I started about a year and a half ago, trying to get weight loss surgery. I was going to do the gastric bypass. My insurance company required 6 months of classes and LOTS of tests. So, I plugged away at it. I had a stress test, EKG, sleep study, psych eval, breathing test and more. The last test was a mammogram, then I would have completed all of my requirements.
Unfortunately, they found stage 3 breast cancer. I wasn't shocked, my Mom and my Sister both had it. So, I had to give up my weight loss dream and focus on fighting cancer. I had a mastectomy, 8 months of chemo and 33 radiation treatments. My prognosis isn't great, I had 7 positive lymph nodes.
Strange as it seems, in order to do the reconstruction on my breast, they need to use the abdominal area for tissue and muscle. But, they have to shrink my abdomen to do it! So, I'm back to weight loss surgery! God works in mysterious ways!
My husband and I moved from California to NH in the middle of my treatment. I stayed with Blue Shield on COBRA. But, found out I had to start all over on the requirements. Thankfully, there were far fewer. I have finally finished all of that, and was given a surgery date of 4/21. I haven't gotten insurance approval yet. Hopefully there won't be any problems.
I am looking forward to losing weight and looking & feeling "normal" again. I hope that I will get some time to enjoy it. I'm going to be a Grandmother in May. I'm so excited.