Huge Scare + Getting Ready

On Wed I started my new night time schedule at work, so I ran down to Costco to pick up some last min things before my shift. I was looking at calcium chews when my patient care coordinator called and said that insurance denied my surgery!! I was completely beside myself and it really floored me. I almost left the shopping cart and just ran out. After a mini panic attack I checked out and went home.It was really hard to keep it together all day at work, but somehow I managed.

Anyway, two days later, Friday, my coordinator calls and says that we are APPROVED! 100% back on!! I cannot believe how awesome the coordinator has been. She kept me up to date along the way and even had the surgeon call the insurance company from his home! Who does that?! She said they would not hang up until they approved it. I mean the only the reason it was denied was bc my primary doc forgot to send the paperwork about my 6mo supervised diet. It's not like I didn't do it, or don't meet the weight requirement, or something major. It was bc of a few papers!!

So that was a huge scare. It doesn't surprise me tho. Insurance companies look for ways to deny claims every day. I am writing the coordinator's manager a letter of appreciation. I may even cc the president of the UWMC. She has been amazing! Did I mention how awesome she is? She's even visiting me in the hospital. She said she wants to meet me bc of all the hardwork she's put in :)

So I'm busy getting ready. Surgery is in just 5 days. I started the Impact shakes today. I have to drink 3 a day for the last 5 days. They taste really really sweet and thick. They come in a juice box. They're only 8oz so I've been slowly sipping. I can also eat veggies.

I made bone broth as well. It has amazing health benefits and helps with healing. I plan to freeze some and drink it while I recover. Read about bone broth here:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/16/bone-broth-benefits.aspx

I also froze some protein drinks into ice cubes. I made popsicles w/protein shakes and bought sugar free applesauce, creamy chicken soup, and a few others. I also bought pudding and made my own jello w/beef gelatin, which also has amazing health benefits similar to the broth. Read about gelatin here:

http://wellnessmama.com/7419/12-uses-for-gelatin/


Jello made w/organic beef gelatin. One has raspberry Crystal Lite and the other used sugar free pink lemonade drops from Dasani.

Homemade beef broth. Great health benefits.

This is the Impact I have to drink 3x a day for the last 5 days.

New Surgery Date

The nurse called me yesterday and said that the doc wasn't going to be in on July 11. I almost lost my mind. I have been waiting so long for this surgery and told everyone the date, and I was moments away from being crushed. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN! She said I can get the surgery on July 2 instead!!! That is less than 2wks away! Ahhh! I'm so nervous, and excited, and really scared. The thought of being put under is what scares me the most. I know I will power thru the anxiety, and it's totally normal.

Surgery date!

I got my surgery date! Friday July 11! So I have about 30 days til the date. The receptionist told me to stay on the diet, but I see no point in doing so since it only needs 3 weeks. I'm stocking up on junk food and eating til next week when I start the diet for real. I'm pretty excited!

Presurgery diet pics/stats

Since diet starts tomorrow here are all my stats:

Weight 215.8

Height 60.5 inches

44 chest - across bust

38 under bust

44.5 - 1/2 above belly button

46 butt

27 thigh

18 calf

15 neck

16 upper arm - bat wings!!

10 forearm

BMI 40.6 if I use 61 inches. BMI 42 if I use 60 inches.

I wear size 16/18 pants and 1-2x shirt. 38DD bra. 7.5E shoe

My husband said he will also do the diet with me to make it easier. Did I mention he is the best?We went out to dinner tonight bc it was my friends birthday. I should have ordered a burger, but I had an Ahi Tuna salad, which was really tasty. Don't worry, I ate my daughters mac n cheese when I got home :)

Countdown begins

Holy shit that was fast! The nurse put the insurance request in last Thursday and today it went thru! My surgery is 100% AUTHORIZED! Only took 2 work days! I can't believe it! I was expecting at least a full week!

You should hear the voice mail the receptionist left. She said: your insurance was authorized for your surgery, however your doctor's schedule is pretty booked. So if you want to have the surgery done sooner, then call me back, but I won't be in the office until Wednesday. You should probably start your special diet soon, tho, like tomorrow.

That means I'm having the procedure done in THREE WEEKS!!! I can't believe it!! I'm buzzing w/excitement and fear. I have to start this diet tomorrow. I'm starving already!! Doc wants me on 1000 calorie a day diet for 17 days, then the last 5 days I'm supposed to drink Impact 3x a day for the final 5 days, which I guess helps your body heal. Shit, I have to buy food. I HAVE TO PREPARE! EEEEK I'M EXCITED!

I'm so excited!!!!!! Get ready for pre surgery pics coming soon :)

Waiting

Can I say that I'm fucking excited?! Today is a very good, happy day. I FINALLY got the callback from my doc about the results of that horrible manometry test. It was about what I expected. I do not qualify for the VSG surgery because I have too much reflux. We are moving forward with getting the insurance approved for the gastric bypass. I'm really excited and also scared. OK I'M VERY SCARED. This is a huge surgery!

I know this is the right thing to do. Now I wait. Hoping insurance doesn't take too long, but knowing them, I won't be watching my phone constantly....