T. Alford
30 yrs old, 5'2" tall, 287lbs, wife, mother of 1 and hoping for #2 after surgery.
1/4/04: Have my evaluation scheduled with Dalton Prickett at 3:15pm, Surgical Associates of SC, PA. PRAY FOR ME>
01/14/04: Had my first visit with Dr. Prickett and he is awesome. He is a christian and believes that he is here to help obesity people rid themselves problems they face with being overweight. I will be having an ultrasound of my gall bladder this morning and he will set up my sleep study. I turned in my letter to request the surgery and my mother also forwarded one to him. My referring physician sent his letter over on 1/5/04. Now it is the WAITING GAME. I hope BCBS is not hard to work with. PRAY FOR ME>
01/22/04: I have my appt. for my nutritional consult on 1/29/04 and my sleep consult is 02/04/04. I was talking to two women at work who had GBP surgery last year and they were talking about how blue cross blue shield have started automatically rejecting people because they don't want to pay. I hope that this not true. If it is MEDICALLY NECESSARY is the exclusion in the policy. They should want to help people. I bet they won't reject your premium each pay period. Until next time, pray that all goes well with my approval.
01/27/04: My psych consult if Friday 1/30/04. Getting VERY nervous now. I want to get approved after all this stuff I am about to go thru. I can feel my heart racing a mile a minute. Wish me luck.
01/29/04: Meet with the Nutrionist today and she was great. We went over all of my post eating routines and she advised to go ahead and start the atkins diet to get my liver down. I go to psych tomorrow and then sleep consult for study. I guess the surgery will be in about March, April, or May, since it usually takes 3-4 weeks to finish all this stuff and get a response back from the INSURNACE company (EEEKKK!). COME ON BCBS-MAKE MY WISH COME TRUE!
02/09/04: I had my sleep study consult on 2/4/04 and my sleep study test was 2/5/04. The tech said I had some episodes of apnea but not enough to warrant him putting on the CPAP. I did have Oxygen all night though. I have a follow up with the sleep doctor on 3/8/04 to go over the test results. It's all downhill from here.
02/19/04: Got a call from Dr. Pricketts office this morning and the coordinator is going to send my info to BCBS today or first thing in the morning. I hope this is not going to be a long waiting game. I am so close. I just need them to see how this will help me. Pray for me as I will for you.
02/20/04: I CHECKED MY INSURANCE MGT ON THE BLUE CROSS WEBSITE AND THE REQUEST FOR SURGERY IS PENDING WITH AT DECISION BY DATE OF 03/01/04. HOPEFULLY SOON, NOT LATER!
02/24/04: UPDATE: I sent the below question to BCBSSC
Your Question: I AM VERIFING APPROXIMATELY HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET MY APPROVAL
FOR THE SURGERY REQUESTED BY DR. DALTON PRICKETT. I HAVE ALSO
VERIFIED OUR EXCLUSIONS AND #20 SHOWS THAT OUR PLAN PROVIDES
COVERAGE FOR MEDICAL NECESSITY SERVICES OR SUPPLIES FOR THE
TREATMENT OF OBESITY OR FOR THE PURPOSE OF WEIGHT REDUCTION. I JUST
WANTED VERIFY IF I AM READING THIS CORRECTLY. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE
IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
**********************************************************
THEIR RESPONSE:
February24,2004
DearMs.AlfordMitchell:
Thankyouforvisitingwww.southcarolinablues.com!In response to your inquiry regarding authorization for surgery. That authorization is still pending based on additional information regarding your benefits. As it stands the requested surgery is not covered under your contract and is listed as an exclusion. We are in the process of verifying if that exclusion will remain as it is stated or make a change for medically necessary situations. Once it has been verified with our authorization department you will be notified in writing. If I can be of additional assistance to you please contact me via our website, or you may call customer service at 1-800-760-9290. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.
Sincerely, Renitta Reed
Priority Counselor
MAJOR GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE
02/25/04: I AM APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO THE HAPPY DANCE WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YIPPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It took exactly 5 business days. Now I start my atkins program to shrink my liver and Sonja (@Dr. Pricketts office) said I will have a date scheduled for after 3/15/04 since Dr. Prickett is booked up till then. I am sooooooo happy and blessed. I was nervous about BCBS of SC because I had been told they were hard to work with. I amazing how far prayer and faith will get you.
02/26/04: MARCH 23, 2004 is the date of my life changing surgery. I have a preop appt. with Dr. Prickett on 3/8/04. I am so thankfull for this site and how it has helped me cope with this whole process. PAUL.... Thanks for your encouragement.
03/03/04: 20 DAYS AND COUNTING!!! I am so anxious. I feel like all of my research, tests, and anxiety are now worth it. I want thank all of you who have given me your support and well wishes, I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL.>>>>> Keep me in your prayers and ALWAYS keep God first.
03/08/04: I have my PRE OP visit with Dr. Prickett today. I am excited and anxious all at the same time. I also have to go by and get the results of my sleep study today. Only 2 weeks to go. I am so very happy to be given the chance to loose the weight that has haunted me for the majority of my life. Well, to all of you pre op, keep the faith and everything will be fine.
03/11/04: HI EVERYONE!!!! I just wanted to let you know that I have really started to get the jitters now. I am happy that my BIG DAY is almost here, but I am also nervous. I hope that all of you Pre Op's are hanging in there as I know that the road to WLS is not easy. I am exactly 11 days away. I seems unreal sometimes. I have my prep visit at the hospital on 3/22 in the morning and my prep (flush my system) at 12pm 3/22 I will start drinking the soda stuff, so my last day at work will be 3/19. I went to my support group on 03/09/04 and it was great. I am going to keep this up no matter what. It really helps to talk to people who are experiencing the same things that you are. I was given my angel that night as well and she will follow me on my surgical gown and beyond, she's riding in my car on the visor now. I am just really greatly for all of the online support I have gotten. You all are great. Keep me in your prayers as I will send my prayers out to all of you.
MAY 3 2004: SORRY for the delay in posting. All is well and I am now 6 weeks post op and 40 pounds lighter. I am doing my exercise as much as I can and now I am back at work so I will be a lot more active. I thank all of you for the support. It means so much to know that there are people in the world who really care. I will see if I can get some pictures posted so you can see my progress. God has been good now it is all up to me. Talk to you soon.
May 11, 2004: Hi All. Just wanted to say hi and let you know that I am doing ok. Having up's and down's with vomiting and nausea and NO APPETITE. I try to get some cheese and a protein shake in with water during the day, but that is about it. I think they cut the senses to my tongue as well as my tummy, LOL.
I hope that all you post ops are doing ok. To all you pre ops, keep the faith and stay positive. TTFN
05/20/04: Hi All,
I just wanted check in. I have been dealing with my only complication (nauseau and vomitting) for about 3 weeks now. Still on soft stage foods. Not eating enough though. Haven't weighed myself. I will today though, because I went in a store yesterday and tried on an 18 and thought that this was scary. I was a size 24 8 weeks ago and weighed 282 lbs. I will post my new weight tomorrow. TTFN
05/25/04: Weight Update: 230 @ 9 weeks Post Op. Feeling OK.
06/06/04: Went to the doctor for 3 month check up (only 10 weeks out though) Official weight loss is 60 lbs. I weigh 227, started at 287, approximately 57-67 more to go. Eating chicken is great,veggies great (very soft), doing Light and Fit smoothies and yogurt. So far so good.
07/07/04: HI ALL.... Just wanted to update you all. Kinda hit a plateau last couple of weeks, but weight is now at 215. In a size 16/18 bottom and l/m tops. Still trying to do better with exercise. Only doing about 3 days a week. Well I will post again soon.
07/20/04: HI! Just wanted to update. Now at 207. Keeping down a little chicken with cheese, STILL not hungery. Loving my Breyers juice bars and Laughing Cow Cheese w/ r/fat town house crackers. Walking about 2-3 days a week, riding bike about 15 minutes a night, got the thigh master from avon, and resistance bands to help with sit ups. Ensicions still itching. Will try some mederma. I got a compliment in Wal Mart from a nice looking gentleman, which made me feel a little weird. I guess that's normal since compliments were not an everyday experience for me. Loving life, minor ups and downs but God has been good to me. Keep the faith and Good Luck to all who are PRE/POST op.
08/05/04: Hi All. I just wanted to check in. At a plateau and hating it. Started excersing more so I hope it helps. My goal is to be 199 by the end o this month, and I am going to make it. To all of you, stay positive and enjoy your journey to
rebirth.
08/16/04: I DID IT!!! As of Sunday 08/15/04, I am the BIG 200. I have about 45 more pounds to get to my goal weight. To all post/pre ops, take one day at a time and don't get discouraged. The plateaus will come and go, but the end result is what really matters. Don't worry, Be Happy! TTFN!
08/20/04: Had a pre 6 month check up and official weight loss is 90 lbs. I am at 197 now. Dr. would like for me to get to 160-155. I said I would do my best to get there by 1 year out (3/05). I am in a size 16-18 because I am blessed with an endowment of hips and thighs, which I am working on. My waist is probably a 12 since I have to take up all the new cloths I bought from the waist to the top of the back pockets, but I am blessed to have to do it. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will post soon.
09/02/04: Currently holding at 195. Going to surgeon sponsored aerobics on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Still striving for a size 12, but being patient. Success is on the horizon.
09/11/04: 191. Slowly losing by glad so that I can tone at the same time. Eating better, still taking it slow. Reading the South beach eating plan, stage 2 and 3 would really help once your 9 months to a year out. Went to the avenue and purchased my first pair of size 14 capris on clearance for $7. Life is good and God is blessing me everyday. May he bless you all pre op and post op.
09/24/04: 187. I have officially lost 100 lbs. since beginning my WLS journey. I was six months old yesterday and truely feel that I have a whole lot more to look forward to. God bless you all and keep you thru your journey.
11/08/04: 175. SORRY! It has been a while since my last update, but all is well in my journey. Eating better, more active, and happy. I am in a size 12 and holding. I want to lose 15 more pounds which would put me at my goal of 160. I am looking into the body wraps for my loose leg and tummy skin, because I can't afford the plastic surgery. Looking forward to the holidays and vacation. I hope that you all have a GREAT one.... TTFN
12/31/2004: 165. HI ALL! I need to say Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmans, and now Happy New Year. I hope that all you new preops and postops will have a blessed new year and that your weight loss dreams come true. I have had a wonderful 9 mons. on the road to weight loss success. Going from 287 to 165 has been a tremendous blessing for me and the next 10 pounds will make it a success. Be Happy, Be Blessed.
02/23/2005: 155. HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying their journey. I am doing well and happy with my outcome from my surgery. I have lost 132 lbs now and am in a size 10/12, which is where I wanted to be. I now have to figure out how to maintain this weight since I still don't have a good appetite. I have some saggy skin, but will deal with it by using loitions and creams because I don't want to be cut on again. If anyone has skin firming and boob enhancing creams they know of, please email me. Until next time, have a good day.
09/22/05: It has been 1 1/2 yrs. since I had a change in my life and I am still doing good. My weight is between 155-160 now and I am back in school, still working full time, mommy, and wife. The weight loss has been a blessing. Without it I would not be where I am today. Thank you Dr. Prickett.
11/20/06: I has been about 2 1/2 yrs. since I had my surgery and life is GOOD. I am the pround mother of a new 2 month old baby girl. She entered the world at 38 weeks weighing 6lbs. 5oz. I gained about 35 lbs during my prenancy, which put me at 200 when I had her. I am now 175 and need to loose about 10-15 more. I was monitored very closely during my pregnancy and all went well. I can honestly say that I have been blessed with my weight loss and my kids. I would do it all over again.
03/26/08: HI! I am still living and well. I could be doing better if I could get more activity in my life to lose these 20 pounds I gainded during my pregnancy. I am in school full time, working full time and seem not to have enough time for anythin else. I am SO ready to get my body back. My kids are well. The baby is now 18 months and thriving. Any fitness and weightloss info is greatly appreciated for those that have some helpful and healthy info to offer. Until next time. God Bless.
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Dalton Prickett, M.D.
1st impression: Caring, Christian, Thorough Staff: Great, Very Nice**************** Risk of Surgery: Addressed fully*********** Overall Rating Scale of 1-10: 9************ Surgical Competence and caring manner are awesome.
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of SC/PPO