Another Step Closer

 I was referred for bariatric surgery by my doctor (for the second time) in September 2020.  I thought this was an easy process, bing, bam, boom through the prequalification junk, get surgery, and loose the weight!    Oh-Em-Gee was I completely wrong!!!  Prequalification has been the longest most drawn out experience! I understand they have all their steps for a reason, but man oh man this has been a lot!  I’ve known people who were approved, got their surgery, and were 1/2 way to their goal weight in the time that it’s taking me just to get approved.  

So anyways, enough complaining, it is what it is.  Moving forward.  September 2020 I was referred for surgery.  My 1st Appointment was with a nurse practitioner who went over the surgery process, sent me info to fill out, including pics of me on the scale 😬.  Then I had to do a psychological evaluation which was a 2 step process, the first was an appointment via Zoom & one in person to take a bunch of tests, which brings me into October.  Then waiting for her to submit the report...we are now at the end of October and the bariatric center wants a letter from the dr who prescribes my medicine and a support letter from a therapist stating that I have established care with them.  

At this point I was feeling discouraged, and I dragged my feet a little with getting a therapist.  I had it in my head that I’d have my surgery before 2021, but it didn’t look like that was going to go my way. I really started to think it wasn’t worth the hassle, but then I’d loose my breath walking up the stairs or my back would start screaming just walking through the mall.  I knew if I wanted to make it past 50 I was going to have to suck it up and do what I needed to do to take care of myself.  

So at the end of November the letter stating I established service was submitted, but for some reason in that letter they put that I was being seen for a binge eating disorder.  WTF!?!?  I have never had a binge eating disorder, nor did that ever come up in our discussions, and of course that threw up a red flag at the bariatric center.  So now another month long delay to get a disclosure statement from me so they could talk to the therapist, getting in touch with the therapist, and them being told because of insurance purposes that had to give some type of label to why I was being seen.  🤦‍♀️

FINALLY, on New Years Eve, I got the email stating I had been approved for surgery, and could start the next steps towards surgery.  2020 was one craptastic year, but it ended on a good note!  

This month I have had my nutrition class, attended the support group, and earlier this week had my upper GI test done.  Next is my one on one with the nutritionist, which is scheduled for the beginning of February, and to start the pre-surgery diet, which I shopped for today and got all the groceries I’ll need to start that on Monday morning.  (This weekend is my youngest’s birthday and we are going to the Cheesecake Factory, it was planned before I went shopping.  That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!) 😂

So this is the machine that I did my upper GI test on. 

The chalky drinks...YUM!  🤢

The X-ray machine & computer where I got to see my insides

You start out standing and have to drink a thick chalky drink so that your insides basically glow on the X-ray.  You do this facing right, then left, then the table tilts backwards until your laying flat on your back.  Then you roll around to coat all sides of your stomach and take some more pictures.  After that you lay on your stomach & drink another chalky, but not as thick, liquid while they take more pictures.  Finally they put you back upright and you have to swallow a pill and they X-ray/video it going down.  This is to measure the parts of your throat and esophagus and down into your stomach for when you have surgery.  That’s it.  Easy peasy, Mac & cheesie  😊

So that’s where I’m at now.  After the one on one appointment with the nutritionist the bariatric clinic takes all my paper work, my labs, documentation that I’ve been working with a doctor for at least 6 months to try to loose weight, and then submits all that to insurance for the official approval from them.  Once that is received then I can have my pre-op appointment, pre-op testing, and then finally surgery.  I have my fingers crossed 🤞that it will happen by the end of March, and that I can start a new healthier chapter of my life.