april1

April 1, 2001---Happy April Fool's Day!! No this is not a joke, this is for real! I am back, and I have no excuse for not updating recently. The only reason I have, I think is a pretty good one--I have been fighting with my insurance company for the past 2 months. Ok, the last time I wrote was when I saw Dr. Rosenthal...I then scheduled for my pre-op testing on February 2nd. I found out that my surgery was scheduled for Feb 28th. WOO-HOO!!! I was so, so happy!!! So I went to the pre-op testing on the 2nd, only to find out on the 5th that I was DENIED. I was so devestated. I mean, it had to be one of the worse days of my life. So I cried, and cried,....and then cried some more. Then I got mad. I had done everything right...I called and asked if it was covered, they said it was. I had asked them if there was any requirements or criteria to be met..."No there isn't any" they said. I asked the nurse who called me (who was very helpful by the way) the reason I was denied. She said they wanted proof of more coservative treatment, i.e. a year long medically supervised diet. Mind you, I had sent them a 10 year diet history, which included numerous doctors and even 2 nutritionists. It wasn't like I have just tried Weight Watchers for a week, given up and decided to have this surgery. This is the last option I have. So I faxed them more information, only to recieve another denial letter in the mail. Well, I knew then I had to get all my ducks in a row. So I went to my doctors and asked them to support me. Three of the four doctors that I asked wrote me letters. Their support of me has been incredible! Ok, so armed with this new information I went to my lawyer on March 12th. If you live in Florida, and want his name, just e-mail me! He is awesome!!! They gave him the run around for about a week (transferring him here and there....anyone who has tried to get an answer from a company on the phone knows how it is!). He then sent a certified letter and gave them 10 days to respond. TA-DA!! On the 10th day, they called to say.....drum roll.....I AM APPROVED!!!

April 3, 2001-- OH HAPPY DAY!!! I HAVE A DATE!!! MAY 16th IS MY SURGERY DATE!!!
It's exactly 13 days after my 23rd birthday. Can you beat that? I don't know whether or not to cry, laugh, jump for joy....It's perfect!!! My last final is May 2nd, so then I will have 2 weeks to get ready for the hospital stay. I am so....excited, scared, excited!! LOL, I'm a jumble of emotions right now! Please, anyone persuing this, do not give up your dream. Pool your resources, look on the net, ask friends who they know. You'll be surprised who comes through for you!
Ok, I know you all are wondering about the pre-op testing. So far, I have seen the nutritionist and an endocrinoligist. The nutritionist just went over the diet, and asked if I had any questions. She was alot of fun! The endocrinoligist just asked me about my ovaries (I had a cyst removal back in 1995) and he tested me for PCOS. The wierd thing is, I found out that because I have PCOS my pancreas is producing excess insulin, and that is the only reason I don't have diabetes. Funny how one disease offsets another. I also had a hypoplori test (tests for blood clots) and an Upper GI. An Upper GI is when you drink barium and they X-Ray your tummy. It's not painful, and the barium is not awful, just not something you'd drink voluntarily. LOL. I also am getting a History and Physical from my PCP within 30 days of my surgery date. So I set that up for the 18th of this month. I am compiling a list of things to take with me to the hospital...I know one for sure thing I am taking is a FAN!! Everyone I have talked to has wanted one or were so happy they brought one! They have also told me that they never even picked up a book or magazine they brought to read. I think I will bring those with anyways, just in case! I will post the list once i come up with it! I also am including a request for medical records in case you want to use that. It is wise when you first start this process to get your records from anyone and everyone you could've ever seen about your weight or anything that could be related to weight.