Bob Has Disappeared
I have many co-morbid factors: severe sleep apnea,
restrictive lung disease, ankylosing spondylitis, hypothyroidism,
narcolepsy, morbid obesity. I have been struggling with my weigth since
1986. My family needs me and I need me to get rid of this weight or I
will be declining to death at an early age.
May 2004 - My wife asked me if I would ever consider
weight loss surgery? I said no way that is way too drastic, not for me
unt uh! I had a co-worder that had the surgery years ago and things were
not good for him.....he gained back his weight, stretched out his stoma
until it ruptured. The leak poisened his system and got infected from
the inside out. Well they can't fix him and he is bed ridden. So, no way
for me. Not gonna do it!September 2004 - I was sitting on the couch with my
family watching Wheel of Fortune...and I gotta say I am really good at
it. Well, my wife says dad ought to be on that show and my son says as
seriously as he could "mom, dad can't be on there he is too fat. Well that was it. I was so crushed and it sparked a reaction in me. I began to think about WLS during the next few days and even went out to the
internet and did some research. Well, what I found was a huge amount of
information and started learning all I could. Towards the end of September I decided that WLS was my only chance at a long, healthy and enjoyable life with my family. I called and made an appointment with my PCP to discuss it. My PCP was all for WLS and said that she would help me get through the process. I had already had the sleep study, the cardiology work, 6 co-morbid factors, and all I needed was to attend a
seminar put on by the surgeon's staff, a psych eval, and a nutritionist
consultation. Piece of cake.Novemeber 2004 - I just got a notice in the mail about
changes to my insurance. It turns out that if I have the surgery in 2004
it will cost me about $7,500 out of my pocket and if I wait until January 2005 it will only cost me $1,500 out of my pocket.....I think
I'll wait. Kind of a bummer though as I am anxious to get to the new me.December 2004 - Still waiting for the first of the
year to have the surgeon's office submit my stuff to insurance. Still very anxious!January 2005 - Well the new year is here and I can
finally have my doctor submit my stuff to insurance. Not - I called them and they said that they didn't have my sleep study records......CRAP!
The problem is the doctor that did the sleep study went to a different practice and no one could get their records including me. I started
calling and was finally able to get the records with some help from my PCP's office staff. Cool - Jennifer thanks! Two days later I receive in
the mail a letter from the doctor that say now they can't find my cardio
records......CRAP! This is getting old! I will call Monday and get this piece fixed. Then finally they can submit to my insurance. Still very
anxious. I did read some horror WLS stories that upset me.........shouldn't have done that! Back to reading positive WLS stuff!
I can't wait for the new me.February 4, 2005 Well still waiting for the surgeon's
office staff to submit to my insurance. I have called two weeks in a row only to learn that nothing has been submitted. They say it is in final review in the authorization department. They seem so busy that you can't get progress. They keep having to spend most of their time telling
everyone that they are working on it instead of .......working on it.
This is really frustrating. I have heard that if you make too many waves they get pissy and put you on the bottom of the pile. If this goes on too much longer I am going to see someone else. I have had everything
completed since the end of October 2004.February 12, 2005 I called the surgeon's office on
Monday the 7th, and left a message and got no call back. So, Thursday the 10th I called again and left a message. This time they called back and said that my stuff was still in the authorizations department for final review. They said it could be there another couple of weeks. I
said, well, I am really ready. They said that they are backed up and that this was an elective surgery. I said yes I know, and she said the
cancer, gall bladder, kidney, and apendix surgeries come first. I said that I understood and to hurry every chance you get. She said that they planned on working on the bariatric stuff tomorrow...what ever that
meant. This is so discouraging. I told the lady that I have been calling
once per week so as to not bug them too much instead of every day. I was told that if you piss them off they put your packet back in the bottom of the pile. What a bunch of crap. Why don't they hire more people. I am
trying to throw money at them and they don't act like they want it. If I don't have a surgery date by March 31st I am going to jerk my records and go somewhere else. I am getting FED UP!February 25, 2005 - I received my rejection letter
from the insurance company today it was dated February 17th. I didn't even know my surgeon's office had even submitted yet. How inconsiderate. The rejection letter is really a let down. The rejection was due to the
fact that the idiot that did my psych. eval was not a real psychologist......his credentials are that of a therapist. ROBERT JONES
IN WINNEMUCCA NEVADA IS NOT QUALIFIED TO PERFORM PSYCHOLOGICAL
EVALUATIONS FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERIES, at least as Great West Insurance
is concerned. Well, I picked myself up vowing not to be defeated and called a psychologist in Reno who holds a PHD, they had a cancelation on Thursday (day after tomorrow) and could see me then for another Psych. eval.February 27, 2005 - I went and took my psychological
evaluation again today and it went very well. The Dr. claims that he will have his report completed and to my WLS surgeon's office next week. Waiting again.March 4, 2005 - Still waiting for re-submital to
insurance and response.March 16, 2005 - I GOT MY INSURANCE APPROVAL
TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Things are racing through my mind now. I can't wait it has been a frustrating journey and now it seems it will be a reality. I can't stand
it.....think to be 100 pounds lighter by midsummer...what a thought. I can't imagine how I will feel. I do have fears about what meds I will be able to take later in life. I do have crippling arthritis and when it flares up the pain is severe. I am probably worrying about nothing. I am sure not having to lug around 190 pounds soon will help the arthritis situation tremendously anyhow. It is surprising to me how many different emotions and stresses you feel in the WLS process. I am sure there are
many more to come after the surgery. I only hope that it goes well, with no complications, and I can attain the life I am after. I will start more exercise tomorrow, as well as, blowing up ballons to get my lungs
ready. I feel a new leaf turning over.March 17, 2005 - I have a surgery date. Man that was
fast I just heard I was approved by insurance yesterday afternoon and
here it is 9:00am the next morning and they call to give me my surgery
date. I will be having surgery April 18, 2005 in Reno.
Yahoooooooooooooooo!!!!!April 21, 2005 - Well I made it. No problems. The first day was a lot of pain. I had a gas bubble that wouldn't go up or down. Other than that it went really well. I was only in surgery about 1
1/2 hours and awake in no time. I had no breathing or leakage problems and have done real well. I am weak but able to eat clear liquids,
puddings, popcicles, jellos, protein shakes, tea, coffee, water, etc. I can feel it go all the way through my body which is a bit wierd. It
doesn't hurt really it is just weird. I am going to bed now. I have my medical staff, family, friends, and the lord to thank.April 25, 2005 - One week out! Whew, it was easier
than I had thought it would be. I have graduated up to solid food. I have had turkey chile no beans, baked polluck fish filet, cream of wheat, etc. Everything went down no problemo. I haven't had any pain really, just the weird feeling of things going trough the digestive
tract. I don't feel weak, I haven't had any headaches, nothing. I can already feel the weight that I have lost. My heaviest was 387. I was able to put on my wedding band for the first time in a few years and it is not loose,
but not too tight either. I also noticed that my ball cap was loose and I had to re-adjust it. My slippers are loose too. I am able to get in and out of my wifes Gran Prix easier now and my edema has disappeared. I
can see my ankle bones!!!!!! I had a bit of a flare up of the arthritis in my right rib cage the night before last, but think that I must of
just slept on it a little wrong. No biggie. I am so amazed by this whole thing. I can't really believe it has happened already. I have a lot of energy and want to go out and do some yard work or clean up the yard
from the winter deposit of weeds, etc., but my wife keeps talking me out
of it...says that I need to take it easy and heal up. She is right...I am just getting bored. Daytime TV sucks!May 7, 2005 - Everything is going great! I am so glad I did this for me. I have went from a size 50 Wranglers to a size 44! It feels so awesome. It is a bit weird to see the weight come off and where it comes off from first. My arms, feet, head, legs, and hips. I am so thankful that I have had zero problems.
June 11, 2005 - Everything is going great! It has been almost 8 weeks and I am down a total of 82 pounds. Just when I think that nothing is happening someone gives me the "OMG I didn't even recognize you!" bit. It feels really good.
I don't get hung up on people making a big deal out of it because I like the attention. I have been able to eat what ever without problems. I haven't eaten any bad stuff and don't plan to either. By bad stuff I mean pasta, bread, rice, sugar, pop, etc. Food is not a pleasure for me anymore. I don't get hungry and when I eat I don't feel real great. Not sick just not real great. I do love to cook and still do, but I don't eat much when I do. I try to eat as much protein as I can. I drink plenty of liquid all day, but not necessarily water. I just never have liked plain water. The only way I can drink it now is to squeeze a lemon into it. I have learned to drink coffee black even though we aren't suppose to drink it...I do occasionally. I guess that I am in belief that most things in moderation and well balanced is the best way to go.I can't belive how much better I feel already. I don't use my BiPAP machine when I sleep anymore, and I don't wake up tired. I have enormous amounts of energy and can work pretty much all day in the yard / garden without overdoing it. I have went from size 56" waist jeans down to 30" waist jeans....and they are getting baggy. Everyone tells me now that they were really worried about my health when I was preop.....well why in the hell didn't somebody say something? I knew I was headed down a fast path to death the way I was going......
I am now 2 years post op and I feel great. I have lost 220 pounds and now weigh 167. I have been at this weight now about 6 months. I can pretty much eat anything without dumping, but feel sick if I eat a bite too much. I have had no complications. Knock on wood. All of my medical problems have went totally away. I wish to thank my family for sticking by me through all of this. My life is now what I would call back to normal. I am again....ME!
