Getting into the groove of pre-op.

So, pre-op. I’ve been drinking a protein shake for breakfast and dinner. My meal is at lunch. Seems easier for me…as I don’t have to try and make protein shakes at lunch this way. I’ve been spreading the food I’m allowed to have (based on calories allowed) over the day, while at work. I get a little something every couple of hours…that way there is no major hunger.

Well, call me a dumbass and hit me with a frying pan. I was totally cheating myself. I finally figured out (after the first full week on pre-op) that I was sooooo doing it wrong.

I started having a protein shake for breakfast, late in the morning I have a lean cuisine, a few hours later I would have a small salad, and then my last protein shake in the evening. Much better plan for me. I was not hungry or anything doing it this way! Made the remainder of my pre-op diet a piece of cake! (Hmmm…I wonder if I should retire that analogy!?)

I did spend much of the time worrying about how my liver was doing!

-Frog

Shopping to prepare and filling meds.

I met a lady through LBT…don’t know if I mentioned it previously or not…but she lives in my area. We have been exchanging emails and she’s been giving me tips/tricks and telling me the various things I can expect. We shall call her Mentor. She told me to be sure and make copies of the post op mushy stage food list. She warned that I would be looking at it over and over…trying to find something I could eat on the list that I missed the previous 10 times I read it!

I went shopping with that list. I got more SF pudding. I also got more SF popsicles (at least Tadpole is not eating sugar laden popsicles anymore!). They suggested things like refried beans with taco sauce, ravioli with tomato sauce, and mashed potatoes with stuff mixed in, etc. I got the items needed to make them all…plus a few others.

Then I went to my local Wal-Mart. (I live in a small town…and we do NOT have a Super Wal-Mart. Therefore groceries have to be gotten at the grocery store.) I filled the prescriptions they gave me (Mentor suggested I do it a week early, in case they didn’t stock either item) and started looking at containers. I figured I would need a bunch to make the small meals I would be eating.

I now have everything I should need for the first month.

I’m ready.

-Frog

Education class and prescriptions.

In the previous post, I mentioned my education class. They told me that the class is required and you must bring list of possible surgery dates that you are good with. We already know that I had my date. Turns out so did another gal…she was the day before me…but I didn’t find this out until later.

Otherwise, the rest was with the nutritionist telling us about the pre- and post- op diets. She was telling us about making good choices, etc.

The big thing from the class was the prescriptions. They gave me an anti-nausea patch and liquid pain medication. They told me to put the patch on 2 hours before surgery.

I feel like I’m finally on the way and can’t believe this is actually happening!!!

-Frog

1 week.

1 week. 1 week you ask? What does this crazy Frog mean by 1 week? Well, yesterday marked 1 week on the pre-op diet and 1 week before surgery.

I have family that made a spur of the moment decision to come for a visit. Normally this would be no big deal. I have a great family and we all like to hang out together. Now this is not such good timing as I have not told my brother or sister. I’m not sure why I haven’t told them…

At any rate, the spur of the moment visit begat some very creative dieting for my first 2 days on the pre-op diet. I had previously purchased some BSN Lean Dessert Protein (Whipped Vanilla and Chocolate Fudge) and was going to be using it for my diet. Well, I felt the need to hide those bright red tubs. I hid them in my garage. Since I was not going to be able to explain the blender 2x a day…I went to the store and bought some tuna and veggies for my snacks…as well as some pre-made shakes to bring to work. They didn’t necessarily tell me I could have tuna…but I figure why not as it is no fat, low calorie and high protein! I would then eat dinner with the family. This worked great for the 3 days I needed it to…the only exception is the odd after taste I got with the pre-made shakes. I put them in the freezer for about 1.5 hours before I was going to drink them. I then chugged them. Then I only got the taste at the end!

I had my education class with the surgeon while they family was here. Got away and drove the 1.5 hours to the office. Most of what they told me I already knew. The most “new” information came in the form of what we are allowed during the mushy stages! More stuff that I thought…who knew Tuna counted???

I took the list of allowed foods and went shopping. I got everything I should need for the first week. I bought a couple of juices, some crystal light flavors, SF popsicles and skim milk to make my protein shakes. Now, I am normally averse to “blue water”. However, I figure if I am only allowed 1200 calories I might as well make everyone count!! And you know what I found…in a protein shake, you really don’t know the difference!! I also got some SF pudding. They said Jell-O was ok…but I HATE HATE HATE Jell-O. Figured I could also suck pudding through my teeth (their criteria for liquid) so, pudding should work!

-Frog

MIA

I know that I have been Missing in Action! I promise I will try to get all caught up!

In order to do that...we will be going back in time. No worries...I won't have to make up anything crazy. I make notes to myself on things I want to blog. I'm finishing up the first one and should have it posted shortly!

-Frog

Update 3.

I immediately call the doctor's office. I get G on the phone. I give her the number and tell her that they said I was approved. She takes the number down and says that she will call me back.

About 10 minutes later, she calls back. She says, "Yes you are approved! Your approval code is good for one year."

"Could there be any better news?" you ask. Why yes there could. NO 90 day or 6 month medically supervised diet first!!!

I explain that I have to be off work on Fri, Apr 2 and Mon, Apr 5 (Tadpole's school is closed for Easter!) and ask if there is any way to get in on March 31? They say that they will look into it and call me back. In the meantime, I am scheduled for the surgeon's education class, tomorrow, 3/18.

I heard nothing Friday. I heard nothing Monday. So, again I called. G gets on the phone and says, "Oh yeah, we have you scheduled for Wed, Mar 31 at 0830. "

O.M.F.G.

I started my pre-op diet today! 2 protein shakes (30g protein) a day. A sensible dinner. No more than 1200 cals a day. I can have sugar free pudding, yogurt, cheese sticks, veggies or fruit in-between meals if I feel like I am starving.

I will write up today's food, tomorrow!

So, 2 weeks from today, I will officially be a bandster!!!

-Frog

P.S. Goals will follow shortly too!

Update 2.

I'm totally making a pest of myself! Again, I call the insurance company on Thurs, 3/11. I ask for pre-determination. I get a nice lady on the phone that looks up my account. She comes back and gives me a number and says to note it. I do. I ask what it means...her reply?

APPROVED!!!!

I cried.

-Frog

Update 1.

Let me take you back in time. March 3, 2010 to be precise. This was day 14, business days that is.

I called the insurance company again to see if I could "help" by providing any additional information they might need for the determination.

Pick 1 for this, pick 2 for that, pick 3 if you have no clue what to do! I picked through the various menu options at the insurance company. Kept telling it that I was trying to find out information about a medical claim. I finally got a living, breathing human. Shock of shocks, turns she was the right person to get to. When I described the situation and what I was trying to do, she informed me that I had been calling the wrong place all this time. I wanted "pre-determination" not "claims". She transferred me.

I got to the pre-determination section. I explained to the lady (Again I got to the right person...she was awesome!!!) what I was trying to find out. She said hold one...looked up my file and told me "there is no file in here showing that you have an open a case."

SAY WHAT?!?!

I start to mildly freak. I tell her no biggie, I will just call the doctor's office and verify. She says that is what she would do.

I call. The gal there, G, tells me that the insurance always freaks people out. She will make a quick call and get back to me. She calls me back about 5 mins later. Says she talked to D. He said that he just opened my case for approval the day before. I forgot that they told me the Doc office goes through a 3rd party for approvals. Guess that is who she was calling.

I asked her if that means I have to wait another month. She said, "Hopefully not. D is a good guy and I asked him to expedite your file."

Time will tell!

-Frog

Updates.

I am swamped with stuff at the moment...and family just arrived for a surprise visit.

I have 2 posts I'm working up that will bring everyone up to speed and give all the details on where we are on this journey!

Have a great Sunday.

-Frog

Insurance Update.

I got up the nerve to call the insurance company. Thursday makes two weeks since they accepted the paperwork...and the wait is killing me.

I tried to be all nicey nicey. I told the gal on the phone that my doctor had submitted a "claim" for pre-approval and that I just wanted to make sure they had everything they needed from me.

She told me that they would send me notification if something was missing or they needed more information. She said that my record still shows as "reviewing" and that it takes 15 days to review a claim. She also said that there was not much else she could do at this time to help me.

I forgot to ask her if that was 15 days days or 15 business days.

Drat!!!

-Frog

What if...

...the insurance company says no? What are my options? Do I somehow come up with $10K and go to Mexico to do it? Do I just continue to "grow"? Do I staple my lips shut and hope for the best?

I wonder if these thoughts rattling around in my head are part of the reason I'm not sleeping of late. I can't turn them off...I can't really address them. It's a lot like marbles in a hamster wheel...they just rattle and spin! I think part of the reason that I keep thinking about this has to do with both my couch and my bed. Let me explain.

Couch. I sit on the couch and watch TV. My couch creaks when I sit down. The main spots (I try to vary my spot for even wear) where I sit are soft, mushy and have LOTS of give. I go to a non-main spot and there is still firmness to the couch. I know that my fat ass is doing this wear. EEK...I bet the furniture salesmen freak when I come walking into the store! "Oh Lord...here's a fatty that is going to break our couches."

Mind you...I've never broken a couch. A chair, yes. In my defense, it was a patio chair that had been sitting in the unrelenting Arizona sun for about 2 years. I maintain it was sun rotted...and I just happened to be the one that sat down in it.

Bed. When I was pregnant with Tadpole, near the end, I had a very strong nesting urge. I rearranged furniture constantly. Anyway...about 1 month before I was due, I wanted to move my bed. My mother, bless her heart, was helping me. She grabbed the foot and pulled. Unaware that the frame was two side rails that fit into the foot board. She completely pulled all the parts and pieces out and broke the shit out of the foot of my bed.

Fast forward about 5 years to Fall 2009. My father has fixed the bed. All the parts are living in my garage. I have laminate flooring installed in my house (by my AWESOME brother-in-law). When the floor is done he puts my wonderful bed back together and I begin sleeping in it. Tadpole loves it...with the side rails it is very easy to climb into bed with me! About 2 weeks later, we have a "flood" in the house. Wake up at 0330 to an inch of water on the floor. Needless to say, wood floor...RUINED! After all the insurance stuff was done we had a contractor come in to put in the new floor. On day 2...my bed breaks on the head board end this time. I set the pieces on my kitchen counter and off to work I go. When I get home, I find that the contractor is also a carpenter. He and his crew have repaired my bed!!

Now, every night when I lay in bed I hear creaks and groans. This might very well be in my head...but I hear them nonetheless. I know it would be nice to have weight gone and not be afraid that I am going to permanently ruin my bed and break it all to hell.

As a result of this, I've been thinking about the insurance company verdict being "no" a lot this last week. I'm not sure what I will do if that happens. I wonder if any other people going through this process have the same thoughts at this point in time?

The waiting SUCKS!!!

-Frog

Friday Eve.

Well, it's official. My paperwork is on its way to the insurance company!

Cross your fingers for me!!!

-Frog

Manic Monday (and I am not singing a Bangles song!)

Oh yeah...hiccup number 1. Hopefully it will be the one and only.

I got a call from my surgeon's office. The lady on the phone said that she had my file all put together and ready to send to the insurance company. One problem. She said that the needed the note from my doctor saying that the surgery was a medical necessity. Can't you just see my face on the end of THAT phone call. I mean, come on, I went into the office with everything ready. I thought I was WAY ahead of the power curve.

I told her that the note was on the same Rx page that referred me to the doctor in the first place. Her reply? "Uh-oh." They sent that Rx page to the insurance company as the referral to the surgeon. I told her that my insurance didn't actually require a referral. She said that the program did. She then asked me if I could get my PCP to write another one.

I called, yesterday at 1600. I told them what happened and said that I needed a new note. I got a call this morning at about 0815 that said my note was ready. I went by this afternoon and got it. It looks just like the first one. Referral to the surgeon and note of medical necessity.

I will be faxing it to the surgeon's office first thing in the morning.

I sure hope they didn't want her to write some touchy-feely letter about me and why this would be a good thing for me!

-Frog

Typhoid Thursday.

I don't have anything much to share for Thursday. I'm getting sick.

Sore throat Wednesday, cough Thursday...

uh oh!

-Frog

Wise Wednesday.

I wake up this fine, rainy Wednesday and have a brilliant idea. I know the insurance is going to approve me (no negativity out there for me)! Going to do it...make an assumption.

Let's say that they are going to make me do a 30, 60 or whatever number of days doctor supervised diet first. What is to stop me from going to my PCP and starting it now? My thought is that by the time the insurance takes their 6 to 12 weeks to make a decision, I will be that far along in the pre-surgery approval diet.

Then, after posting on LBT, someone gave me another idea. Tomorrow, I'm calling the insurance company. I'm going to ask them what specifically makes this medically necessary surgery as far as they are concerned. I'm then going to ask, once it is deemed medically necessary, what else needs to be done before the surgery will be authorized???

Here's hoping that nothing else is required after the necessity is determined!!!

-Frog

Tuesday Trials.

I had my last appointment before insurance submission yesterday. Met with the nutritionist. She had on the funkiest shoes...looked like frog feet!!

She told me about the pre-op and post-op diets required by my surgeon! Pre-op is protein shake for breakfast and lunch and a small, sensible dinner ie. Lean Cuisine. Said I could have healthy snacks if I was hungry between meals. Post-op is liquid for a week. Mushy for 2 to 3 weeks and adding solids back in as you are able to after the 3rd week. I did a bunch of research today on Protein Powders and Bars. Soooo many choices.

After the appointment, Tadpole, Bug and I went to dinner. Macaroni Grill! I'm going to miss Chicken Scallopini after the band. Or at least the pasta part of it! I'm thinking the chicken and artichokes will still be doable. Anyway, second stop was Trader Joe's (here after I'll call it TJs). This is where I started looking at protein shakes and powders. I'm scared!

As we headed from the restaurant to TJs I remember that my Blackberry had been blinking and making sounds at me indicating that I had a text message. I was standing there looking in my purse in the store, while waiting to check out, when Tadpole had to potty. Search aborted.

About 4 miles from TJ's I remembered the blinking and making of sounds the phone was doing earlier. I was searching through my purse (at a red light!) for the phone. No joy. OH CRAP! I have already shut one in the car door...don't need to lose another. Bug calls my phone and we hear nothing. "That is not good," she says. "No shit," I was thinking and saying!!! I flip a major U-turn and head back to TJs. The whole way back I keep feeling my pockets, in my purse and all around the center console of the car. Bug points out that if it had been in the car we would have heard it.

When we get back to TJs, I pull up behind the car that is in the spot I was. I climb out of my car and am bent down (in the rain) looking under the car for my squashed Blackberry. It's not there. I'm in full fledged freak out now. I turn around to head back to the car and notice something on the floor at the edge of my car seat. I grab it. It is the phone! I pick it up and see a bunch of missed calls...all from Bug as we were driving back and hoping it would ring or someone would answer it! I look and notice that somehow the sound had been turned off. No wonder we didn't hear it ringing.

WHEW! Crisis averted! I spent about 30 minutes of the hour long drive calming down!!! In case it is not obvious, let me tell you...I'm a major clutz!

-Frog

Monday Musings.

I am sitting here eating Chicken Nuggets with Tadpole. Wondering if they will be something I can eat once becoming a bandster!?

I see the Nutritionist tomorrow. She is in the surgeon's office...so, no waiting for her to mail the report to them! The shrink said that his report should get to the surgeon by Wednesday, 02/03. Here's hoping!!

I would love an email or phone call by Friday (wishful thinking?) telling me that the paperwork is on its way to the insurance company!

I am the kind of person that says, "If it weren't for bad luck, I would have no luck!" I figure with luck like mine, it will take the insurance the full 12 weeks to review my file. Then, they will say no. I will appeal. They will eventually give in (12 appeals later) and tell me that I have to do 2 years worth of diet first.

I'm hoping that this falls into the 2010 is my year category!!!

-Frog

My head has been shrunk!

Before you bring to mind the scene in Men in Black where Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith go into the shop and zap Tony Shaloub's head, leaving a little tiny grapefruit sized head in its place...I mean figuratively. I saw the psychiatrist yesterday morning.

He was a nice fellow. Asked me a bunch of question about what I knew about the band and how long I had been thinking about it. We talked about that for a little bit. Then he asked me a bunch of questions like what is the date, year, day of the week, who is the president...who was president before that? Before that? Before that? I guess I passed...he told me that he did not see any psychological barriers to my going forward with the surgery.

WOOT! Good thing he didn't talk to my friends. They'd have probably brought in a straight jacket!

I have my last pre-op appointment, the nutritionist, on Tuesday, Feb 2. Then comes the BIG wait!

I see no issue with this one either...so, as far as I am concerned I'm already in the wait. It all depends on if my claims administrator deems me a medically necessary case. I'm already freaking out thinking that the insurance company will find some way to say no.

-Frog

…Ummer…unnn…annn

I have read a lot, both on LBT and on various blogs, about people’s decisions on who to tell. I have 5 people who know I am working to go through this process. There is Gunny, Airborne, D, Bug and my parents. Counted my parents collectively…so I guess technically there are 6 people who know. Let me explain why these are the people who know.

Gunny and Airborne are both guys I work with that are more like my big brothers (without all the fighting) than co-workers. D and Bug are my good friends.

Gunny is a retired Marine. Anyone who has ever known a Marine knows “once a Marine, always a Marine”. Semper Fidelis is the Marine Corps motto. It means Always Faithful. Gunny is still 100% Marine. I did not know what to think of him when we met, about 6 years ago. He came off as rather an ass. First impressions are NOT always right. He is a sweetheart!

Airborne is a former soldier. He was “double-stacked”…Airborne and Air Assault. Airborne is someone I did NOT expect to end up friends with when we met. Again, first impressions are NOT always right. We hit it off amazingly well! We are really good friends. I would say he is a sweetheart, but his “black heart” would not be pleased at that description. Suffice it to say, I know that he is actually a good guy…but sssssshhhh, don’t tell him I said that…it will be our little secret.

D and I met about 7 years ago. We went through our pregnancies together (her third, my first). In fact, she is the one that told me I was pregnant. We have worked together, taken Calculus together and done art work together. Whenever we can arrange the time, our kids play together! She has been 100% supportive of this idea from the get go. She is the one that went to the seminar with me. She kept eyeballs on Tadpole!!

Bug and I met about 10 years ago. I was being moved to a new team at work and they put me in a cube with her. She was to train me for the new project I would be working. We hit it off! We have been making jokes, for years, about being twins that were separated at birth, 12 years apart. When she moved away with her then husband, we kept in touch via email and a mail journal. After their divorce, I talked her into coming back to Arizona! She is 100% supportive of me. I don’t think she is completely thrilled with the whole idea but I KNOW she will support me, no matter what I do. In fact, on the trip to the surgeon the other day, she told me that she wanted to go and was excited to learn more as she is my “…Ummer…unnn…annn”. (This comes from the book “Misery” by Stephen King. At some point, near the beginning of the story, the hero of the story is waking up after a car accident. He hears sort of a humming in his ears and it sounds like “…Ummer…unnn…annn”. It is actually the CRAZY BITCH saying “number one fan”.)

Then there are my parents. My Mom hasn’t really said how she feels about this. My Dad told me I was “out of your f**king mind”. I’m not sure why…but ok.

There are the people who know. Gunny and Airborne are my support during the day. D, Bug and my parents are support the rest of the time! I know that they will all keep my secret.

I have some really good, old friends that do not know yet…neither do my Brother and Sister. I will tell them…LATER. None of them live in the area with me. I want to do this, lose some of the weight and then go for a visit to surprise them. I know that they too will support me no matter what…thrilled with the idea or not.

Other than that, I do not plan to tell anyone right now. Maybe after there is progress and people have started to notice, I will answer the inevitable “how did you do it?” questions with the WHOLE truth…time will tell.

-Frog

Surgeon

I had my appointment with the surgeon on Monday morning. The surgeon’s office is about 75 miles from home, just down the street from where I attended the seminar! I asked a friend (Bug) to go with me…it makes the hour drive seem faster when I have someone to talk to.

Monday morning, I dropped Tadpole off at school and picked Bug up. Off we went. We made our mandatory stop at Circle K (a 7-11 type convenience store, for those that might not know) and picked up sodas and breakfast. We did the usual girl chat on the drive. Bug told me that she would like to come into the room with me to meet the surgeon. When I asked why...her response was to learn more. I told her I didn’t mind. I said we could always tell them she was my mother if there was an issue!! :)

Since it was my first appointment they said to be there 30 minutes early. I had gotten the intake paperwork at the seminar, so it was already filled out. I had also faxed it in a couple of days early. The result? We waited! About 45 minutes of waiting. Now, patience is not a virtue I was blessed with...so I was cracking jokes and making snide comments at Bug the whole time...couldn't help it!

They called my name. Here goes!! First thing they do? You all know...the DREADED scale! I told Bug she could not be all shocked when she saw my weight. I don't know if she actually saw it or not...I tried to cover it up and not let anyone see it. But, of course, they wrote it down. Mortification...that's all I can say. Then into the room we go. The gal took my blood pressure (no high BP problem for me!) and asked a couple of questions. Told me the surgeon would be in shortly.

Bug and I sat there making comments about the colors of the room. One wall was, I would say seafoam green, but it was a little bluer than green. The rest were beige. The cupboards were a combo of greenish blue mold with swipes of brown sand and carrot orange. Hey...it kept us entertained!

The surgeon came in about 5 minutes later. He talked to me for 5 – 10 minutes. He basically told me all the same stuff he had said in the seminar. He asked me to lift my shirt, palpated my abdomen and then told me I was an excellent candidate for the surgery. Said that he was certain they could help me. I just need to finish the last 2 appointments and they can submit my paperwork to the insurance company.

Let me tell you, this is the one and only time in my life that I hope the “roller coaster” ride is fast, short and straight with no twists, turns, ups or downs.

-Frog

The End.

Where was I? Oh yes, the seminar. When we got there and signed in, they gave is a large packet of information. It included the usual you would expect (brochures on the types of band, details on the surgery etc.) as well as informational cards on the doctors in the practice and a stack of paperwork. It was mostly the forms for the doctor, but one of the pages was a bright orange page with a list of things you have to do prior to your “file” being submitted to the insurance company: get a note from your primary care physician (PCP) stating bariatric surgery is a medical necessity, get a referral to the surgeon, schedule a consultation with the surgeon, get copy of medical records, and have both psychological and dietary evaluations. My brain started churning…but back to that later.

The surgeon was there. He talked for the first part of the hour. Doc told us about the surgery (including percentage rates of various potential complications), his credentials, and some of his after surgery directions. After he was done, the program coordinator (at least I think that is what she is) talked to us. She talked about the paperwork and steps that would need to be done (the bright orange page from above) and answered all of our questions. I left after an hour with the knowledge needed to gather my armor and hopefully slay the fat dragon forever!

Back to my brain churning…I had an appointment scheduled with my PCP for Jan 18. That was 12 days away. I didn’t want to wait that long. I figured I needed the recommendation and referral from her before doing anything else. I called her office on Jan 7. I told them that I would not be able to make my appointment on the 18th and could we move it up. They asked if Jan 12 would work. I jumped on it!

Now I wait again. This time I only had to wait 6 days. I get to her office. I have all of the paperwork from the Bariatric Center in my bag. My PCP is not the friendliest of doctors. I sat in her office chewing my fingernails (figuratively speaking) waiting to be called in. They finally called me back. We do the first thing that always happens…weight. I conveniently (can’t believe I am saying that!) gained 4 pounds since I last saw her (was October). I’m actually thinking that is pretty good since we had both Thanksgiving and Christmas since my last visit! They check my blood pressure, pulse and temperature. I’m surprised my BP was not HIGH. I was so nervous about talking to the Doctor.

After doing the usual conversation with her, she says, “Oh, I see you lost…oh wait, you gained weight.” I said, “Yes and actually I wanted to talk to you about that.” I slide the bright orange page over to show her. I tell her exactly what I want. She says, “I’m glad you want to…hold on…” and runs out of the office. She comes running back in and writes down my BMI. “I’m glad you want to do this. I think it will help you.” She then writes me the note and referral. HOLY CRAP. She actually wrote the note. I walked out of the office nice and calm…I didn’t start screaming until I got into my car. I’m sure anyone within earshot of my car thought I was crazy!

The next morning I start setting up the rest of the appointments. I call the surgeon and set up my consultation for Jan 25. I then found a psychiatrist (pronounced peace-a-key-a-trist*) here in town. I set up an appointment for Jan 29. Now all I need is the nutritionist and I will be on my way!

-Frog

*I'm prone to making up my own way to say things too! :)

The Middle.

I began wait #1, the chance to change to the other insurance option. I found Lap Band Talk (LBT). I started reading posts/comments from people. While doing this, I saw one poster listed a blog. That was Catherine (http://chroniclesfrombandland.blogspot.com/). I figured what the heck and went to read her story. Read from beginning to end. On her site I saw the list of blogs she followed. That is how I found Amy (http://cheeseandsunkist.blogspot.com/). Again, read from beginning to end. Both of these women are awesome! I started checking out all the blogs they followed. I read a good majority of them…all as a lurker. My very first post was on Amy’s blog the other night. I am going to hang up my lurker boots and will actually start following them and commenting! I will create my own list of blogs I follow soon!

Anyhoozle, I continued my wait. Come December, I availed myself of open enrollment at work and changed my insurance! I knew from all the reading, that most insurance companies would cover the surgery if your BMI was over 40 (35 with co-morbidities). I also knew that a lot of the insurance companies required this to have been the case for more than 5 years. I contacted my doctor’s office and requested a copy of my records. Took a week…I got them on Dec 19. Now came wait #2. Come on 2010!!!

Tadpole was off with Daddy until Jan 2, so I totally enjoyed my holidays with my family and friends…no one to worry about but me! Tadpole returned home and we went back to work/school on Jan 4.

I was sitting at my desk doing my usual reading of blogs and LBT. It occurred to me that it was now after Jan 1. I was on the appropriate insurance program. I finally opened the records from the doctor’s office. I had records going back 10 years! In 1999 my BMI was 39.5. I went up from there…it hit 43.6 in 2001. It went down briefly but never below 36. In 2003 (after Tadpole was born) it was 40 and on the rise. It has never gone back down. I can’t believe I waited this long to open the file!!

I put together a spreadsheet of dates, weights and BMIs. I then looked for a surgeon…both in my area and that insurance would pay for (if surgery was deemed medically necessary). Mission accomplished. I then remembered something I read on LBT. Most people had to go to an information seminar with their choice of surgeon before anything else happened. I immediately began looking around my doctor’s site and found a seminar on Jan 6. HOLY CRAP…two days away.

I called a friend of mine, D, and talked her into going with me. I needed someone to help me with Tadpole while at the seminar. D kept me company on the hour long drive (each way). She then listened to the seminar while simultaneously taking care of Tadpole, so I could focus 100% on what was being said.

The End will follow soon.

-Frog

The Beginning.

Hopefully I’m doing this whole blog thing “right”!

I told you that I am 5’4” tall and fluffy. Let me go a little further. I have always been fluffy. I do not remember a time in life where that was not the case.

This brings us to the subject that prompted me to start this blog…the ongoing life struggle to lose weight.

I have been considering WLS (weight loss surgery) for a couple of years now. I have pretty much always known that bypass is NOT the way for me. I do not like the idea of a permanent "re-wiring" of my innards. In Aug 2008, I was surfing the 'net and found an ad for True Results. The website was talking about a different option for WLS. Lap-Band. They were running a special...I don't remember all the exact wording, but basically the initial visit was free. I thought, "Why the hell not?" I mean what is the worst thing they would tell me..."you're overweight." OMG! Let's just call it like it is. Bring out the big guns...the f-word! Yep, let's just put it out there. I'm fat. Not just fat...but obese. Morbidly obese. Super morbidly obese. I'm not 500lbs...but at 5'4", it doesn't take 500lbs to hit the SMO category. I cried the first time the doctor wrote that on my medical chart...but I digress.

I scheduled a visit for about 2 weeks later. On the appointed day, I took my little one to day care, and drove 3 hours to visit their clinic. I filled out the paperwork they had and then they called me back. They took my height, weight and blood pressure. It then took all of 5 minutes for them to tell me that they could do surgery in 2 weeks. HOLY CRAP. All we needed was to see about payment. My insurance at the time would not cover this. They told me it would cost between $15 and $20K. HOLY CRAP. I don't know about you, but I do not have that kind of money. I knew that getting credit to pay for it was not an option.

I left the office dejected.

I went back to work and life. I was bummed out majorly...but I was there. I kept reading about WLS and thinking about it. I was researching and trying to come up with any and all options out there that would allow me to have this surgery. Seems like with every job I had, the insurance included an exclusion clause for this.

I changed jobs a couple of years ago. There were several insurance options available. Naturally I chose the WRONG one. This one had the typical exclusion stating that WLS was not covered under ANY circumstances. I got mailed a copy (Oct 2009) of the coverage/exclusion for the other plan we were allowed to choose. HOLY CRAP…WLS was excluded EXCEPT when deemed medically necessary by the claims administrator. I started jumping up and down in my kitchen as I read it. I finally had a shot. I plotted and planned a course of action. But, I was just going to have to do several “waits”.

The Middle will be up next.

-Frog

About Me.

Here we go. Before we go too far, I warn you. I have a major thing for ellipses. I use them all the time. Right or wrong I still use them...ALL THE TIME!!

I've tried blogging before. Started in 2006...one post. Tried again in 2007...one post. Like my track record? Me too! I am trying again. I think part of why I never got very far with this...why would anyone care what I had to say. I will get into details as to why I am trying again on my next post. This one is more about me.

I'm 39. I'm feeling every bit of my 39 years too. I know they say that you are only as old as you feel. In that case, I'm about 85.

I have a Masters Degree in a field I said I would NEVER work in...computers. I remember at 15, when my parents got their first computer saying I would NEVER touch it! I guess the old adage is true...never say NEVER.

I failed this miserably again, when I said I would NEVER have children. I now have 1...Tadpole. I'm sure my little one will surface in conversation later...as children make some brutally honest comments...and mine is no exception! But for the moment, I prefer to leave Tadpole out things.

I know the blogosphere (is that how it is spelled?) is a great place to remain anonymous. I mean you can be a 95 year old man masquerading as a 23 year old blonde woman with big boobs and long legs. Well...I'm neither. I'm 5ft 4in tall and fluffy.

That's all I can think of for an initial post. From what I have seen in other blogs, details will come out as time goes by. Let's talk about those when they come up.

-Frog