ShellShock

Today, I had my annual physical with my PCP. She doesn't like weight loss surgeries but she said she would provide the 5 year weight history. She recommended I try Weight Watchers. I had brought up a surgery a few years ago and she said the same thing then and I let her persuade me away from it. I am not backing down this time though. I have tried so many diets that I am not going down that road again. Afterward I was going to go to work late but considering how long my commute is I decided to take the enitre day off. I went down to the Jenny Craig center to pick up a copy of my file. I was sooooo pissed. The lady said it was ready last Thursday but I didn't make it in. So was it correct of me to assume that it would be ready for me to pick it up today... I guess not. There was nothing waiting for me and they asked me to come back later when the lady arrived. I was frustrated and asked them to look for it. They called the lady that supposedly put it aside for me and still no one could find it. This was at 10:30 AM. They said she would arrive at 11 o'clock and I could get it then. I left and came back and took a seat since she saw me walk in. I saw her get the file but didn't motion for me. I waited since they were busy. The lady said she couldn't find it so she had to make another copy. I waited another 40 minutes before I got the copy. I was polite but really wanted to yell. I took the copies and the medical history with me to the surgeon's office to turn in since it wasn't that far. I opened the envelope with the JC file in it and it was incomplete. Seriously, how stupid can you be to not copy every page. I was missing an entire month of paperwork. I was already at the surgeon's office so I handed it in anyway. When I was looking at it though it was jibberish. I really don't think that the insurance will take it alone. So I went to the nutritionist's office and spoke to them. Last week I called and gave them my info and they said that they would contact me after they spoke with my insurance. Apparently they don't do that until the referral arrives from the surgeon, which never arrived. So I had to go back and get the referral and bring that back to them. So now I have to wait another week before I can even make that appointment and she said they are already looking at February appointments. The recepionist there was really nice though. She gave me some good advice, like to keep a copy of everything. She said to make sure that everything is documented when I see my doctor, like my vitals, weight, and what we talk about. So I now plan on doing their 6 month diet and at the same time I will see my doctor each month to document it. From what I am reading online Jenny Craig alone won't work since I wasn't going to my doctor at the same time. So the current time frame looks like: January - 14th Pychological Evaluation February -7th - 1st Appointment with Dr. Srikanth February -? - First appointment with nutritionist and start supervised diet. August - Turn in paperwork to insurance September - Get approval October - Surgery Well, I don't want to wait that long... Who knows maybe I will get lucky and get approved really quick.

Well, yesterday I didn’t make it to JC to pick up my file. When I get off the ferry each evening I have to walk ten to fifteen minutes to get to my car and it was raining sooooo hard. It was the kind of rain that soaks you through and through and hurts when it hits you. Hopefully tonight it won’t be as bad but I didn’t realize that they close by 6PM on Fridays so it may not be until tomorrow. I posted a question on the lap band forum yesterday asking opinions about the 6 month diet. Only two people have responded but the answers were not helpful. They doubted whether JC would be accepted and they said that since I lost so much weight I would probably be denied. I hope that someone with more knowledge responds so that I can get a better idea. I wish I knew about the supervised diet sooner and I could have done that instead of JC. Like I mentioned yesterday, I am going to start it anyway. That way if I am not approved I will have it to fall back on. I just don’t understand why there are so many hoops to jump through. I know that some people really don’t need the Lap band but there are others that really do. If your BMI is over whatever then you should be automatically approved.

Well, yesterday I didn’t make it to JC to pick up my file. When I get off the ferry each evening I have to walk ten to fifteen minutes to get to my car and it was raining sooooo hard. It was the kind of rain that soaks you through and through and hurts when it hits you. Hopefully tonight it won’t be as bad but I didn’t realize that they close by 6PM on Fridays so it may not be until tomorrow. I posted a question on the lap band forum yesterday asking opinions about the 6 month diet. Only two people have responded but the answers were not helpful. They doubted whether JC would be accepted and they said that since I lost so much weight I would probably be denied. I hope that someone with more knowledge responds so that I can get a better idea. I wish I knew about the supervised diet sooner and I could have done that instead of JC. Like I mentioned yesterday, I am going to start it anyway. That way if I am not approved I will have it to fall back on. I just don’t understand why there are so many hoops to jump through. I know that some people really don’t need the Lap band but there are others that really do. If your BMI is over whatever then you should be automatically approved.

I have Cigna and am starting the process for approval for the Lapband. I did Jenny Craig for six months last summer on my own and wasn't thinking about the Lapband at the time. I lost 60 pounds but then I had to stop because it cost so much. I have now gained almost all of it back and I am at the end of my line. I can't keep doing this to myself. My question is: Will Cigna accept those 6 months on Jenny Craig? Or will I have to do a physician supervised diet for the next six months? I have called them and one lady said Jenny Craig was fine but when I read the policy it stated it was not sufficient, but it was worded weird... What have your experiences been?

Yesterday as soon as I got to work I faxed in my insurance verification form to the surgeon's office. I got a call back during my lunch time but had to wait to call them back until they got back from their hour lunch break. I spoke to the woman and she told me what I already knew and that was that I was covered but needed to do the 6 month supervised diet. I told her that I had spoken with someone at my insurance and they said that Jenny Craig was fine so I wanted to submit that and see if it get's approved. She went ahead and scheduled me for my first visit with Dr. Srikanth and that will be one Feb. 7, 2008. I wanted one sooner but I guess it is fine since I will need to get the approval process started anyway. After work I went to the Jenny Craig office and asked them to make a copy of my file for my insurance. The manager wasn't in so the lady wanted to wait for permission first. I said that would be fine and she called me back today to let me know I could pick it up tonight if I signed their release form. So I will do that and mail it off tomorrow. Today I also got the referral for the Phych Eval and made my appointment. I could not believe it when she said I would be there for two hours. What the heck do they need me for that long????... Anyway, I called the nutritionist and she took my info and said she had to verify insurance before scheduling an appointment. I may start a supervised diet now and if the Jenny Craig stuff doesn't work I will have that to fall back on. Besides, I feel pretty miserable lately. I have been down on myself because I have gained so much weight back. I am having a hard time in the morning walking to the ferry. It just isn't as easy. Days when I have to rush because I am running late I am completely out of breath when I arrive. When i had lost weight walking was easy but I was also going to the gym a few times a week. So yeah, I might just start that supervised diet anyway. I sure hope that I get approved with the other stuff though because I hate waiting and I really want to get the surgery done. I want to feel better.

Yesterday as soon as I got to work I faxed in my insurance verification form to the surgeon's office. I got a call back during my lunch time but had to wait to call them back until they got back from their hour lunch break. I spoke to the woman and she told me what I already knew and that was that I was covered but needed to do the 6 month supervised diet. I told her that I had spoken with someone at my insurance and they said that Jenny Craig was fine so I wanted to submit that and see if it get's approved. She went ahead and scheduled me for my first visit with Dr. Srikanth and that will be one Feb. 7, 2008. I wanted one sooner but I guess it is fine since I will need to get the approval process started anyway. After work I went to the Jenny Craig office and asked them to make a copy of my file for my insurance. The manager wasn't in so the lady wanted to wait for permission first. I said that would be fine and she called me back today to let me know I could pick it up tonight if I signed their release form. So I will do that and mail it off tomorrow. Today I also got the referral for the Phych Eval and made my appointment. I could not believe it when she said I would be there for two hours. What the heck do they need me for that long????... Anyway, I called the nutritionist and she took my info and said she had to verify insurance before scheduling an appointment. I may start a supervised diet now and if the Jenny Craig stuff doesn't work I will have that to fall back on. Besides, I feel pretty miserable lately. I have been down on myself because I have gained so much weight back. I am having a hard time in the morning walking to the ferry. It just isn't as easy. Days when I have to rush because I am running late I am completely out of breath when I arrive. When i had lost weight walking was easy but I was also going to the gym a few times a week. So yeah, I might just start that supervised diet anyway. I sure hope that I get approved with the other stuff though because I hate waiting and I really want to get the surgery done. I want to feel better.

Yay!!!! Happy New Year!!! I already have my new insurance card and I am so excited. The first thing that I did this morning was start filling in the insurance blanks on my paperwork. So now it is ready to send in. Unfortunately today is a holiday.:cry Tomorrow I go back to work and I will fax in the insurance verification paperwork. The last time I did that with my other insurance they called me back the same day with the bad news that it wasn't covered. But this time I know the news will be positive. I already have my ducks in a row and have called Cigna myself. I asked about the specific code and they said yes it is covered at 90%. I just have to worry about the approval. I shouldn't be bad since I did six months on Jenny Craig last summer. I lost 60 lbs. I was so proud of myself. Then my boyfriend got laid off and I had to quit. Boy did the weight pack right back on. I believe I have put 50 pounds back on already. I feel so lame. My sister was in town for Christmas and she is soooo skinny. When I told her about the Lapband she thought it was great but then every time I ate anything she would look at me and tell me something like about portions or the kind of food I was eating was bad. My other sister who has weight issues also was getting the same thing from her and we both agreed that unless you have had weight problems you just don't know what it is like. Sometimes I eat bad things and I just cannot help myself. It sounds bad and people will say yes I can but no, I cannot. I will eat something and as I am eating it I will tell myself that I need to stop or boy will I never do that again but I always do. If I could help myself, don't you think I would be skinny just like my sister. There are times when I have control and times that I don't. When I was on Jenny Craig I was so strict. But when I stopped, my body or well mind said hey you haven't had that in a while just try some. Then it is telling you, you will go back on that diet as soon as you have more money but for now go ahead an splurge. It is so frustrating. I feel like the Lapband is the only way I can control myself. For something else to do that control. Enough of that.... My goal is to be banded by my birthday in March. I really don't know how realistic that is. I have to get a bunch of files copied and sent in to the surgeon's office. I have to mail those off tomorrow also. I hope they mail those to them quickly. I know that you cannot submit partial information in to the insurance. You have to have everything they ask for sent in all at once. I have looked at the message boards and Cigna seems to be pretty good about approving people. The ones that didn't get approved had really low BMI's or didn't do any diet. So I am crossing my fingers...

Yay!!!! Happy New Year!!! I already have my new insurance card and I am so excited. The first thing that I did this morning was start filling in the insurance blanks on my paperwork. So now it is ready to send in. Unfortunately today is a holiday.:cry Tomorrow I go back to work and I will fax in the insurance verification paperwork. The last time I did that with my other insurance they called me back the same day with the bad news that it wasn't covered. But this time I know the news will be positive. I already have my ducks in a row and have called Cigna myself. I asked about the specific code and they said yes it is covered at 90%. I just have to worry about the approval. I shouldn't be bad since I did six months on Jenny Craig last summer. I lost 60 lbs. I was so proud of myself. Then my boyfriend got laid off and I had to quit. Boy did the weight pack right back on. I believe I have put 50 pounds back on already. I feel so lame. My sister was in town for Christmas and she is soooo skinny. When I told her about the Lapband she thought it was great but then every time I ate anything she would look at me and tell me something like about portions or the kind of food I was eating was bad. My other sister who has weight issues also was getting the same thing from her and we both agreed that unless you have had weight problems you just don't know what it is like. Sometimes I eat bad things and I just cannot help myself. It sounds bad and people will say yes I can but no, I cannot. I will eat something and as I am eating it I will tell myself that I need to stop or boy will I never do that again but I always do. If I could help myself, don't you think I would be skinny just like my sister. There are times when I have control and times that I don't. When I was on Jenny Craig I was so strict. But when I stopped, my body or well mind said hey you haven't had that in a while just try some. Then it is telling you, you will go back on that diet as soon as you have more money but for now go ahead an splurge. It is so frustrating. I feel like the Lapband is the only way I can control myself. For something else to do that control. Enough of that.... My goal is to be banded by my birthday in March. I really don't know how realistic that is. I have to get a bunch of files copied and sent in to the surgeon's office. I have to mail those off tomorrow also. I hope they mail those to them quickly. I know that you cannot submit partial information in to the insurance. You have to have everything they ask for sent in all at once. I have looked at the message boards and Cigna seems to be pretty good about approving people. The ones that didn't get approved had really low BMI's or didn't do any diet. So I am crossing my fingers...

Today is my first journal entry. I have been wanting to start one up but hadn't really looked into it. Well anyway, today is Friday, December 28, 2007. Only three more days til the new year and my new insurance will kick in. I have been very impatient because I just want to get the process started. I want a confirmation whether I can get banded or not. I have always been impatient but that is another story. Let me go back a few weeks to the seminar that I went to. On December 17th I went to a weight loss seminar at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way. I wanted to get the seminar over with since it was kind of inconvienent. I was very happy that I went though. It really made me see what the potential can be if I do things properly. I teared up when a lady pulled out her pants from her highest weight. It was a dramatic change. There were three people, one from three different surgeries. It was cool to see the before and after photos. I liked to hear their stories and hear what they went through. One lady said that she went onto forums and went to some support groups a long time before her surgery. I think that is a great idea and want to do the same. I really liked the surgeon, Dr. Srikanth. I think that is how it is spelled. Anyway, he was really funny. He kept joking around but you could tell that he liked what he does. He was really knowledgable too. From reading the forums he does sound strict when it comes to diet, but I like that he seems to really care about how you are doing and wants to see you a lot after surgery. The seminar really started a fire in me to get this going. I have all the paperwork filled out and plan on sending it in on Jan. 2nd. I can't do it before since my insurance company changed and I don't technically have a account number until the first. I know that I am covered though. It still depends on them approving it but I am definately at an appropriate BMI and am starting to have some health issues. I had some chest pains a few weeks ago and the doctors are still baffled why but they are ruling things out. We now know it wasn't my heart but it may mean stomache problems. I hope that doesn't complicate my surgery. Boy do I need to cut my nails... It is hard to type... I today with end my current weight. At the doctor's office on Wednesday I was 310 lbs.

Today is my first journal entry. I have been wanting to start one up but hadn't really looked into it. Well anyway, today is Friday, December 28, 2007. Only three more days til the new year and my new insurance will kick in. I have been very impatient because I just want to get the process started. I want a confirmation whether I can get banded or not. I have always been impatient but that is another story. Let me go back a few weeks to the seminar that I went to. On December 17th I went to a weight loss seminar at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way. I wanted to get the seminar over with since it was kind of inconvienent. I was very happy that I went though. It really made me see what the potential can be if I do things properly. I teared up when a lady pulled out her pants from her highest weight. It was a dramatic change. There were three people, one from three different surgeries. It was cool to see the before and after photos. I liked to hear their stories and hear what they went through. One lady said that she went onto forums and went to some support groups a long time before her surgery. I think that is a great idea and want to do the same. I really liked the surgeon, Dr. Srikanth. I think that is how it is spelled. Anyway, he was really funny. He kept joking around but you could tell that he liked what he does. He was really knowledgable too. From reading the forums he does sound strict when it comes to diet, but I like that he seems to really care about how you are doing and wants to see you a lot after surgery. The seminar really started a fire in me to get this going. I have all the paperwork filled out and plan on sending it in on Jan. 2nd. I can't do it before since my insurance company changed and I don't technically have a account number until the first. I know that I am covered though. It still depends on them approving it but I am definately at an appropriate BMI and am starting to have some health issues. I had some chest pains a few weeks ago and the doctors are still baffled why but they are ruling things out. We now know it wasn't my heart but it may mean stomache problems. I hope that doesn't complicate my surgery. Boy do I need to cut my nails... It is hard to type... I today with end my current weight. At the doctor's office on Wednesday I was 310 lbs.