Michelle S.
I've got a DATE!!!!
Sep 21, 2007
I was told by the Bariatric Coordinator last week that I should be hearing from her this week with a surgery date. Well, it is Friday and still no call. I called and left her a message on her voice mail. Not 10 minutes later, she called me...before listening to her messages. We must have crossed lines. Well, to make a long story short, my surgery date is 10/25/07. Now I can get really nervous. I have only been in the hospital once before and that was when I had my twin daughters, who are now 14. I don't know how to act as a patient, only as a nurse. I'm sure I will figure it out. Well, gonna go and read the info I need to read before surgery.
Chao,
Michelle
Chao,
Michelle
Labor Day 2007
Sep 03, 2007
Well, I know it has been awhile since I have even been on the site. I guess I just got frustrated with the whole process of appeal. I have also been having alot of back pain with any activity. I went to the pain doc at work and had an MRI done a month ago. It showed a mild bulging disc at L3 and an old compression fracture at T11. No wonder I have been having pain! This kinda freaked me out. I finally made the appt to see my pain doc and he pretty much told me that it's not so bad now, but will be much worse in 10yrs if I didn't lose "massive amounts of weight". I told him that I had been going round and round with the ins. co and the surgeon's office and was still waiting to hear from them. The surgeon's office said that everything was faxed to the ins co, and the ins co said they didn't have it. I finally put them in touch with each other and all had been straightened out. Well, low and behold, I went to eat out with my Mother in Law on Tuesday 8/27 (the same day as my appt with the pain doc) and figured I would check on the progress of my appeal. Of all places to be, (The Cheesecake Factory), they told me I was APPROVED!!!!! I kept asking them just to make sure. I was thinking of waiting until after the first of the year to have surgery because of work. Well, looks like it will be before then if it can be scheduled with the surgeon. I can't believe it! I know it has only been 3 months since I first started with the appeal process and got approval, but it seems like so much longer. It seemed as if time had stood still. I guess "the game is on". Time to get REALLY serious! I will keep in touch, I promise!
Chao,
Michelle
Chao,
Michelle
Info sent to Insurance Company
May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day Y'all!!!
I found out late last week that the Surgeon's office has sent my info into the Insurance Company. I still have 1 month to go on the "supervised diet". I see my PCP on 6/11, so I'm not too optimistic about approval until they get the additional info. Thanks to all of you guys that replied to my forum question. I really appreciate the support everyone gives. Well, got to go....work in the morning. I am hoping that it won't be too bad. It has been a b*itch lately!
Chao,
Michelle
I found out late last week that the Surgeon's office has sent my info into the Insurance Company. I still have 1 month to go on the "supervised diet". I see my PCP on 6/11, so I'm not too optimistic about approval until they get the additional info. Thanks to all of you guys that replied to my forum question. I really appreciate the support everyone gives. Well, got to go....work in the morning. I am hoping that it won't be too bad. It has been a b*itch lately!
Chao,
Michelle
1 Month to go before info sent to Insurance
May 09, 2007
Man, how time flies!!! Unfortunately, I can't say I have been having fun. Work has really been a b*tch. We have been so busy. I went to see my PCP Monday 5/7 and maintained my weight for the month. I was happy to see that since I really haven't been watching things too well. It seems that my docs are concerned that I will fail at this because I have an all or nothing attitude. There are many things that I know I won't be able to have after surgery, or at least not for a long time, if ever and I want to eat them before I have the surgery. I have been told that this is normal to feel this way. I am also scared that the surgery will not work for me. I know most everyone has success with the surgery, but I am afraid that I will be the one to defy the odds. Is this normal too? I have been told that there is no way not to lose weight after the surgery. My next visit to the PCP and my last before my info will be sent for approval is June 11th. I hope approval comes quickly and I get to have surgery before the end of the summer. Til then,
Chao,
Michelle
Chao,
Michelle
Thursday 329/07
Mar 28, 2007
Wow!! I can't believe how long it has been since I posted! Update: I have met with the Nutritionist and have recieved the "Bariatric Bible" I have heard so much about. I has some great info in it. I have heard that if you follow it to a "T", you will do well. I has info about what to do pre and post-op, what kind of diet to follow and eating out tips. I also had my appointment with the Pulmonologist yesterday. He said everything looks good and wants me to have a sleep study. He also told me that he would follow me in the hospital after surgery and I have an appointment to follow up with him in 6 months. It is all coming together. It is really happening. I had to call the insurance company to get a fax number and contact person and the girl at the insurance company said I sounded excited. Well, I am!!! I have 3 months of supervised dieting left. I need to post on the message board to get opinions about eating what I won't be able to have after surgery and get everyone's feel for that. My PCP isn't too happy with me since I only lost 3 pounds in 3 months. Oh well, c'est la vie. Well, gonna go and post now...
Chao,
Michelle
Chao,
Michelle
Monday, 2/26/07
Feb 26, 2007
I know it has been awhile since I posted. Alot has happened. I made it through jury duty without having to sit on a jury!!! Yea me! I applied for a new position at the hospital as a Research Coordinator for investigational cancer drugs. I am still waiting to hear about that.
The biggest news is that I had my consultation with Dr. Katsis today. I really feel comfortable with him. He explained everything and even drew pictures. Drew them upside down mind you. My husband went with me too. We discussed the lap-band vs RNY and I told him that I wanted RNY. He agreed with my decision. I still have to get 1 yr of records for the office. I guess I will have to call my Gyn in New Orleans and have them faxed. I have to have a Pulmonary consult, and Echocardiogram and an EKG. I will have these scheduled soon. I also made my appointment to see the Dietician at Dr, Katsis's office. I will be doing that 3/13/07. Can't wait to get that "Bariatric Bible" evenyone talks about at the Support Group meetings.
Well, gots to go back to work tomorrow after being off for over a week....what fun!!! Til next time.
Michelle
The biggest news is that I had my consultation with Dr. Katsis today. I really feel comfortable with him. He explained everything and even drew pictures. Drew them upside down mind you. My husband went with me too. We discussed the lap-band vs RNY and I told him that I wanted RNY. He agreed with my decision. I still have to get 1 yr of records for the office. I guess I will have to call my Gyn in New Orleans and have them faxed. I have to have a Pulmonary consult, and Echocardiogram and an EKG. I will have these scheduled soon. I also made my appointment to see the Dietician at Dr, Katsis's office. I will be doing that 3/13/07. Can't wait to get that "Bariatric Bible" evenyone talks about at the Support Group meetings.
Well, gots to go back to work tomorrow after being off for over a week....what fun!!! Til next time.
Michelle
Valentine's Day
Feb 14, 2007
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! I went to a Support Group meeting last night. My daughter Holly went with me. It was very interesting. I actually to meet Staci (Sembers) at the meeting. I know that 1 meeting is mandatory before surgery, but I hope to be going to more.
I went to see my PCP today to complete month 2 of my 6 month supervised diet. She is so supportive, I can't believe it. She told me that she had 2 patients come in today that had RNY and both had lost over 100lbs. I can't wait until that is me!
Monday I had an appointment with my Psych and he is clearing me for surgery. Yippeee! He also started me on Ritalin for my Adult ADD. Imagine that, me with ADD? I had that feeling for a long time.
Hope everyone had a great day! Til next time...
Michelle
I went to see my PCP today to complete month 2 of my 6 month supervised diet. She is so supportive, I can't believe it. She told me that she had 2 patients come in today that had RNY and both had lost over 100lbs. I can't wait until that is me!
Monday I had an appointment with my Psych and he is clearing me for surgery. Yippeee! He also started me on Ritalin for my Adult ADD. Imagine that, me with ADD? I had that feeling for a long time.
Hope everyone had a great day! Til next time...
Michelle
Consult Scheduled
Feb 07, 2007
I called today and made the appointment for my consultation with Dr. Katsis. I am so excited and scared at the same time. Even though I have not made any major commitment, I have made the commitment in my mind. I also talked with one of the folks I work with who had the surgery about a month ago, and she told me that our insurance company requires 6 months of physician supervised diet. I am sooo glad that my PCP made the comment in my chart that we discussed diet and WLS!!! Now I only have 5 months to go. I guess my new goal is to have surgery before my 17th anniversary in September. I think July would be kinda pushing it. I guess I'll keep on chugging along and enjoy the ride!
Michelle
Michelle
2/5/07
Feb 04, 2007
Yippee!!!! It is finally Monday 2/5/07. Ok, so it is only 2am. Had to work today (Sunday) and had a pretty busy day. I came home and crashed on the chair. Ended up waking up just before 1am and went to get my shower. I have a busy day ahead. I have an appointment with my Psych this morning, my daughter has an appointment with her Ortho to check on her scoliosis and then, Educational Seminar! WooHoo!!!! I just hope Abi's back is ok. We went for our 2nd appointment in December and the curve in her back supposedly lost 5 degrees of the curve. Well, we went to try on clothes a couple of weeks ago and I caught sight of her back out the corner of my eye. To me, the curve looks worse than ever. After I made a comment about it, her twin Holly noticed it too. I just hope we get good news.
Michelle
Michelle
1/31/07
Jan 31, 2007
Well, the W2's are in and the taxes are just about done. WooHoo!!! I can't wait until the educational meeting Monday, if they have it. I has been snowing most of the day. I know we don't have the snows like they do in the north but, we usually only get 1-2 snows a year. This is number 3. Of course the weather man said it was going to be a mild winter!!! Yeah right... I guess I won't be online until Friday night, I have to work for the next 2 days. Oh well, someone's gotta do it.
Michelle
About Me
Jenks, OK
Location
41.7
BMI
Surgery
10/25/2007
Surgery Date
Jan 15, 2007
Member Since
