paisleypea

I heard ibuprofen is a no-no and you should use Tylenol now but I don't think that is for swelling???

Hi! I am new, but have lurked for a month, and even posted a few times. I haven't got a date, but I hope to soon. I am 41 (42 in May) and have 2 kiddos ages 12 and 14. I have BCBS - TX, but live in Colorado. I have jumped thru all the hoops I think I need to: --- met with surgeon for a consult, met his criteria --- met with his dietician, filled out a day's food diary for her and she tallied it and says it goes to the insurance company. it fits in "perfect" in that I eat enough calories to sustain my body frame and am aware of what I eat each day --- went to the dietician's pre-op nutrition class last Sunday. [hey - is it normal to pay for this separately? does insurance reimburse for consulting her?] --- went to my family dr. and did the 6-month supervised diet --- he sent a report on it to the surgeon --- he stated I have a history going back to 2001 of BMI>/= 35 --- he stated my co-morbidities of high blood pressure and high cholesterol (dyslipidsemia??) --- had my psych eval yesterday, said I passed I am SO NERVOUS that I won't get approved becuz of the 5-year record thing. I have struggled with weight for 20 years, but do I have the highest weight of the year on my medical records? nope! did I keep all my Weight Watcher weigh-ins? nope. I've moved 3 times since then - and it got junked. who wants to look at an old record of losing 50 pounds when you are again 75 pounds overweight? any suggestions? any thoughts? any experience?

yes - do keep us posted! I am afraid of this happening to me too. I went to get my medical records from my most recent dr. and the records gal called me back to say that they don't have anything from a prior doc. i remember NOW having a frustrating time and requesting the records from her 3 or 4 times in 2006. Great - now I really need them for the 5 year history and.......when I called today it was a voice recorder. They are open "by appt only". good grief! that is why I left. no one else works in the office but she and her dr. husband. she is kind of a bully (and skinny too) and would make me come back week after week after week. I'd need "blood work done" so had to fast and come back, then come back for the results. seriously? my other docs always mailed them. that is why I left. but I am scared to deal with it over and over and over. i am CLOSE. it's my biggest hurdle, this 5 year history junk.

me too! actually frustrated cuz a dr. in town said I had to do the 6-month dr. supervised diet FIRST before I could come in for a consult. So I did it. They said they'd consider the pre-diet weight. good. well - 6 months later, they are losing the BCBS contract and maybe the Center of Excellence designation. Called a dr. referred to me and good write-ups here. they won't see me until I gain the 7 pounds. seriously? good grief! went to another surgeon last Friday ---- with a bag of BB's in my pocket and a bag of loose change with a cloth to keep the sound down in the other pocket (so I was even). Whew - I made the weight. Actually - i've always said I'm 5'8", which is stretching it just a half inch I think, but of course I want the 5'7" height cuz it is 11 pounds less to reach the BMI 35. sigh! how wrong is this that we must resort to gaining to lose? I'll do it though. I had a lot of salt and junk - and like you, I'd been eating so healthy (had lost 23 lbs) and it felt SO BAD and gross. Then Flo arrived and it's been a hard craving this month. oh - and in my BCBS TX policy ---- it says they look at the STARTING weight/BMI when you go on a 6-month diet. aaahhhh! My hard part is finding the 5 year proof in medical records now! i don't know that I have it recorded. I know I've hit that weight 4 or 5 times, but do you think THAT was when I wanted to go see the dr. and get weighed? um, NO! LOL

So how are you doing Froggin? I just found this place as I am back to researching WLS. I have enjoyed reading your posts along your journey - and am now wanting the update. LOL funny you mentioned the 6 month thing and Fran at Penrose. Yeah - I called her 6 months ago and was told I had to do that 6 month thing (my insurance is BCBS TX). I said I knew that, but my general dr. thought I did that with the bariatric program. She said NOPE - that I had to do it with him. So - here I am 6 months later and I lost 23 pounds (gotta love phentermine huh?) anyway - Dr. Perlman, who I was referred to, is gone up to Denver now. I got mixed reviews from 2 locals here who went elsewhere. I'm checking into Dr. Johnell in Greeley (highly recommended) and then Dr. Chae in Lone Tree - just cuz I've read about him. Johnell won't see me until my BMI is back up to 35. yeah - I lost TOO MUCH weight. good grief. now to gain back 7 lbs. Fran has yet to call me back when I left a message last week. Dr. Chae will see me the end of next week and I'm taking my DH with me. I'll be sure to eat lots of "water-retaining" food the night before. LOL