I got a date!!......and other things

The last two days have been a whirlwind! First I found out I won my appeal ..yayy...an my Roux en Y is approved...and then I got my surgery date!! Its April 28 @7:30 in the morning. I was really bummed when I got my date for 2 reasons...  1. Its two months away. I have been waiting for soooooo long, I just wi**** were closer. I was prepared to deal with a month..but not two.. AND the 2nd reason is that is my birthday week. Happy Birthday to me!!  BUT my birthday is that saturday, May 3 ...and a party was planned... after all your birthday only lands on a saturday once every 6 years....Oh well, as disappointed as I am about that, nothing can take me off my high that...I HAVE A DATE!!! Has anyone seen Dr. Wasco in Neenah @ Theda? Any suggestions on how to keep my mind occupied or what I need to do to prepare? I welcome ALL advise and suggestions. My friends and family have been extremely supportive, but they don't really know what I am going through and they won't know the type of advise I need.... Denise

Congratulations! What a fantastic birthday present!

Yes, you are right, it IS the best birthday present I could give myself!!  Thanks so much!!

I have Dr Wasco too.  Did they say why the surgery date was so far out??  I am jumping through the hoops to have my surgery also.  Still doing phsych stuff and nut stuff.  I was hoping to have the surgery in April but it doesn't look that way.  I still need to get Insurance approval.   I am really disappointed to hear your date too.  I am just really frustrated going through all this.  I just want to get the surgery over with so I can get on to my new life.  I am sure you feel the same way too.   You might try another forum I have been visiting lots of advice and info.  They are great people over there.  And the the member that started it has a store front and wrote a book.   Good Luck Cindy

Hi Cindy, Aww, I'm sorry that you are bummed even further.  The Dr.'s are going on vacation at the end of March..I think that is what they told me. I called right away in the morning on Wednesday, and they told me they are booking into April for surgeries. Then they called back and say April 28. I said "wow, nothing sooner???"  and she said "Unfortunately not, we are completely booked up!"  I completely understand your feelings though, when I started my Journey I have everything "timed out" in my head. A six month diet here, a sleep study and psych exam there, insurance approval over here, and everything should be wrapped up in a neat little bow at the end of January...NOT.  This process will throw you a lot of curve balls....and yes it is very frustrating to go through all of this.  I felt that x 100 after I had my first denial.  For months and months I jumped through hoops... and for what? So someone could deny me and make a decision on my future health? I think not!!  So I fought, and I won. My future is mine to decide, no one elses. Do you mind if I ask you who is your insurance?  It sounds like you have already met Dr. Groh. I would be willing to give any information if you would like it, since I have already been through everything, and 2 appeals. I can help you out there if you would like. If it means anything..I started this Journey "officially" in July, and it will have taken me 10 months until i have the surgery.  Like I said... i'm sorry you were bummed out further, I COMLETELY understand and feel where you are coming from, because I have felt that way too. Please let me know if there is anything at all that I can help you with, or explain for you with this process.  Take care... and best of luck!!!!! 

Wow, I am like you never thought it would take this long.  Oh well, Everything happens for a reason.  Some day I will know the reason.   I have Medicare, United Health care and Medicaid so I imagine gettng a insurance approval is going to be hard.  Yes I saw Dr. Groh.  He said I wasn't ready for surgery I was in crisis and too depressed.  But, the therapist I see monthly did not think so So someone could deny me and make a decision on my future health? This is the way I feel about Dr. Groh he sees me once and I answer 300 questions.  But again it is all for a reason.  I found this forum and another very informative forum on the net and bought 2 books and feel that I am now well prepared.   You take care too and good luck we will probably see each other in the post surgical support group.

we have the same insurance, and I can tell you all about the appeals process if needed.  Also the process with what we have to go through for insurance to just make sure we have everything in.  I had heard ahead of time that Dr Groh had theh power to delay my surgery... so when I went in there I didn't lay everything out on the table, but I didn't lie either. As far as those 300 questions... I know.. I hated that. They would ask you the same question in many different way to see how you would answer. Be sure not to miss a month on your 6 month diet. If you miss one month they veto it and you have to start ALL OVER with month one. Also, if your BMI is over 40, you need one life threatening co morbidity that canNOT be controlled by medical intervention. I have rather severe sleep apnea and they denied me because I could use the cpap machine to control my apnea. I had to get document proof and and updated sleep study to prove to them I have severe clausterphobia and could not tolerate the cpap machine. Yes... we will meet is a post surgical support group!!

My BMI is like 52 I have diabetes, high blood pressure, high colesterol, gerd and Chronic kidney disease ~~ all which can be cured or made better with the surgery.  I am already arguing with UHC because they don't want to pay for some test because they do not cover WLS.  I reminded them they must because Medicare does and I do have comorbidities so now I am waiting to find out if they are going to pay, it is in research now.   Thanks for the offer of help as I progress I will be calling on you for help.

Congratulations on winning your appeal.  As for your question "has anyone seen Dr Wasco?".  Yes , I did for several years.  Get used to the waiting.  My first bariatric surgery date with him was cancelled one week before surgery.  The office manager told me it was because Dr Georgen had a family emergency and Dr wasco had to cover.  Dr Wasco said it was a scheduling conflict on the part of the scheduler.  Who to believe, but that should have been my first clue.  One week before I had everything arranged with my employer, my family and all of those details that have to be taken care of.  However, I rearranged and surgery was about 3 weeks after the originally scheduled date.  My Mother always told me to never settle for anything less than the best, and I did once in my life - when I continued care with Kevin Wasco.  Things were unevebtful until such time as my lap band had slipped and had to be removed.  I have NEVER been well since.  Kevin Wasco made some half hearted attempts in trying to determine what was wrong, but basically just passed me around from Dr to Dr, and each time the physician I was referrred to said I should continue with Kevin Wasco.  They felt it was bariatric in nature and that was his specialty.  So I stupidly listened to these "specialists" and kept returning to Kevin Wasco (incidently, I recently picked up my medical records from their office and in my records ,among many other fabrications and ommissions, he stated that I "Dr. shop").  I would like him to provide me with a list of ALL the Dr's I saw which he did NOT refer me to, but I am sure he won't (and can't) do that.  I want your surgery to go well, but I'm going to pass along the same information my Mother always gave me - "Never settle for less than the best because you are worth only the best".  Perhaps spend this month or so researching - perhaps you could ask if Dr Georgen could do your surgery instead.  There are lots of clinics in his area.  Don't be fooled by Kevin Wasco because when you really and truely need him he won't be there.  If things get tough he'll find a way to get you out of his way instead of being a man and dealing with the problem at hand.  I will make the same offer I have made to others on this website (and 7 people have taken me up on the offer by sending me a private e-mail).  I have all of my records relative to the care given by Kevin Wasco.  They were certified by his office manager, Julie Scott, and retrieved in the presence of Julie Scott, my husband, an attorney and myself.  I am happy to send them to anyone, in their entirety, should anyone want to read the things written by Kevin Wasco (this professed caring, compassionate individual).  The last person *****ad them told me he actually wanted to vomit after he read them .  He said he could not believe a physician would write things like that about a patient.   Just remeber - you deserve the best!!!  You don't have to "settle".  I did and it almost cost me my life!

I must say, you have me curious and I appreciate your words of caution. please send me your private email to my  message board so I can contct you.  You have given  me reason to pause..