WOWZERS!!!! BIG NEWS!!!

Just a small blog tonight...but we just cleared a major hurdle!  Right at the end of the day I got a call from the Weight Management Clinic.  My insurance has approved my surgery!!!!  I am over the moon!  I'm amazed....I've worried and worried and worried about this.  It happened so fast...the clinic just submitted my claim yesterday-and they had the approval TODAY!  Wow.  I love Blue Cross Blue Shield!  :-)  Now it's on to pre-op testing and scheduling the surgery.  I should know my surgery date Monday! 

And the Countdown OFFICIALLY Begins....

I met my surgeon today!  Wow, he is wonderful!  I had visions of some House-like character.  (House-the arrogant doctor many of us love to hate).  But he wasn't at all like that.  He was laid-back, down to earth, very warm and compassionate.  I was blown away.  Also very impressed...a surgeon has to have performed 100 laparoscopic gastric bypass surgeries to be considered an expert.  My surgeon, Dr. Christopher (Chris) Edwards, has performed over 800!!!!  So I think I'm in very capable hands.  Needless to say, I feel so much better after getting to meet him, talk to him, ask a hundred questions, etc.  He really put my mind at ease about a lot of things.  Travis went with me to my appointment and he liked Dr. Edwards as well.  He said that as of today, we are about 3 weeks away from surgery!  I have to be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks prior to surgery-during that time, I will be undergoing pre-op testing to make sure I'm in good shape for surgery.  Wow...I just can't believe I'm here.  I'm here!  Today was a good day and I'm feeling very good about my decision-but I have my moments.  I have my moments when the gravity of all this hits me.  I've learned so much over the last few months...about myself, about my body and strain that it is currently under, and about the revolution it will undergo during and after surgery.  I'm still nervous about the surgery, but I'm anxious to begin this new phase in my life.  Rephrase that-I'm ready to get my life back.  I'm ready to get ME back. 

Mishaps and Moving Foward at Warp Speed

The past week has been a bit of a roller coaster.  Monday was my final doctor's appointment at the weight managment clinic.  When I checked out, I was informed that that they had not received any medical records for me.  The insurance lady was in a tizzy, freaking out and in a panic...and told ME that I needed to do something about this, because without medical records, my insurance would deny coverage for my surgery!  Then she proceeded to argue with me about what my insurance policy guidelines were.  Needless to say, all of this made me very upset.  Here I am, ready to get in line to meet my surgeon and get down to business...and they have no medical records for me!  What really upset me, was that the clinic has had THREE MONTHS to obtain my records.  That's how long I have been in the bariatric program.  I felt helpless. 
The next day came..after a lot of talking, venting, crying and praying, I made a phone call to one woman-and it turned out to be the best call I could have ever made.  :-)  I called Margaret Bumgarner, Director of Physician Services and Adult Care Services for Mission Hospital.  I explained to her what was going on..that I, as the patient had done EVERYTHING that was required of me, by the program and by my insurance-now only to face a delay due to lack of follow-up from the clinic staff.  Let me tell you, this lady is a miracle worker!  Within the SAME DAY, she intervened on my behalf-the clinic staff obtained all of the medical records that were needed.  My file was sent to the surgeon's office and yesterday afternoon, I received a phone call from the surgeon's office to schedule my consult!  Amazing!!
I spoke with Margaret again today and thanked her profusely for all of her help.  She is continuing to intervene for me-she instructed the clinic staff that if there were any problems whatsoever with my case, they are to contact her directly.  She also asked me to keep her phone number, and if I had any problems-with the surgeon's office, the hospital, clinic staff, whatever, to call her.  I know she will never read this, but Margaret, THANK YOU SO MUCH.  She really went above and beyond to help me. 
So...my final nutrition class is tomorrow.  My surgery consult is next Friday, October 22nd.  My surgeon Dr. Christopher Edwards, and from everything I've heard, he's a phenomenal surgeon.  :-)  The countdown is close!!  See you all back on the blog soon. 

My First NSV!!!!

This morning I have had my first NSV!  (Non-Scale Victory).  :-)  I am all smiles about it.  My bariatric program required me to lose 5% of my body weight before I can be sent to the surgeon for a consult.  I am happy to report that I am 4 pounds BELOW the goal weight they asked me to get to.  And...(drum roll, please)....this morning, I put on 2 pairs of jeans that I haven't been able to wear in over 4 years!!!!  They've just been hanging in my closet, waiting for me to get small enough to wear them.  And this morning, I threw away my bigger jeans, which are now hanging on to my hips for dear life so they don't sag to my ankles!  Yippee!!!  I threw them away, because I AM NEVER GOING BACK THERE.  :-) 

Tomorrow, I go for my final doctor's appointment at the weight clinic, and Friday is my final nutrition class.  After that, I will be scheduled for my surgery consult.  Wow, this is happening so fast...a month from now, I will either have recently had surgery, or it will be fast approaching.  So thankful for my wonderful, supportive, husband, family and friends.  Before surgery, I have to do a 2-week straight liquid diet.  Travis has committed to doing the liquid diet with me.  I love him.  :-) 

That's all the news for now...I will keep the blog updated as things develop!  Thanks for reading!