Waiting SUCKS! I need to vent....

My stomach is in knots. Waiting to hear back from the Insurance Company on my approval is driving me crazy. I think about getting the call and what that means...I think about how my body looks and how I won't have to ever look at it like this again....I think about how I'm going to look after and is the extra skin going to be overwhelming..I think about going into surgery (I've never even been admitted into a Hospital before)..I'm worried about the recovery time frame and how much pain I am going to be in...My brain just won't quit..

The odd thing is, I am not at all worried about food after my surgery. I have mourned the death of my old eating habits. I may still have a piece of bread every now and than...or maybe a few bites of my boyfriends Frozen Yogurt while we are cuddling on the couch, but I'm not in a panic over having to measure my food or waiting 30 min to drink after I eat. I know that is my new life. I am ready for it. I welcome it.

But waiting for that new life to start is just frustrating. I think my worry is that the longer it takes to be approved, the more time that something may happen to stop it. Something, some unknown force, could come in and rip my dream away from me. 

Did anyone else feel like this? Like, something amazing like this can only happen to other people..Like I am building myself up for this amazing new adventure and somehow, someway, the rug is going to be pulled out from under me and I'm going to be politely told that all the hoops I had to jump thru didn't pan out and I'm not approved...

I just want this part over...

Vent over...Thank you...

You may already be doing this, I would not want to be a pain, but every so often, (maybe every other Tuesday) I would check in with my surgeon's office to make sure the application is complete, etc.  Let them know you are excited (not frustrated) to set the date.  My insurance made a decision within a week of my app being complete, so I do not know what you are going through, but I imagine it's like being 10 months pregnant - all you want to do is TO GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD.

Just remember, the better shape you go IN to surgery, the better shape you come OUT of surgery.  Can you work on your fitness and stamina - your recovery may be easier and faster?

Hang in there,

You can always call your insurance company directly to see the status...there can be some delat from them to the office to you. Go right to the Horse's mouth :)

Take a breath. You're just hurting yourself.

Don't worry about the surgery itself, or the immediate recovery. You will barely remember either a year from now. As far as your body and how you look, try focusing instead on all the health benefits you will gain.

One of the things that bites a lot of us in the ass after surgery is, we think it will solve most of our problems. It will help with some of yhem, not help with others, and can even create new troubles. All in ways we can't even imagine.

Don't look too far ahead. Don't drive  yourself crazy. 

So, I just called the Surgeons office and was told it takes 15 business days to hear back so they won't know anything until at least the 22nd of January. She said I may even get an approval letter in the mail before they are told. 

Grumble Grumble....

Just think positive. The new you is on the way. ?  The firsts are all to come. I too remember. I had to wait six months of counseling with dietitians and and psychiatrists for my surgery. It has been 3 1/2 years since my surgery. I do not regret none of it. I now have some medical problems from diabetes but my RNY saved my life. Best of luck to you. 

I feel your pain... I was getting anxious about it too.  But, now that I've been approved, there's still more waiting... next Tues. I do more stuff and see the surgeon, so maybe then I'll get a surgery date.   Now, my struggle is to not take a 'farewell tour' of all my favorite foods!  I'm ready, really ready, and logging every bite, but I'm an emotional eater and I haven't quite been able to reframe the 'goodbye' feelings yet!  UGH!

Don't think of this time as "waiting for that new life," start creating your new life during the waiting period. Take this time to get your body in it's best pre-surgery condition, drink your daily water needs, stay faithful to your pre-surgery diet so that you are preparing yourself both mentally and physically. Walk, Walk, Walk... it takes away stress, and it is cheap!

My pain was so minimal, mostly itching around the stitches and what most people don't know is that your organs don't feel pain so just relax and don't "borrow worries." You will do just fine, most of us have experienced some of the same things that you are going through it is normal, remember to join into a local support group it always helps to have people around that have already gone through it all.

Best Wishes,

LC

I'm in the same boat. I have an apt tomorrow and one more in 2weeks then sending off to insurance. I've been stressing about the same things more than I thought I would since beginning of December. I worry that I missed someone or didn't work hard enough or something. In my brain, there's always something that could go wrong and so on and so on. You know there's nothing you can do now other than wait but it's a life changing event that you only want the anticipation to be over with. 

I hope you you get your answer soon and things profess smoothly for you. Fingers crossed!

LOL--I think everyone feels that anticipation and agitation!  It's like all your Christmases, birthdays, and first dates, all rolled up into one event!  

Don't worry so much;  you've jumped through all the hoops, you've done all the tests, you've got this, Kid.

Hang in there!