So here is where I currently stand in regards to my weight loss surgery:
- Finished all of the required medical tests and evaluations that my insurance company requires. I had some issues with an EKG but three procedures later and they determined it was nothing. Just some poorly placed wires during the first test. Yay for good results...boo for newbie medical assistants.
- I am currently taking weekly classes titled "Life After Bariatric Surgery" (by the way, I love that my autocorrect changes 'bariatric' to 'barbaric' every time). My first two classes have covered the nutritional supplements that will be required post surgery and good fats/bad fats. I have two more weeks of those and then that can be checked off of my list o' things to do prior to submitting for insurance approval.
- February is month 8 of 9 required months of doctor's visits. After March's visit THAT insurance requirement should also be met.
- Insurance requires that I still lose about 30 pounds prior to surgery. This is to increase the likelihood of a laparoscopic procedure as opposed to the kind where they have to open you up completely. The word is that when you lose weight, the first place you lose from is from around your organs. So if I lose the required weight, my liver should be in a better position (literally) to have the safer procedure. This has been more challenging than I thought. BUT I will do it.
So here's the kicker. Notice how all of those bullet points contain some form of "insurance approval" in them? Well, looks like Alfred and I will most likely be losing our current insurance at the end of March - which will require us to purchase our own from the lovely Health Care Marketplace. Getting new insurance will probably change up the insurance requirements for this surgery. Fun, fun, fun. Luckily our current insurance has one of the more strict lists of requirements - so hopefully whichever one we will be able to switch to will not require TOO much more.
This has been an up and down process. It is definitely not for the faint of heart or for the disorganized. I have found myself somewhat surprised that some people are able to get this done on their own. I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person and this has been a confusing and difficult process to maneuver my way through.
As frustrating as the process has been, I still feel like my prayers for guidance and wisdom are continuing to be answered. I know that it is not going to be easy - but I do believe that in the end, it will be easier than some of the things that I have to face now because of my weight.
So it looks like it will be at least a few more months...but in the meantime I promise that I will do my best to be a better blogger. And maybe some day you and I can once again rekindle the relationship that we once had.