I have a tenative date!

I met with my surgeon on Thursday, and he couldn't have been more nice, or compassionate.  The entire staff at the office was terrific.  Dr. Caruana spent a great deal of time with me, answered my looong list of questions, and was very impressed with my proactive approach to vitamins and supplements too.  (I have been taking a variety of them for years, so post-op compliance will be no problem for me).  So, my paperwork is off to the insurance company, they said for BCBSwny it usually only takes a week or so to get approval, but they also have to wait for payment of the office visit before they will officially schedule the surgery, which normally takes a little longer.  However, the nurse gave me my HUGE folder of info, with a sheet of information that has my tenative date set for the last week of November, which means my two week liquid diet will be smack dab during Thanksgiving! Oh well, small price to pay.  My actual surgery could be the day after Thanksgiving from what she was telling me, but she said if they can get the payment sooner, and get my pre-op tests rolling along, then they will bump me up to earlier in November.

I am a control freak.  Not good at this waiting thing.  They did encourage me to call the insurance company in about 2 weeks to make sure the approval & payment have gone through, if I don't hear anything sooner.  So, I plan to do just that.

It was such a strange feeling- sitting in the waiting room, the "lightweight" that I am (haha), I was actually the smallest person in the room, by far.  I felt so out of place. Which is odd, because in my PCP's office, where I am usually one of the largest people sitting in the waiting area, I feel out of place too. Where do I belong anymore?! Well, this one guy actually asked me "so, when did you have your surgery?"  I said "uh, I haven't yet, this is my first appointment"  He and the rest of the people in the waiting area gave me this puzzled look, and as he was about to ask me another question, the nurse came out and called "Amy"... ahhh, saved by the bell! How awkward that was. 

I am having open RNY, not laparoscopic.  For many reasons- nothing to do with my size or anatomy, just personal preference.  I don't want to have small incisions scattered across my abdomen- just one for me, thanks.  Dr. Caruana told me my incision would be a 3 inch verticle incision just below my bra line.  No problem. That's exactly the same length as the incision from my spinal surgery, so I know what to expect with the incision, and the muscle healing.  And- no staples! He uses disolvable sutures to close the incision. In my opinion, less incisions, less open wounds, less places for infections to occur.  He agrees with that.  Also, his open RNY's take about 45 minutes to perform, lap RNY takes about 2 hours. So, the longer you are under general anesthesia, the greater risk of complications from that. Also, your abdomen doesn't get inflated with gas for open RNY, so no post-op gas pain to deal with. The pre-op liquid diet is not necessary with open RNY, they don't need to shrink the liver for this surgery, however my surgeon recommends it to all of his patients because they've found it to be so beneficial overall - initial weightloss, reduction, reduction in toxins, etc.  So, I will be doing it.  Not thrilled- but at the same time, I know it's just giving me a headstart on my new post-op life.

So, I am ready.  Excited, a little nervous.  Just wish I didn't have to wait!

Excellent! Sounds like you're all set except for the insurance. Good luck!

--gina

Congradulations!  Keep us posted when you get your date! 
Sandi

Wow!  That all sounds great!  Thanksgiving will be here soon ;-)  I'm thinking of you!

Amy, it sounds like everything is coming together for you.  Congratulations.  Please keep us posted on your date and progress.
Linda

Amy, you and I will be having surgery around the same time.  Initially the office was trying to give me the day after Thanksgiving for a surgery date, and I asked them if we could move it at least 2 weeks past Thanksgiving so I could enjoy the holiday.  I don't think I would mind not participating in all the eating if it was after surgery, but before surgery having to be on an Optifast diet and watching everyone eat sounds miserable. 

So we were trying to get it scheduled for Dec 13, and that was a no go; so now I'm scheduled for Dec 1.  Oh well--it's just one moment in time, and I survive not being able to have the full-up holiday with relatives.  We'll be having a "Thanksgiving" meal the second week in November instead.

We'll have to keep each other apprised of our status through this since we'll so close in time. Good luck with everything.

Amy im so happy for you on ur date it will be here before u know it this is the best thing in the world to do

Hi Amy, You and I are in about the same place weight wise, I'm a couple of inches taller than you.  I experienced the same thing at the doctor's office.  Anyway, if you can get a hold of your insurance and talk to someone in customer service who can look into the information and who is willing to maintain contact with you it really helps.  I had someone who kind of took the role of advocate for me and it really helped.  Maybe you can find someone like that who will "walk everything through".  I have BCBS also.  Good luck on your surgery, my date is set for November 9 so will be going through the holidays recovering.