smiller8
9/08/2006
Sep 08, 2006
I AM STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER.
9/07/2006
Sep 07, 2006
My mother had a really good day today. She was able to talk with me on the phone. I am so glad that she is feeling better. It is so difficult to see her in so much pain and so out of it.
The insurance rep called me back today. She said that they were going to fax the information to my doctor again today and that my letter went out on 9/5/06. Hopefully I will get it tomorrow. The office manager at Dr. O’s office will be back from vacation tomorrow. She is the person who deals with the insurance companies, so hopefully she will be able to tell me what we need to do next. I am getting a wee bit stressed. My surgery date is only 7 days away now. Keep on praying. Talk with you later.
9/05/2006
Sep 05, 2006
My mother is doing better although my dad said that she had a fever last night; but now the fever has gone. At this point if she continues to improve I plan to go ahead with my surgery on the 13th.
I still have not gotten my denial letter from the insurance company. I called today trying to get more information. I also call the doctors’ office to see if they had gotten a fax from the insurance company as I had been told that they would. They have not gotten anything either. I called again to ask were the information was faxed to and to give Health net the correct fax number in case they did not have it. They had the wrong address for my doctor so chances are that they have the wrong fax #. The insurance representative took the fax number and my phone number. She said that she will find out for me when my letter was sent out and have the information faxed to my doctor’s office again; and she will call me and let me know what she is able to do. So we will see what happens tomorrow. Good night all!
9/04/2006
Sep 04, 2006
I just got home from Indiana earlier today. My mother is doing a bit better and hopefully she will continue to improve. We I first saw her on Friday she was not doing well at all. She would open her eyes but they were very cloudy and she wasn’t eating or drinking. She was having trouble swallowing. Saturday was better she began to drink water by sucking it from a tiny sponge. As the day went on we were able to get her to drink small amounts of apple juice using a straw. She was still very weak but began to have some movement of her arms. Sunday she was doing better, talking and able to recognize everyone. The nurse from hospice told us that they think that she had a stroke. But that was not confirmed because we decided not to take her to the hospital. My father basically felt that trip to the hospital would be too much for her. See, my mother weighs about 545lbs. When we call and ambulance to take her to the hospital it is always an ordeal for them to get her from the house into the ambulance. They don’t have a stretcher that will support her weight so they just let her lie on the floor of the ambulance. She says that she feels every little bump in the road and that it is just uncomfortable not to mention humiliating. My mom has made that trip to the hospital many times. Her doctor says that because of her weight and the fact that she is bed ridden; not able to move about her organs are just gradually failing her. She has been diagnosed with pickwickian syndrome; had congestive heart failure, kidney problems, lymphodema, diabetes, and other aliments.
My mom was planning to have gastric bypass surgery years ago but her insurance company would not approve the procedure and she was not able to self-pay. After many appeals she finally got approval for the insurance company but she got sick and has not yet recovered enough so that she could survive surgery.
You all would love my Mom. Although she deals with all of this, she has a very positive outlook on life and is always encouraging others. Please keep her in your prayers.
8/30/2006
Aug 30, 2006
I received a call from my surgeons office today. Kathy submitted the information requested to Healthnet. She suggested that I give them a day or so and then check with them to see where I stand. So, I will call them tomorrow to make sure that they received the documentation.
On another front, I am totally stressed about my mother. I don't know if I have mentioned my mom in my journal thus far. She is super morbidly obese at 545lbs. She wanted to have gastric bypass surgery a few years back but by the time that she got insurance approval to cover the procedure her health would not allow her to have the surgery. From that point on her health has gradually deteriorated. My father called me on Monday to tell that she has taken a turn for the worst and that her doctors say that there is not much that can be done for her at this point. She lives in Indiana, I live in New Jersey. I am going to try to get out to see her this weekend. But now I not so sure that this is the right time for me to have surgery because I will not be able to travel should something happen to my Mother. Please pray for me, I don't know what to do. I update soon.
8/26/2006
Aug 26, 2006
I picked up my Cpap machine yesterday. So, last night was my first night sleeping with it on at home. Honestly, I wasn't too bad, but it will take some getting used to, especially when I have to get up to go to the bathroom.
I received a letter from my insurance company today saying that they need more information before they can make a determination about surgery approval. They need chart notes documenting my particpation in six month supervised diet program. So I will contact my surgeon's office on Monday and see what I need to get for them or if they will request copies of the records themselves. Please keep me in your prayers! I am soooo ready to just get this done.
8/24/2006
Aug 24, 2006
I went to "Bariatric Boot Camp" today. It was a very long day, but I got a lot information today. I was up at 5:30am because I had to leave the house at 6:30am to be at the hospital at 7:30am. There was a group of six of Dr. Onopchenko's patient and their support persons(11 people total). First we were given a tour of the hospital wing were we will be staying after surgery. We were allowed to talk to a patient who had surgery yesterday. She was doing well. She had already been up walking this morning. She said that she was a little sore but otherwise feeling okay. She even allowed us to see her incisions. So that was a great start to the day. It was nice to talk to someone who had just been through the procedure.
Next, went to radiology so that we could see where we will be taken for the swallow test and that procedure was explained to us.
Then it was off to the conference room for more instructions from the bariatric program coordinator, physical therapist, respitory therapist, patient support(chaplin). At the end of the session we all had to tryout the bariatric bed so that we will know how to work the bed and the proper technique for getting into and out of the bed.
I was very impressed with the program and the information that we were given. They even showed me what the drain looks like that I will have after surgery. We were finished at about 11:00am
NOW THE SECOND SEGMENT OF THE DAY:
The entire group of us had to be at the nutrionists office at 11:15am for another group session. The dietician gave instruction on what our diet progression will be after surgery and also Vitamin protocol. We were finished there at about 2:00pm.
NOW THE THIRD SEGMENT OF THE DAY:
To close the day each patient had to see Dr. Onopchenko. I was able to lose 3lbs since I saw him in May. He was happy about that so I was happy about that. We went over my test results and allowed me to ask questions. I only had a few since I have been given so much information already. Oh, yes - we were also give a true/false quiz with about 15 questions just to make sure that we do understand the process of WLS and what to expect from having surgery. I got 100 on my test thanks all the information that I have been flooded with. Dr. O was very pleasant and easy to talk to, which made me feel good.
Tomorrow I will be picking up my Cpap machine and will be begin using it tomorrow night.
So surgery is only 19 days away. It is all good. I have just got to go shopping for a few things that I will need after surgery and also food that I will need for the first 2 wks.
I am still waiting on the approval from my insurance company. Everything has been submitted to them and their determination is pending.
I would like to say that I am very grateful for this site and for the opportunity that it has afforded me to research WLS from the point of view of those who have been the the process. This has been invaluable to me on my own journey. I am also grateful for having a place to journal my experiences where they may be a help to those who will go through this process after me.
Please continue to pray for me as my journey continues.
8/23/2006
Aug 23, 2006
Yesterday I got a call from Apria Home Medical Equipment regarding my CPap machine. I can pick it up on Friday. I am glad about that because at pre-admissions testing I was told that I must wear the Cpap fot at least two weeks prior to surgery.
Tomorrow I have what my surgeon calls "bariatric boot camp." It begins at 7:30am. I have to be at the hospital at 7:30am for a tour of the bariatric wing and some additional instruction on how to work the specialized equipment. I'll also be meeting the nurses and others who will be taking care of me for my hospital stay. Later at 11:00am I will be seeing the nutritionist. We will be going over what I will be allowed to eat following surgery and vitamin protocol. Finally I will see my surgeon for my final pre-op visit and the final weigh in. I have worked hard these past couple of weeks to at loose five pounds. I think that I made it. I will let you know. I think that it is going to be a long busy day, but I am really looking forward to it. I will let you all know all about when I update later tomorrow. Take care.
8/21/2006
Aug 21, 2006
I went to the hospital for pre-admissions testing today. It was not bad. It did take longer than I thought it would. I was there for almost 2hrs because they were a little backed up today.
They asked a lot of questions about my medical history. They needed a brief family medical history. They also needed to know what medications I am taking. They drew blood for testing; which was a task because I have small veins and today was a bad day many times they have to take blood from my hand because it is just impossible to find the veins in my arms. The first nurse couldn't find a vein that she liked(thankfully, she did not stick me) the second nurse found one but once she had the needle in she had to do a little probing which is not a pleasant experience to say the least. After that I had to be weighed, of course, but good news I lost a few pounds. I'm pleased about that.
Next I talked to the anesthesiologist about what to expect. He asked a lot of questions and had me to sign a consent form. He told me that I will have a breathing tube inserted during the operation and that it should be taken out while I am in the recovery room before I am fully aware of anything.
The nurse instructed me on what to do the prior to surgery regarding my medication and diet. I was surprised that the only requirement is a clear liquid diet the day before surgery and nothing after midnight.
All in all, it was ok, but while I was sitting there answering questions while they were trying to draw my blood I kept thinking to myself "Wow this is really happening."
8/15/2006
Aug 15, 2006
Hello all!! Not too much to report. I did find out today that I am going in my pre-admissions testing on Monday! I am still waiting to get my Cpap machine. Not that I really want it, but if it is necessary as the doctor says I would like to get it so that I can start using it. The medical equipment company says that they are still waiting for my insurance to give approval, but the just got the paperwork last Thursday. So, since it has been a week yet I won't annoy them too much yet. Well, a happy journey to all. I will check in later.
