KathyM38
What a long day!
Oct 19, 2009
I swear, I should have stayed in bed this morning and called into work! I didn't feel well before I left for work and thought that I might be coming down with what everyone else is passing around at work. Everyone has been out sick lately and I was really hoping that I would avoid it. Well, after lunch time, I was feeling much better and now I feel perfectly fine. I wasn't happy with being at work though, because sometimes I don't feel like people take my feelings into consideration when they decide things. I know I'm also experiencing PMS symptoms, so it just might all be in my head! :)
My daughter had a doctor's appointment today and all looks like it's going well as far as that is concerned. We started on our way home and I had to drop her off at her car so she could get her car home. I was driving along just listening to my music when I got a call that she was having trouble with her brakes and I needed to go back and pick her up. Well, my husband determined that the brake line was rusted through and he's out there right now buying a new one. I swear...we don't have any luck with cars. I'm hoping it's an inexpensive thing because I know he can fix it.
I am only telling this part of my day because ALL DAY LONG I was thinking about whether or not I would receive my approval letter in the mail like my bariatric coordinator at my insurance company said I would. Today was day five and I was starting to get anxious. I didn't even head to the mailbox and completely forgot about it. Then, my husband went to get the mail and handed me an envelope...surprise!...surprise!!...It was there!! I had to read it closely because you know how insurance companies are...they try to make their wording sound sooo confusing! Anyway, I now have it in my hands and can feel better knowing that it's actually real. I tried to call my surgeon's office, but I had to leave a message because they left early today. So, hopefully, by tomorrow I will hear something from them to start this whole surgery thing going. I really feel like I've been off track these last two weeks. It seems like the waiting has gotten the better of me and I'm really struggling. I haven't been eating everything it sight, but I haven't made the best choices either. Now that I have some kind of closure on the whole insurance thing, I think I will get back on track and take it one meal at a time. :) It is almost sounding like November 16th will be the start of the new me!
One last thing, I finally got a hold of someone regarding my sleep study results and it appears that I have a very mild case of sleep apnea. I wasn't able to speak to the technician, but the assistant at the office was able to give me at least that little tidbit of info. I am going to call tomorrow and talk to the tech and see what other information they have for me. It is good news, because that isn't something that's going to get in the way of the surgery! Yeah for me!
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My daughter had a doctor's appointment today and all looks like it's going well as far as that is concerned. We started on our way home and I had to drop her off at her car so she could get her car home. I was driving along just listening to my music when I got a call that she was having trouble with her brakes and I needed to go back and pick her up. Well, my husband determined that the brake line was rusted through and he's out there right now buying a new one. I swear...we don't have any luck with cars. I'm hoping it's an inexpensive thing because I know he can fix it.
I am only telling this part of my day because ALL DAY LONG I was thinking about whether or not I would receive my approval letter in the mail like my bariatric coordinator at my insurance company said I would. Today was day five and I was starting to get anxious. I didn't even head to the mailbox and completely forgot about it. Then, my husband went to get the mail and handed me an envelope...surprise!...surprise!!...It was there!! I had to read it closely because you know how insurance companies are...they try to make their wording sound sooo confusing! Anyway, I now have it in my hands and can feel better knowing that it's actually real. I tried to call my surgeon's office, but I had to leave a message because they left early today. So, hopefully, by tomorrow I will hear something from them to start this whole surgery thing going. I really feel like I've been off track these last two weeks. It seems like the waiting has gotten the better of me and I'm really struggling. I haven't been eating everything it sight, but I haven't made the best choices either. Now that I have some kind of closure on the whole insurance thing, I think I will get back on track and take it one meal at a time. :) It is almost sounding like November 16th will be the start of the new me!
One last thing, I finally got a hold of someone regarding my sleep study results and it appears that I have a very mild case of sleep apnea. I wasn't able to speak to the technician, but the assistant at the office was able to give me at least that little tidbit of info. I am going to call tomorrow and talk to the tech and see what other information they have for me. It is good news, because that isn't something that's going to get in the way of the surgery! Yeah for me!
Finally...the answer I wanted to hear!
Oct 13, 2009
Well, the bariatric coordinator with my insurance finally got back to me today and let me know that she made the calls that were needed and my approval papers are now in the mail and on their way to me. I was very happy to hear that I would finally be getting those papers that the surgeon needs to finally start scheduling things!! 
She said that if I do not receive them within 4-5 business days that I should give her a call and she will check and see when they went out and such. She said that if I do get them by that time, she will follow up with my on 10-27 to see if a surgery date has been scheduled and to give me some information on what to expect before and after the surgery. I really have liked having someone from the insurance who is on my side throughout all of this. If it had taken this long and I hadn't known I was approved, I would be going absolutely bonkers! (I already was and I knew I was approved!) I kept telling my husband "maybe something is wrong"..."maybe they decided to deny me for some reason". All those crazy things were just running through my head. I'll just be checking the mail for the next few days and hoping that it comes quickly! Now, I can finally relax a bit and just wait for the surgeon's office to call and schedule everything. Oh, I also have to call the doctor's office for the sleep study, because they left me a message that my results were back...I'm just hoping that they don't need me to come back and re-do the test...I cannot handle that!!
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She said that if I do not receive them within 4-5 business days that I should give her a call and she will check and see when they went out and such. She said that if I do get them by that time, she will follow up with my on 10-27 to see if a surgery date has been scheduled and to give me some information on what to expect before and after the surgery. I really have liked having someone from the insurance who is on my side throughout all of this. If it had taken this long and I hadn't known I was approved, I would be going absolutely bonkers! (I already was and I knew I was approved!) I kept telling my husband "maybe something is wrong"..."maybe they decided to deny me for some reason". All those crazy things were just running through my head. I'll just be checking the mail for the next few days and hoping that it comes quickly! Now, I can finally relax a bit and just wait for the surgeon's office to call and schedule everything. Oh, I also have to call the doctor's office for the sleep study, because they left me a message that my results were back...I'm just hoping that they don't need me to come back and re-do the test...I cannot handle that!!
Feeling a bit frustrated!
Oct 12, 2009
It has been over three weeks now since the insurance gave the verbal approval for my lap band surgery, but as of yet, I have not received anything from them in the mail (like my surgeon's office said I would) nor has my surgeon's office received anything in writing about that approval. I know that insurance companies like to take their sweet time and get things done at their own speed, but seriously!! This is going to drive me crazy!! I've done everything they required of me and everything that my surgeon's office requires of me, so why do they have to take so long to get the paperwork over!?! I have a tentative surgery date for November 16th, but the bariatric coordinator with my insurance said that would probably get moved up because the approval came so fast. I highly doubt that will happen now because I still need to do all of the pre-surgery requirements that the surgeon's office needs me to do...the pre-op testing and nutritional class...they won't do any of that until they get that little piece of paper in their hands, which really stinks! I received a follow up call from the bariatric coordinator about an hour ago and when she found out that no paperwork had been sent, she said she was getting on the phone with them and finding out why and then she would call me back. I'm getting really worried that something is now wrong because it's taking so long for her to get back to me...well, okay, it seems like a long time! :) I just need to vent a little because this whole process is crazy...you do everything they ask...go through the whole six long months of supervised weight loss, get a psych eval and everything else and now they are allowed to take their time in getting things done on their end. Oh well. As soon as I hear from her, I hope that my worries will be relieved, because this is definitely wearing on my emotions!!
Very happy the sleep study is over!!
Oct 01, 2009
Well, I have to admit, it's a whole lot easier sleeping when there is no purpose behind it!! I had such a hard time sleeping last night at the sleep study that I'm just hoping that they have enough information for the doctor to do a good analysis. I went in there feeling very tired and really ready for sleep. When the tech, who was very patient and nice, turned off the TV and dimmed the lights, I swear, I thought I was going to go out of my mind!! I felt like a lab rat! LOL I had all of these leads hanging off of me and they were digging into my legs and my head...it was sooo uncomfortable. I hope I never have to do that kind of a study again because I'm not sure I can handle it. The place was really nice and I felt like I was at a hotel, but that was until I had all those things hanging off me. I am just glad that it's over and I'm really hoping that it comes out okay and that I don't have to go back.
I went straight to work from the sleep study and I felt like a walking zombie all day. I did my work and when 3pm finally came around, I couldn't have been more happy to head home!! It's rainy and cold here so I'm sure that I'm going to lay down tonight and will be asleep just as my head hits the pillow!
And you know what??? I can't wait!!! :) I feel like I could go sit on the couch and nap all night long. However, my children would like to eat dinner and the youngest needs help with the homework, so there are no plans for that. Tomorrow they are coming to install the high speed internet and I can't wait!! I'm getting really tired of the dial up here!! I have a lot to look forward to, so I'm sure I'll be having sweet dreams tonight!!
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I went straight to work from the sleep study and I felt like a walking zombie all day. I did my work and when 3pm finally came around, I couldn't have been more happy to head home!! It's rainy and cold here so I'm sure that I'm going to lay down tonight and will be asleep just as my head hits the pillow!
And you know what??? I can't wait!!! :) I feel like I could go sit on the couch and nap all night long. However, my children would like to eat dinner and the youngest needs help with the homework, so there are no plans for that. Tomorrow they are coming to install the high speed internet and I can't wait!! I'm getting really tired of the dial up here!! I have a lot to look forward to, so I'm sure I'll be having sweet dreams tonight!!
Sleep Study tonight!
Sep 30, 2009
I'm not looking forward to sleeping in a strange place, but I am looking forward to finishing the last hurdle for my surgery clearances! I will be getting there around 9:30pm and hopefully, I won't have any problems falling asleep. I wish I didn't have to do this, but since my pulmonology clearance has two different wordings (one saying I'm clear for surgery and one saying it's dependent upon the sleep study) I would rather be safe than sorry and not have this hanging over my head. Once they FINALLY get that little piece of paper that says I'm approved, I don't want anything holding me back. I can't believe that it's been almost two weeks since I was given the verbal approval and I still haven't received anything that says I'm approved and neither has my surgeon's office. I know my insurance coordinator said it could take about a week for them to send it out, but seriously!! I'm getting anxious here and I just want to know when this surgery will happen!! :) I know it will all work out, but I've waited this long and I feel like I can't wait any longer.
I have to go straight to work from my sleep study tomorrow morning, so I'm really going to miss seeing my family before my day starts. I'm glad I'm working days tomorrow though, because then at least I'll have tomorrow night with my girls...and I'll get to see hubby at work when he comes in the afternoon. It's only one night...I'm sure I'll be okay. Here's to hoping that I fall asleep quickly and that I don't have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night! LOL I'm almost to the finish line now...I know my surgery date is out there in the near future...an ending and a new beginning!! :)
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I have to go straight to work from my sleep study tomorrow morning, so I'm really going to miss seeing my family before my day starts. I'm glad I'm working days tomorrow though, because then at least I'll have tomorrow night with my girls...and I'll get to see hubby at work when he comes in the afternoon. It's only one night...I'm sure I'll be okay. Here's to hoping that I fall asleep quickly and that I don't have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night! LOL I'm almost to the finish line now...I know my surgery date is out there in the near future...an ending and a new beginning!! :)
I've been approved!!
Sep 23, 2009
Yeah!!!! I'm sooo happy to finally hear those wonderful words!! I'M APPROVED FOR SURGERY!!! I had been waiting for her call all day...the call from my bariatric coordinator of my insurance company. She said she would call me today after she got back from vacation and I had almost resigned myself to the fact that she wasn't going to call today. I spoke with her last Thursday, I believe, and she said the the pre-certifcation came across her computer and that we should know something by the time she got back today. I was on the phone with her when my daugther got in the car and as soon as I hung up with her, I started to cry!! (That's been me a lot lately...a crying basket-case!) My daughter asked me what was wrong and I told her I was so happy that I was finally approved for my surgery and she hugged me and said she was very happy for me. I have been wanting to spread the word since I heard, but my emotions just keep getting the best of me. I know that if I call my mom, I will cry...just like I did when I spoke to my husband at work and when I talked to my oldest daughter on the phone. I'm just sooo happy because it finally feels like these last seven months have been worth it. I attended the informational meeting back in February and finally had a consult with the surgeon in March and started the six months medically supervised weight loss that the insurance required shortly thereafter. It feels like forever, but it's definitely been worth the wait! I know there's a whole new journey ahead of me, and I'm ready for it!!
Stress Test Done!
Sep 22, 2009
I finished part two of the stress test this morning and I am very glad that it's over! They originally had me scheduled to do the chemically-induced test, but after talking with the doctor the nurse who administered the test said we could go ahead with the treadmill. I read some very unsettling things about the chemical they used to induce the stress and I just wasn't comfortable with it. I didn't enjoy the treadmill, but I'm glad I went that route. The people there really encouraged me to finish it out, especially when I thought I wasn't going to be able to. The heart scan felt like a good rest after that! LOL I only have a sleep study to do, which I'm not even sure they need at this point, but I guess I will get it done. I spoke with the bariatric coordinator for my insurance last Thursday and she said that she had gotten the pre-certification for surgery flagged in her office and that she would be getting back to me this week on Wednesday for follow up. (She is on vacation right now...how I wish I was!) My doctor's office said that Aetna usually takes about two weeks for approval and this Friday is two weeks...so I'm keeping my fingers crossed here! :) Things have been pretty good here at home. My husband and I have finally had some time off together, although I know it hasn't been good quality time. I am looking forward to that this weekend when we have another weekend together. We were supposed to go down and visit a college for the weekend with my daughters, but our oldest (who is off to college next year) has a baby shower for one of her best friends on Saturday, so we probably won't go. We decided to pay some extra bills with our bonus checks, so we're going to be staying home and enjoy a little peace and quiet. My youngest is in a parade on Saturday and Sunday is my niece's christening. At least I'll get to enjoy a little time with the family and relax with Steve. I've been looking forward to relaxing time with him for a loooong time! We've been so busy since school started for the girls and our schedules always seem to conflict at work. (If he opens, I close and if I open, he closes...and so on.) We will at least have some time together tonight to have dinner together and hopefully have a good talk. Well, I'm biting my nails until this whole insurance thing goes through...hopefully. I can't wait to hear from her tomorrow to see how things are going and hope she has some good news for me!! I'm getting excited now!
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Letter sent to insurance for approval!!
Sep 16, 2009
I spoke with my surgeon's office today and they sent out the request for approval on Friday the 11th, so now I'm just playing the waiting game. I am very excited that this moment has come and they said my insurance usually takes about two weeks to decide. They told me I would hear from them by mail first and as soon as I do, to call them and let them know. I still have an appointment scheduled for the medically supervised weigh-in. I'm really hoping that I don't have to go to that, because I know I haven't been as strict with myself as I used to be. I have gotten too relaxed and have completely gone off my water wagon! I keep thinking, I'm not going to be able to have the diet Pepsi after surgery, so why bother with water. Yes, I know it's a bad attitude to have and I have caught myself early, I hope. I'm going to start drinking my water again and will definitely get back on track until I hear from my insurance company. I also have to call and talk to my cardiologist's office because they need me to change my appointment times for the stress test next week - but I don't think I can do that. I work and apparently they might not be able to fit me in later in the day. We'll see but as soon as I get home from picking up my daughter, I will call and change that - I hope. I'm excited because pretty soon we'll be going away for the weekend. I haven't done that in so long and I'm really glad to be getting away. We're not sure if we'll still be visiting the college my daughter wanted to see, because she's having second thoughts about it and her friend is having her baby shower that weekend. We'll see and I hope she decides soon. If she doesn't want to go, then I'm definitely going to be planning a weekend getaway for me and the hubby now. As soon as I hear something from Aetna, I'll be sure to post here. I'm really hoping for approval, because I did do everything right. Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best here!
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Psych Eval Done!
Aug 27, 2009
I went for the second part of my psych eval yesterday and now I'm finally finished with that!! Yeah!! I don't know if everyone's evaluations are the same, but our office required a computer/written test first - it was just a bunch of statements that you answered 'true' or 'false' to and then yesterday was the sit down with the psychologist. He seems to think that I'm a good candidate and that the evaluation should only help it along. He said it would take about two to three weeks for him to put the report together and to get it faxed over to the surgeon's office so I guess I have time to sit back and relax. I do have to go and be weighed in on Monday and hopefully that is my last time! I am down in weight but if it will be enough, I have yet to see. Today I'm off of work, so it's just going to be sticking to the plan and hopefully going for a walk with my husband when he gets home from work...I'm just hoping the rain holds off for a while. I'm really getting excited that this whole process of pre-surgery will be done soon and I can start focusing on actually having the surgery. I am hopeful that my insurance company will approve me as I have done everything they've asked me to do. My caseworker through the insurance doesn't see any problems with it and that makes me feel a bit better. I'm thinking that it will be the middle of September when the psychologist gets the report to my surgeon...then they can begin the process of approval...which could take about a month...so maybe sometime in late October I can have the surgery. I don't know...maybe I'm just being too optimistic, but I'm really looking forward to having that extra tool to really help me lose the weight. I know my weight is just holding me back in so many ways! I went for an interview last week for a new job and I can almost guarantee that I didn't get it, because I haven't heard back from them yet. It's kind of a blessing though, because my current job allows me to request days off that I need and even request to leave early on certain days...and with all of these doctor's appointments for the surgery process, I have needed that flexibility. I also don't feel that a new job will understand when I have to take a week off to recover from the surgery. It won't be easy at my current job, but I can see from others around me who have had to be off for for surgery and medical reasons, that it is doable and they are understanding of that. Hopefully, I'll have a very easy recovery and won't need to be off longer than a week. I suppose we'll have to see about that. I did step on the scale this morning and I'm much closer to my goal, but still have a couple of pounds to go. I am going to do it this month!! I just have to!!
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Almost there!
Aug 12, 2009
I only have about two weeks left until my final weigh-in...or at least I hope it's my final weigh-in. I've been sticking to my plan for the most part and have only faltered on it a day or two and I'm feeling pretty good. Work has been keeping me busy and out of the fridge as well as home life. I've been substituting breakfast with a diet shake and adding it to a small lunch as well....then trying to stick with healthy snacks and dinners. I haven't been perfect on my water, but it's tough to do that at work and when I come home, I don't want to spend every minute in the bathroom! 
I got on the scale today and I have stayed down and might even be down a few pounds, but I have to kick it up a notch over the next two weeks so that I can be down the seven pounds I need to be and to hopefully start the paperwork for surgery. The only thing that stinks is that the surgeon's office has to wait for the psych eval and that is not until the day after I weigh-in. Oh well! It will happen, I just have to be patient and really be pushing it with the exercise!
It's been a tough week for me emotionally. My husband went away on Saturday on his fishing trip with his brother. I was feeling pretty resentful at the fact that he gets to get away for a while and I still have to work and take care of things at home. I know that he deserves this time, but I still can't help but feel a little upset about the whole thing. I'm trying not to let that get in the way of my diet, and it's hard sometimes, but I just keep pushing through. He calls me every night and the international rate for the calls (he's in Canada) is killing his calling card. I was finally starting to feel better last night...knowing that my time without him is half over and he'll be home soon...then at the end of our call last night, he gets emotional and tells me he misses me a lot..and gets teary cause I can hear it through the phone...I finally tell him that it's okay and we'll be together soon...and I make him laugh because I tell him that I have been doing so good with the crying thing and I wasn't even feeling it last night until he did that!! :) I know that made him feel better, but it's nice to know he misses me that much because I have definitely missed him a LOT!! I have to head to work now, but after today I'm off for two days!! Yeah!!
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I got on the scale today and I have stayed down and might even be down a few pounds, but I have to kick it up a notch over the next two weeks so that I can be down the seven pounds I need to be and to hopefully start the paperwork for surgery. The only thing that stinks is that the surgeon's office has to wait for the psych eval and that is not until the day after I weigh-in. Oh well! It will happen, I just have to be patient and really be pushing it with the exercise!It's been a tough week for me emotionally. My husband went away on Saturday on his fishing trip with his brother. I was feeling pretty resentful at the fact that he gets to get away for a while and I still have to work and take care of things at home. I know that he deserves this time, but I still can't help but feel a little upset about the whole thing. I'm trying not to let that get in the way of my diet, and it's hard sometimes, but I just keep pushing through. He calls me every night and the international rate for the calls (he's in Canada) is killing his calling card. I was finally starting to feel better last night...knowing that my time without him is half over and he'll be home soon...then at the end of our call last night, he gets emotional and tells me he misses me a lot..and gets teary cause I can hear it through the phone...I finally tell him that it's okay and we'll be together soon...and I make him laugh because I tell him that I have been doing so good with the crying thing and I wasn't even feeling it last night until he did that!! :) I know that made him feel better, but it's nice to know he misses me that much because I have definitely missed him a LOT!! I have to head to work now, but after today I'm off for two days!! Yeah!!
About Me
Sandwich, IL
Location
51.4
BMI
Surgery
11/17/2009
Surgery Date
Feb 21, 2009
Member Since
