After being overweight since I was in the fifth grade, my weight is starting to affect me in more ways. Especially after I injured my back at work; things have spiraled downward ever since.
I went to the doctor when I hurt my back. After a series of xrays it was determined that I have scoliosis of the mid to lower spine and Degenerative Disc Disease. I was placed on medication and a diet. Two slices of bread, one boiled egg...you know the one. Being a hearty eater, I was starving on that one. So I stopped the diet, kept on taking the meds. and waited for my back to heal.
My doctor then put me on a diet drug. I don't remember the name, I just know it didn't work. I returned to work with my back still hurting and eating more to comfort myself. I put on more weight. I became a couch potato. My back hurt so bad that I stopped doing most of the things I love. My back eventually stopped hurting so bad (or I just got used to it), but by then I had no energy to do anything.
In 2003, I reinjured my back. After seeing three doctors, I finally got one to look past the weight and take an xray of my back. That doctor sent me to a neurologist for a nerve conduction test. From there I went to a orthopedic surgeon. I had an open MRI that got me an appointment with a neurosurgeon. This is the man.
He explained to me and my wife the damage that had been done to my back. Apparently, in 2001, I had acctually broken my back and my doctor at that time didn't look past my weight as being a factor in my pain. My back healed, however, it healed crooked. He said that I have three ruptured discs in my back and a strong curvature to the side. My MRI films tell the story well.
The damage to my back is inoperable. My only option is to lose this weight and tighten my stomach muscles to get the stress off of my back. I had mentioned to the neurosurgeon I wanted to have this surgery. I got the call a week later.
I want to back track for just a minute. When I hurt my back the second time, I went to a different doctor. I had requested that my old records be sent to him and that I want a referral to Dr. Davenport for Gastric Bypass Surgery. My old doctors office lost my records. Once they were found, the information was faxed to my current doctors office. They lost the records. Then when they were found and sent to Dr. Davenport's office, they in turn lost them. After the third fax from my current doctor, Dr. Davenport's office finally received my records.
If it weren't for Dr. Levi I probably would not be head toward a new life yet.
On 12/10/03 I had my first appointment with Dr. Davenport. I was very comfortable with her. She was very upfront, took her time to explain and answer any and all questions my wife and I had, and, the most important factor, she did not rush through the appointment. She made me feel like I was the only person she had to see. She showed compassion and true concern over my ordeal.
On 01/08/04 I meet with the dietician. She has to send her report to Dr. Davenport. Dr. Davenport is off on Maternity Leave right now, so once she returns, her office will submit my request to insurance for approval. I should have my date by the end of January. Several people that have the same insurance that I do have had this surgery through Dr. Davenport's office. I feel confident that I will be approved.
I have spent all of my spare time talking with people that have had this surgery and researching this type of surgery. I wanted to know as much as I could before jumping in. I will continue to do so.
01/19/04 Appointment with a psychatrist. My insurance, as of 01/01/04, requires that I talk to a shrink as one of the manditory checks. I went to the appointment not knowing what to expect. I filled out a questionarie, I read some information on the surgery, talk to the dr., etc. I was told I would have to come back one more time. Wasn't expecting that one either.
01/22/04 When to the shrink again. He asked me questions from out of the reading stuff, gave me a quiz, then gave me a clean bill of health, and sent me on my way. He said that he would fax his findings to Dr. Davenport's office. He said that I would be released to her for surgery.
I called Dr. D's office as soon as I left the shrinks. Dr. D's nurse told me that as soon as they recieve the shrinks info that they would in turn send it to my insurance company for approval. Now it is a waiting game for the next few weeks. I will update when I hear more.
