Hiiiii Dixie!!!  You loooook faaaaaab-U-lous  (did that sound like Billy Crystal to you?hehe)

Well, yesterday was the day.  I went to Grinnell, nervous & excited.  The staff was very friendly (I knew they would be!!), and helpful.   They took a picture of me for the file (I'll have to see if I can get a copy of that someday hehe), and I had to do a breathe test to check for bacteria in my stomache (more about that in a min).  Then Dr. Kermode came in and we chatted for a bit.  Apparently, the staple line *&* the band from my VBG have disappeared.  There was no real indication from my last GI that I had had the VBG (had in in 1999, and the GI was in 03).  So, that right there should be enough to get approval (I HOPE) from the insurance.  I gave them my WW documentation, and they made a copy for my file.  They also set me up for an upper GI on Wednesday.   The breathe test found that I have h pylori infection.  So I am on some MAJOR anti-biotics for the next two weeks (2 prevacid, 4 amox, and 2 Biaxin everyday!!).  The only things that I need now are the psychological eval (and MMPI), and a letter from my general practitioner.   I got home, and the letter from my GP had come in the mail (of course!), and I called to set up an appointment with the psych that they use, and low and behold, they have an opening on Wednesday!! 

SO, tomorrow, I go in and get the GI done in the morning (the barium kind), then run over to the doc's office to drop off the letter, and on to the psych eval.   All that's left after that is the WAITING!!!  My case will go through the other doc's (the "board") of the surgical group for approval, and then on to insurance.  The doc's meet every Thursday, so maybe they'll talk about me this week(depends on how soon the results from my testing is sent to them).   I would LOVE to hear back before the holidays, but I'm not really expecting to.  I figure after the first of the year.  YAY!!!  What a way to start the new year off!!!   Mel