More Seminars

Boo, so S&W will accept most of my things, but not the seminar. I have to redo that one on the 8th of June in Killeen. After that is done I have to submit a form to have al of my records faxed to their office. She said I probably won't see a nurse until the end of June, then it's just a time game after that. I am hoping by the end of July I'll be good to go.

Good news!

Tricare approved my refferal! I'm just waiting for a return phone call from the surgery clinic to get some of my questions answered. Questions like.

I've already done the seminar, nutrition, & mental evaluation, will I have to do it again for the new hospital?

How soon before I can start the pre-op process?

Oh man, good news!


Amanda
-- Post From My iPhone

Referral problems

I’m a bit disappointed. I’ve been waiting on the referral for an off post doctor to come in and I finally made a few more phone calls because it’s taken way longer then they say it would. Needless to say, the referral never made it to the referral center to be dispatched out to the insurance company.

Thanks to some nice ladies on the phone I was able to get another referral submitted and calling the referral center back right afterwards, I was able to get it submitted to the insurance today. While on the phone the lady told me I did not quality according to the standards they use for off post. I was 5 pounds under the cut off. Funny enough I weigh 5 pounds more than I do during the initial weight check. I asked if I could go back in and be weighed again and have the referral resubmitted. After a little hesitation she told me it was only a couple of pounds and submitted it for me anyhow. Let’s hope Tricare doesn’t still try to deny it.

I’m going to call Tricare tomorrow and see if they can speed up my referral since I’d be on the phone with them.

A friend of mine just got the lap-band last week and I am feeling very sad that I’m still waiting. I’m also a little jealous. (Stupid, I know.) She’s already beginning her journey, and I’m still just sitting on the sidelines waiting.

Have I mentioned I loved my gym? Gold’s Gym has been a great investment for me. I’m not using it as much as I should be right now because I’m a little fearful that if I lose to much weight I’ll be declined .I keep telling myself, if I lose enough to be declined maybe I just don’t even need the WLS then. Then I think about it, and I know it isn’t true because I’ve been TRYING to lose it on my own, I just need a little help to get it started. I think the lap-band will be good because it will be like a coach, and a helpful reminder not to overdo it.

Once I have the surgery I plan on jumping right back into the gym hardcore. I will not have any reason not to. I love going, and seeing the results will keep me going. I am so excited for the changes that will be coming this year.

Set back...

I took my mental evaluation to the hospital's General Surgery clinic yesterday afternoon to be put on the waiting list my final step before my pre-op diet) and got some good and bad news.

Good news , I'm number 10 on the lap-band list. The bad news.. all of the surgeons that do the lap-band are deploying until September. So I'm either at a stand still until September when they start taking patients again, or I can try my luck off post.

So I asked if I could be referred off post to Scott & White in Temple, Texas. They will put the referral in on monday, but there is no guarantee that I will be approved or denied since they use different standards. (Height and weight & co morbidity) vs. BMI & co mobility. Pretty much after the referral is submitted I wait 2 weeks. If i do not get a call from them, I call Tricare and see what's the hold up. If' I'm approved I go along with that, and I'm not sure if i have to start over what I've done.

If I'm declined, I'm still on the waiting list for September. So here we go..

A little sad.

I got an e-mail from an Army recruiter late last night...

Amanda,

Thank you for your interest in the United States Army.

I regret to inform you that the surgery you had does disqualify you from
enlistment.

If you have further questions please ask me.

Respectfully,

J***** M. K****, contractor
Cyber Recruiter
U.S. Army Recruiting Command
MPRI
******@usarec.army.mil

A bit disappointing since I really wanted to join the Army. (Part of the reason I decided to get this surgery, but alas, it makes me not eligible. I took a step back and reconsidered having the surgery, but really? If I haven't been able to lose the weight on my own yet, what makes me think I can do it now?

I'm just going to have to think of something else with my life. I really need to be healthy first.

Random thoughts.

I think I’m finally coming around to not feeling so guilty for having weight loss surgery. (side note: It’s finally dawned on me, that I am APPROVED, and just waiting. Just waiting for my turn on the list) But yes, in the beginning I felt sooo guilty for “failing” at losing the weight myself. I felt like I was a big fat loser. I still do sometimes, but I’m getting excited about the possibility of being a small person in the gym. I’m excited about my acne clearing up, excited about fitting in average sized clothing, excited about people looking at my because I look good, not because I look big.

I’m excited about running up my stairs and my knees not hurting. I’m excited about getting pictures taken, and not trying to dodge out of them. I’m excited about finally keeping a “family album” instead of a pictures of “everyone but mom album”.

I am really excited to get my life back. At least modify it to the way I want it. I keep “window” shopping for normal sized clothing. Thinking about sitting a savings account aside for “ after” clothing. I have been wanting to buy new summer clothing since I don’t fit anything from last year. (30lbs lighter) but I don’t want to buy anything big anymore.

I am a little sad about the surgery though. I figured this would be so, but I am so sad that is will disqualify me to ever join the Military. I guess there are worse things in the world. Just a little disappointed is all.

I promise to update with pictures and measurements once I get put on the waiting list. Until then, I’m just another blog on the internet.

-A.

My mental evaluation

My mental evaluation was on Thursday. Honestly, it was a breeze. They told me it should take 2-3 hours and I filled out my patient information, saw the therapist and took thier 370 questionaire to caculate my personality in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The doctor said my results should be back by Wednesday and I can pick them up and bring them to General Surgery to be put on the waiting list.

I am SO ready. Before I was nervous, now I'm just ready to start the change for my life. I cannot stop researching about it, looking at clothes I havn't fit in years, getting excited about being fit, even silly things like how good I'll look skinny, tan and in a yellow tankini.

I know that it's going to take a while but my hope is to be a new person for 2011.

My knees have been hurting a lot lately. I'm sure it's no mystry to why Thats happening after I've gained so much weight. :(.

I want this to hurry up so I can start seeing results at the gym!

I know all my reasons sound vain right now but I can't help but be excited about the superficial physical things too!

Well just blogging to let whoever reads this know I'm one step closer. :)


Amanda B.
-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Bath :)

Got my appointment!

My psychiatric evaluation for treatment appointment is scheduled for Thursday! After I do that appointment it takes about a week to get the results back. Once I got it back I can bring it to General Surgery where they will put me in the list.

They normally commit a 1-2 days a month to each type of Surgery. Hopefully it won't be as long as I'm dreading it to be. I'll try to update after my appointment on Thursday.