cat1342

It's how much small intestine is bypassed. Distal= further away=more malabsorbtion, proximal= closer to the stomach=less malabsorbtion. At least this is my understanding.

I just got word my surgery has been moved to November 18th!! Howdy to all you November surgeries!

Alrighty...no turning back now. Got the phone call. I'm officially approved!!! What a long freaking journey. I got to this point last year and backed out. I am doing this! November 18 if surgeon is available, if not then it will be November 20. Work approved that week and the next week off. Kids will be watched by friend. Awaiting preop appointment and two classes I have to take. Holy crap...... Oh and I am down to 224, started at 244

FMLA is only for employees who have 1000 hours of service plus and a year of employment. I changed jobs in February...started the whole process over because my insurance changed..was approved and waiting for my surgery date. Because I don't qualify for FMLA my PTO covers it but my awesome bosses granted me a non-FMLA medical leave so that if there are complications I won't lose my job. They said "just let us know if you need more time off"...and to think I was so scared to say anything to them!

So here is the update. ~I passed my nut exam...however the nut says I am a glass half empty type of person. How can a person who meets with you for 20 minutes pass that type of judgement? She couldn't be further from the truth. Oh well, at least she passed me. ~Surgeon's office has two nutritionists/dieticians. The manager dietician said I need one more month (October) before she will submit to insurance since they scheduled two visits in one month. The other dietician, the one I don't like because she doesn't take any time with me and has told me conflicting information told me she is submitting this month...ugghh. ~Finally told my boss!! Wasn't going to but she asked and I for some reason told her..even though I said to myself I wouldn't. She is totally supportive and even though I don't qualify for FMLA she approved my leave and PTO dates. ~Tentative surgery date is November 20th as long as insurance approves it. ~I started at 244# and am 227# today!! ~Found that I can stand premier Protein shakes and like unjury but since I drive all day I haven't figured out how to mix unjury on the road. ~Gave up pop completely!!!! ~Have a co worker who just had roux en y as well! A buddy to talk to is nice! I'll keep you updated and appreciate the comments! Looking forward to getting some new clothing soon! ~~Mary

So here is the update: I was approved last year then lost my job and my insurance....Got a new job and decided I was strong enough to start everything over again. So fast forward to today. As of today I have had my initial nut appointment, two dietician appointments, and surgeon initial appointment. I need no preop testing. I have to do a total of 6 months of dietician appointments because of my insurance. I am not rushing into this but I can't wait to get to surgery. I need to have my followup nut appointment which is scheduled July 17, 4 more dietician appointments (1 each month), and whatever else they surprise me with. I can't have surgery anyways until September because I can't take vacation time until my probation period is over at my new job so I will have plenty of time to get this all done but I can't help but wish it passes by quickly. My surgeon's office hasn't really laid the whole plan out for me but they said if I maintain 10 pounds lost by month 4 then they will submit to insurance! Hopefully I get approved as easily as last time but it is a different insurance so here is hoping! I have 100% coverage for surgery and all related costs except a $35 copay for office visits! The trick is though...I have paid short term disability if anything goes wrong...which it won't and I will have about 2 weeks of vacation time accrued by the time I have surgery. I decided I would like to take about two weeks off. I would take more if I qualified for FMLA but I am not eligible until I have worked there a year. I drive 200 miles a day for work and I bought ice packs and a new cooler for the car so I can start taking Protein shakes and other food instead of buying fast food. So far it has worked well! Anything anybody would suggest or any comments would be appreciated!~ by the way...already down 7 pounds~!

So I saw the surgeon last week and he approved me for surgery. This week I see the dietitian and then in two weeks I see the dietitian again and in a month I see the nut. So within the next four weeks I should have all my appointments done! This is starting to get real I'm so excited. I'm hoping that I have a surgery date sometime in July or August but I think realistically I will probably be September. The surgeon said that at a minimum I need to take 10 days off and a month off at the most. This is largely in part because I am a Visiting nurse and I drive every day all day long. I just started my job so I won't have time off and I'm allowed to take until September so I think that's when I'll plan for my surgery. I'm worried that if something goes wrong I'm not covered for FMLA for a whole year because I just started in March. Hopefully my boss will be understanding even though I'm not telling her what I'm having done and Hopefully she will be able to give me some time off. I will have PTO to cover my time off but we're shorthanded at work so cross your fingers!

So after much ado, I have started a new job and received my new insurance cards!!! 100% coverage for this! I am ecstatic. I have waited over two years for this! I am ready! I have my initial surgeon appointment on May 9th so I expect that things will fall into place after that. I have already done a 6 month supervised diet-optifast-yuck! So hopefully that won't hold anything up! Super super ready to get this show on the road. I finally broke down and bought some summer clothes realizing I probably shouldn't try to squeeze into last years. So again, a size 22 wide went into my cart. Uggh. I felt awful but then realized that it will be the last summer I will EVER EVER shop at Lane Bryant! Please keep me in your thoughts and if anyone in Michigan is starting the process I would love to hear from you! ~Mary

So I stated a new job two months ago and filled out all of my benefit paperwork and turned it in ASAP. I just found out that HR didn't submit the paperwork so I have no insurance! It was supposed to be effective as of April 1st, Now who knows how long I have to wait. I was all set up with all my appointments at the Dr,'s office and now I have to reschedule everything, I just want to get the process started. Ugghh. Once my insurance starts, it is 100% coverage, I have waited over a year to get the right job with the right insurance. I am so mad some stupid paper pusher messed it all up.

So excited for you! I can't wait until I can post this!! Keep being motivated and positive. You will do great!

Thanks ladies! Your kind words are wonderful.

I am not far from you!! About 45 minutes! I am hoping for a surgical date soon. I just have to get through my preop appointments..shouldn't have to do the 6 month thing since I have done a 6 month weight loss program in the past which didn't stick. Let me know if you need any support. !

Williamston, Michigan, United States

So...I started a new job this past month and the insurance is FANTASTIC. My coverage will begin April 1st. 100% coverage...NO out of pocket costs. Tell me I am crazy though. I just had two amazing interviews for a job I think I will LOVE and could stay at for years. Insurance package hasn't been presented to me yet except that it is BCBS. Here's some background. I am currently employed as a homecare RN case manager. I travel up to 150 miles per day doing patient care. I make about 63,000/year. Lots of sedentary car sitting, bad food choices being made, really really don't like what I do but if I can put up with it for 6 months I can transfer out into the ER where I love to work. It's a very large multihospital system. New job would be a leadership position-nursing supervisor in a small community hospital. I would have some direct patient care, management responsibilities and I have been working for years to land a job like this...$70,000/year. I just finished my Bachelor's so that I could move up in and get away from being micromanaged. I am seriously considering taking the new job, am I crazy? Even if there are higher out of pocket costs should I? I am committed to this surgery and will begin my journey as soon as my coverage begins. What would you do?