I Got My Letter!!

 

My official, 

"Welcome to the Bariatric Surgery Program" 

came today. I was so excited to get this stinking letter. Then I read it. And it was like I was watching a RomCom and it got to the part where it looks like the guy and the girl may actually take that next step and the movie ends abruptly with the words, "And the lived happily ever after." Literally ZERO closure!!

Totally Anticlimactic!

Okay, let me explain myself. 

Last time I posted I had just finished my 5th appointment with the nutritionist out of the required 6. Well, since then I have gone in for my psych eval - no worries, I'm mostly sane. And that led to them reviewing my records for the yes or no to surgery. Or so I thought.

I mean, yes, I'm still eligible for the surgery, but the letter didn't exactly state that. I knew it would have a list of recommendations to complete in order to get the full green light. But when I got it, I realized that I have everything either done, or scheduled, so I am in a complete holding pattern.

The reason for this is simple... INSURANCE. My primary insurance requires 6 months of appointments with a dietary specialist. Even though my previous bariatric specialist referred me to these guys the month before I started my nutrition appointments, they absolutely do not count it toward my required 6. GRRR!!

So, I asked the nurse, if I get the green light from the nutritionist (which she already said she would give) and all of my other requirements are scheduled or met, how long till I get my surgery date?

EIGHT WEEKS!!! GAHH!!!!

There's Slow, and then there's Insurance Slow

The nurse explained that they don't submit to insurance until I have attended all 6 dietary appointments. Then, once submitted to insurance it can take several weeks for them to approve it. Once they do, I will be called to schedule a surgery date, but there are TWENTY... 2-0... patients who have been submitted ahead of me who are awaiting insurance approval as well. They take them in the order they return from the insurance companies.

Long story short, I'm probably looking at mid-April for a surgery date. *sigh* I know... first world problems and all. I'm just so ready to have this surgery and get to the other side of that so I can begin living and adjusting to my new life.

In the meantime, I know I can fine tune my post-surgery eating a bit more. I'm not going all or nothing and full on dieting, but I have been working on eliminating Diet Coke (I'm close... down to 1-2 a week), not drinking with meals (I'm up to about 50% of the time with this), and food planning. It is clear that I'm going to have to shift gears though and decrease my sugar intake quite a bit more. I'll get there though.

Till next time...