Torias mom

[size=4][color=rgb(0,0,0)][font=Tahoma]Back in 2007 I had a lap band. It didn't do a thing, never found the right amount for a fill, and never lost much more than 10-20 lbs. It did cure all heartburn I had, and have not had to deal with that for almost 7 years, but I did not get the band to cure heartburn. I remember the surgeon showing me other alternatives and I was interested in the sleeve but still went for the band. I was sick of getting food stuck, and started looking at other alternatives. In about 2009/2010 my insurance would still cover WLS and I was looking into DS. I found a hospital that had a qualified surgeon to preform it, but it was about 4-5 hours away. I started the process there, then a qualified surgeon joined the team at a hospital about 1.5 hours away, and only about 20 minutes from my parents. I liked that idea better and started the process there instead. At one of the appointments, the coordinator took my height as 6' 1" instead of 61" and would approve me for surgery. I told her to look at me, did I look 6 feet tall?? I'm barley over 5' But at that point she would not allow me to do anything except have the band replaced. This was all at the end of the year, and at this point it was too late to book with the hospital 4 hours away, and my insurance that would be starting the following January now had an exclusion for WLS. [/font][/color]
[color=rgb(0,0,0)][font=Tahoma]Last year in 2013 I got on my husbands insurance, and did not see anything about excluding WLS if there were co-morbidities, so again, I started the process, this time for VSG. I did all the testing, went to all the required meetings and consults, paid for all the pre op tests, burned through and paid for all this while meeting deductibles, only to find out about a week before surgery that it was not a covered benefit. When we called at the beginning we were given the wrong info. I had called, the hospital had called and we were both told it was covered, now I had paid for all the testing and again, no surgery. And to top it off I got laid off from my job that same week. [/font][/color]
[color=rgb(0,0,0)][font=Tahoma]Now, a year later, I have the funds to go to Mexico. My deposit is paid, my plane tickets are purchased and I have a date with Dr Lopez for 4/12/2014. It has been such a long road to get here but I am finally almost there. [/font][/color]
[color=rgb(0,0,0)][font=Tahoma]Hubby and 9 year old daughter will be coming with me, spending the first night at the Marriott with me, coming with me to the hospital, then once I'm out of surgery, they will be going back to San Diego for the rest of the trip. I like the idea of knowing they'll be there for me when I wake up, then will be going back to do some sight seeing back in CA. I booked their trip for them and I'm almost jealous that I won't be there with them to do some of the things like the zoo, seaworld, etc, but I think when I get to leave I'll be very happy to be going home. [/font][/color]
[color=rgb(0,0,0)][font=Tahoma]So this is how I go to this point and now there is no turning back and no more hurdles to jump. This time it's finally going to happen. [/font][/color][/size]