All those going through Ark. Rehab please help

Hi, I am new here. I guess you know that though. I stumbled onto this site while researching insurers. My insurance has an exclusion policy and I know I don't need to explain any further about that one. Well, it was here I found out that Ark Rehab would pay for this kind of operation. I never even dreamed about that. I have had asthma for some years now and it has gotten to the point where I had to quit work a year and a half ago. Some of my worst triggerers are perfume and air fresheners. I can't even go to church or shopping without getting sick. I have been trying to get dissability now and are in the process of appealing one judges decission. The DDS doctor agrees that I cannot do work where I will be exposed to lung irritants and for me that is anywhere people are. But, unfortunately the judge does not have to agree with him. To shorten this up a bit, I have been prednisone dependant for some time now and have gained SOOOOO much weight. I have always had a problem but in the past several years I have balloned to well over 350. I don't even know how much I weigh as the doctors scales won't weigh over 360. I figure close to 400. I have developed many co- morbidities. High blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea. Asthma is uncontrolled. My back and knees kill me. My legs are always swollen and hurt. I nicked them trying to shave and they have oozed clear liquid for days now. I guess it will quit someday. I am very sow to heal because of the prednisone and well I guess all that liquid has to go somewhere.I bumped the same leg in August last year and it took two months for that little place to heal and stop oozing. It is still red though. I mean it was just a little bump. Didn't even bleed enough for a bandaid. But I had to use many bandaids to keep the fluid from leaking all over my feet. Have an ongoing problem with my right ribs from coughing. Not broken but some how muscle or cartalige seperated form the rib cage? Very painful. The heaver I get the more steroids I have to take, the more steroids I take the more weight I gain. See the cycle. Well, I have been thinking back and have decided that this all started after weight gain in the first place and I never made the connection since I didn't think that could be it. But I am hoping and praying that if I can get this weight off my asthma will get better. Maybe even to the point where I can get into the world again. The doctors seem to be at a loss as to how to treat me except for steroids and the asthma meds I am on. The strongest ones available. Obviously prednisone is not going to help in the long run. I truely hope the weight loss will. At either rate I feel I won't be around much longer if I don't get it off. So this is where Ark. Rehab comes in. Supposedly they will pay, but you have to be able to go to work after it is all said and done. And that is the plan. She said that one had to have a BMI of 50 or higher. Unfortunately mine is much higher than that. And you have to have been on a doctor supervised diet for atleast 1 year. Well, I have been on doctor supervised diets. But not for a year at once and my insurance won't pay for anything like that. I have been on many other diets, just not doctor supervised. I don't have a year to play at the diet yo-yo game. I NEED this weight off now. (Yesterday!) I feel horrible! I have no quality of life. I can't do anything. I haven't had a good nights sleep in months. The folks that recently did my sleep study said I have 80 something recorded episodes of significent obstructive sleep and loss of oxogen as low as the 70's at times. No wonder I feel tired. So, Ark Rehab gave me these papers to fill out and it is all greek. One said to be filled out by the doctor. Is this my family doctor. Pulmonologist? Surgeon? Sleep study doctor? How long has it taken you to get a responce from them? Why, if you don't mind me asking did they deny you? What do I need to do to avoid problems you have had. Any hints and timely tips would be so appreciated. I need to light a fire under these folks. Mind you they have not dragged their feet. ( yet ) I am just now dealing with them. Thanks. Please respond to my questions here. I don't open mail from anyone I don't know. And my husband is not at all comfortable with me talking to folks on forums. This way he is not stressed over it. Thanks

Oh Bonnie! I really feel for you with all you have been through. I'm afraid I can't answer your questions about Ark. Rehab, but I know that others who frequent this board will be able to help you. Have you talked to a WLS doctor yet? I know that John W. Baker in Little Rock has several patients who have gone this route. Christy in his office could help answer your questions. They are very good at pushing the paperwork through all the various channels. I pray that WLS will be available to you and that it may turn out to be the key in reversing this terrible allergy/medication cycle that is causing you so much problem. I suspect that no one will know for sure whether it will actually help the allergies until they try it, but it should help the secondary weight-related problems. If I can help you, let me know... Joy Cook (surgery scheduled 3/1)

Oh Joy, Thank you for responding. I didn't want to put that it was urgent. But ofcourse it feels so urgent. I just wish I had tried something like this a year ago. ( before I got this big) I knew my insurance wouldn't cover it. I can't afford to pay for it and I figured what is the point. I haven't gone to my doctor much lately because I know what they will do. They always say to up the prednisone and call in antibiotics for the phenumonia (sp?) ect.... I just call them when I need something. And I haven't gone for the back and knee pain. I know what is causing it. The weight. I know what is causing the snoreing and sleep apnea, the weight. It is so humiliating to go to the doctor. The first thing they want to do is weigh you. I have to tell them I can't be weighed. The nurse looks at me and says " I have to weigh you." "I say no you don't understand, I weigh too much for those scales." They are nice enough but the humiliation is there none the less. And the scales are right there in the hall in front of God and everybody. And then I try and sit in those little chairs. Well, they aren't that little, I am too big. But you know what I mean. So I squeese my bottom into the chair, then they try and take my blood pressure with the normal cuff and it pops off. They change to the large cuff. Did they not know they would need the big one just looking at me? DID I MENTION I HATE GOING TO THE DOCTOR? ... LOL ... One more thing I wanted to ask.. Do any of you suffer from depression? I mean I have noticed at times the same feelings I had post partom. You know? Ofcourse I'm depressed about the way my life is now but this seems more biological than emotional? It's hard to explain except to compare to post partom depression. As far as the WLS surgery goes; I haven't decided on a doctor. I like what I have heard about the doctors in Little Rock, but haveing had surgery before for other stuff, I would not be looking forward to the ride home from there. Approximately 60-70 miles? That would be one rough trip I imagine. There are surgeons here that do it but not as a specialty and given all of my other problems I may try to go with one of the Little Rock surgeons anyway.So many things to consider. Thanks

OH JOY! I was reading your profile. Tell me that Dr. Baker doesn't yell at you. I don't do well with confrontation. Positive reinforcement is way better than constructive criticism. Since I have this problem with perfume and smells; and most public buildings are smelly with cleaners and airfresheners and other peoples perfumes. I really don't think I could stand that class ,orientation ,test,thingy. Is it mandatory. I mean can't he just give you the pamplet to read and ask questions at your exam time? I need as few exposures as possible. I guess I will call his office tomorrow and talk to them about it.

I can't answer that one, but Becky or Christy could. He is tough at first encounter, I think to try to weed out people who view WLS as an easy quick-fix. He wants to be sure that you are serious about doing your part to help yourself. Most people like him after the first round. He does have a big packet of material to read. I think the consult format is to establish an opportunity for some group support. It give everyone the benefit of hearing questions and answers that they might not have thought of asking. You need a cyber connection to it!!! Joy

Bonnie, Dr. Baker is no longer taking AR Rehab. I went through AR Rehab and only have good things to say about them. I did not have to have a Psych eval nor did Ihave to have a sleep study. I think it depends on each person. What you need to do is call your local office and just get started. They will tell you what you need to do etc. to comply with their list of specifications. I wish you luck and if you have any questions I will be happy to try and answer them. Angela Pruitt Dr. Baker Open-RNY 1-26-04 -26lbs.

Angela, Thank you for your responce. I went and talked to the councelor today for a minute. She gave me this list of things I have to have before they can even submit it before the medical review board. I meet all except I am not sure about the year medical supervised diet. I have done phen-phen for a time. Not a year. Lost weight. Gained it all and more back. Also while pregnant with my daughter I was on a medically supervised diet due to pregnancy induced diabetes. None of this was recent. My insurance won't pay for any weight controll program at all. I have done other diets, just not medically supervised. I am not at all sure what to do about that one. The mental evaluation is done by their doctor also a medical exam. Also I am suposed to get a form from a surgeon stating procedure and necessity. Called one today that my doctor refered me to and they want $300. for conference and $6000. up front even if Ark. Rehab pays for it. Needless to say I will have to find another surgeon. I have an appointment to turn all this in 03/01/04.

Hey, I also had my jaw broken and it was wired shut for 3 months when I was 16. I wonder if they will count that supervised diet? It was definately supervised and I lost lots of weight. Ofcourse I am 42 now and it has been a while. LOL.. I am going to try and use it anyway. Honestly, this whole process is very discouraging. I don't understand why they have to make it so difficult for someone to help themself. I mean if a person is willing to have SURGERY, then surely they are SERIOUS ENOUGH about wanting the weight gone and getting healthy.

try Dr Galvin at uams,,they have a web site for uams,,he did my surgery, and I am very happy,, Good Luck,,Steve

Thanks Steve. I will definately check on Dr. Galvin. Hey, your profile needs updating. How much weight have you lost thus far? How are you feeling? How is everything going? What is the best part so far? What is the worst thing so far? Thanks for all the help and good wishes. Oh, I hope you check here. I guess I will see in a few days.