Hopefully my last consult

I drove to Round Rock yesterday for my consult with Dr.Bruce. She seems nice, I need to make a note to check her reviews over on lapbandtalk.com.

My appointment was at 330pm so I left my House around 100pm.

I got there with about 30 minutes to spare so I could do all of the paperwork. My best friend came along for the ride.

I was pretty nervous about the visit since I was told over the phone tricare might decline my surgery.

After I spoke with the doctor I felt a bit better. Se said medically I have some advantages to be approved. Never thought I'd like hearing that one lol.

We decided on the Gastric bypass. I think the lap-band might be too much in the additional appointments and how you can cheat easily on it.

After reviewing my medical history and asking me several questions like,
"does your lower back hurt?"
"do you get out of breath easily?
"how many flights of stairs can you climb before you're breathing hard"
"do you snore"
"do you have this this or this" lol.

Some I answered yes to , some no. After speaking with her she said I shouldn't have too hard of a time getting tricare to approve it.

I have to see a dietitian again, which will cost me &100.00. But other than that everything should be covered.

She told me to give the paperwork waiting game 2 weeks. I should have a phone call by then with an approval or denial. After the dietitian appointment I'll start my 2 week liquid diet.

I'm crossing my fingers for this one!
Amanda
-- Post From My iPhone

New hospital/Surgeon

http://austinbariatric.com/default

AIBL is a sole Bariatric facility. I called them today after speaking with the General Surgery nurse at Darnall.

She told me to find a place with a Shorter wait time then call tricare. I did and found Dr. Ganta. They told me that there is no wait list & since I already have some of the pre-op stuff done that they'll accept i should be able to start my 2 week pre-op diet before June is over.

Called tricare and it was super easy to get it switched! So now I just play the waiting game for the new office for all of my insurance paperwork to be done. (she said to expect a call within 4 days).

I'm still not 100% on which one I want yet. Sleeve or bypass. Why can't the decision be easy? Lol.

Amanda
-- Post From My iPhone

At the S&W seminar

I attended the Scott & White Bariatric Seminar this evening. I'm a bit dissapointed to say at the least.

On the phone I was told I would most like have the surgery at the end of the month or the first week of July. After the seminar the staff told me there already booked up until mid August.

Also, he went over all of the types again. Lap-band, sleeve, bypass and I'm leaning more towards the sleeve or bypass now.

The lap-band is ideal except for the lifelong doctor visits.

I'm going to call the surgery clinic on post tomorrow and see what the wait times are for the sleeve and bypass.

I'd like the sleeve since it's only cutting the majority of my stomach. We'll see. Lots more research to do.

*sigh* I had high hopes of having it done before my daughter's 2nd Birthday.

I feel like I'm back at step 1.



Amanda
-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Killeen Civic Center

So is having lap-band cheating?

This is a question I'm sure a lot of people think of often when choosing weight loss surgery. You may even get remarks from friends and family about it being the "easy way out". So tell me, what exactly is easy about major surgery and changing your lifestyle? Well to me, not a damn thing.

I'll admit, when I first went in to talk to my doctor about weight loss surgery I felt SO guilty. It was like I was asking to cheat on an exam. I actually started to cry when I told her I felt like I was failing and I was a cheater for considering it.

Then my amazing, yes I love this doctor, explained one very simple truth to me. Not everyone is the same. That really struck a cord for me. No, not everyone is the same. People grow up differently, have different metabolisms, are taught eating habits different ways, some have medical problems, and some don't.

There are people with no obesity in their family line and people with a very long mine of obesity in their family. So when you break it down some people have more advantages over other people.

Can I lose the weight without the lap-band? Yes, is it effective? No. While I've lost weight in the past it wasn't by any means healthy. About the only healthy thing I was doing was exercising like crazy. Other than that I was eating little to no food.

So why am I having WLS? To be healthy. It will help me with portion control so I can still eat and enjoy life. Lap-band is a TOOL, just like any other tool, it's not effective unless you use it correctly.

So are people who have WLS cheating? No. You've found a medical advancement that is going to change your life, for the better, and you're ready to step up to the plate and relearn your life with food.

When someone treats you like it's cheating, remind them, not everyone is the same. And don't forget, you're doing this to become a healthier YOU. Don't let anyone try to tear you down for that.

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.