CONGRATS :)

Thank you so much for your reply.

It is such a relief to finally hear that it doesn't hurt much! When I had my VBG 10 years ago I was in excruciating pain for well over a week. I went back to work after two weeks buti was definitely not
ready.
The FMLA medical act you refer to applies to companies with over 50 people at a work site. My office only has three so it doesn't apply to me. But I would not use it anyway. My surgery is a very personal and private thing. My husband knows. But not my friends, employer, coworkers, or extended family. They know I am taking my two week vacation and the rest is none of their business.
I have been saying "I am going to lose weight next year", so hopefully no one will ask me any humiliating questions.

After significant discussion, they did offer a solution...a surgery date a week later.  Apparently there aren't other surgeons in Dr. Pattersons office so keeping my scheduled date is out of the question.

My problem is that it takes 60 days for me to get vacation approval (after and only IF I can find someone willing to cover my office.)  And since the proposed surgery date is less than 60 days away, that wont work, and I cannot request another vacation for another year. (It took me five years just to earn the two weeks off so I could have enough time to recover.)

My insurance eligibility expires soon too, so I am not able to make any more appeals or get re-approved for insurance coverage.  

I did reserve the surgical date a week later, but four days of recovery time before I have to be back to work will be very very hard for me.  I suspect I will go through with it.  I only hope it doesn't cost me my job. 

Hi Lori! I am sure you will do fine!   

I was very nervous for my phsyc eval too.  It was a long appointment, over an hour of questions about things that happened 20-30 years ago.  But in the end, they confirmed that I am mentally healthy and will be just as sane after having surgery. 

They will expect you to be nervous because it's normal to be.  Just be sincere and know that they are here to help you reach your goal!

It's a long story.

After going through the whole program, I was denied, appealed, and denied again.

Then  I wrote to the Oregon Consumer protection department, then appealed through ERISA, then through my surgeon again. 

The detailed story is on my profile. 

I have my final appt. with the surgeon on December 13th and surgery scheduled for January 9th.