Tales of the Morbidly Obese

heart attack

On Monday, I went to the hospital for my pre-op appointment.  Vials and vials of blood were drawn.  We discussed how the check-in procedures would go and bit about pain management.  I had to have yet another chest x-ray lest I fail to glow in the dark recesses of the hospital.  I also had to have another ekg for my heart.

If you recall, back in May I was cleared for surgery as a "low risk" by the cardiologist I was required to see in order to have surgery.  Well, after this quick little pre-op ekg, the nurse said, " looks like you have a possible infarct-unconfirmed."  I said, "What does that mean?"  She replied, "Well, that you have had a heart attack," in her most befuddled tone.  I saw her prepare an ABNORMAL EKG fax cover sheet to send to my doctor's office.   I was a bit worried, but concerned that I had a heart attack and no one, including me, had noticed.

I mentioned it on some of the sugery boards I am on.  One lady wrote that her friends had the same thing.  Both had cardiac catherizations and one had a blockage that delayed her surgery for 3 months!  I was a bit worried about that.  I called the doctor's office today.  In their usual efficient manner,  Denise had already sent the ekg to my cardiologist.  She, the cardiologist, has said it was unchanged since May 12th.  So, either I have a cute little heart rythym that is all my own or I had a heart attack prior to May 12th.  Apparently no one is very concerned; therefore, I am no longer going to be either.

Preparations and Crazy Dreams

I had a dexascan yesterday.  It is a light x-ray which helps determine your bone density.  The tech said I had the straightest spine he had every seen.  It was high praise from a man who usually has to scan 70 year olds.   I am getting it to have a baseline to campare if I have calcium issues after surgery. 

The surgery prep is starting in earnest.  I have been collecting a few things needed here and there.  I have not started the housecleaning yet.  I mean why peak before you really have to.  We are still 3 weeks out today. 

On Friday, I go see Dr. Thin for my pre-op appt. He will be going on a conference.  I will need to have lost some weight by then to show him that I am "compliant."  Hell, I thought the 3-ring binder should have done that!  There will be before pics and measurements taken.

I am having crazy dreams at night that the surgery is called off.  I don't know what to think about that.  I am not sleeping very well.  It would help if crazed fax machines from all over the world would stop calling my house.

I have not run into a great deal of resistance yet.  I have told my mother-in-law and one of my old co-workers.  My MIL was non-commital which is good for her.  My co-worker was very supportive of me which was nice.

I suppose I will need to make a list of reason why I am having the surgery.  Some people put goals.  I just keep wondering if it is really going to happen that I am going to lose weight finally!

Will I be different or just thinner?

One Month from Today

One month from today on July 12, 2005, I am scheduled for my duodenal switch surgery!!!!  I am amazed with the speed of it all as I expected it to take months and months.

I received my official approval letter from the insurance company yesterday. It says I am approved for the "douenal switch."  LOL  I have quite a few pre-op appointments to do and I have to give a big load of money to the doc for our co-insurance payment. 

After this week, I will start making lists of all the things I need to get together for the hospital and after.  We cancelled our vacation for the last week of July :-< .  It had to be done as there is no way I will be able to ride in the car for 6 hours that early after surgery. 

I am been on a bit of a farewell tour of food.  I have had sushi and mexican this week.  My doc wants me to lose 10-15 pounds to shrink my liver a bit before surgery.  I don't think it will be too difficult.

I cannot believe I am going to get to have the surgery that will make my body work correctly again!!  I am excited and scared and worried.  Of course, I worry about everything.  There are some people we are not telling.  I need to figure out a way to tell my in-laws.  They will be helping us with the boys.   How am I going to explain to the boys?  They are so young, but old enough to know something is going on.  (4 & 8).

One month from today!

What a Difference a Weekend Makes

We had a fun weekend.  Bicycle rally with the kids on Saturday with some swimming in the afternoon.  Sunday we went to church and then slipped over for a late afternoon at the local water park.  It is tough being in your bathing suit in front of hundreds of people.  It was very difficult to climb all the steps.  Some of the higher rides I just didn't even try.  The kids loved and we were all exhausted at the end.

This morning I took my little one to swim team practice, there was NO message when I got home.  I was just getting settled into my office when the phone rang.  I was sure it was my husband calling to tell me how the drop off went at baseball camp.  It was an out of state number.  It was the nurse clinical whatever from my insurance company that had gone home on Friday after telling my dr. I had no insurance.  I thought she was calling to tell me she was reviewing the paperwork now that it was confirmed I had coverage.  No, she told me...

I AM APPROVED!!!!!

I will be having surgery in early July most likely.  I will know more later this week.  I am on cloud nine both nervous and excited!

Why Insurance Companies are Instruments of Torture

Called  the insurance Tuesday morning 5/31/05, the rep says that they have not received the paperwork.  She said it would take 30-60 days for pre-determination to make a decision.  Needless to say, no help at all. 

I hung up and called again and got a different rep.  I told her when my documents were faxed again and asked her to research it.  She transferred me to a nurse in the the pre-authorization department.  She said she would send the gastric bypass team an email to check on it.  She said I should hear something in 48 hours.

I did not hear anything the next day (Friday) until 4:07pm.  The sweetest girl from my Doctor's office called me. I was just starting to get excited that this was the approval call when she hit me with the bombshell.  My insurance had called the Doctor and told them that I had no insurance AT ALL! Our contract had expired on 5/31/05!!!!

So, I immediately felt the urge to vomit.  I was shaking all over when I told her I would call her back.  I called the ins. company.  The first rep I talked to said the same thing- no medical coverage.  Remember, I had just called the day before and had coverage.  She called the enrollment department and found out that yes, we had PPO coverage.  I asked to speak to the person that had called my dr.  She could not connect me.

I hung up and called the sweetest girl at my doctor's office back.  She gave me more information about the insurance caller- her extension #.   I called the ins. person back at her confidential voice mail and left a friendly but anxious message.

Next, her cubicle mate who had found out about my dilemma called me back.  She said that she would make sure the original person had not thrown my documents away and to tell her I did in fact HAVE insurance.  I was so very relieved.  I no longer was shaking, but still felt like I had to hurl.  I thanked her profusely for making a phone call that she did not have to make to salvage my weekend.  My nerves were cracking and popping like being hit with static electricity.

I called my doctor's office back and told the sweetest girl what had transpired, and I should hear more on Monday.  So, that's the torture story.  It only took about 45 minutes, but it felt like hours. 

I will update Monday because you know I am calling them if they do not call me.