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Had surgery on 10/05 was suppose to get the DS but the surgeon said there was to much scare tissue on my duodenum that he did not want to risk leaks or fissures. So he only did the stomach part

Right now I am wishing I had never had anything done at all - I am in regret mode at this time. Just waiting for things to get better, I know they will.

Had my pre-op class Wed and it was a bit informative. The nutritionist went over what she wants us to do for the pre-op liquid diet. A meal replacement shake for each meal - min 20 g protein. Then any milk consistency drink we want but to stay between 1000-1500 calories a day. I don't think that should be to hard.

They also handed out some vitamins examples which was really nice.


She suggested to use Chike for protein shake, heres a link for buying it.
http://www.expressmetabolics.com/store/

This is my Date!!

Finally got the call and I will be switched to a hybrid on the 5th - only 46 days to go!

Took forever to get to this point and lot of frustration! Was so ready to switch surgeons, even had a consult for yesterday but thought "give them one more week".

Now to set everything into motion! Luckily that really only means getting every thing set up at my job. Filing for FMLA and STD.
Hopefully all that goes smoothly!

Finally approved for surgery! Only took them 27 business days. Must have been a difficult decission because they usually make it in 14 business days.

Personnally I think they either lost my paper work or they has requested more information from the surgeons office and it took them that long to do thier job.

Well at least I am approved.

Have to wait until Monday to call the surgeon's office to see what the next step is. They don't work after noon on Friday. Must be nice!

Talked to the ins lady at my surgeon's office on the 15th and she told me that they were sending it in on the 16th and that when she does she will call and make sure they got it.

Talked to the nurse at the surgeon's office on the 19th and she told me that all my medical had been cleared and they were waiting for the surgeon to sign a letter of necessity, unfortunately he is vacationing all next week, before they could send to ins. Told her that the other lady told me she sent the paperwork out. Nurse is unclear of the sitituation.

At this point totally confusion. Emailed the top dog at the office, she emailed me later in the day that she was out of the office with her father in the hospital. Understand that.

Was emailed by the ins lady on the 25th that the paperwork was sent, I may have miss-understood but it sounded like she was clearing up the confusion of the letter of necessity.

Called my insurance company on 29th and they received the paperwork on the 25th not the 16th as I was told. CRAP!!

Now just waiting the 7-21 business days it takes for them to approve.

Being that I am so close to the end and I still have faith in the surgeon I guess I will stay with this office. Well, I shouldn't speak so soon, I am bailing if it takes months to get a surgery date.

 

Hurray! Hurray!

I am officially done with all my pre-op work!

Now just waiting for the surgeon to get back from vacation and sign a letter of necessity and off to the insurance!

 

This process can get very overwhelming!

I have been to 3 different surgeon's information sessions! I really liked the first one I went to, it was close and certified, unfortunately the hospital they use is in re-negotiating my insurance, so I had to move on.

The second one sounded great and does the surgery I want! Went to his session in Oct 08, wasn't able to get a consult until the end of Jan and then that was cancelled due to weather - no one called to tell me this so I drove the 1.5 hrs to get there. By the way I'm in NC so I never would have thought that the office would have been closed, no snow just a warning that there might be, yes they close for that in the great state of NC!  Had to wait another 2 weeks to get in and that is only because I begged, would have been over a month.

Had all my medical test done and ran into a situation with my chest x-ray. Had a few lesions, my doctor wanted a CT scan but the surgeon's office wanted me to wait, they requested I run all test by them. So I waited. They finally called about over a week later asking where my CT scan was, WHT?! So I went and had that done, then needed a PET scan, didn't even talk to them about that, learned my lesson the first time.  Only took a few weeks to resolve that. So I was back on track. Called the surgeons office to see what records they needed. I sent them everything they requested.

Waited to here back from them but no one called and I couldn't get any replies to my emails. So I called and they told me I needed to have another psych eval, could not tell me why. And that I also needed cardiac clearance. Tried many time to get a reason why I needed to see another psych but no answer, I broke down and saw one. Contacted them and let them know I saw someone and asked what to do from here. Waited a few days called again, this time someone was able to tell me that the psychologist ok me for surgery the first time but the surgeon thought I needed more support for after surgery. That really would have been nice to know before hand. Very tired of this office!!

Talked to a few people from his office that had the surgery and they really liked him but it takes forever to get a surgery date. The earliest was 7 months after the insurance approved. Apparently he doesn't turn anyone away. Feel like they are putting me on hold with the psych thing.

I went to my sister's surgeon’s info session the 1st of June, he's even further away or I would have gone to him in the first place. I sent the paperwork in the next day and got a consult date the same day!! Feeling better about them already! Talked to the coordinator and she is optimistic about using all my previous test and records - another plus! They did require a few things that the other surgeon didn't - I am confident he would have sooner or later.

I will wait until I have my consult before I stop everything with the other surgeon. Feel more confident that way.