Hurry up and wait!

[mngreeneyes 674]

I need a patience shot or something. This process has and continues to be a hurry up and wait kind of process. Hurry up and make an appointment and wait several weeks for the appointment to come. HUrry up and lose your weight, and wait for the next appointment to come. HUrry up and give up diet coke so you don't have to go through withdrawal and recover from surgery at the same time, and wait - Its been nearly 3 months since I had a Diet Coke!!!! I was an addict. I even have a Diet Coke Shower curtain!

So I finally got cleared to see pick and meet my surgeon. I met him last Thursday. Now I have to wait until my insurance processes the paperwork. Dr. says 1-2 weeks. Well, get on with it. I have to be approved by insurance before I can schedule surgery.

Now I have spent my time learning and also choosing my procedure, gastric bypass, which the Dr. said he would have recommended for me. So now I just need some patience. As one of my friends from WLS support group says, this does not come with brain surgery! I always hate waiting.

Any suggestions on what I can be doing pre-surgery to make the time go faster at least in my own mind? I don't have anymore boxes to check off! There is NOTHING I can do to move things along! BTW These forums have been great to read during this journey so far!

pam

[Djmohr 6,965]

Yes, you are right having this surgery is a huge commitment and definately tries your patience.

Stay positive and everything will work out. Let's hope you have a faster turn around from said insurance company with no bumps.

It certainly could come faster than 2 weeks.

After my 6 month process turned into 9 months the one thing that went very very fast was my approval. It got submitted early in the am and the surgeon called me back by 1pm with an approval and date. I was so happy I cried so hard my husband thought I was having a mental breakdown. It was simply all the emotion letting loose.

I would suggest calling your insurance company to verify that they received your paperwork and that it is pending. Originally my doctors office dropped the ball and did not actually submitt it right away. I waited nearly 2 weeks before calling to check on it and they admitted it did not get done.

I have also heard of others having this happen. For me the good news was how fast it actually was approved once it really got submitted.

Good luck and let us know when you have a date.

[mngreeneyes 674]

Thanks for the suggestion about calling my insurance. I will do that right away.

pam

[Dub 9,922]

You described it well.

The wait is the toughest part.

I wish I had a great suggestion.

I will say this......stay as healthy as possible leading up to the surgery so you aren't dealing with multiple maladies. Incur no injuries in the gym trying to be a superhero.

A lot of folks get powerfully motivated leading up to their big day which is great, but don't get over zealous and hurt yourself.

One thing that I did was to place two orders for custom made items that I really enjoy. They were sort of gifts to myself and hobby items.

One of them will be here in 3 months while the other is expected to arrive in 12-14 months.

When I ordered them I thought of what I'll feel-look like in 3 months. First one would arrive with me hopefully making a nice dent in my weight loss. The second item would find me much closer to goal.

The other thing I did was get aggressive on cleaning out oversized clothes from my closet. Kept my focus for a few days.

Best wishes to you.

[mngreeneyes 674]

Thanks, Dub for the suggestions. I am in the process of switching from summer to winter clothes and I am looking forward to creating a box to sell in the Spring. They won't take them now at the consignment store. I like the ordering stuff idea. For now I am not buying anything but food. I have about 4 sizes of clothes in storage. (Don't ask!) so I should not run out of clothes or go naked anytime soon! I am looking forward to needing to do a little shopping next spring for summer clothes.

pam

[The Candidate 3,215]

There is just no way around the waiting issue. I spent a year in that purgatory, so I know how you feel. But your day will come and this will all fade away like it never happened at all. Hang in there and best of luck!

[Dub 9,922]

Thanks, Dub for the suggestions. I am in the process of switching from summer to winter clothes and I am looking forward to creating a box to sell in the Spring. They won't take them now at the consignment store. I like the ordering stuff idea. For now I am not buying anything but food. I have about 4 sizes of clothes in storage. (Don't ask!) so I should not run out of clothes or go naked anytime soon! I am looking forward to needing to do a little shopping next spring for summer clothes.

pam

And you will have so earned those shopping trips. Get ready, because it really will be here faster than you think right now.

This thing has a way of going from hurry up and wait to OMG everything is happening so fast.