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Everything happens for a reason



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Ou know that feeling, deep down inside of you that tells you there's something just not right? Well...mine has been screaming at me since my 1st appointment. I was referred to a bariatric surgeon by my regular physician who I feel very comfortable with and trust. He gave me the name of the doc and I called and made my appointment, it was dec 11,2013. I went to the info class first, then my appointment was that afternoon at 2:30. Now I should mention here that I wasn't scheduled with the doctor I was actually referred to but one of his associates. I didn't really think anything of it as he works for this doc that came so highly recommended by tons of people and my doc! The office staff was so sweet. We waited a bit then met with an intake assistant, also as sweet as they come. Then I had an h. Pylori test, it was negative! Yay! So then we went to an exam room to meet with the doc. I waited for what felt like forever. But...I didn't mind as that told me he was really taking his time with his patients and that to me is admirable! He finally came in and was pleasant. Dry but pleasant. We talked and he was answering some questions and then...his cell phone rang. He looked at it and then said excuse me...he went to the hall but we could hear him. It was his wife wondering where he was and discussing their dinner plans. This really put me off! Should it? Maybe not as I realize they are people with families and lives too but, nonetheless it did. And it really stuck with me. I wondered are his dinner plans really more important than my being cut open and changed for all my life? We continued the discussion when he came back and a small comment was made to me that was another one of those...hmmm.. WTH kinda things. He said "look, we all don't like the things we have to do every day, i don't like coming work everyday but I do"'.... Ummmmmm....you don't like coming to work?!?! This for me was another HUGE red flag... I want my surgeon to LoVE what they do. But...I ignored the feelings (sort of) and continued on my journey. The rest of my testing and appointments were easy breezy and the office was more than helpful with everything but all the while...these things stuck with me.

As my surgery day approached I began to panic. Like a crazy panic where I couldn't breathe. I was sobbing uncontrollably and felt very unsure. I dismissed this as normal fear. I mean I was about to have surgery! I am sure my uneasiness was transferring to my kids and my youngest who already was very worried about me got even more so. I had this knot in my stomach, I kept going in and out of panic attacks and my amazing husband was my rock. On day 1 of my 3 day liquid diet I began to feel icky... I figured it was from not eating. Just ignored it, flushed out my nose with the netti pot, and thought I'd feel better after sleep. The next day, I felt worse. I could feel my head all stuffy and icky and could feel a lil tightness starting in my chest. I called the surgeons line, then the on call dr called me back (I could barely understand him, his English was rough) but he said well, there's nothing you can do call back tomorrow.....ummmm ok?!? So I called the next day as is till wasn't feeling that great. Not the worst cold ever but...it wasn't my normal self and I was getting worried about the cold as it was producing a lot of mucus and now I had a cough.

I spoke with a very nice lady at the drs office, my doc was in surgery, so she emailed him then she said she would call back before the end of the day....she did and doc said I was ok. To proceed with the surgery. Well....he's a doctor...I'm not so I have to trust him.

I didn't sleep much a t all. I prayed and prayed...that God would put all the people I would need in the right places to protect me. That angels would surround me and the surgical team for a smooth and up eventful surgery.

My kids and hubby n I packed up and drove the 2 hours to the hospital. All the way me panicking and just not feeling well. We arrived and parked, brought our stuff in, got admitted, in asu room, in a gown, had a pregnancy test, and then my sweet nurse Jenn came in. She told me someone had called and informed her that I had called and reported a cold yesterday! She listened to my lungs and they were good she said. But she wanted to get the anesthesiologist in too... A big burly Russian man came into the room. I was a bit overtaken by his presence. He was a bit scary to be honest. He listened to my. Heat very carefully, he really did a thorough exam. Then he informed me that because I have an upper respiratory infection my odds of having complications with the anesthesia were increased to 50/50. He said there is a 50% chance nothing will happen but...there is a 50% chance something will???like pneumonia and I could be in the hospital much longer. My husband and I looked at each other...I asked dr. Gruffly...(cause I don't remember his name) what do you recommend. He said...this is not a life saving procedure today. This is to improve my quality of life and prevent other commorbidities, he said he recommends I take a week to clear up this virus and then 2 more for the swelling and inflammation in my throat and esophagus to go down then proceed.

If it wasn't for this man, this gruffly man I could have suffered some major complications, especially with all the coughing I've been doing. I consider this man my angel...God has his ways of stopping things from happening that we may not be good enough at recognizing ourselves. I am grateful for to The Lord and dr mcgruffy.

I have since gone to my PCP, diagnosed with a virus and given a slip to have a chest X-ray prior to surgery just to be sure all is clear! I have spoken with my surgeons office and scheduled a re-consult with the Dr. That I was actually referred to and I am feeling so much better about this. This doc has 18 years of experience and tons of reviews and personal patients of his I know. I could never find any info hardly on hue 1st surgeon I had...no one, even my PCP had heard of him.

I am feeling a lot better heading forward and you know what?... EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON!

So if anyone like me...has had to wait a little longer than we hoped...know that it may be best and try and embrace it as a positive.

Love to all

Dreaming....

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Glad you paid attention to that little voice in the back of your head. And many thanks to the big Russian! Hope you can get back on track with your surgery and maybe a new surgeon.

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Glad you paid attention to that little voice in the back of your head. And many thanks to the big Russian! Hope you can get back on track with your surgery and maybe a new surgeon.

Thanks MrsVanderbilt!

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
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      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
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    • BeanitoDiego

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    • ChunkCat

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    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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