Monday is my Pre-Op Visit

It's flying, the time, I can''t believe in just a few short weeks my entire life will be changed....Nov. 6, surgery date....wow, it is almost unbelivable. I've told a few people that I knew would encourage me, but I haven't told my family about the surgery yet...I don't know if I will tell them at all because I know they will be very discouraging at the least. I wi**** were different with them, but it's not. Thank God, I have some friends and my husband and children are ok with it. My son, is not so sure, but prayerfully he'll understand soon enough. My children are 21 and 23 and they also have weight issues. I pray that they don't walk the same road I did, and that they start looking toward a better eating pattern and a healthy way to live. This board is so great. I feel like I can just chatter on and on, but I won't Thank you for being here for me..... Linda

Hey Linda, Congrats to you on your surgery date! Thats great news. Im still dealing with the insurance Co. You know how that goes. Its one thing after another with them and they are just dragging me down. I went to all my appointments and the seminar which was last night so Im finally finished with it all except the insurance co wants me to send them my last 2 yrs of diet history, They have 8 yrs worth and its still not enough, Im just so tired of dealing with them but I want this surgery so bad Im not giving up the fight. Did you have any problems dealing with them? I did go to weigh****chers last year but it was only for a few months so now they want me to get records from weigh****chers and Im not sure if they keep any records. Im so bumbed out about this. I have to go to 2 differnt places because we had moved while I was on weigh****chers and had to attened another place in Charlotte. Well, we will see what happens. Im glad everything is going smooth for you and you will be on your journey before you know it. GOOD LUCK to you Linda and Take Care Denise

Hi Denise, I'm glad you wrote....I have MUSC Options and I had no problem whatsoever. Everything moved so quick. I called the beginning of October, got the packet, filled it out, sent it to the surgeon's office, then I called the surgeon's office to make sure they received the packet, when i did this she gave me an appointment to go to the seminar and then to talk with the dietian, the shrink and the doc. My appointment was Oct. 5 and I then called one week later to see what the status was, they sent the paperwork to Insurance. I received a call within 2 days and was approved. There is a catch to all of this rush, rush. My Insurance will no longer pay for WLS after this year. Thank God, I got in when I did. I gave a history on the weight loss programs I had been in and that seemed enough, they haven't asked for anything else. My surgery was scheduled for Dec. 4, but it got moved up to Nov. 6...cool. I'm sure everything will work out, keep pushing them...call, Doctor, Insurance, push PUSH - PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS Linda

We're so sorry the insurance company is jerking you around. The only thing I can say is that whatever they put you through, it is worth it just to get this surgery. You can't imagine the fantastic changes ... Not just weight loss ... But, health & abilities & attitude & lifestyle ... Don't give up, Ms Denise. It'll be soooooooooo worth it! God bless you ... Dawn & Nick

Thank you Lady D Its really been a rough weekend for me and I dont know what to do next. I went to to weigh****chers were I use to go so I can get some information from them on when I attended and how long but it did no good as they told me they dont keep any records of anyone after they stop coming to meetings. I was really suprised to hear that. I had atteneded 2 different weigh****chers meetings last year for about 5 months, one in Charlotte and then I moved to Fort Mill SC so attended there, the bad thing is I lost my card with all my dates and weigh ins that I had and can not for the life of me find it anywhere so Im sure while we were still unpacking things from moving it got lost or thrown out by accident. They told me at the surgeons office that the insurance co told them that if I didnt have any of these records that I would be denied. So Im so upset now and dont Know what to do next. They wanted something from the last 2 yrs of medical supervised diet and now I have nothing to give them I guess I will have to write a letter telling them what happened and see what happens from there. Like I told Linda I have given my sugeons office 8 yrs of medical records and diet medications Ive been on and its still not enough. Well Im just praying that all works out and God will give me the will power to hang in there. Thank you all so much for your concern. I love everyone here on OH you guys are the BEST! Denise

We are so sorry, Ms Denise. Sometimes it just doesn't seem like we will ever get to where we want to be, but the only way that happens is for us to give up ... Sooooooo, take a deep breath & do what you can. When you went to the Weigh****chers programs, was there a leader of the group or a weight-loss buddy who could write a letter for you noting that you did attend & followed the program? Did you happen to mention your attendance to any of your Doctors where they would have noted your weight loss attempts in your medical records? They could write a letter on your behalf ... Last ditch effort ... You sit down & write the most detailed letter you can ... Where you went, how long, what problems & successes you had, what kinds of foods, drinks & exercises you were on, who was your group leader or weight loss buddy ... What kind of medical help or prescriptions you were taking along with the Weigh****chers plan. Check your check book or receipts for dates ... Did you pay fees or buy Weigh****chers foods or books or products? If you have very sketchy info for the last 2 years, then continue your information (even if you've already given it before, write it again) for even further back. As a big "explanation point", I always suggest that you write a letter detailing your medical issues (co-morbs) that you expect to be cured or helped &&& write about your lifestyle issues that are negatively effected by obesity. Don't just say, "I have high blood pressure" but note how long you've had it, what different medications you've taken, how this is one of the first conditions to normally disappear with the change after surgery. Don't just say that you can't get in & out of the tub by yourself, but describe how your joints ache or you don't have strength or balance any longer, & how your husband has to help you & how humiliating it is. Be sure to mention how you have investigated this surgery for how ever long, that you are active on this support board & exactly how you expect this surgery to assist you in correcting specific medical & lifestyle problems. Remember, your letter will be read by real human beings with their own problems & you want them to relate to your pain & to the hope this surgery offers. You go girl! Give it ALLLLLLLLLLLL you got! Details, details, details!!!!!!! God bless you ... Dawn & Nick

LINDA, CONDRATULATIONS ON GETTING YOUR SURGERY DATE. YOU'RE IN FOR A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE, DOESN'T MATTER WHICH SURGEON YOU HAVE. DR. BYRNE DID MY SURGERY BUT DR. MORGAN DROPED IN FOR A VISIT AND WAS GREAT. REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR FAMILY THINKS YOU'RE DOING THE BEST THING FOR YOU. I'M SURE THEY'LL COME AROUND EVENTUALLY, BESIDES, IT'S WHAT YOU THINK AND FEEL, AND YOU KNOW IT'S THE BEST THING FOR YOU. MY FAMILY ALSO HAVE A WEIGHT ISSUE, ALWAYS HAVE. I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT SINCE I STARTED EATING DIFFERENTLY PRIOR TO THE SURGERY SO HAS MY FAMILY WHICH LEADS THEM TO ALSO LOSING WT. W/O THINKING OF IT. WHEN YOU COME OUT OF RECOVERY AND INTO YOUR ROOM YOU'LL BE TIRED FOR AWHILE. IT'S IN YOUR BEST INTERESTS IF, AFTER A FEW HOURS YOU GET UP IN THE CHAIR THEN ATTEMPT TO WALK DOWN THE HALL, THAT IS IF YOU HAVE A GOOD PAIN TOLERANCE. I'M NOT SAYING THE SURGERY WAS VERY PAINFUL BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE LOW PAIN THRESHOLDS, I'M NOT ONE OF THEM. USE YOUR INDCENTIVE SPIROMETER, IT HELPS GET THE ANESTHESIA OUT OF YOUR LUNGS QUICKER. IF YOU GO IN W/ A POSITIVE ATTITUDE HELPS ALOT. BEST OF LUCK W/ YOUR SURGERY, I'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU. DONNA, SFY

Dr. Byrne is amazing, and the staff at MUSC is just awesome!! Pre-op is a long day...take some crackers or something, be prepared to stay a long time! It is very interesting, and don't really expect him to be all warm and fuzzy, although I have to say he sat and answered one lady's questions very patiently and we were all ready to strangle her because she was asking things he had answered already. This is exciting for you!! Have a great day!!! Not too long to wait!! CONGRATS!!! Oh, don't forget to buy your Magic Bullet blender now....it will save you!! Deb

I had some family members that were not as supportive as I had hoped ... more than anything, they just needed educating. Once I took the time to explain all I had learned about the surgery, as well as telling them how miserable I was being unable to lose the weight ... most of them came around. And I finally came to the conclusion that their lack of support was NOT going to keep me from doing what I knew I had to do for my own health and happiness. Also have a 26 year old son who has struggled with weight for the last few years. He and his wife are working on healthier eating and exercise habits. I hate knowing I passed on the genes AND the bad habits that he's now struggling to overcome. My 24 year old daughter, who was a pencil until a year ago, is now miserable with about 25 extra pounds as well. The LAST thing I want for either of my children is for them to live the same way I have lived for the last many years. November 6th, here comes Linda! Dawn

WE ARE SOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU, MS LINDA. I REMEMBER MY PRE-OP & I WAS FLYIN' HIGH, FOR SURE! THE LAST HURDLE BEFORE SURGERY! WOWOWOWOW!!!!! NOT TO WORRY ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS ... THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED, EMOTIONALLY-CHARGED ISSUE & IT EVOKES ALL SORTS OF REACTIONS. THE ONLY THING IS HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SURGERY FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR HEALTH & LIFE. STICK WITH US HERE ON THE BOARD ... WE UNDERSTAND & WE SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS. GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICK