I'm Approved!!!!!!

I have waited for almost a year to type those words!!!! I am approved I am approved I am approved approved approved approved. I went to West La yesterday where I met Jennie Aka Abidinghim. Along with my plastic surgeon Dr Lee. I  was so scared to open my gown. It brings tears to my eyes when I think back to one month ago when my pcp's nurse had a look of utter disgust when I opened  up my gown. I didn't get that from Dr Lee or Jennie! Jennie was reminding me of all the questions I had asked her. She is truly an am zing women with quite a testimony. Thank you to all of you that have answered my questions. And also to those that have cheered me on through this.

Jennie I will always let it be known that you led me in the right direction to get my approval. I am sooo grateful to. I was ready to rob peter to pay Paul so that I could get this surgery done.

I will be having a Tummy tuck with lipo to my upper back to give me a better shape. I am still deciding on a tummy tuck or full beltlipectomy. Have a good one.....

CONGRATS!!! Your PCP's nurse is a jacka$$. You hang in there.

The worst part was she is over weight....I don't get it??? Anyhow, thank you for those words.

I was glad to meet you there and give you the boost Jennifer. Sometimes, it helps to have a friend go with.

I'm very impressed with the program there, and I'm a big fan of Dr. Lee - obviously!  Let me know when you hear from Jene on a date and what you decide. Call me if you want to talk.  This is an amazing journey.  I very much agree that the nurse was wrong - and I've never been treated in that manner by anyone at WLA Kaiser.  I have had some unique experiences at some of the other offices, but I do believe that some are much better than other.  I do believe in advocacy, and you might mention to your PCP that her comments and looks seemed to be less than professional and made you feel sub human.  My primary, and the office assistants have always been great, but I've had some terrible experiences with OB and even with Ortho when I had problems with my knees.  As plastic surgeons, these guys have seen much, much worse, and it isn't their job to show disgust, but to help us move forward.  I've found most of the plastic surgeons to be quite helpful - but one of the first that I consulted treated me badly. That's how I ended up in WLA.

Since I've been speaking at WLS support groups, and sharing with people about WLS and extra skin, I feel that if I can help someout by being a support, that's what I need to do.  I want to be part of the education process that includes better health through WLS, post weighloss reconstructive procedures, fitness and nutrition.

I hope you had an easier time than we did getting home - We got on the 10 east at 1:30 after lunch - and got home about 5! There was some major problem on the 60 yesterday.

You are amazing I can't seem to say that enough.I am truly blessed to have met such an educated, well adjusted human being. I did not have trouble getting home. I even stopped at a restaurant to have lunch. I kept reading the THREE informative pages he gave me over and over again.  
   While I was in the Dr. Lees office, I listened to the dialog the both of you were having with each other. It was at that time that I felt all of the fear, and anxiety subside. I know that he will change my life completely. Thanks -Jen

Wow, Jennifer I am so thrilled for you!! So, is Kaiser footing the entire bill? Who did you end up seeing here in Bakersfield to get you sent to L.A. so fast? You should turn in your pcp,s assistent to member services, what a witch!! 

I will pm you all of that now...I want to pay it forward so to speak. I remember before I met Jennie I had zero information on Kaiser covering anything. My friend told me on Friday that she was told NOTHING is covered unless it is so severe you cannot function. Fortunately for me and everyone else it's not true at all......

Kaiser So Cal will pay for your panni removal, but will not pay for anything else.  At WLA only you can pay to upgrade to a more cosmetically pleasing surgery than a basic panni.  The price to upgrade is reasonable, and if you have issues, your Kaiser major medical will cover that, while being followed by the same excellent surgeon who did your surgery.  As long as your primary is giving you a referral to have your panni evaluated for panni removal in plastics, you can ask that the referral be sent to WLA if you are intending to upgrade to a full tummy tuck or LBL.  Dr. Lee, Dr. Touran and Dr. Porch all do fee for service upgrades. Dr. Porch is out on maternity leave, or will be soon.  Dr Lee is fantastic.  I originally consulted Dr. Touran there, but he doesn't do LBL, only Dr. Lee does them there.

And I agree, contact both your primary and member services about the comments and looks from the medical assistant.  I did that when I had to have a colonoscopy about 5 years ago and someone there was making inappropriate comments about the fat people needing colonoscopies! They were let go.

Please note too that you do have to have a hanging panni to have it covered,  and issues with it, but SO CAL offers that coverage.  I DO NOT KNOW anyone who has been successful in having NO CAL Kaiser pay for their skin removal.  You can fee for service there, but it is pricey.  Also at WLA, surgeries are ONLY on Saturday mornings - that's it - and only when the schedule is good for the doctor.  There are limits to using the service, but my results are great, and I'm more than happy!

I still have two weeks of options classes at Kaiser, then I will go to Pacific Bariatric for surgery, so it will be a while until I get to the point of panni removel, but I started out at 323 and have lost almost 50 during my 5 months of classes so I still will have about 110 pounds or so to loose so I am pretty sure that panni will be hanging low, plus I have had 2 c-sections and an abdominal hysterectomy. I am going to share this info with my next class, they will be thrilled to hear it too.
I'll be looking for your p.m. with all the details about who helped you in Bako, my primary is Dr. Tun at the Ming facility.