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I've been gone for a while.  I didn't have surgery in June, but have got to do something!  I'd like to pose a question for anyone who has encountered this,,,  If you are a private pay surgery person and there are complications or something arise later that the insurance in someway can attribute to your WLS which they did not approve nor pay for, can they deny coverage for the resulting health issues? 

OK, I've come to a conclusion this morning OH SO EARLY after putting my 2 yr old back to sleep...  I am going to call the surgeon's office in the morning (or later this morning as the case may be) and ask that they submitt an approval letter to the insurance for lap banding instead of the VSG.  I have been so nervous about the VSG surgery and am much more comfortable with the banding surgery.  I have no idea why I'm more comfortable with it.  At the risk of sounding like a comlete nut, I've had that feeling that those people on the news must have had when they are interviewed after a plane crash saying "something just told me not to get on that plane".  Also, there is a chance that insurance will pay for lap banding where the VSG would be private pay.

I just hope that the surgeon doesn't say that I'm too much trouble and he doesn't want to work with me.  But I suppose if he does he just does and I'll find another.  

This will undoubtedly push back my surgery date as we wait on approval from insurance.  But I feel that God has been working on me in the area of patience as well as trust.  I know things will work out for the best, I just have a tendancy to hold on to them and worry about them as if that would help the situation.  I'm reminded yet again to lay this at His feet and watch Him work.

Anyway, I believe that this is the best option for me.  It addresses my fears, my finances, and my faith.  I have a peace about it.  That may sound simple to some, but it has taken a weight off my shoulders and in time will take weight off everywhere else.

I'm going to continue to do research (which mainly consists of getting feedback for you all) about the different options.

The office just called and set my surgery date for June 5th.  Is this as big a deal as I feel it is?  I'm really nervous!

I've gotten funding, I'm just waiting for the office to call back to schedule my surgery.  The more I think about it the more nervous I get.  I've been considering doing a will before I go in (I know - I should have one of those already anyway).  Good grief, I've had two C-Sections, why can't I get ahold of myself?  Maybe it is the excitment of it all that heightens my nerves.  So, now we wait... 

I got a call from the bariatric coordinator yesterday.  She has recieved the psych report and will write the letter to insurance but has already talked to them and they will not cover the sleeve surgery.  So, now my husband and I just need to figure out funding and I can schedule the surgery.  She said it usually is about 3 weeks to surgery depending on mine and the Drs schedules.  Wow, this is coming on fast!  It's very exciting but very scary also.  I regret that my life has come to this.  But I know it is the best thing I can do for myself.

Well, that was harder than I realized.  I went in thinking that I would simply be open and honest, just have a discussion with some objective third party.  I left feeling judged and literally raked over the coals.  She spent the first 10 minutes talking about payment and whether insurance would pay for her time if they denied the gastric sleeve procedure.  Finally I just left a check for $300 in case she wasn't paid by insurance.  She went on at length about being "stiffed" by people who "got what they wanted" and refused to pay her after the insurance denied coverage.  She asked how much weight I expected to loose and when I said that it would be great to be 150 again but that I realized that wasn't a reasonable expectation she just rolled her eyes.  I told her that to be 200 or under would be wonderful.  She then said "Honey, you do realize that if you loose 100 pounds you'll still be overweight don't you?"   I wanted to scream YES I DO, YOU COW!  But I just replied "yes, but I'll feel a lot better".  It was that kind of thing for an entire hour.  As we concluded she said, "I think the gastric sleeve would work better for you than the band because it's harder to cheat with the sleeve."  I'm so emotionally exhausted think I'll just go to bed.

I have an appointment with a counselor for a psychiatric evaluation for some reason or another.  I forget whether this is an insurance requirement or a surgeon's requirement.  My appointment with the dietician was last week.  This is supposedly the last step before sending the letter to insurance requesting approval for my surgery.  Maybe I won't be locked away after this visit.  That's a joke by the way...  I have come to realize that my dependence on food is much stronger than I thought.  I'm actually looking forward to talking through some of that.