sonya G.
June 2006
May 31, 2006
06/01/06 went to the informational session, and again reassured WLS is the route for me! will continue to wait on the insurance and then run to the Surgical Center to turn in my packet!!! Oh, and seen Dr Mitchell's assitant she's so nice; she'd been in an accident which probably contriubted to the delay in responsing to my email I felt bad getting all upset for no response after seeing her!!! but that just proves we never know what is going on with someone else and sometimes it is good to pick up the phone rather than get ansy.
06/13/06 today is not such a good day, feeling aweful..these days my energy levels are almost non exsistant, but I will continue to push myself for the sake of my children and hubby. As for an update on where I stand for WLS, still waiting for the insurance to go into effect. I did contact my husband's insurance provider..ok I know I couldn't wait they were nice faxed me a summary of his benefits, and WLS is covered, to include a copay for the baractric dr's up to 4 visits so I'm excited over that, but the down side he has high deductibles, so gotta start saving pennies now! According to my calculations hubby's insurance should go into effect 07/24/06; hopefully that's when my journey will finally begin to move forward as opposed to standing still as it is right now.
06/14/06 went to the ob/gyn today and it was highly suggested I should have a Hysterectomy due to Fibroids, ok first thing that pops in my head is... Is this going to delay me even longer from having WLS?????? So I ask, and my Dr feels that it shouldn't if done laparoscopicly as the areas of surgery are in two different places so one surgery shouldn't effect the other, ummm that kinda sounds to good to be true though..so at this point I don't know what to do if I should try contacting Mr Mitchell's Assistant, cause honestly I'll deal with the monthly pain if having the Hysterectomy will delay my WLS, I currently haven't officially began my WLS journey..I definately don't want it delay prior to starting....
06/21/06 well back again, no insurance yet..but didn't expect that until July... went to the Gastroenologist last friday and now I have a colonoscopy scheduled; been having some serious issues with my stomach so i'm anxiously awaiting the colonoscopy and results, so it seems lately I've had some other problems to deter myself from WLS, although the surgery still consumes a third of my thought. I've decided to wait until the BCBS goes into effect to have the Hysterectomy as well, as BCBS is better than my current insurance....so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that when DH becomes elgible for the insurance there will be no delays in the enrollment or getting our insurance cards/information. I must admit I've had a lot of thoughts concerned that the day will never come for the BCBS to come into effect, hubby will lose the job etc; but DH keeps telling me to stop being so derogotory and be positive, so I'm trying hard to do just that. I did email Dr Mitchell's assitance and she promptly responded back (she's great) that she would agree with my Ob/Gyn that the Hysterectomy should not delay WLS. Well I probably won't update for another 2 to 3 weeks at which time I should know the results of my colonoscopy, in the mean time i'll be continuing to count down...
06/13/06 today is not such a good day, feeling aweful..these days my energy levels are almost non exsistant, but I will continue to push myself for the sake of my children and hubby. As for an update on where I stand for WLS, still waiting for the insurance to go into effect. I did contact my husband's insurance provider..ok I know I couldn't wait they were nice faxed me a summary of his benefits, and WLS is covered, to include a copay for the baractric dr's up to 4 visits so I'm excited over that, but the down side he has high deductibles, so gotta start saving pennies now! According to my calculations hubby's insurance should go into effect 07/24/06; hopefully that's when my journey will finally begin to move forward as opposed to standing still as it is right now.
06/14/06 went to the ob/gyn today and it was highly suggested I should have a Hysterectomy due to Fibroids, ok first thing that pops in my head is... Is this going to delay me even longer from having WLS?????? So I ask, and my Dr feels that it shouldn't if done laparoscopicly as the areas of surgery are in two different places so one surgery shouldn't effect the other, ummm that kinda sounds to good to be true though..so at this point I don't know what to do if I should try contacting Mr Mitchell's Assistant, cause honestly I'll deal with the monthly pain if having the Hysterectomy will delay my WLS, I currently haven't officially began my WLS journey..I definately don't want it delay prior to starting....
06/21/06 well back again, no insurance yet..but didn't expect that until July... went to the Gastroenologist last friday and now I have a colonoscopy scheduled; been having some serious issues with my stomach so i'm anxiously awaiting the colonoscopy and results, so it seems lately I've had some other problems to deter myself from WLS, although the surgery still consumes a third of my thought. I've decided to wait until the BCBS goes into effect to have the Hysterectomy as well, as BCBS is better than my current insurance....so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that when DH becomes elgible for the insurance there will be no delays in the enrollment or getting our insurance cards/information. I must admit I've had a lot of thoughts concerned that the day will never come for the BCBS to come into effect, hubby will lose the job etc; but DH keeps telling me to stop being so derogotory and be positive, so I'm trying hard to do just that. I did email Dr Mitchell's assitance and she promptly responded back (she's great) that she would agree with my Ob/Gyn that the Hysterectomy should not delay WLS. Well I probably won't update for another 2 to 3 weeks at which time I should know the results of my colonoscopy, in the mean time i'll be continuing to count down...
May 2006
May 22, 2006
05/23/2006.... Well today I've got good news... I hope, not wanting to jinks it by far!!!!! My husband has gotten another job, which offers health insurance 60 days after date of hire and they offer BCBS (Blue Cross Blue Shield), not sure what the Benefits plan excludes or includes, have to wait 60 days, I'm am sooooo excited, I may be joining the losers soon!!!! My family is highly recommending that I don't get excited as my husband my not make it to permenant status or the insurance may also exclude bariactics like my current medical insurance does. They don't want to see me in the same mental state I was after being soooo disappointed of not being able to have RYN surgery, infact I've gained weight...geesh, what will it take for me. Oh well I'm so believing that this surgery is meant for me and I will be a loser by January 2007!!! Those that read this, if you believe in prayer please pray that this works out for me!!
5/28/06, nothing new or exciting today just wanted to update, I haven't received a Medical Letter of Necessity from my PCP, it seems he is going to take forever to concider writing it, he's not rejected me but he hasn't stated he would write the letter either, so kind bumbed there.... I've emailed Dr Mitchell's assitant (05/24/06) and inquired if I would need to attend another informational session (due to going in January and not turning in my informational packet as of this date) and if not should go ahead and submit my information packet prior to my husbands insurance becoming effective, I'm so ready to get the ball rolling.. Haven't heard back yet I know there are some other test that have to be done prior to submitting request to insurnace to be approved. I want to have everything in place and when my bcbs become effecitve we can submit to the insurance immediately!! And pray for approval!!! Well, it things don't seem to be moving the way I'd like them to but I'm optimistic as 5 months ago I didn't see it possible to have the surgery and now it seems there is light at the end of the tunnel, it's just a long long long tunel...
05/30/06 Still haven't heard back from Dr Mitchell's Assitant, I hate to call and ask someone the questions I have, being I've already sent her the email, I've concidered attending some of the other Bariactric Surgeons seminars, but I'm really impressed with Dr Mitchell... I know I need to slow down; as I haven't even gotten my insurance in place yet, but golly gee it would be nice to hear something back. Oh well I've really got to find something to do to help lift some of the thoughts of this surgery off my mind, as my life has been consumed by this surgery... Wondering will the pain I suffer go away after I get off the weight, will I have more energy to enjoy my kids and my husband... I'm soo excited, but yet I feel like I'm fighting the war alone!!! I want everything to fall into place for me and it's just not seeming to do that, but I will continue to struggle and ask god to guide me in my battles.
05/31/06 well I did hear back from Dr. Mitchell's assistant today, and she did recommend that I attend another information session and hold on to my packet until bcbs is in place. The next information session is tomorrow 06/01/06, I'll probably go, but I was concidering waiting until July since that is when the bcbs will be available, cause as of now I still have 8 weeks to wait until the insurnace is in place, then I'll have to wait throughout all the dr visits and required labs/test etc; it's like hurry up and wait...UGH... keep telling myself good things come to those who wait....!!!!
5/28/06, nothing new or exciting today just wanted to update, I haven't received a Medical Letter of Necessity from my PCP, it seems he is going to take forever to concider writing it, he's not rejected me but he hasn't stated he would write the letter either, so kind bumbed there.... I've emailed Dr Mitchell's assitant (05/24/06) and inquired if I would need to attend another informational session (due to going in January and not turning in my informational packet as of this date) and if not should go ahead and submit my information packet prior to my husbands insurance becoming effective, I'm so ready to get the ball rolling.. Haven't heard back yet I know there are some other test that have to be done prior to submitting request to insurnace to be approved. I want to have everything in place and when my bcbs become effecitve we can submit to the insurance immediately!! And pray for approval!!! Well, it things don't seem to be moving the way I'd like them to but I'm optimistic as 5 months ago I didn't see it possible to have the surgery and now it seems there is light at the end of the tunnel, it's just a long long long tunel...
05/30/06 Still haven't heard back from Dr Mitchell's Assitant, I hate to call and ask someone the questions I have, being I've already sent her the email, I've concidered attending some of the other Bariactric Surgeons seminars, but I'm really impressed with Dr Mitchell... I know I need to slow down; as I haven't even gotten my insurance in place yet, but golly gee it would be nice to hear something back. Oh well I've really got to find something to do to help lift some of the thoughts of this surgery off my mind, as my life has been consumed by this surgery... Wondering will the pain I suffer go away after I get off the weight, will I have more energy to enjoy my kids and my husband... I'm soo excited, but yet I feel like I'm fighting the war alone!!! I want everything to fall into place for me and it's just not seeming to do that, but I will continue to struggle and ask god to guide me in my battles.
05/31/06 well I did hear back from Dr. Mitchell's assistant today, and she did recommend that I attend another information session and hold on to my packet until bcbs is in place. The next information session is tomorrow 06/01/06, I'll probably go, but I was concidering waiting until July since that is when the bcbs will be available, cause as of now I still have 8 weeks to wait until the insurnace is in place, then I'll have to wait throughout all the dr visits and required labs/test etc; it's like hurry up and wait...UGH... keep telling myself good things come to those who wait....!!!!
Feburary 2006
Feb 27, 2006
02/28/06---Since this is going to be an extremely slow process for me I decided I'd limit my profile updates to once a month unless something drastically wonderful happens. This month nothing new has happened, my personel director responded to an email I sent her the beginning of last month inquiring on our insurance electing not to cover RYN sugery, wasn't good news but was excited she responded anyways. My employer is going to offer help to we overweight people by bringing in a dietician to help us with diet, excerise and something else, I'm trying to be optimisitic about it, but honestly been this road so many times, I'm sure I'll lose weight look good feel good for a while, then I'll be right back were I am right now, wondering how I ended back up in the same place I'm in. I still intend on having the surgery one day, one year soon. I'm trying to remain in uplifted spirits as I see it's not something that will happen this year, but initially when I deceided this surgery was for me, I said my surgery date would be 2007 and I still stand by that.
January 2006
Jan 04, 2006
01/05/06 today I'm suppose to attend the information session in Pinehurst and meet Dr. Mitchell, I am going through a bit of a depression state right now, I got to work today and reviewed my Group Benefits Health Booklet and it specifically states under General Exclusions #93 Weight Control: Treatment, services or surgery for weight control, whether or not prescribed by a Physician or associate with an illnes, I have been debateting if it is even worth attending the information session as I know I can't afford to Self pay, but if I've ever deserved something in my life, I feel it's to have surgery to assist me in my goal of being healthier and happier within myself. So I am going to go to the Information session and pray my way through this that somehow someway throughout this process doors will open up for me and within the year I'll be posting my surgery date.
Well I went to the informational session and pretty much made my mind up, which I think I had before I attending I want surgery! I took my Benefit's Manual with me and showed it to Dr. Mitchell's assistant Chris who stated since they have underwritten exclusion of weight control procedures even if recommended by physician I'm out of luck with hoping my insurance will pay :*(. So I get on the scale and my BMI is 43 (MORBID OBESE), so wouldn't need any co-morbidities, to be able to have the surgery, so I go into the session sit down Dr Mitchell begins his presentation and all of a sudden there's the tears "again". I'm like dang get a grip, this mans going to think I'm psyco! lol. The only thing I could think about while listening to Dr. Mitchell is he is talking about me and this surgery is for me, but I can't afford it and my insurance excludes this so I'm stuck like this!! Will I be one of the many that die obese and with health issues??? Well, I made it through the workshop and off home to a new day, today. I go to work call my insurance carrier and inquire on bariactric proceedures *well I had to call and have someone tell me* and as I knew, My employer has written bariactric out. Then I call my Personnel office and inquire as to why the county wrote out bariatric surgery and I'm told due to the cost. Well, I don't think it cost anymore, than knee surgery, gallbladder surgery, heart surgery etc; all the surgerys that could be prevented if I could have help getting off this weight! So then I go online and start looking up other insurance companies, I'm thinking well I could pay out of pocket for another insurance company for a few years until I have the surger etc; then another brick wall; I'd have to cancel my current insurance, so I call personel again and inquire on opt'ing out on the medical insurance...TOO LATE; OPEN ENROLLMENT WAS DECEMBER CAN'T OPT OUT! Geessh!!! So I'm back at square one again. So now I'm thinking does this surgery mean so much to me to look for employment at the places I know insurance providers would cover it. I am very happy with my current job and have no intention of leaving!, but I am not happy with me! I know I can loose weight (more like a few pounds), but I also know I CAN'T keep it off and will gain the weight that was lost along with more.. What do I do now???? I don't know but I am determined I will have this surgery somehow!!!!
01/07/06 wake up to a phone call from a soliciter responding to my email search for insurance. A Medical discount program which sounds awesome over the phone, just finished reading the website..uh nah! not what I'm searching for. Well, again excited to be dropped again for disappointment. I tell ya, all you guys who have BCBS and Tricare, be thankful! You know what really preturbs me is reading the insurers on this site and seeing the County of Moore's insurance paid for the surgery in 2002, I was an employee then was overweight and unhappy within myself, actually I believe that's the year I joined Weight Loss Forever and lost aprx 60 pounds, to have gained it back in 2003. If I had opt'd to have surgery instead, I wouldn't be wrecking my brain to figure a way to have the surgery 3 plus years later. Oh well, my life story a day late a dollar short! I believe at this point I'm going to go forward and submit for the insurance to pay..go through the appeal ect; and let God move in whatever way is meant for me, which I'm praying for a happier/healther me!
01/29/06--Well no good news as of today, but thought I'd post an update of my journey. I procrastinated on visiting my PCP to get a letter of Medical Necessity, but I did go by Saturday (01/28/06) and request he write a letter, which I'm not sure where we stand with that, as he told me I am depressed right now and need to get my mind together and then I can achieve, but he suggested Dr. Mitchell and Duke University so I believe he is going to write the letter for me but he wants me back in 2 weeks, he took some blood to run a thyroid test and informed me that I'm bordering nemia ..gessh wonder why I'm depressed. I'm not giving up, a bit discouraged, wish I knew my insurance would approve this proceedure and I wouldn't be so depressed and procrastinating... I fear disappointment especially when it comes to this surgery.
Well I went to the informational session and pretty much made my mind up, which I think I had before I attending I want surgery! I took my Benefit's Manual with me and showed it to Dr. Mitchell's assistant Chris who stated since they have underwritten exclusion of weight control procedures even if recommended by physician I'm out of luck with hoping my insurance will pay :*(. So I get on the scale and my BMI is 43 (MORBID OBESE), so wouldn't need any co-morbidities, to be able to have the surgery, so I go into the session sit down Dr Mitchell begins his presentation and all of a sudden there's the tears "again". I'm like dang get a grip, this mans going to think I'm psyco! lol. The only thing I could think about while listening to Dr. Mitchell is he is talking about me and this surgery is for me, but I can't afford it and my insurance excludes this so I'm stuck like this!! Will I be one of the many that die obese and with health issues??? Well, I made it through the workshop and off home to a new day, today. I go to work call my insurance carrier and inquire on bariactric proceedures *well I had to call and have someone tell me* and as I knew, My employer has written bariactric out. Then I call my Personnel office and inquire as to why the county wrote out bariatric surgery and I'm told due to the cost. Well, I don't think it cost anymore, than knee surgery, gallbladder surgery, heart surgery etc; all the surgerys that could be prevented if I could have help getting off this weight! So then I go online and start looking up other insurance companies, I'm thinking well I could pay out of pocket for another insurance company for a few years until I have the surger etc; then another brick wall; I'd have to cancel my current insurance, so I call personel again and inquire on opt'ing out on the medical insurance...TOO LATE; OPEN ENROLLMENT WAS DECEMBER CAN'T OPT OUT! Geessh!!! So I'm back at square one again. So now I'm thinking does this surgery mean so much to me to look for employment at the places I know insurance providers would cover it. I am very happy with my current job and have no intention of leaving!, but I am not happy with me! I know I can loose weight (more like a few pounds), but I also know I CAN'T keep it off and will gain the weight that was lost along with more.. What do I do now???? I don't know but I am determined I will have this surgery somehow!!!!
01/07/06 wake up to a phone call from a soliciter responding to my email search for insurance. A Medical discount program which sounds awesome over the phone, just finished reading the website..uh nah! not what I'm searching for. Well, again excited to be dropped again for disappointment. I tell ya, all you guys who have BCBS and Tricare, be thankful! You know what really preturbs me is reading the insurers on this site and seeing the County of Moore's insurance paid for the surgery in 2002, I was an employee then was overweight and unhappy within myself, actually I believe that's the year I joined Weight Loss Forever and lost aprx 60 pounds, to have gained it back in 2003. If I had opt'd to have surgery instead, I wouldn't be wrecking my brain to figure a way to have the surgery 3 plus years later. Oh well, my life story a day late a dollar short! I believe at this point I'm going to go forward and submit for the insurance to pay..go through the appeal ect; and let God move in whatever way is meant for me, which I'm praying for a happier/healther me!
01/29/06--Well no good news as of today, but thought I'd post an update of my journey. I procrastinated on visiting my PCP to get a letter of Medical Necessity, but I did go by Saturday (01/28/06) and request he write a letter, which I'm not sure where we stand with that, as he told me I am depressed right now and need to get my mind together and then I can achieve, but he suggested Dr. Mitchell and Duke University so I believe he is going to write the letter for me but he wants me back in 2 weeks, he took some blood to run a thyroid test and informed me that I'm bordering nemia ..gessh wonder why I'm depressed. I'm not giving up, a bit discouraged, wish I knew my insurance would approve this proceedure and I wouldn't be so depressed and procrastinating... I fear disappointment especially when it comes to this surgery.
About Me
carthage, NC
Location
34.7
BMI
Surgery
01/18/2007
Surgery Date
Jan 04, 2006
Member Since
