cwhisnant

My requirement was to have the covid test no fewer than 5 days before surgery, I was going to do it Monday & where I had it done said they are taking 5 to 7 days to get results, so they advised me to do it Friday.

What has really helped me is the excitement of losing as much weight as possible to surprise everyone with the "new me" when the quarantine is over!
I haven't seen my coworkers in over 2 months, and likely won't see them again until September. Same holds true for all of my friends, and most of my family! Can't wait to unveil the new me!!!
How old are your children? Maybe you can get them to exercise with you for fun? I've been doing Youtube videos (Popsugar fitness barre is my favorite), and then when the weather is nice, we go on bike rides together. I've found that I can use my kids to keep me motivated. I'll tell them we are going on a bike ride at 4pm, and come 4pm they are bugging me for that bike ride, so I can't change my mind and be lazy instead! LOL!

And the wait begins!!! Submitted for approval yesterday!!!

Fantastic!! Hopefully that approval comes quickly!!! I had mine in a few days once it was submitted. It’s moving forward!! Yahoo!!

Thanks!!! I know we are blessed that the company is still going to pay their portion for a few months & we just have to pay what was being taken out of my husband’s checks, there is no way we could have paid full Cobra. So hopefully it’s all ment to be!!!
Thanks for the reassurance!!!

Hello,
My name is Kelsey and I am a 26 yr old type 1 diabetic nurse. I am not married and I do not have children. I recently packed up my belongings and sold my house in PA, in hopes to finding a brighter, happier future in North Carolina. Ive been here for about 2 months now.
One morning, while getting ready for a long 13 hr night shift, I looked in the mirror and was stopped dead in my tracks when I saw what was looking back at me. Who was that? What did I let happen?
There I was. 220 lbs looking back at me. Rolls, stretch marks, fat....staring back at me. I wish I could say the mirror lies, but it didn't. That was the solid truth. That was the reflection of someone who dreaded getting dressed in the morning because of how I looked in all my clothing. The reflection of someone who hated getting a bath because she'd have to see herself naked and notice how the bath Water doesn't even reach above her stomach when she lies down in it. She cant even submerge her thighs in the water. The reflection of a girl who's eyes welled up with fresh salty tears cause every night when she lies down for sleep, she tells herself she wont do this tomorrow. She wont overeat, comfort eat, boredom eat, and emotional eat the next day... and when the first daylight hours comes realizes she already failed the promises she made to herself the mere hours before.
It's painful and frustrating to hate everything you are in terms of appearance. Its hard to want to go out and meet people and make friends in a new area when you know all you're going to be focused on is pulling your shirt out away from your stomach when you sit down, hoping it, for once, wont cling to you.
On April 14th, 2020, I googled possible options to help me battle this overwhelming addiction to food and overeating and discovered this thing called Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG). Even as a surgical nurse, I never knew this existed. I was intrigued to say the least.
On April 15th, 2020 I was emailed back by a near gastroenterology clinic after my inquires on the procedure. In just the few following hours, and one phone call interview from the surgeon... I WAS APPROVED and medically cleared for the procedure. Then the assistant mentioned the finances and bills. Because I wasn't quite obese "enough", the procedure wouldn't be considered medically necessary, therefore wouldn't be covered by insurance. The price tag? $10,000 out of pocket. That night I laid in bed excited that maybe I found a crutch that could help me move forward and not loathe myself so much, but also distraught over realizing how much money i'd have to dedicate to something that relied so much on my own dedication to it. Oh well, its time right?
April 16th, 2020 I told my parents about my decision to proceed with the procedure. I was apprehensive about mentioning it for a few reasons. 1. I didn't want the lecture about "maybe theres more important things you could use that money for". After all, some decisions I have made in the past haven't been the most thought out or haven't been what my family would have chosen for me. So was I disappointing my family? maybe. And I am so exhausted and tired of disappointing my family. I know I don't look the way they want me too. I've had several family members make heartbreaking comments about my weight and my body and "if would just lose 20 lbs, the opportunities [I'd] have. I've heard things like that for years. Eventually you start believing it. Your weight stops doors from opening, stops you from being loved and wanted, prevents you from being respected and admired. I do blame a lot of my anxiety and overthinking tendencies on my weight. it makes sense in my mind. Im physically disappointing. Why would anyone want me?
2. "Why don't you just exercise and eat fewer calories like a normal person?" It's like they never tried to lose weight and think its just that easy. Of course, sometimes I was just lazy and lacked the motivation to exercise like I could have. and yes, I indulged way too much and too often in foods that weren't necessarily good for me. But I also have type 1 diabetes, which makes balancing exercise and food consumption difficult. Let's say I am on one of my "get healthy" kicks and I go to the gym, hop on the treadmill, and not 8 minutes into it my insulin pump reads my sugars as 139...122...97...71...and before you know it im in the critical 40s and slurring my words and shaking uncontrollably. I need a sugary, carbloaded snack just to maintain a safe sugar level. Counterproductive... Frusturating.
May 6th, 2020. Covid-19 restrictions are finally being ever so gently lifted. Elective surgeries are starting to resume. On this day, I got an email from the office assistant asking about a tentative operative date. May 21st at 1:30. Be there at 12:30. . . you know I will be early. Finally, I have a countdown to start and a new beginning to look forward to.
I read the preop paperwork sent to me about all the guidelines for the few days before surgery and the lifetime of recommendations for after surgery. 2 tablespoons of substance for the first several weeks after surgery? That's a bit drastic. Especially considering I would eat 3 plates of food at a buffet before. Oh well. Its about time, right?
Today is May 9th... about 3 am. I'm at work and just cant stop thinking about the road ahead. Less than 2 weeks.... 12 days. That's it. Wow..

Thanks!!! I know we are blessed that the company is still going to pay their portion for a few months & we just have to pay what was being taken out of my husband’s checks, there is no way we could have paid full Cobra. So hopefully it’s all ment to be!!!
Thanks for the reassurance!!!

You will be fine!! My insurance expired 12/31 (b/c my employer was changing plans) and I had my surgery on 12/18, and had no problems getting it approved. It would be considered "bad faith" to deny someone who is on COBRA, etc. Best of luck to you!!

You should be just fine!! Take a deep breath and keep us posted when your surgery is scheduled!

I am an employee benefits professional and if you elect COBRA you should be fine. The employer is required by law to treat COBRA participants exactly as they do actively employed participants. You might have some hiccups from it going from active to COBRA coverage, just in terms of one ending and one starting, depending on how quickly you elect the coverage and make your payment. That is easily sorted out once they receive your COBRA Payment and reactivate your coverage. I am SO SORRY that your husband lost his job. That just makes it all so much more stressful.