My VSG story

[1Cor2:9 193]

The first time that I can remember wanting to have WLS was when I was a teenager. I believe that was when I first saw a commercial for WLS. During my twenties I did not have the financial means to have the surgery. In the spring of 2013 I made the decision to have WLS. 2013 was the first year that certain factors came together that would allow me to have the surgery. At the time I wanted lap band because it was the only bariatric surgery I knew about. With that in mind I went to my new PCP and told her that I wanted to have lap band surgery and asked for a referral. Since I was fairly ignorant of how insurance worked at the time I just found a surgeon online and asked for a referral for him. Well this individual was not part of the medical group, so the referral was denied. One would have thought my PCP would have known that, but no matter. After that she gave me a referral for a surgeon. With my new referral in hand I set up my initial appointment with Dr. Lufti.

During my first appointment with Dr. Lufti he explained why he thought VSG would be a better option for me. At the time I was nervous about the permanent removal of part of my stomach. However, after some research and reflection I decided that perhaps he was right and decided to have VGS instead of lap band. While I was completing the requirements for surgery my PCP moved her office to the suburbs and as a carless human being I realized it would be hard for me to travel to her new location, so I selected another PCP. What I did not know is that I had to select a PCP that was in the same medical group as Dr. Lufti. Anyways, December 2013 rolls around and I am preparing for surgery. I wanted to have surgery the week leading up to winter break to conserve sick days. The day before I am scheduled to have surgery I am told that the surgery was denied because Dr. Lufti was not in the same medical group I was a part of. I cannot fully describe the disappointment I felt. I did everything I was told to do, but still I could not have the surgery.

In January of 2014 I decided to continue the good fight. I switch my PCP again. Not just because she was not in the same medical group as my surgeon, but I did not like the care I received from her. Made an appointment with my new PCP. She was really in support of me having surgery. However, she was also not in the same medical group with my surgeon. The reason I wanted to stay with Dr. Lufti was that I really liked the team in his office and I firmly believed I would receive the care I needed. Now I will say, if I remember correctly I thought I look online to see if PCP number 3 was in the same medical group as my surgeon, but for some reason BCBS said differently than what I found online. At this point, I'm mad as a big dog about things. I called everybody and they mama to get to the bottom of things. I after many attempts I was finally in the right medical group, but BCBSIL at the time had a requirement that anyone wanting WLS had to wait twelve months...

I continued to press on because I sincerely thought that the Lord wanted me to have this surgery and all I need to do was persevere. Twelve months pass. During that time I switch from BCBS HMO to BCBS PPO because I thought it would make things easier for me to have surgery. So I made an appointment with PCP number 4 and got a referral. I went to my appointment at my surgeon's office and learned that my school district, I am a teacher, did not want to cover any bariatric surgery with PPO policies. I left his office thinking, "That is okay you are going to have this surgery." I did make an attempt to change my insurance back, but that was taking a really long time. While waiting for this amendment to be made I seriously contemplated buy my own insurance as a means to have the surgery.

I left my previous school district during the summer of 2015. When I got hired for my new position with a different school district I knew that I selected my new insurance I was going to have BCBSIL HMO and select the same PCP so that I could be in the medical group as my surgeon. Less than a week after my insurance became active I scheduled an appointment with my PCP and Lufti. Shortly there after I started completing the requirements for surgery. On Dec. 16th I two year fight, if not lifelong, had come to an end. I got sleeved. Because what I went through it took sometime for me to believe it was going to happen. Even when I was told I was approved I still had some doubt. Even after I woke up from anesthesia I did not fully believe. In fact, one of the first questions I asked when I woke up was, "Did I have surgery?" When I came home from the hospital the next day it was still hard to believe. It actually took me see my incisions for me to accept that I had surgery.

I am sharing this story with you because I want you to know that if the Lord wants you to have surgery it will come to past. The fight to a better you is going to be a hard and long one, but it is worth fight. This fight is one only you can contend with. No one else can fight it for you. I am three weeks out roughly 40 lbs down and I am fight too. Someone even told me that maybe God did not want me to have the surgery because of the obstacles, but I knew otherwise. To all that read this no matter if you are an expect, recently got sleeved, or thinking about it keep fighting.

[1SlimmerMe 122]

Perseverance! This is a wonderful testament to keeping the faith and fight in all situations. Thanks for sharing and the best to you!

[1Cor2:9 193]

Thank you.

[UalreadyKnow 843]

I too fought for 3 years for this surgery, even got as close as surgery day...only to be told I had to pay $9000 for anesthesia costs before surgery....needless to say, I felt defeated. My gynecologist is actually the one that started the fight for me this go round, he's such an angel, a man of true faith. Even prayed with me at our consults for wlsurgery...spoke with the head of the hospital and got the ball rolling... I was sleeved 4 months ago and have lost 96lbs. Dr. Alvarez-Perez is always gonna be my hero!!!

[1Cor2:9 193]

I am very happy that you continued to press on!