It is a long road.  I also am close to the end. The paperwork was sent to the insurance company today and it is just a waiting game now.  Did you ever check into Dr. Jandali at the Kenosha hospital?  That is who will be doing my surgery.  I live in Pleasant Prairie.

Congratulations for taking that first step!  It's a tough road, but well worth your life in the end!  I'm sorry I couldn't be there last night. I am a regular speaker for Dr. Chua, but coming from Sheboygan was out of my time frame.  If there is anything I can help you with, please feel free to contact me!  I love to keep in contact with people from seminars!

Well I went to the 2 hour seminar on Jan 7, 2009. I finally finish the paperwork yesterday. I fax it last night. And today I had a call to set up the dietician and psychologist appt. So tomorrow March 13 already have the dietician appt with Kimberly. And the psychologist Brenda Reed I will be seeing on March 30. I am seeing them both at the same place I went to for the seminar.As I am having knee surgery on March 18th to remove a tear in my left knee. So didn't know how long it would before I could drive so figure give it a week and half before I came into see her. So what is the next step after these 2 appts. I have been seeing a weight management doctor since Jan 8, 2009 and was put on phentermine. I also had a sleep study done and have sleep apnea and using a cpap machine. I also failed a stress test so had a heart cath that turn out negative just had that done this week. So I am clear for my knee surgery. I recently had to go of metformin and lisionpril due to kidneys. then was put on glimepiride and then try glipizide and had bad side effects. So now been on byetta now for a week. That is going well for me. I have lost 27 lbs being on phentermine. But feel I have hit a plateau. Also been having alot of issues with edema in my legs as well. I have venious insuffiency as well. So many health problems to list.

Where is the surgery held at. I have badger care united health care hmo-t19. The only hospitals I can't go to is St. Lukes hospital. I had my heart cath at St Francis and also having my knee surgery there. But I am not happy with the service there. It is a very dirty hospital as well. Both of my doctors are from St Lukes office building. It is weird the insurance pays for me to see them but not St Lukes. I did look in the united health care book it show aurora sinai medical center in there book. But not St Lukes really weird. I just hope I don't have to have it at St Francis hospital. Should see my arms so badly bruise from them trying to get iv in me. Took 3 nurses and several tries.

So what happens to me next after these 2 appts. They already have the doctor recommendation letter, the referrals and all the info I needed to provide.

I made it to the Aurora Mt. Sinai seminar with Dr. Chua last night! One step down, many to go. :) 

I called my insurance company to start the approval process, then my doctor's office, and got a bunch of paperwork done today.  I also added about 9 goals to my goal list based on what I learned last night.