'A' is for APPROVED!!!!

I'm approved!!! WHUT WHUT!!! I am officially insurance approved!

Since I have to come up with an additional $3,500 my date isn't until 1/22/09, but hey it's a friggin date!

WOO HOOO ME!!!! They just submitted on like Thursday and my insurance called them today!!!!!!!

I saw the doctors number on my caller ID and thought "Oh geez, something was missing somewhere and they're calling to get some info from me". Nope. It was the call that all lap band pre ops just pray for.

Yay me!

Oh and.... I've been soda free for 9 days now.

Getting close

I only have one thing left to do before my doc submits to insurance. I'm about to do it now. Hubby and I have to write our letters of understanding.

The letter of understanding is basically just something they do to make sure patients and there support partner truly understand everything.

I went to a support meeting last night. It was very enlightening to say the least. I experienced a lot of emotions. It was nice to see people face to face who have had weight loss surgery. To hear there concerns, ideas, results, etc.

I'm v-logging on youtube now. http://www.youtube.com/users/bandamanda

Sorry this is so brief. I'm going to write my letter now :-P

Ugh...

Quitting caffeine is ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE!!!!! I went to the nutritionist yesterday, it was pretty much her going over all of the nutrition info the doc gave me in my big lap band user manual. I nearly fell asleep while she was going over everything, and it was just the two of us in the office! I was embarassed, but I couldn't help it. I had already read everything in the manual. Last night I went to bed at 8:30 because I was so tired. I felt like pure CRAP. I mean I felt like I was trying to quit crack or something. I felt shaky but wasn't actually shaking. I had a headache ALL DAY yesterday. I was so friggin tired. Today has been a bit better. I guess it's because I got so much sleep last night. But, ya know, even though I went to bed nearly 3 hours earlier than I usually do, I still had trouble getting out of bed this morning... and I still nodded off at the wheel a couple of times.

So.... the nutritionist... just writing this part for those who are going through the hoops of lap band pre op... my doc gave me a big binder full of info when I went to my 3 hour class. It contained the entire meal plan and tons of eating info. I read all of it within a couple of days after the class. She basically read everything in her section of the manual, elaborated on a few things, and answered my questions. It took about an hour.

I'm kindof irritated right now because things are stalling. I have two things left to do before they will submit to insurance... go to a meeting (one of the post op group meetings), and submit mine and my husbands "letters of understanding"... which is basically a letter covering 6-7 different bullet points making sure we understand everything. I am kicking myself in the head for not going to a meeting already. They have them every Tuesday and every other Saturday. There is no good reason why I haven't gone already. NOW I can't go until 10/7 because K's (my daughter) birthday is the 30th (a tuesday) and her party is the 4th (the following Saturday). They don't have a meeting this Saturday. So yeah... now because of my stalling I have tacked on another week and a half to the wait time. URGH!!!!! I originally wanted to have surgery on 10/16, now it looks like it might be the week after that, or possibly the day before Halloween. Great. But I've thought it over and I'd rather do it then than wait. Hopefully I'll at least be able to get it done the week BEFORE Halloween because one of my BFFs is having an awesome party the weekend after Halloween and I don't want to miss it! On second thought..... if I can't do it on the 23rd, I'll just wait til the week after Halloween. I really don't want to miss taking K trick or treating, and I don't want to miss the party!

I kinda knew all along

Soooooooo....



I went back this morning to retake my psych eval. Here are a few highlights:

1) I don't have to retake it for a third time;

2) The interview portion was about an hour long.

3) The doc approved me and said he would submit his report to the band doc within two weeks but probably much sooner than that.

4) The 370 question book test showed that I'm very stubborn.

5) It also showed that I'm borderline bipolar. And with weight loss comes an increased level of energy and therefore an increased chance of more manic episodes. Remember my last post, how I said I was feeling manic?

Being realistic

1) Quitting caffiene cold turkey... not such a good idea. I didn't quit smoking cold turkey, and I'm sure not going to be able to quit caffiene cold turkey. That was a stupid move. The last 24 hours has been hell. I had a headache like you wouldn't believe yesterday... borderline migrane. I took some advil and drank a big coke and felt FAB in like 20 minutes. Then I felt like crap because I failed. New approach - do it like I did smokes... cut back little by little. Goal today - drink my AM joe, have sprite with lunch (carbonated beverages are next on the chopping block), and MAYBE a splash of afternoon coffee.

Now it's time to be real with myself. I have PCOS and hypothyroidism (slow/underactive thyroid). I need to make it clear to myself that the weight may fall right off for some people, but for me it most likely won't. I'm still going to have to work super hard.

And another thing.... Starting my personal (not doctor required) pre-op diet has been super hard because all I can think about is the fact that pretty soon I won't be able to eat the way I do now. It feels like a burden. And it's hard to do because I feel like it's pointless because I don't think I'll lose. That's the shameful thought that rests in the back of my mind... I CANT lose alone.

Just a side note.... all of these appointments are KILLING me! It's like 1786 doctor appointments crammed into a month period. I had my consult last Monday the 8th, the Thursday before then I had the 3 hour class, today I have part 1 of the psych eval, tomorrow I have part 2 of the psych eval, next week I go to the dietician, then at some point I'll have the pre op exam then SURGERY!

I feel like there is so much I need to know and so much I don't know, despite the fact that I have done so much research.

I've been super addicted to watching... well, listening to... youtube videos lately. Very helpful. So far my faves are thebandinme and hholly112002.

Consult

Here's everything I have left to do before surgery: psych eval, dietician appt, Matt and I have to write our 'Letters of Understanding', and then everything has to be sent to insurance for prior authorization.

The consult went well. I didn't really hear anything I didn't already know from either research or the 3 hour class I took last Thursday. He confirmed that yes I do have to stop drinking carbonated beverages (even diet ones), I do need to cut out caffiene, and I will not be able to drink with meals. Those are the three things that will be super hard to change. I'm going to start working on them now, along with a pre-op diet. I'll likely lose 10-20 lbs in the liquid pre op diet phase, so my goal is to lose 20 total pre op, starting now (well, tomorrow, I need groceries first lol).

I don't think it'll take long to get in for my psych eval/dietician appointment. I'll hopefully be able to start my 2 week liquid diet before everything gets sent to insurance, so I'll be able to get my surgery scheduled sooner... but honestly I'm in no rush. I really want to get it done and all, but I'm not in that big of a hurry. What's waiting another week or two going to hurt? I honestly think they probably won't start me on my 2wk pre op diet until after insurance gives approval, and they'll schedule my surgery for 2 weeks after that.

So hypothetically.... if I get my appointments knocked out in the next 2 weeks, I could be having surgery in just over 4 weeks (insurance already said it takes them about 2 business days to approve).

This week's objectives: Get appointments made, letters written, and start diet! I'll be using the sparkpeople.com plan. I've used it before and IMO it's the best. It's super healthy.

3 Hour Class

I went in for my three hour class today. Very informative. I received a three ring binder filled with stuff I need to read. I also found out that not only will I need to stop drinking sodas (which I already kinda figured... even diet soda), I'll have to cut caffiene out completely. Yay... not.

I go in for my consult Monday the 8th. I'm calling to schedule my dietician appointment today and I'll get my appointment for the psych when I go in on Monday for the consult. Things are really starting gain momentum. I was pleased to find out that I will not have to suffer through another miserable sleep study. YAY!

They took my 'before' picture. Had I known it was picture day I would have done something with my hair lol.

Education today

This afternoon I go to some educational thing... for three hours. Yikes. Tomorrow morning I go for my consult with the doc... that's when it'll all start falling into place (or so I hope). I think after the consult I'll start making appointments with the dietician, psych, pre op exams, etc. Wish me luck!