pinksjo1

Hi - Got my call from the nurse today. I will need to have another blood draw as my copper levels are low. My zinc levels are too high - so she told me not to take my multi for 2 weeks. I take the Bariatric Advantage multi. My Protein levels are a little low so I need to track my protein so I am sure to get the right amount of grams. So, back to the hospital to get blood drawn again... Oh, almost forgot. The dr said that I should set my goal weight at 180 lbs. And I can use the big bone excuse as she said its true in my case! YEAH!

I asked her why she got the surgery and did she think it was going to be easy...I am hoping that coming from someone who has had the surgery may hit home rather than any comments from people that haven't...who knows? This lady needs more help than I can give her.

I just wrote a comment on Penny's FB...

I taped it and when I got home I watched it twice because I thought maybe there was something there that should have been a red flag. She seemed to say all the right things before surgery - so who would have known she really has this "fantasy land" type of dealing with life as the Dr mentioned. When she finally went back to see the dr and was telling him how much weight she had lost and she had gained 5 lbs...extreme denial I would say or perhaps she really does have a mental issue that has not been addressed. When the NUT came to her house - oh man, she was hateful to say the least. This was truly the saddest case of the series so far.

Sounds very close to the zucchini lasagna recipe I have. YUMMY. I make this at least every other week. Zucchini Lasagna 2 cups (360 grams) zucchini 2 cup fresh spinach 2 cup Spaghetti Saurce 16 oz Ground Turkey (96% lean) 1 Egg 12 oz Cottage cheese (1%) 8 oz Mozzarella (low fat) With a potato peeler, slice zucchini into thin ribbons for "noodles." Brown ground turkey and add sauce. Combine spinach, cottage cheese, and egg in bowl. Layer with turkey and sauce, cottage cheese mixture, and zucchini "noodles" repeat layers. Cook at 400 degrees for 30 minutes- enjoy your healthy "lasagna" with the whole family!

Water

That is completeley normal. The majority of us I would estimate have been through every diet known to man and did really well, until we went off the diet and all those lbs we worked so hard to get off came back so fast! I don't know what I would have been at today if not for the surgery. I had given up on dieting as I could not do another failure. I think mentally the failure is harder than the weight...at least in my case. So, yes, I would think the majority of people have that fear, but each day convinces you that yes you can lose weight, yes you can keep it off. Hang in there!

So sorry to hear you are having such difficulties. I had my surgery at Des Peres with Dr. Scott and could not be happier. I would not give up! This is your life we are talking about. Did you try to see if Dr. Minkin has a contact email / phone on the Des Peres website, its possible. I know Dr. Scott puts his contact info on his literature. If all else fails, switch hospitals. I started out at St. Alexius and switched to Des Peres. Good luck!

The 2nd season began on Tuesday. Should be a good group!

Has anyone been following the series "My 600 lb life" on TLC? WOW, the first season stories were all over the place. One person from the show has passed. The first season followed the heaviest people for 7 years and their struggles. The second season looks like it just follows the next group for 1 year. My comment on the show is BRAVO! Surgery as we know is the ONLY tool that helps in our cases. I just wish the lady from the first episode would not drink diet soda...there is a scene where she goes to the drive-in and orders a large diet dr pepper and says to the camera "this is going to hurt" but drinks it anyway. The dr on the show told her that the diet soda will stretch her stomach, hopefully, she gets a clue and stays away. In short, I hope the show illustrates that surgery is not an easy way out. Its still a struggle, you still have to watch your diet, you still have to exercise. Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now. Joan

Good luck to you too!! My surgery is at 7 am, I need to be there at 5 am.

All - I have my surgery date! WOW, it happened pretty fast. I go for pre-op class and pre-op testing tomorrow. YEAH!!

I would try the insurance company again. The hospitals don't always know and there are sooo many insurance companies. I was told I had to resubmit everything because I changed docs/hospitals. The insurance company told me it wasn't necessary, but the hospital did...So although it wasn't necessary, the hospital would not go forward without the additional approval letter, which I did get last week. So, hopefully, the scheduler will be calling me soon and get me a date.

Congrats! I can't wait till I can say that too...I have a date!! Should be soon, hope its soon...

YEAH!!! Congrats! You are on your way...

I just got off the phone with Des Peres MyNewSelf and they haven't submitted my paperwork yet (they had everything on June 26). I switched over to Des Peres because of the lack of customer service I was receiving from St. Alexius. Now, I am getting the same run around. Little history - I stuck it out with St. Alexius until I got my approval from BCBSIL, which I did on June 14. Then I switched over to Des Peres because I was concerned about the aftercare. At first, they could not have been more customer service oriented. I had at least 3 people call me. But since I had my appointment with Dr. Scott (June 26), no one has called to tell me what's what. Although my insurance said they do not have to resubmit, they are saying they do. Which is fine, but DO IT! I hope they get their act together soon, this is soo not cool waiting... Also, Des Peres and St. Alexius are the only 2 hospitals that my insurance will cover, so I have to wait it out.

I went to my nephew's Norwex party on Friday. I was talking about my surgery to my sister and some of the guests were coming in. One lady heard me and asked me about the surgery...she turned to her friend and said "This is a sign" as she and her friend were discussing she may want to have the surgery...she was extremely supportive and asked if I could let her know step-by-step my journey. So, you just never know who's out there that may need your help!

I did the paperwork, submitted, got approved and then switched doctors/hospitals. According to my insurance as long as the new hospital uses the same code, nothing else is required. So I think there is a disconnect because the new hospital seems to think its a complete do-over. I have sent them an email I received from insurance saying its not necessary - just waiting to hear back. The waiting is the most difficult for me.

How long should you wait to take a hot shower?

Welcome!

Good Morning Joan, I received your medical records request and will be glad to send the records today. Would be it be okay with you if I send the records via email to Michelle Pearce at the My New Self office? Since our records are electronic we try to send via email to ensure everything makes it to its destination. I confirmed with them this morning they would accept via email and received Michelle’s email address but I noted on your release form you specifically asked for them to be faxed. Please, let me know if that is okay with you. Otherwise I will fax them. Thank you, April Ricca St. Alexius Specialty Services NEWSTART NEWSTEPS NEWREFLECTIONS

Thanks everyone! I would say the lesson I learned was to get a copy of EVERYTHING that goes in your file. I had no clue I was going to switch hospitals and it be such a pain, but I will get everything together and resubmit. Luckily, I have most of the necessary items that the insurance company needs, so I should be able to resubmit soon.

All - just need to vent regarding my experience with St. Alexius NewStart in St. Louis MO. I won't go on and on about how they provided me absolutely no customer service. I also won't go on and on about how I basically had to call the different hospitals myself to gain my records or how I had to get my PCP to do the medically necessary letter. I also won't go on about how they never answer my phone calls, or gave me any status reports. I also won't go on about how their NUT was out for 3 weeks and I wasn't told. No, I won't go on about that...but I will tell you this story: I decided as soon as I am approved I am going to another hospital. I figured with the lack of care I received before surgery...who knows what I would get after surgery when I really need the support. So, for peace of mind, I decided I had to make the move. So, I called the insurance and they said "no problem" as I am going to Des Peres which is covered by BCBSIL. Des Peres called me right away, sent me the release form to have St. Alexius release my records to them, set up my appointment with my new surgeon, Dr. Scott. and I felt very good. Until today... St. Alexius called me and basically refuses to release my records. Oh, they will send Des Peres the records on the notes from the NUT and the surgeon's notes, but they REFUSE to send all the other documents in my file as they said its agains HIPPA. To quote Rachelle "third party records". Of course I just got off the phone and called the insurance company. It took about 45 minutes but that agent, William, must love a challenge because he did a lot of research and found that I have EVERY right to request my records and St. Alexius cannot refuse to send them along. He said that if St. Alexius stonewalls the process, I am to contact the Missouri State Medical Board and the US Department of Health and Human Services. He also said to make sure St. Alexius knows that I am going to do this if they give me trouble. So I sent a quick email to Rachelle at St. Alexius and we'll see what happens... I'll update once I have some information. Thanks for letting me vent!!

Mizzou Girl - I am also having Dr. Scott as my surgeon at Des Peres My New Self. Let me know what you think of him. I have my appointment for June 26.

Called the original hospital today to let them know that I was going to the other hospital. Called the new hospital to let them know (they requested all my records be sent to them). Called the insurance company, they approved the switch (just wanted the new hospital to use the same approval code - to make things easier). So not difficult to do, just a few phone calls. So if you are having second thoughts about your current hospital, you can change.