" I gave him the code. LeLand: (After sighing and acting like I was a pest) "Yes, that code is a covered benefit." Me: "What information do you require before approving the surgery?" LeLand: "You have to have a BMI greater than 35." Me: "What else?" LeLand: "Ma'am, just have your doctor's office call our care coordinator and they will work out the details. This procedure IS covered by your husband's insurance policy." At that point I just thanked him and hung up because he acted like I was just a huge pest. What I SHOULD have done was stay on the phone and gotten all of the information from the paperwork Dr. Curry supplied to me. Now I'm scared that if I call the insurance company back, I'll "tip them off" that I want to have this surgery done, and they won't put me on the policy. My husband just enrolled me this past week, and I won't be effective until 01-01-07.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

Well, Hell....

Out of curiosity sake, I just measured my height here at work. Barefoot, I put my back against the wall and used a pencil to draw a line. Then, I measured it with a yard stick.   All this time, I thought I was 5' 8". NOT SO. I am 5' 6", which makes my BMI 40.3 as of today.   For some reason, that really bums me out. Not so much the higher BMI, but that I am actually shorter than I was in high school. I WAS 5' 8" then. I've shrunk.   Crap.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

Today is the day!

I have an appointment to see Dr. Curry this morning at 11:00am. I am excited, yet nervous. Last night I dreamed that he told me that I wasn't a good candidate for a lap band, and told me to go home and lose weight the "old fashioned" way.   Well, THAT way hasn't worked for me at all. I've been fat ever since I can remember. My parents and three siblings were never fat, but I was. Mom started taking me to Weight Watcher's meetings when I was 8 years old. She gave me Ayds to chew on, helped me count calories, signed me up for gymnastics and dancing lessons in the hope I'd burn more calories and lose weight, threatened and cajoled me into losing weight, bought my sister new clothes but not me, in the hopes that I'd "straighten up" and lose weight, punished me other various ways because I wouldn't lose weight, had me on various liquid diets, including the Cambridge Diet, took me to a hypnotist for subliminal weight-loss messages, and paid for me to go to Diet Center.   In my adult life I continued to life with family put-downs because of my weight and I finally topped out at 352 pounds. I stopped eating on July 1, 1998 and in 23 months I lost over 150 pounds. But that's only because I was eating about two cups of food a day, and mostly protein. Since that time I've tried to stay to two cups of food a day, but I cannot. I've steadily gained weight (big surprise) and am now back up to 247 pounds. At this rate, before the end of 2007, I'll be right back up over 300 pounds.   I've calculated that I've lost and gained close to 200 pounds over and over again in my lifetime, and I'M SICK TO DEATH OF THIS STUPID HAMSTER WHEEL I'M ON!!!!!!!!   Please, Dr. Curry............you're my last hope!
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

Down 11 pounds pre-op

I am down 11 pounds now and surgery is Friday morning. I've been using Medifast since last Friday. I'm getting more and more nervous about the surgery. Asking myself questions like, "Is this the right thing to do?" I wonder how many other people felt this way just before surgery.
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
 

The initial consult went GREAT!

Well, I finally met with Dr. Curry and his staff today, and my husband and I left feeling secure and thoroughly impressed. First, Charity checked me in and made sure all of my paperwork was in order, and she collected the co-pay. My husband was being a smart aleck (per usual) and she threatened to beat him up for me. I knew I'd like the girl from that moment on. Next, we met with Erin, the Clinical Dietician. She weighed me (ugh!) and took my measurements (double ugh!), and then spoke with us in the exam room. She has a lap band herself, and it was comforting to know that someone with personal lap band experience was extoling its virtues to me. After Erin, we met Tracy. Tracy is the Insurance Coordinator and she really set my mind at ease about insurance. She told me that UHC is a very good insurance with which to work, and she forsees no problem with approval (so far). Lisa came in next, and she's the Nurse Practitioner. Wow. Again, she went over every aspect of my medical and physical history, and answered a lot of questions I had (although, when I left, I thought of several more). And last, but certainly not least, Dr. Curry came in and showed us a brief presentation about the pros and cons of having a lap band, and he told me that I am an ideal candidate for the procedure. Whew! So, I went to work and spent a few moments on the phone with my insurance company getting pre-authorization for a psychiatric review with an in-network psychiatrist -- one of the ones listed on the referral paper given to me by Dr. Curry's office. I'll have my psyc review on Friday, 11-17-06, and 9:00am. The wheels are in motion, and if everything goes as planned, I should be banded around the third week in January! WOO HOO!!!!!
Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle

1
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

Bariatric Forums

For Patients

Health Professionals

Search Surgeons

Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

×