Wow. Things are getting close.

So I had my last visit with my pre-approval nutritionist team yesterday.

Five more pounds down, for a total of 20 since January (more or less on the timeframe. I didn't really get into the grove of things before then, tbh). Actually spot-on for what the nurse told me would be a good loss for the time period/approval.

Next Tuesday is my psych evaluation.

I have seven years of weight history from my gynecologist's office.

I have six or so months of other dieting records from another doctor along with a bunch of test results from 18 months or so ago that should be faxed over today.

One annoyance I'm facing is that I went to see my primary care doctor two weeks ago (for back pain). I asked for a letter -- they said they'd write it and mail it.

After giving them a full week, this Monday I called their office asking where it was.

Today they called and left me a message saying that he won't write a letter of recommendation until he sees me for a full physical.

Now, I don't mind going in for a physical. What I do mind is having to wait two weeks to find out I even needed one.

So, I left them a message today (they're closed Wednesday afternoons I guess, lucky them) saying that I'd like a copy of my full medical chart and to let me know when I could pick it up.

Technically I HAVE all the records I need, so anything from them was superfluous anyway, but I'm still annoyed at their lack of follow up. Grr.

But I digress.

I have all the above charts. Once I have the psych evaluation on Tuesday and drop off the last of my records, we make sure everything is in order and submit for insurance approval.

Interestingly, one of the things that the nurse said yesterday was that BCBS-IL is getting better about approving on the first go-round, because it was costing them too much to deny the first time and then approve on the resubmission. So, that's potentially really good.

In the meantime, I have a pulmonary clearance appointment set up on May 16. Who knows what that entails.

Anyway, all of a sudden it's like a landslide speeding up towards the end. Who knew that last October when I lamented the amount of time that I needed to spend doing six months of pre-approval dieting that it would be going so fast at the end!

I'm bouncing between nervous and excited and absolutely freaked out. But I'm guessing it's the same stuff almost everyone else here went through, too.

Anyway, I just needed to share with people who actually get it.

- jen

Wooo..sounds like things are moving along for you, Jen.

After jumping through all of the cardiologists hoops (which were deemed excessive by my other docs), they were awful about sending my surgical clearance and test results to the surgeon.

After two weeks of nice phone calls every other day or so, I decided to spend a day making sure I got what I needed. So . . . I called them every 90 minutes one day, "Was that information sent? When do you think it will be? OK, I'll call back in a little while."

They assured me I didn't need to call back repeatedly. I assured them it was no bother and I would even stop by there and pick it up if that was easier for them.

It was a pain..but they did get the information off to the surgeon. It just takes perseverance.

Hang in there -- it sounds like you're close!

-Christine