On May 24, 2003 I went to see my Primary Care Physician to talk about Weight Loss Surgery. I told her I had made some changes in my life such as buying only low or no fat foods and watching my salt intake, as well as limiting carbs which seem to be my biggest problem to control. I told her I was starting Aqua Fitness twice a week, I have been unable to walk for a long time now due to back pain. I asked her if I could be put on AdepexP while I researched where I would like to have WLS. She agreed to the pills for 3 months. She was very supportive and although she had brought up WLS to me several times she never pushed it or made me feel uncomfortable.
June 12, 2003 I started Aqua Fitness twice a week. I feel in love with it the first time! I could walk and exercise without pain for the first time in YEARS. Every time I go it feels like a holiday, like entering another world. Thank God my cousin Brenda kicked me in my butt and got me to go to the pool with her.
June 27, 2003 I had my first appointment at Bariatric Treatment Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. I saw Dr. Lane, he was wonderful, he made the surgery easy to understand and also explained what happened to make it hard for me to lose and keep off the extra weight. He told me too up my protien intake so my tissues would be healthy and that would help avoide leaks. He told me to change my Aqua Fitness to five times a week, the more I was moble the better chance of avoiding blood clots after surgery. He also told me that I would have to have my sleep apnea under control for at least a month before surgery, it could mean the difference between being put on a ventilator and not being put on one. I left there feeling at ease about the surgery, with a boost to my self-esteem and a better understanding of what was happening with my body and I also felt empowered to help how well my surgery would come out. He sent me home with a list of things I would need to have done before we could submite a request to my insurance company.
July 2, 2003 I met with my PCP again and she ordered the blood work Dr. Lane requested. Her very helpful staff contacted the Cardiologist and Pulmonary doctors to take care of other tests requested by Dr. Lane.
I contacted the sleep apnea place to go back in for a fitting of the Cpap. First time I went for a fitting it just freaked me out, but now I was very motivated! I also contacted a Psycologist to take care of the psyc eval requested by Dr. Lane.
July 9, 2003 I had a chest x-ray requested by Dr. Gebuhr, the cardiologist.
July 17, 2003 I went in for my Cpap fitting, and was successful.
July 21, 2003 I met with Lori Malon, lisenced Psycologist, and had my psyc eval done. She was great and other than there being 567 questions on the test I had to take it was a piece of cake.
July 21, 2003 I also started Aqua Fitness five days a week.
July 31, 2003 I am schedualed for and ecocardiogram and a stress test, the none treadmill kind. Oh man! I was scared to begin with, thinking I would end up having a heart attact doing this so that didn't help then as my heart rate rose I felt VERY sick! The people doing the test and Dr. Hill were great and very reassuring but it is nothing I ever want to do again!
Aug. 5, 2003 I meet with Dr. Al-Bawab to go over the x-ray and tests. Well found out how it went and he said my heart was normal in the test and he sees NO sign of heart disease! I feel so much better. The last 3 years I've been worried, my size, my age along with my family history of heart disease, I thought for sure I would have something wrong. I feel so much safer now! and the best part is after I have surgery and lose this weight I won't have any heart problems to deal with! He said as soon as I get the blessing of the Pulmonary doctor I should be on my way. I feel so blessed to be this healthy after being this much over weight. Only God can be the reason I have this chance. I can't even think of the words to thank him for this and all that he's done for me.
Aug. 12, 2003 I did attend the Support Group Meeting in Holland, Michigan ... about 40 miles away from where I live. The people all seemed very nice. Nancy Bell is the "leader" she seem very up-beat. I'm so awful with names, I wish I could remember better. A group being started closer to where I live was talked about, that would be very nice! I will be going back in September on the 9th.. Second Tues. of the month. I can see now that a support group would be a big help after surgery, so I hope they have a BTC group start up here.
Aug. 14, 2003 I had my physical with my pcp. I got the results to my psyc test and my letter from the cardiologist. My doctor is going to add a little to her letter and then I can pick it up along with the rest of my blood work results and the info on my physical. That will be mid next week I believe.
I also found out because my first sleep test was over a year ago that I had to re-do it, luckly they had an opening right away so I went in at 8:30pm and did a split test, half the night without the cpap and half using the cpap.
Aug. 19, 2003 I decided not to wait. I got all the information on my physical and blood work from my doctor. She had her letter of medical nessisity ready for me also, so I took it all and sent it in to BTC today. I sent it "return receipt" so I could make sure it got there.
Aug. 22, 2003 Received my receipt. They got my information on Thursday Aug. 21, 2003. I'll call Tues. the 26th to see when it will go to my insurance company.
Aug. 27, 2003 Faxed to BTC the new sleep study report. BTC said they sent my information to ASR.
Aug. 28, 2003 BTC said they have sent my info on to ASR but they expect a denile until 3 more months of a supervised diet is completed. That will be approximently November 28, 2003.
Sept. 4, 2003 I saw the Pulmonary Doctor for a consultation. When I picked up the report September 17, 2003. I'll send it on to BTC tomarrow!
Sept. 12, 2003 ASR said they Just received the information from BTC
Oct. 08, 2003 Received a letter from BTC my insurance wants more information. I'm not sure I understand what they want.
March 1, 2004 Insurance Changed, I have to start all over with a different place.
