Ready To Give Up

I started this process almost 3 years ago and I thought I was so close to the end just to find out I'm actually at the beginning. It has been such a struggle to get everything done and now I have to do most of it over. I called Dr. Allen's office 3 weeks ago and left several messages for Celeste and only after calling and talking to her supervisor did she finally call me back last week. I assumed that my records from the required testing had been submitted to Medicaid almost 2 months ago when she informed me that now I have to go through 6 months of doctor supervised weight loss. I don't understand why they didn't tell me this months ago. After doing the weight loss thing, all of my tests will be expired and I have to start over. It took my primary care physician's office 9 months just to get the pulmonary part done. I'll have to do the stress test and everything over again which means I'm looking at possibly another year or longer. This is frustrating and I'm seriously ready to give up. While these doctors are sitting back wasting time, my health is declining. From the beginning of this process I have gone from being able to walk on my own and only needing 10 pain pills every 3 months; now I'm having to use a walker and I'm having to take 90 pain pills a month. I hate pain medication and I cry every time I think about how close I am to being in a wheelchair.  I have tried to remain positive and optimistic throughout this whole process but that's getting more difficult everyday. Has anyone else been through this? And of so, how did you keep from giving up? I really need advice. Thanks for taking time to read my post.

I am sorry you are havng to go through all of this. I know it sucks right now but all this work will be worth it. Maybe if you just stay on them and start doing some of the testing now on top of the 6 month supervised weight loss you would be able to finish those at the same time.  I think the thing to remember is that the doctor and staff are supposed to be working for you not against you. If you don't like the way thigs are being handled switch doctors. This is a long journey and not a magical cure. Keep at it, hopefully things will be better for you. Good Luck!!

sweetie i know where you are coming from.. i had all my testing done only to find out there was a new exclusion added to our insurance..crap a little over a year later my husband got military insurance  to get approved had to most of the testing over but we done it i got approved a nd my surgery date is 2/15.. So DONT GIVE UP it will happen  Try a diffrent doctor or call your insurance and see if they can help Dr .Sonnastine and his office staff are great and they helped with the insurance approval. I t helps having someone to talk to so email me if you need someone... Take care

DONT GIVE IN -IT TOOK ME OVER 2 YEARS TO HAVE MY WLS AND IM 1 YEAR POST OP NOW AND I LOOK BACK AND THERE WAS A COUPLE TIMES THAT I ALMOST GAVE IN ---TIMES ID BREAKDOWN AND CRY ---JUST DONT GIVE UP PLZ-ITLL BE WORTH THE WAIT

Dont give up.  Usually on their required testing paper it will tell you that they need the 6 month supervised diet stuff.  I hate that yours didnt.  My paper even said it and I didnt have to have it for my insurance. I was with another surgeon thinking I would be gettin a surgery date soon only to finally be told I was nowhere near done and then the kicker...  That the surgeon I had first choose couldnt do surgery until some certifications came through. I then picked Dr Allen and have been glad I did.  The staff can suck at times.  But I will say Celest was great to me.  If it hadnt been for her the one named Bridgette would still be sittin there with my paperwork swearin I need more tests. Start a diet, any diet.  Diabetes association diet, or heart assoc diet.  Whatever it is.  Go see ur pcp about ur weight and make sure he documents it and that u are starting a diet.  Then go back every month for 6 months and weigh in and talk to the doc.  Make sure it is all documented though! Best of luck. DONT GIVE UP!  You're worth it!

Thanks so much for the support. You guys are great. I have an appointment with my PCP tomorrow and I'm going to get this diet thing started and also see if I can start the required testing now so I can get it over with. It feels like I just finished all of these annoying tests just to have to do them again. This time I will not let my PCP's office take their time scheduling them. I plan on being completely ready in 6 months. I just hope the cardiologist will understand and be willing to do another stress test and give me surgical clearance again. Anyway, thanks for the replies. I do feel better and I'm determined to do what is necessary to get where I need to be.

Please don't give up....This time last year, I thought I was only days away from getting a date.  i had completed everything the surgeon required but a couple of weeks earlier  my insurance changed their criteria, and I had to also do the 6 month diet.  I was just like you ready to give up.....l had  luckily started a diet in January, and  my diabetic doctor had noted it, so I went in every month and weighed at his office, when my 6  months was up I again submitted my info...found out not documented well enough for the insurance...again I started over because now I was mad and determined.   Half way through the second six months, the surgeon  changed HIS criteria, and would no long accept patients who had a BMI over 50 with my insurance....so now I have completed the 6 month diet requirement for my insurance, have lost 40lbs, and  I need a new surgeon.. but that will happen.... Don"t let the obstacles that show up get the best of you     YOU get the better of them  and  become determined to beat whatever is thrown at you because I truly believe its so worth the outcome. When you go to your pcp tomorrow, tell him what diet you will follow, and make sure that is documented....  schedule all your appointments for the next  5 months  (tomorrow will be your first)  to be weighed,  and make sure it is documented everytime  with other vitals.   You can do this...when it gets hard...come here, lot of great people here to be your cheerleaders and support.    good luck     Belinda   

hi, my name is Lisa and I am from Magoffin county, I have tried for years to get the surgery done, I think if you aren't happy with the weight loss staff you have now, maybe you should call kings daughters in ashland, they have been awesome to me, the only thing was, I do not remember telling me i had to see my pcp every month for 6 months, and then when i was waiting for approval and never heard anything I called and I had missed one month with my pcp and had to go for 3 more months, then in De****pt waiting for approval, only to call them in Jan. and found out they didn't have 3 of my tests that I had taken, I had to get on the phone and call the places get them to fax all the info, and then finally 3 days later I was approved. I am assuming I was already approved. I go see  the surgeon on the 4th to schedule surgery, please don't think about quitting now, I am 44 and get in worse pain and shape every day. so hang in there. if you need to talk or anything you can find me here sometimes or I check my myspace every few hours when I am home, you can find me at www.myspace.com/greeneyesfromky if you leave a message just make sure you put something about weight loss or something so I won't delete it. have faith and say a prayer, it helps. Lsia