Mendy64124
Hi!! My name is Melinda (Mendy) and I am 31 years old and I have been overweight my whole life. Im married and we have no kids. ( Maybe after all this we will ) I first heard about WLS in 2000 and I did the research and came to the conclusion that this was for me. I made my appt with Dr ALI at Truman Hospital in KCMO. I attended my first seminar. The appt went great I was given all my pre-op requirements. I follow it to a T. I had Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Every was sent in for final approval.. 2 weeks Later DENIED. The was a written exclusion for anything relating to WL. So I was out of luck. We appealed.that did no good.
New Insurance in 2003, Woohoo. I called they had no written exclusions.. So I got on the phone and found a doctor that would be covered, this time it was Dr Udobi at KU. I had to wait 5 months for an appointment. When I went for my first appointment I love him he was great. He treated my like I was his only patient. Even though he had about 15 people waiting to see him. Well I was told there that Atena had a 6 month DOCTOR supervised weight loss program that you had to go thru before you could even send in for the approval. So after being very upset because I could have been told that 5 months before while I was waiting for my appt. I could have got that done. WELL NO that would have been to easy. So the next step was my primary care doctor I went to her and she said sure she would help me. We discussed everything that I needed to do like being seen every 3 weeks for the Supervised Weight Loss..... OK here goes. She saw me 3 times, once every three weeks and !st appt she said do Atkins, then next appt was Weight Watchers, Then the third appt she said she can no longer see me every 3 weeks the insurance would not cover and to come back in 6 MONTHS. I wanted to scream. So tjhen I was off to find another Primary doctor to help me. I could never find one that would agree to help me beacuse they did not believe in the easy way out... Excuse me EASY. So I regert to say I gave up.
Then in August 2005 my dad, who works at GE, He had decided to have WLS and he had it done on 8/20/2005. And at the time I was working for a tow service. I had been there for over 7 years. Then one day my dad said that where he works was hiring. So I went online and filled out app and did the phone interview and I past but they had no testing dates. So I had to wait. Man I was getting even more discouraged. Thought that man I have tried every diet known to man and now the Job I know that the insurance is more than not approving the surgery. Then sometime aroung holloween I got a call from my dad. GE is hiring. Awesome I called the 800 and was scheduled for testing pretty much right away. I went in for the testing and passed and was given a interview the next day. I was really nervous and thought that I blew it. They said they would let us know. So I waited and night before thanksgiving I was called and offered the job and I started on Dec 19th 2005. My Birthday. So now I was on the road to trying to get the WLS......... So here is what has been happening:
***Dec 27,2005***
This was my 1st step in my process to get WLS. (for the 3rd time)
I went to the info meeting at Shawnee Mission Med Center for the KC Bariatric Center. It was very interesting. I was given a packet to fill out. I held on to them and was waiting til I had been at my new job for a while.
***Sometime in April***
I decided I need to stop putting this off. This is not gonna be like every time before. So I made an appt with my husbands prim care doctor to get a physical and had to track.
***May 31,2006***
I finanally got all of my medical records, had my physical, and got my paperwork in to Dr Hitchcock's office.
***June 20,2006***
Finally got pcp to fax medical records to dr Hitchcocks office, Had a real struggle but I wont go there.
***June 26,2006***
Called UHC to see if they have rec my info for approval. YEAH FINALLY, But they told me to give them 10 bus days and call for the answer. Have to wait til July 13 to find out. Man that seems like for ever. I hope it is approved. My husband is doing this with me and he has had no problems at all. His paperwork was turned in on May 31st as well and is medical records had no problem ( same pcp go figure) and on June 18th we rec a letter from UHC and he was APPROVED. Man that just made me a little sad but really excited at the same time. Since then he has had card clearence and 1st eval with psyc and Surgeon appt is July 13 to get surgery date.
***July 8,2006***
Nothing in the mail yet, waiting for July 13th so I can call to see if I am approved.
***July 11,2006***
I could not wait.....I call UHC today and IM APPROVED!!!!!! Just have to have DR call me after they recieve the paperwork, Hope things start rolling now.......
Well I have not updated in a while. But I had my first appt with Dr Hitchcock and that went well But I have to be under 300 pounds and keep a journal and drink 64 oz water and eat protein and walk... Walk a lot. Then I had pre op testing, Cardaic clearence ( the tread mill all most killed me.) Then I met with the Dietian that was ok. Then I made my 3 appts with the shrink. The 1st appt was to get to know you, the second one is just for testing and the 3rd one is to o over the test and tell you if you are approved for surgery......Only when he clears you can you get a SURGERY DATE. Well I had My 1st appt August 3 and I was really sick and I had to miss that appt, so I called to rescheule the next Appt was for 9/5/2006. Great I was so happy. Then heres another set back I went to the ER because I was in terrible pain when I tried to breathe and it was really had to even do that... I was admitted to the Hospital with Staph Peunomia... Lucky me and I had to stay there for 12 days..... But then I had reschedule yet again for October 9th,10th and the 17th....... SO that brings us to today.
***October 17, 2006***
I went to my last Shrink appt with Dr Sabapathy. He went over my testing and he gave me a full approval. I was so happy now I can get my date. While I was in his office he emailed the Surgeons staff to let them know I was approved, that was at 10:50 am.. Linda from Doctor Hitchcocks office called at 11:23 am and Offered me a SURGERY DATE... I was so happy it is November 21, 2006. 2 Days before Thanksgiving. Hummmmmmm No Turkey for me. This is gonna be weird because my husband is having his Surgery on Nov, 14, 2006.... Talk about some grumpy people. But I am really excited about starting my new life.
