Help! Need a Mentor and/or Pen Pal on PreCert Program to Get through this

I would like to find a mentor, i.e. someone who is about my age and station in life and who has gone through the RNY who is willing to help guide me through this. AND/OR I would like to find someone who is in the same boat as me, i.e. just starting the precert diet and who wants to vent and cheer each other along. I am having a tough time dealing with the precert supervised diet. Not because I can't do it, but because I have been researching and soul searching since 2003 and I am now ready to go. At the last minute I found out that I have to do this 6 month thing (like I haven't lost weight and gained it back more times than I can count). Anyway, other than that I am pretty excited about this whole process. While I wait for surgery I have become very educated about this process. In fact, my hubby says I am obsessed with it all and I think he is probably right. In fact, I am probably driving my skinny friends and family nuts. I would be happy to share all that I know with someone and/or learn more (I am sure there is much still to learn). I would like to find someone who is not too far off of my age (I am 43) and might have other things in common with me. It would be great if you live in the St. Louis, Missouri area, or plan on using (or have used) Dr. de la Torre as your surgeon, but that isn't necessary. I am married, have no kids (two kitties and a little dog are our kids) and I am an attorney by trade (but not presently working). Hope to hear from you! Jennifer S.

Hi Jennifer, My name is Eileen but everyone calls me Bel. I have just about finished my paper work, waiting on a revised Pcp letter. Hope to get it next week and then mail my paper work to DePaul and Dr de la Torres. I don't know if I will have to do the 6 month precert diet. I guess I will have to wait to see what they say and what the insurance company says. I'm turning 45 next Wednesday. I'm married and have 2 kids, both boys. One is 20 and about to make me a grandmother and one is 7. I live in Ofallon, MO. I am a Helpdesk person and telecommute to my company on the east coast. I have one dog, her name is Riley. I would be happy to be your friend. Email me anytime you want or we can chat here. Good luck, Bel

Bel love your beautiful red hair. thanks for putting up a picture. It makes all the difference in the world in getting to know someone. Jan

Jan, thanks so much for the complement about my hair. Everyone here has been so nice. I can't wait to really get rolling you all are such an inspiration! Hugs Bel

Jennifer welcome to the Missouri Board. We are so glad to have you on here. Im sure you will find lots of answers to your questions and there are alot like you that are just beginning their trip and then there are the seasoned ones that are post op. some a month or two out some close to a year out and some as much as 5 years out. so Im sure we can find the answers to your questions somewhere. Keep comeing to the board and welcome . Glad to have you here. Jan

Thanks, for the welcome, Jan. Look at you! I can't wait to be where you are. How exciting. I am sure you are still working hard to keep up the momentum, but it is exciting to see result in numbers and clothing sizes! thanks again, Jan. Jennifer

Jennifer, Welcome to the Missouri Board. You'll find lovely, friendly people here who will be more than glad to help you. I'm not close to your age, I'm 62, but still working and loving my new life. I had to do the pre-certification 6 months diet so I do know about that. I had my surgery performed by Dr. Edwards at St. John's in Springfield on 12/26/06 and as of today I've lost 70 pounds. Of course, I count from my weight when I started on the journey, I've lost 44 pounds since surgery. I have about 30-35 pounds to go to goal. If you have any questions or need cheering up about the six month period, that's my specialty. I would love to share anything I can with you. Hugs and love, Lana

Thanks Lana, It is so encouraging to see people like you whisking down the scale post-op. From what I have read, it isn't as easy as it looks, but it sure is a welcome change to the excitement followed by disappointment of our many conventional attempts. I am guarded about getting too excited about WLS. It seems that every time I step up to the plate something gets in the way. First, ins. didn't cover it, then I had no insurance or job for several years, now I have insurance, got my ducks in a row and found out about this 6 month diet thing. This isn't as bad since it is only six monhts, but it is still something in the way, so I am fighting daily to keep focused. I am a worrier (massive understatement) so I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I can't wait for surgery so it is finally in MY hands and not in the hands of the insurance companies. Did you have the same problems keeping focused during that six months? Jennifer

Jennifer, I didn't have trouble keeping focused. I am very determined and I talked to the person at my insurance responsible for approval and I kept in touch with her often, we actually became pretty good friends. I kept seeking reassurance that they would approve me if I did the six months and kept meticulous records and although she would never promise I felt like it could happen. I won't say I didn't have moments of doubt but I just kept pushing on. I had to go to a specific program for exercise, weekly meetings, monthly appointments with nutritionist and also monthly meetings with the exercise physiologist and also see my PCP monthly. It was quite rigorous and if I had not had the cooperation of my boss and close co-worker it would have been really hard to make all those appointments and meetings. But it all worked out and I'm so happy. I do know how you feel about the other shoe dropping. I was actually on my way to North Carolina for a mini-reunion when I got the call that I should go ahead and schedule surgery and I wouldn't call anyone to tell them because I felt like it would jinx my approval. Silly now but at the time it felt so real. I suggest you try to get your insurance to put in writing the steps you have to complete to get approval. Mine never would but it would help you feel like you were doing everything they needed. I kept my food intake on FitDay.com and printed it out every month and took it to my PCP to put in my chart (it's so thick I have two now). The program where I exercised kept a chart of my weight and attendance at meetings but I asked for copies every month and kept them in a notebook. I didn't want to take a chance of anything getting lost. You just have to be so dedicated to yourself and try to make your insurance company know that you are going to do whatever it takes to get this lifesaving surgery. I always made sure to mention that I would probably die from my co-morbidities if I wasn't approved. Don't weaken or give up. You are so worth the effort!!! Hugs and love, Lana

Lana, you are a gem Thanks for your kind words and valuable information. This site and people like you are so helpful. Did you ever think that you would be one of the ones who inspire others to do this? Maybe, just maybe I will get through this and be another one to inspire and motivate others! I am having problems with my ins. company giving me any guidance at all on the diet and exercise program. I have set up meetings with my dietitian (at my surgeon's office) once a month, I use FitDay as well and I have appointments on with my PCP monthy (alternating with dietitian so I am checked by someone twice a month). I am also visiting with my therapist 2 x a month for hynotherapy and behavior modification. I do not have a supervised exercise program, but I am logging my short walks, mild stretching and work with hand weights. Hopefully that will be good enough. _________________________________________________________ The provision in my policy reads: The patient has received non-surgical treatment (e.g., dietitian/nutritionist consultation, low calorie diet, exercise program, and behavior modification) and attempts at weight loss have failed. The patient must participate in and meet the criteria of a structured nutrition and exercise program. This includes dietitian/nutritionist consultation, low calorie diet, increased physical activity, behavioral modification, and/or pharmacologic therapy, documented in the medical record. This structured nutrition and exercise program must meet all of the following criteria: a. The nutrition and exercise program must be supervised and monitored by a physician working in cooperation with dieticians and/or nutritionists; and b. The nutrition and exercise program(s) must be for a cumulative total of 6 months or longer in duration; and c. The nutritional and exercise program must occur within two years prior to the surgery; and d. The patient's participation in a structured nutrition and exercise program must be documented in the medical record by an attending physician who supervised the patient's progress. A physician's summary letter is not sufficient documentation. Documentation should include medical records of the physician's on-going assessments of the patient's progress throughout the course of the nutrition and exercise program. For patients who participate in a structured nutrition and exercise program, medical records documenting the patient's participation and progress must be available for review. ______________________________________ It doesn't specify what kind of exercise program or that I need to see a trainer or exercise physiologist, but I just don't want to go 6 months just to get denied because I didn't do that part right. Do you think I will be okay if I just write down an exercise plan with my PCP and my dietitian and show progress via FitDay and my doctor's and dietitian's notes? I just don't have the money to spend on an organized exercise program. Thanks again, Jennifer