tetralizard

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Well - in being patient and trying to do what is best for me, I have finally found a surgeon, and one that will take my insurance.  The only negative part is driving to Burlingame from San Jose for each appointment.  Dr. Sanchez has been totally awesome with his comminucation, and information.  We're in a bit of a wait and I have a decision to make right now.  I really want or wanted the VGS and Medicare has finally approved it, but it is taking its sweet time to fully get authorized.  An option that was brought forth to me was to go back to my original plan of the Lap Band with an option in the future if needed to change to the VGS. 

I have been patiently waiting to be able to schedule a date for over 3 years and I'm on my 3rd Dr.  This is also the first doc that hasn't made me feel just like a patient or Medical Record number, but an ACTUAL PERSON!  The biggest worry I have is not being all that successful in my weight loss due to my high BMI.  However - I did throw out a suggestion and Dr Sanchez added to it which was...  Get the Band, start the weightloss, in about 2 years have a baby with my husband, and then to help me lose the "post babyfat"  (his idea), get the VGS.   I mean come on - a doctor who is aware of post babyfat and trying to lose that which hadn't even entered my mind I feel is someone who is looking at my future and success.

I haven't had all that many questions to ask him about the surgery or risks because I've been to so many information seminars/classes, researched and read about it and actually he was throughly impressed when I walked in with my 2 inch thick binder with all the information in it.  He joked saying I could almost put him out of a job with what I know about it.  I think the only questions I have now are:  How soon can we schedule this? and when do I come back for my post-op visit? 

I went and talked to my regular Dr about getting a Sleep study done, which was done at Stanford.  Everything went well, and they even were set up for the CPap on standby incase I needed it.  2 hours after going to sleep I ended up needing it.  That was a positive experience.  The bad part is now, trying to go through my insurance/ DME to actually get the machine itself.  I had the study done in April.  I got my prescription May 1st, and I got told by my insurance to fax it to them, and then they would have to approve the prescription and then I could get the machine.  WTF?  I got told it could take 4-6 weeks before I get a machine.  When I was at Stanford, they were all concerned about me not sleeping, about me falling asleep behind the wheel, and it was a "take care of it all NOW!" kind of a feeling.  I've been strongly advised against driving, but living by myself, trying to go to appointments, etc how the heck am I supposed to do any of this.  I have been diagnosed with the Apnea and I stop breathing in the middle of the night.  I sleep maybe 3-4 hours a night, yet my insurance company doesn't think this is a big deal.  Arggh  the frustration.

I got a letter back from Stanford stating that they strongly recommend against me having surgery.  I'm glad I was somewhat prepared for it, but the denial still hurts.  This is a denial by the Dr and the Facility, not by my insurance company.  I went back to my regular Dr and started the appeal process.  I just got a letter from El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, and so I get to start all of this all over again.