Today I got a call from Dr Chua office to schedule appt with him

Finally after 2 weeks waiting for Dr Chua office to call. I got the call this afternoon. I have appt with him on Tuesday June 30th at 2 pm. They are sending another packet of stuff to be filed out. Also they said not to eat or drink anything 1 hour prior to coming for the appointment. What is this test they are going to do? Does it hurt or have to drink something gross? Also what are these forms they will be sending me? I just had ultrasound last week to see if I had gallstones as I was having pain in my upper right part of my stomach under my ribs. Well they called today no gallstones. Everything was normal except I have enlarge spleen! What does that mean? Will this stop the surgery? I called my dr office back ask for it to be fax to me so I can bring it to my appt or fax it myself to Dr Chua office. Well they said they would and here I am still waiting for it to be fax. hmm. Should I pick up the films from it to bring to him so he can see for himself besides the written report. I also had blood work done to see if there were other problems and everything came out fine. I do have low iron it is at 11 something and the low end of the scale is 12 I believe. But I wasn't put on any iron supplements. I am taking the bariatric advantage multi vitamin chewable already. I am also trying out the protein drinks as well. So now the doctor thinks the pain was due to my constipation problem. I take miralax as needed for it. I also been eating apples, popcorn, and fiber one bars. Nothing seems to be helping. So I pick up some benefiber stick packs to add to my water bottle. That still hasnt' done anything but give me uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. And I also pick up some metamucil. Haven't try it yet. I am drinking water and also special k protein water it also has fiber in it.
How long is this appointment? How long does it take to get a decision back? Do they send it out right away. And with the 4th of July weekend coming up. As I see the surgeon on the 30th of June. How long does it take to get surgery schedule after you are approved? When are the test order for the surgery? 

Sounds like thing are rolling right along.  Have you had the H.Pilori test?  That's probably what test they are giving you.  I don't remember any other test causing me to fast for Dr. Chua's office.

They will send Dr. Chua everything he requests, so you won't need to go get the films, unless you feel more comfortable doing so.  I personally had everything put in a binder with tab pages and everything.  Every test, medical records, all the packet paperwork, etc.  But, they had most of the stuff - I'm glad I did and made an exact copy for myself b/c when they sent it over, they missed a fax to the insurance company and I was able to tell them where in the packet it was to have them refax it over.

It takes a few days for them to get everything together and faxed over to the insurance company and depending on the insurance company it can take up to a week or two to hear something.  I had TriCare, and they usually only take a couple of days, I was impatient and called and found out that they were missing the one test, so I called Dr. Chua's office, had them refax it and was approved the next day.  As soon as I was approved by Tricare and Dr. Chua's office was notified, I was scheduled for surgery 2 weeks later.  It goes FAST! 

I personally take Miralax every single day!  It is the only way I don't get backed up.  I also eat quite a bit of fruit.  I can tolerate fruit sugars, but regular sugar and some substitues cause me to dump.   When I was first out, I took stool dulcolax and suppositories, but I finally found Miralax and it is the only thing that keeps me regular and comfortable.  Everyone is different, so you'll have to work with your system to figure it out... :o)

Good luck at your appointment!  Things are moving right along!!  YEAH!

What is the test you are talkign about. She mention the name but already forgot the name. I know you cant have anything to drink, eat or smoke for 1 hour prior to seeing him. Something to do with the stomach I think. It took 6 months to get to this point. I hope sometime in July to have this done and over with. I want to be down to 250 by my 45th birthday which is August 17th the same day my kids go back to school. And if I get the surgery in July the kids will still be in summer day camp so my hubby wouldnt' have to worry about them as well. So keeping my fingers cross that i get approved and get it done sometime in July.

if it is the test i think it is then its no problem.  you blow air into this special bag, drink some bitter lemonade stuff i kinda liked it, and then blow into another special bag.  they are testing for bacteria and stuff in your stomach.  i think the worst part of all the preop testing was when i had to drink the barrium for my upper gi testing.  nothing like thick pasty chalk first thing in the morning.  i went for the test at 7am.  they are pretty good at getting your surgery scheduled right away too once you get approved.  but i actually picked a date that was a month away on purpose because thats when my mom was off in case i needed help.  i havent a clue as to how long it took me to get approved i think it was like a week i don't remember.  that all seems so long ago now.  so sit back and enjoy the ride its all gonna start moving from this point on.  and i can't believe you get to see dr chua on the 30th the first available appointment i could get for a follow up was july 17th.  anywho enjoy

HOw long does it take to get that specific test back to see if you do have the bacteria. I am concern about this unknown enlarged spleen on the ultrasound. The nurse practioner who order the test since my dr was out that day order the test. She wasn't concern about it said to follow up with my doctor which i have appt schedule at the end of July. But may have to reschedule earlier in the month if my surgery gets approve. Then I will have to go for exam for surgery. Right? My regular dr has to release for the surgery right? 

I was suprised to get in so fast. As I been waitingn for them to call me for the last 2 weeks when I finish my 6 month supervised diet. They gave me the date they had available. Wonder how long it takes Dr Chua office to get the stuff out to the insurance company. Do they send in the mail or fax to the insurance company?

He has all my records she said I had a very big file. YEP sure do! Any ways I told them about the test I had and want to see if he would like the results and they said fine.

the test is pretty instant i think it took like 5 minutes and they had results.  its done right there in the office.  i have no idea who or if you need to be released to chua for surgery.  my docotr just wrote my letter of medical necessity and that was all i needed him for.  except for bein fat i was healthy.  i do believe they fax to the insurance company but i'm not 100% sure.  but i'm i'm pretty sure. i've seen my file there and it looked small i don't think i have alot in mine but then again i am only 24. 

Well I did get my doctor to fax me the ultrasound report and the blood work as well. The ultrasound said it was unremarkable except for the mild splenomegaly. My hemoglobin was 11.2 which is low normal is 12.0-15.5. wbc was 9.5, rbc was 4.27 in normal limits. MCHC 30.9 low normal rangel 32.0-36.5, RDWCV 15.5 was high 11.0-15.0 is normal range. My chloride was 97 normal range is 98.7, carbon dioxide was 31 on high side normal is 22-30 My glucose was 71 and this was late afternoon :) Bun was 13 and creatine is great at 0.82. I use to have problems with my creatine when I was on metformin now I am byetta and it brought my creatine back to normal. So hopefully I have put my renal insuffiency back to normal. My kidney doctor will like to see this blood work. I should fax that to her. As I know she want to see me before I have my surgery as well.

It has been a very long 6 months. I struggle with my weight loss this last month. I plateau this month and have gain some weight back. I am very frustrated when I work so hard these last 6 months. To see the weight creeping back scares me.

I also notice that when I am taking a shower my hair is shedding on my body when I was it. Am I losing my hair already? This is not a good sign?? What do I need to do to stop shedding my hair. I don't color my hair, blow dry or curl my hair. I am just a wash and go type gal! My hair is usually very thick. When I get it cut even though it don't look like I have alot of hair since I wear it short. They always comment on how much I do have even though it is short. But now it feels like it is thining out. Go figure I lose weight and lose hair off my head too. hmm. I am already taking the bariatric advantage multi vitamin, started citricual thinks thats spelled right (calcium citrate) vitamins last night. I don't care for the bariatric advantage calicium mint ones. Got a whole bottle of them and they taste like toothpaste. Gross!

The nurse practioner told me to add fiber and she told me use metamucil but don't like the taste. so I am taking the benefiber and adding the stick packs to my water. Also took some miralax last night as well. I was able to go twice yesterday and actually pass gas. Haven't pass gas in a long time. My upper stomach still seems swollen.

So I guess it is all up to the insurance company now after I see Dr Chua. I heard they have up to a month to make a decision. Sometimes they will give a decision in 2 weeks sometimes a couple of days. I hope it is just a couple of days. Would be nice to find out before July 4th that I am approved. So keeping my fingers crossed that I am approved.

Man I kinda wish I did not open my big mouth with the nutrionist and tell her I wanted to try to lose 10 pds before surgery because now I have to have a second appt with her on jully 20th and I can't schedule with Dr Chua until I see her I want a date for sometime in Aug I have my pysch appt on July 1st I really hate the waiting game it sucks. I just feel like my life will be 100 times better after surgery I am just so eager to be under 200pds it seems unreal for me at this point I am really trying to say postitive Good Luck Robin I hope you here something back soon.

Tasha at least you didn't have to go the 6 month supervised diet like I did and just still waiting yet. As who knows how long united health care t-19 will take to make there decision. I hope it isn't to long. Would be nice to have it in July since my birthday is August 17th which is the same day my kids go back to school. Yep the school gave me a birthday present and that is them going to school! Right now they are in summer day camp there last day is July 30th. So at least they will be somewhere if I am having my surgery. This will make it less stressful for my husband. As he will be up at the hospital with me. Along with one of his sisters so he has someone to be with him and also to drive him since he don't drive. And they would have to get the kids as well. So not only do I have to prepare myself. I have to make sure that everything is in order at home with medications for my kids and hubby. And also the food shopping done as well. Plus a plan for who will get the kids and so on. Luckily they are older they are 11 and 14. My 14 yr son understands what is going on. But my 11 yr daughter has no clue. She has autism. When I had my knee surgery in March of this  year she didn't even ask any questions where I was or anything. My son on the other hand had very high anxiety and was constantly making sure all the doors were locked. He also would not stay in his room alone either. Had to be with some one at all times. And this one will be different since I won't be coming home for a couple of days. This will be hard on him. He doesn't even like to leave me to go camping with his school. I have to talk him into it and tell him that mom and dad need a break from you two and need time alone. He has high functioning autism and bipolar disorder. We had some very rough years when he was younger. Luckily the last 3 yrs been alot smoother. His meds have been working for him the last 3 yrs. But who knows what these teen years will bring. Both the kids struggle with there weight too. And I hope they will learn from my mistakes of being obese and want to be fit and healthy. I don't want them have to go thru what I have for years. I want our whole family to be healthy. And for that to happen. I have to take care of me first! I have never put myself first before. It has always been my kids and my husband who is disabled. He is bipolar and had neck surgery and 2 back surgery's. With many other medical problems as well. I spend alot of time taking the 3 of them to doctor appts. And lately myself as well. lol
well I will update more when I know more on Tuesday afternoon when I see Dr Chua at 2 pm. I can't wait to see him. I wish tomorrow was Tuesday already.

WELL TODAY I GO SEE DR CHUA AT 2 PM!  I went to pick up ultrasound films for him to see as well. So maybe I won't need that one for the pre surgery since I just had it done on June 18th. I was having pain in my right upper stomach just turns out to be mildly enlarged spleen. I also fax him the report last week as well as well as the blood work. So hopefully he can shed some light on this for me.

So what questions should I be asking him today????

thanks,