One Step Closer To Surgery
relentless2121
Posts: 431 Member
At my 3 month check in last month, I was given my pre-op paper work. I recently took the Doctor's part to my GP & she wrote out the requisitions for the Pre-Op Blood Work, Chest X-ray and EKG. I fasted since last night and went for all of the tests today.
I feel a sense of excitement, accomplishment and being one step closer to surgery this fall.
In August, I go for my 6 month check in. One last hurdle to jump thru before I go for a pre-op fasting orientation and get an appointment to finally meet with the surgeon and hopefully have my surgery date set.
Although I am very excited to have made it this far, I still have a hard time accepting that this is really going to happen. Of course until I get through the last few steps it's not 100% guaranteed that I will have clearance to the final stage of surgery.
So here is my question to throw out there.... when was the moment you knew for sure that you were approved for surgery and that it was really going to happen? Also, is it normal to feel this fear that for some reason I might not meet all the requirements or be approved and it could still fall through?
I feel a sense of excitement, accomplishment and being one step closer to surgery this fall.
In August, I go for my 6 month check in. One last hurdle to jump thru before I go for a pre-op fasting orientation and get an appointment to finally meet with the surgeon and hopefully have my surgery date set.
Although I am very excited to have made it this far, I still have a hard time accepting that this is really going to happen. Of course until I get through the last few steps it's not 100% guaranteed that I will have clearance to the final stage of surgery.
So here is my question to throw out there.... when was the moment you knew for sure that you were approved for surgery and that it was really going to happen? Also, is it normal to feel this fear that for some reason I might not meet all the requirements or be approved and it could still fall through?
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I knew when I called my insurance company and asked about the status of the request. It really sunk in, though, when I shortly after that I talked with my surgeons nurse and scheduled my surgery.
I did worry a little bit about being approved, but I was so severely obese (I had a BMI of around 54 when I started) and I asked my insurance company about their coverage before I even started the process, so I felt pretty sure I'd be approved. Again, though, until I got official word I worried a little bit that it wouldn't happen.
Good luck!!!0 -
Here in Canada (Newfoundland) anyway the wait list is long last I heard its 8 to 10 years. As soon as I heard they had the program in place I had my dr send in my referral that was February 28th 2012, I had orientation on June 21 2013, Clinical appt where I met with the nurse practitioner over the program and the dietitian in which before that appt I had to do a 1 week liquid trial diet and 1 week of healthy eating. I had that appt in August 2013. I was then given an appt October 3rd 2013 to meet with the surgeon and sign my consent. Which I did and he told me they expected me to have surgery within the next 6 months. I had my surgery February 24th 2014, so just 4 days shy of a 2 year wait which is great compared to the wait the people have here now. We only have 3 surgeons doing this here in Newfoundland (2 surgeons do the surgery) there is always 2 in the OR and only 1 surgery day a week in which they do 3 surgeries unless they get cancelled due to emergencies and sometimes due to no beds being available in the hospital. I know people that have been cancelled the day of the surgery after they get there so I was still scared that morning of February 24th that I could get cancelled. But luckily myself and the other 2 ladies were sleeved.
I know quite a few people from this province are going to Mexico to get the surgery done as the wait is just too long.
I also think being fearful of not being accepted or rejected for the surgery will be there until you have the date and maybe even until the surgery is done. Some days I still have a hard time believing that I am sleeved and came through the surgery as well as I did. Because I was terrified of having the surgery which was unnecessary stress I caused myself.0 -
Thanks for Sharing Sarah and Joy.
Joy, here in Manitoba the surgery has only been covered by Manitoba health for 2 years so there are a lot of people on the wait list. I waited 13 months for my orientation and by the time I have my surgery this fall it will be a few months shy of 2 years which isn't bad considering we do not have to pay for the surgery. I feel so very blessed that I am being given this amazing opportunity and gift. :flowerforyou:0 -
It was a huge relief when I was told by insurance that I was approved, but that really just opens the door to the next round of tests, EGD, blood work, pulmonary for me since I had uncontrolled asthma and they were concerned about how I would do with the anesthesia. For me, the part you're going through now, is the worst part. It's when you're dependent on others for their approvals, recommendations, scheduling of appointments etc. It made me feel... out of control. And all at time when you need as much self control as you can muster to take off some weight ahead of surgery and shrink your liver. For me, I felt like I'd jumped though all the hoops when my EGD was done. He'd found a hiatial hernia, but no deal breakers and nothing he couldn't repair at the same time as the sleeve procedure. Your date will be here before you know it! Hang in!0
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It was a huge relief when I was told by insurance that I was approved, but that really just opens the door to the next round of tests, EGD, blood work, pulmonary for me since I had uncontrolled asthma and they were concerned about how I would do with the anesthesia. For me, the part you're going through now, is the worst part. It's when you're dependent on others for their approvals, recommendations, scheduling of appointments etc. It made me feel... out of control. And all at time when you need as much self control as you can muster to take off some weight ahead of surgery and shrink your liver. For me, I felt like I'd jumped though all the hoops when my EGD was done. He'd found a hiatial hernia, but no deal breakers and nothing he couldn't repair at the same time as the sleeve procedure. Your date will be here before you know it! Hang in!
I felt that the appointment scheduling, tests, etc., coupled with the 1500 calorie high protein diet after the orientation session, really energized me. I felt like I was finally taking control of my situation for the first time in a number of years. I didn't worry too much about being rejected by any of the pre-surgery tests, but I can see how that would add stress.
I made a ToDo list with everything I needed to do, and felt progress every time I checked something off. I put the smallest tasks as well, so that I made real progress nearly every day. Now I am waiting for the last (?) surgical consult and I could have had that a couple of weeks ago, but didn't want to cancel a golf day I had planned, so I am waiting for the surgeon to return fromhis vacation. I figure a well-rested surgeon is better anyway!
Good luck to all who are trudging the pre-surgery path. Use it as a time to solidify your new behaviors, don't see it as total drudgery.
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When I started my pre-op stuff, I was with one insurance company. They were informative and gave me the impression that if I accomplished all of the things they set out for me to do, that it would be approved. They required a 6 month physician supervised diet. Mid-way through the 6month diet, I got a new job and switch insurance companies. I had several insurance companies to choose from, so I called my doctors office and asked who had the best track record for approving surgies with the least amount of prequalifications. They told me BCBS had the best track record at their office. After I reviewed the BCBS plans and called and spoke with a rep, I chose my plan. I was covered one week after my start date and received my insurance cards after one month. Once I had the cards, my doctor submitted my file and it took them about a week to approve it based on what I had already done. I could have gotten the surgery that very same week, but scheduled it a month later due to work. BCBS assigned a nurse to me who will call me periodically just to check in and see how the surgery is working out. I was very pleased with their coverage and only had to pay $1500 out of pocket and that was mostly for hospital related fees. I think every insurance company is different, but I had both Cigna and BCBS and both companies indicated early on how likely I would be approved. I had no co-morbitities and never once thought that they wouldn't approve me. Just do everything they ask of you. Your doctor can go to bat for you too.0
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Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and for your encouragement. I live in Canada. Two years ago this surgery started to be financially covered by my provincial health care plan. Up until then you had to pay for the whole thing at a private clinic, or out of the province or country.
I do not have to pay anything to have the surgery done as long as I'm approved. We have an extensive 6 month program where we are given support by a nurse, dietician, kinisiologist and psychologist. We have a minimum of 3 meetings with each of them in that time. I also participated in the 4 "Craving Change" classes which were great for helping us to learn different strategies for dealing with cravings.
A few years ago, when there was a "study" going on to try and get funding in place, the people who were approved to be part of the study were given a goal of how much weight they had to lose before surgery in order to be approved. Since then, they have changed their approach to weight maintenance. They are more concerned about maintenance but do not put pressure on us to lose weight before the surgery. They just don't want us to gain any. I had lost 10 lbs. my my 3 month check in and have now lost about 16. I go back on August 12th for my 6 month check in. I am told that my surgery could be as early as September once I do the two week liquid fast and of course see the surgeon.
It's not like they are pressuring me in any way. They do seem happy with the changes I have been making (gave up pop, quit binging & next I will be weening down off of caffeinated coffee to decaf).
I really have no reason to not think I will be approved. I think it's just that "I'm my own worst enemy" and "expecting the worst" type of thinking that I've struggled with my whole life. Like "is this really happening?". "This is too good to be true... surely something will fall through and I will be told that I cannot have the surgery for whatever reason."
It's that negative thinking and self talk.
I KNOW HOW HARD I HAVE BEEN WORKING AND THE CHANGES I HAVE BEEN MAKING SINCE I STARTED THIS JOURNEY IN DECEMBER WHEN I WENT TO THE ORIENTATION. I REALLY DO DESERVE THIS AND I AM GOING TO HAVE IT. THIS IS SUCH A BLESSING AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT AT THE AGE OF 49, AFTER BEING OBESE MY WHOLE LIFE THAT I AM FINALLY GETTING THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS TOOL THAT I DESERVE. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
Thanks again to everyone for all the encouragement, understanding and ideas I get on this forum. you guys are the best. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: 0
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