Marcant4522

As many of you may not know, my name is Frank. I started my journey the day before Thanksgiving in 2012. I am using Dr. Michael Green, @ Live by Loosing. I am currently on Social Security Disability, due to my sleep apnea, lymphedema, borderline diabetes, hypertension, and severe asthma. I had to wait for 18 months in order to get Medicare. Once I got my Medicare I started my journey. I have went through numerous dr.s appointments, physical therapy, nutritional visits, Doppler's, all kinds of specialist.... my starting weight was 525 pounds. I am currently down to 503, on my own... by giving up sodas, and sweets. I am married, and have 7 children to look after, so we always have a busy lifestyle. My weight and sickness always holds me back from things they want to do, or simple things.... around the house. ........After many Dr's visits, and down to my last one, I had the EDG, I had flew through all medical clearances with flying colors, (except for being put on a CPAP Machine), I get the test results of my Biopsy, which showed I had H Pylori in my stomach.... (bacteria that causes ulcers, can be treated with 2 weeks of antibiotics), this was a huge blow because it was March 8th, and my surgery was scheduled for March 18th. Now I have to be on antibiotics for 2 weeks... this puts a delay in my surgery date... pushing it back to March 28th. On March 12th, I go in for my final check up, and Kristin the PA said everything was clear, I should be a go for March 28th, I was super excited. My antibiotics for the H Pylori are completed on March 22nd. Dr. Green does his surgeries at Medical Plaza on Thursdays. So, since March 12th, we have been waiting on approval/date conformation, but no word.... on March 18th, my wife gets a call asking if we have a Pulmonologist that I attend to, my wife told her no, that my PCP prescribes my asthma rx's. March 19th, I find out my file is on Ins. Desk!!! I am super excited, (PA said Medicare , they mostly just have to have all paperwork, and verify it is active ins. on the day of surgery, which don't have to be submitted for approval) which was nice to know! Then BOOM!!!! Back to Pre-Op, now because one of my specialist says I have shortness of breathe I have to have a Pulmonologist Clearance! Short of breathe??? Really, I am 500 pounds, & have asthma.. of course I am short of breathe!! We have now waited all day yesterday & today for them to call and no reply... my wife got tired of waiting and Googled many Pulmonologist Dr.s in Fort Worth, to try to get me in as soon as possible.... she called about 12, who all said they was 4-8 weeks out for new patients, which was way to long.. she kept trying... then she called one, and was able to get me in on 3/27, she explained the situation, and found out I need a certain test from them in order to get clearance.... so the kind lady set me an appointment for the test for 3/25... so my results would be back by 3/27 for Clearance for an April 4th Sleeve Date!!!! Finally @ 5:05 today, the Pre-Op calls me back, saying they can get me in on April 4th, to get the test..(which would postpone my surgery til April 11th). I let her know my wife had already taken care of it, and gave her all info I thought she needed. Is anyone else having this problem, where you feel like you are just being pushed further and further away...?That's how I feel.... so close..., but then something else comes up... ! Its really aggravating, because I could have seen this Pulmonologist a while back, if I knew I needed to get a clearance, and I could have had my EDG earlier (incase of having H pylori & 2 weeks of Antibiotics)before my final check up with the PA, to avoid being pushed further back. I have been pushed back 3 weeks now, all at the last minute!!! Any thoughts??

Test is clear... just waiting on pre op.!

Thanks guys... got my last clearance today!!

Thanks Monday is my test for Pulmologist.. will give an update on Wed.

I love the facebook page... appreciate all of the support!!

Thanks.. just had to vent!!

Can u please send me the link on facebook in a message... I have not received a request. Thanks.

My new date is April 4th, after being postponed from March 18th.

franktha_tank817@yahoo.com

Waiting on my date... Live in Ft. Worth Texas, as of 1/3/2013, my Dr Office says that Medicare covers 80% of Gastric Sleeve

at least now I know its sitting on ins. Desk.. my dr office said all they have to do is verify my medicare is active.. and they can give me a date.. hopefully I can still get it done by March 28th. I am ready to do this I have a wife and 7 kids .. I cant live like ghis any longer... it has been a 7 month journey... if I dont do something.. I am scared I will loose my family and my sanity.. because my wife broke down and said she is tired of pulling all the weight due to my weight and constantly being a grouch because i am so miserable.

Got my surgery date... its March 28th.... my liquid diet starts at 6 am on March 26th... was kind of hopeing Easter was my last big meal...and to spend time with the family. I will probally not feel great.. so we are doing Easter next weekend.. . but I am not complaining. Happy to have a date... and that the days are going by super fast! Look forward to sharing my journey!

anyone have any updates on this matter??

Congrats to everyone on their dates and surgeries. This has been such a long road for all to get to.. your. exhausted by the end. But hopefully worth it.. it has been a long journey for me. 3 months has turned into 7 months.

I wonder how long it will take in Texas I have Medicare and QMB Medicaid as my secondary ins. My height is 5'8 503 pds.. (started at 525) my bmi is 79.4. I have lymphodema in my legs, sleep apnea ,cellulitis in my legs. with extreme back and knee pain. I have passed all of my test and on the very last one I tested positive for h pylori. I have been on antibiotics now for a week, so tomorrow is my final check up and I am scared that the h pylori thing will keep me from getting approved.

Congrats the hard journey is now over.. the best way to get through it is do a video for youtube and sleep through it.. so your time will go by faster.

I am going through this right now.. got my results back today of pathology test and positive for h pylori. Gastric dr said i will have to take antibiotic for 2 weeks then wait 30 days after then be retested and wait another week for results.. my surgery schelduled for 3/14/13. So upset. This pushes my surgery to May 2013.