My goodness this seems like a never ending roller coaster of emotions! :whatchutalkingabout I found out yesterday that I was approved for surgery after having sent in my appeal.

I started this process back in July. Back in May I had a full physical, blood work, chest xray, abdominal ultrasound, pelvic ultrasound, mammo, and pap done. I did it all! Now I am going to have to have the endoscopy and gallbladder ultrasound done and more blood work and finally the psych eval. I guess I did this backwards? My last appt with the NUT is on 11-9-11. I have an appt tomorrow with the PCP to request the preop work and psych referral. I am trying to gather everything I can to speed along the process and it's driving me nuts. I am almost afraid that if I don't hurry this up the insurance company may change it's mind lol!

I was told some of the tests I would not have to redo since I had them done within the last 6 months. Let's hope they are right. :confused5:

Then to top it off I got a call from the surgeons office letting me know that the surgeon is putting in an auth request for the ultrasound and endoscopy and that he also wants me to lose 15lbs prior to surgery. The good news is that I had my first drs appt at 234.4 and today the NUT weighed me at 227. So only 8 lbs to go! I am hoping to reach that goal when I meet with her in a week. I think I am going to go on a liquid diet to speed along the process. I feel like I have come so far that I will do anything and everything to make sure that this happens! :wink_smile:

So now my question is, what am I forgetting and what do I need to do now? Anybody out there have any insight? Right now the only thing I am concerned about is the psych eval because I don't know how long it will take to get the referral and appt.UGH!

Then to top it all off, I have a real chance of getting a job. I have been unemployed and wouldn't you know it I had an interview yesterday that shows real promise. So now I am stressing! What if they offer me a job? How will I squeeze in surgery with a new job!? Somebody have any words of wisdom? I am pulling my hair out!

Ok, thanks for letting me vent!

It is going to all work out. Stop stressing about it all. Everything happens for a reason. If the job comes available, after being hired, let them know up front that you are scheduled for surgery soon. I look at all this as a blessing. You of course want the new beginning, and you are about to possibly start a new career. Dont look at it in a negative way. View it as all positives!!!!!!!!!! :Angel_anim:

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom EnjoyingWhoIAmBecoming! I definitely needed some outside support on this from someone who understands what this is feeling like!

I had my preop appt today with my PCP who has VERY supportive! She came in and gave me a hug. I had my chest xray done today as well. On Monday I have the gallbladder ultrasound. I am waiting on the endoscopy referral to go through and to find a local doc for the psych clearance. Trying to get a hold of a psych doctor is proving more difficult than anything else. She gave me the lab work but I will wait until the end of next week to do those. I need to make sure they are not done too soon since I do not have a surgery date yet. I am literally on my way. The surgeon will not schedule my surgery until these things are done. So I am being my own best advocate to get it done asap. I thought waiting for the insurance approval was nerve racking. I am quickly finding out that trying to get all of this other stuff done is just as time consuming and nerve racking!

Keep me posted on your journey! :seeya:

Try to relax and let it all happen. It seems like things are all coming together for you, and yeah, it's a lot to handle at once and it's stressful but it's all working out.

So breathe!

Stay positive about the job interview - hopefully that will come through for you! If they make you an offer, you simply have to let them know about the surgery. But there's no need to worry until that point. There's absolutely no benefit in it, either! I doubt it will be an issue.

It seems like you really are on your way. Best of luck to you. This has clearly been a long journey for you to get approved, so just a little more patience won't be so hard.

Take care,

~Cheri

and dont stress about the psych eval. you will just talk to the doc, he will ask you some questions about your life, your family, how much of a support group you will have after surgery. Just be honest. It will breeze through before you know it. GOOD LUCK on the last 8 pounds. On your liquid diet, get in the protein, that will help you be less hungry.

thank you so much! I am finally settling down. I think I was afraid the insurance company would change its mind! But the diet is self imposed at the moment. I want to make sure that my liver is shrinking so I can get scheduled as soon as I get everything else done. Believe it or not, I actually love the protein shakes and they do help me stay full. I am finding that this diet is easier because I am not being forced into it. I want to do it because I have come so far and want to make sure I am in good health prior to the surgery. It has been very easy for me so far. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

Your welcome. This journey is a long one but a much needed one. I will keep you posted. I myself have an appointment with the doctor on 11-9-11. After that visit, they will submit to insurance. So I am not going to be able to get my sleeve until the beginning on the year because they are already booked for Dec and the beginning on Jan. I don't mind the wait, I am just glad that I am getting it!!! I am claiming my approval. Make sure you keep us posted on your journey

I did things a little backward too. I got my psych exam done before the first consult with the surgeon, and then I did my bloodwork and physical soon after my first visit, only to find my scheduled surgery date was going to be 3 months later! I have to re-do my physical, ekg and blood/urine samples because they have to be done 30 days prior to surgery.

Good luck with the potential job!!!

So here is the latest. I had my chest xray and ekg on Thurs and Friday and my psych appt on Saturday. I was very surprised to get an appt so soon. After meeting with the psych guy I had to do a MMPI test. 567 questions. Are you kidding me!? So I went home and finished it. He wanted me to turn it in at our next appt next Saturday. Well, I didn't want to delay the process for another 2 weeks (it will take him about a week just to review it and submit the results). As soon as I finished it I went back to his office and left it outside his door because he was in session. Not sure if this makes me a crazy person but I feel like I have waited long enough already! On Monday I have the gallbladder ultrasound. Then I need to have my endoscopy but I do not have an appt for that yet because I am waiting on the authorization. I am hoping to get that on Monday so I can make the appt. The very last thing I am going to do is get my blood drawn. Honestly, I am really surprised I have been able to get a lot of this done within 4 days of getting my approval. Oh and I have one last appt with the NUT on Wed. So maybe this is the week I will have everything submitted and they can schedule my surgery. Fingers crossed!

Now comes the dilemma of deciding whether to do this before or after Thanksgiving. My husband told me to just do it asap. He thinks I have waiting long enough too! This has been a whirlwind experience but I really am excited! I just wish it was not so close to the holidays. But I would rather miss Thanksgiving so I can enjoy Christmas with my kids.

So how is everybody else doing with their approval process? Any good news to report?