How my journey began

How my journey began..... 6/11/05 I went to the seminar for Dr. Phole 6/12/05 Called Dr. Pholes office and got a date of October 24th at 3:00pm 10/24/05 I went for my consultation today and I wish I could be gushing with excitement but I'm not. After gathering up notes from doctors, gathering medical records, shelling out money for co-payments, and arranging days off from work for appointments I find out Dr. Phole wants me to see a nutritionist for six months THEN come back. Why? Because he said my BMI is 38! I wanted to cry. I weighted in at 235lbs BUT I didn't relies until I got home that they measured my height at 5'6 not the 5'5 I really am due to the STUPID shoes I was wearing!!!! That robbed me of a whole point that could have made a difference! He said that if after the six months I don't lose anything witch I know I won't THEN we will proceed with the surgery. It was a very short and one sided conversation. I almost felt I was wasting his time. After he told me I had to see a nutritionist he then asked if I still wanted to hear about the surgery. Like the fact that he was shutting me down was going to make me not want this anymore and I was going to say no. I was so aggravated. He didn't let me say one thing in my behalf about why I wanted this surgery. I choked back tears, my voice cracked and my gut turned. Devastation was what I felt as I left his office. I cried the whole drive home wondering what I was going to do. Then I remembered hearing about another doctor! Maybe I still had a chance!!!! The next day 10-25-05 I called and got a date to see Dr. Roye of December 7th at 10am... I was so worried wondering if this time things were going to go better. I get to the appointment and get on the scale. Guess what? Low and behold my BMI is 41 NOT 38!!! DUAH... Helen begins to go over everything with me and asks what my coverage is. I tell her BCBS HealthMate Cost To Cost she then says "you'll be fine!" I left Dr. Royes office in tears but this time tears of joy!!!! On 12-20-2005 I was verbally approved over the phone!!!! Merry Christmas to me 12-23-05 received booklet to start appointments.. I went for my first test January 18th... February 22nd 2005 finished pre-op testing Testing completed in 35 days total!! Appointment for March 20 to see Doctor Roye and get my surgery date! If I had done what Dr Phole wanted me to do I'd be seeing him again in April.. Then from there he still could turn me away.. And if he didn't I would still be looking at another 2-3 months of getting my testing done dragging things out to August or September making it almost a year of chasing this dream with him. Waited to see Dr. Phole just over 4 months!!! Waited to see Dr Roye just over 1 month!!! What was I thinking??? For everyone beginning this journey always remember, if you want something bad enough there is always a way. You just have to be resourceful and never take no for an answer. For every door closed there is one waiting to be opened and you just have to find the right key!!!! Hugs NaDene

Congrats NaDene, I started to go the same route you went, but decided to go see Dr. Roye. I am going to have my surgery two weeks after I would have had my first appointment with Dr. Pohl. So glad I didn't wait. Cheryl