This has been a week of "tellings" about my weight loss surgery. I told my aunts, uncles, and cousins (the ones who live close anyway) that I will be having the surgery. I love my family and they, clearly, love me. Some people experience rejection, scepticism, or jealousy from their family when they discuss WLS with them. But, my family seemed put at east with my choice. The looks on their faces seemed thankful and relieved, like I had provided the answer to a problem they had been searching to solve but didn't know how. One of my aunts started to tear up. I am so fortunate to have such a strong support network of people who love and care for me.
I also officially told my RNY surgeon's office that I would not be having the RNY and asked them to please return my $300+ "membership fee" check. It was bitter sweet. Diane, my contact there, has been so kind and helpful. But, I knew it was the right choice for me. However, I was a bit late on the draw because y insurance company had already sent them four letters saying I had withdrawn my request for RNY approval!
A good week it's been. Being honest about such a personal decision has a calming effect.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Approved for Weight Loss Surgery in 30 Minutes!
My surgeon, Dr. Lane's office told me they would be sending in my insurance paperwork today. But, when I called at about 4:00 PM today, the papers still hadn't been transmitted. Just after 6:00 PM today I got a call from one of the Nurses at my insurance company:
Caller: "Hello, may I please speak with Justin?"
Me: "Speaking."
Caller: "Hi, Justin, It's Mary-Ann from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. I'm calling to let you know that I've just approved you for your Duodenal Switch and inpatient stay."
Me: FREAK OUT...LOTS OF THANK YOUS!!!
I spoke with Mary-Ann last month and she pointed me to Anthem's Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity "Provider Tool" for Northern Ohio. It's a three page questionnaire that your surgeon fills out, dates, signs, and faxes. She told me that once she got the "tool" she would be able to make a determination in 30 minutes. I thought "yeah, right" thinking that there would be stalling and delaying and avoiding approving me while they reviewed and demanded more paperwork. Those three pages is all Dr. Lane's office sent in. No reports, no notes, no charts, NOTHING else. And, as promised, in about 30 minutes, I was approved!
So, on May 20, 2008, God willing, I shall be have my Duodenal Switch!
Caller: "Hello, may I please speak with Justin?"
Me: "Speaking."
Caller: "Hi, Justin, It's Mary-Ann from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. I'm calling to let you know that I've just approved you for your Duodenal Switch and inpatient stay."
Me: FREAK OUT...LOTS OF THANK YOUS!!!
I spoke with Mary-Ann last month and she pointed me to Anthem's Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity "Provider Tool" for Northern Ohio. It's a three page questionnaire that your surgeon fills out, dates, signs, and faxes. She told me that once she got the "tool" she would be able to make a determination in 30 minutes. I thought "yeah, right" thinking that there would be stalling and delaying and avoiding approving me while they reviewed and demanded more paperwork. Those three pages is all Dr. Lane's office sent in. No reports, no notes, no charts, NOTHING else. And, as promised, in about 30 minutes, I was approved!
So, on May 20, 2008, God willing, I shall be have my Duodenal Switch!
Monday, March 17, 2008
The Doctor is in... and Staying Late Too!
I made my way to Bowling Green to meet with Dr. Lane and his people last Friday. What a wonderful time I had.
My whirlwind tour began with a meeting with the nutritionist. She was the "backup" nutritionist and disappointed me in that she lacked a command of the dietary needs of Duodenal Switch patients. I had to correct her several times about things she said applied to Duodenal Switch patients that, in fact, only apply to RNY patients.
Next, I met with the bariatric internist. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about him. The Doctor examined me more thoroughly than I think I may ever have been. When he told me that he had no objection to me having the WLS I felt like I could REALLY trust that opinion.
My appointment with Dr. Lane himself was slotted for 4:00 PM. However, he was in surgery and wasn't able to meet with me until about 6:15. This in not a complaint, but rather a testament to his commitment to his patients. It's hard to find a doctor who will "burn the midnight oil" just to answer the questions of a patient who may, or may not, choose to have surgery with him. And burn we did. First, Dr. Lane took 45 minutes to explain the surgery and his approach to me. Then he took another half-hour or so answering the four and a half pages of single-spaced type written questions I had prepared and brought to him for review. And you know what? He answered each and every one of them with precision, accuracy, and professionally. He stayed with me until after 8 at night! And, I trust him. For me, that is critical, and I am SO glad I have found it.
Now, to notify the "other doctor" that I'll be getting a Duodenal Switch, not an RNY.
My whirlwind tour began with a meeting with the nutritionist. She was the "backup" nutritionist and disappointed me in that she lacked a command of the dietary needs of Duodenal Switch patients. I had to correct her several times about things she said applied to Duodenal Switch patients that, in fact, only apply to RNY patients.
Next, I met with the bariatric internist. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about him. The Doctor examined me more thoroughly than I think I may ever have been. When he told me that he had no objection to me having the WLS I felt like I could REALLY trust that opinion.
My appointment with Dr. Lane himself was slotted for 4:00 PM. However, he was in surgery and wasn't able to meet with me until about 6:15. This in not a complaint, but rather a testament to his commitment to his patients. It's hard to find a doctor who will "burn the midnight oil" just to answer the questions of a patient who may, or may not, choose to have surgery with him. And burn we did. First, Dr. Lane took 45 minutes to explain the surgery and his approach to me. Then he took another half-hour or so answering the four and a half pages of single-spaced type written questions I had prepared and brought to him for review. And you know what? He answered each and every one of them with precision, accuracy, and professionally. He stayed with me until after 8 at night! And, I trust him. For me, that is critical, and I am SO glad I have found it.
Now, to notify the "other doctor" that I'll be getting a Duodenal Switch, not an RNY.
Friday, March 14, 2008
DS Dreams Dashed by Damned Dimensions?
So I had my whirlwind tour through Dr. Lane's office today. I'll talk more about the visit later. But one thing in particular is really concerning me and I'd like some feedback.
Sometimes weight can be an issue with completing WLS without surgical complications. Although my weight is high, it is balanced out by my height. But, my height presents it's own issue. Being 6'8" means my torso is longer and rib cage more expansive. This means that my stomach will be further up into my rib cage. Also, positioning the small intestines as they need to be for the DS across such a long space is more technically complex. All this translates to a longer time on the table. Dr. Lane is concerned that this "extended stay" may cause rhabdomyolysis where the pressure on the muscles I am laying on may causes them to die and send me into kidney failure.
So he proposed that we do the DS in two steps. Gastrectomy first, followed (if needed) by the switch. Well, my insurance won't cover that. They cover the whole thing done in one shot or nothing at all. SO, he said we'll get approval for the DS in one-part and if he goes in and everything goes ok then he'll do the full DS. If, however, my body starts to break down because of the length I've been on the table then he'll tell my insurance company it was do half, or kill me.
I am nervous about only having 1/2 of the DS done. I am concerned that I'll wake up and not have what I hoped for. BUT, I KNOW that my LIFE is more important that expected results.
Sometimes weight can be an issue with completing WLS without surgical complications. Although my weight is high, it is balanced out by my height. But, my height presents it's own issue. Being 6'8" means my torso is longer and rib cage more expansive. This means that my stomach will be further up into my rib cage. Also, positioning the small intestines as they need to be for the DS across such a long space is more technically complex. All this translates to a longer time on the table. Dr. Lane is concerned that this "extended stay" may cause rhabdomyolysis where the pressure on the muscles I am laying on may causes them to die and send me into kidney failure.
So he proposed that we do the DS in two steps. Gastrectomy first, followed (if needed) by the switch. Well, my insurance won't cover that. They cover the whole thing done in one shot or nothing at all. SO, he said we'll get approval for the DS in one-part and if he goes in and everything goes ok then he'll do the full DS. If, however, my body starts to break down because of the length I've been on the table then he'll tell my insurance company it was do half, or kill me.
I am nervous about only having 1/2 of the DS done. I am concerned that I'll wake up and not have what I hoped for. BUT, I KNOW that my LIFE is more important that expected results.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Soup's On!
I am slowly coming to grips with the fact that I will be obsessing about one thing or another until I have my surgery. Right now, that thing is what to eat after my WLS.
Some of my online friends have made great suggestions and I thought to myself, why not put things together into a cookbook?! So, I signed up for this site called TasteBook.com where you can make your own cookbooks. For under $35 you get 100 full color recipes of your choosing in a hard cover book. So, I have been scavenging for WLS appropriate recipes today. Have one? Drop me a line!
If your looking for an AMAZING resource for after WLS eating check out Michelle's blog at http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/
Now, if I could only figure out what's for dinner...
Some of my online friends have made great suggestions and I thought to myself, why not put things together into a cookbook?! So, I signed up for this site called TasteBook.com where you can make your own cookbooks. For under $35 you get 100 full color recipes of your choosing in a hard cover book. So, I have been scavenging for WLS appropriate recipes today. Have one? Drop me a line!
If your looking for an AMAZING resource for after WLS eating check out Michelle's blog at http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/
Now, if I could only figure out what's for dinner...
Why NOT to ask your RNY Doc's Office about DS!
So, as I've said before, I was about to submit for insurance approval to have my RNY done when I saw the banner of a certain cookie loving DS'er that made me look over at this board (thanks Scott!). Well, I had several sets of medical records sent to my RNY doc's office and rather than resubmit requests to all those doctors to send stuff to my DS doc's (Dr. Lane) office I just called my RNY docs office and asked for copies.
Well, asking tipped off my RNY doc's office that something was up so I had to explain that I was looking into the DS. When I showed up at the office this afternoon to pick-up the copies the person there asked in a somewhat ominous tone, "have you actually researched that surgery?" As if to imply that there was something wrong with it. "Extensively," I said, and asked "have you?" She paused for a moment and then admitted "no."
As I drove home I got upset thinking about this: I was about to entrust my life to that office and they hadn't even taken the time to research ALL the options and present them to me. I think a presentation of all the options should be part of the informed consent process!
Well, asking tipped off my RNY doc's office that something was up so I had to explain that I was looking into the DS. When I showed up at the office this afternoon to pick-up the copies the person there asked in a somewhat ominous tone, "have you actually researched that surgery?" As if to imply that there was something wrong with it. "Extensively," I said, and asked "have you?" She paused for a moment and then admitted "no."
As I drove home I got upset thinking about this: I was about to entrust my life to that office and they hadn't even taken the time to research ALL the options and present them to me. I think a presentation of all the options should be part of the informed consent process!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A Life More Full
I have never allowed my size to stop me from doing that which I wanted to. I am traveled, I am well educated, I have friends and family who love me, my life is full.
But, there is more to life than what I have. I can see in my minds eye the son and daughter I will have with a wife I have yet to meet. And I know that I will have neither wife nor child in my current state. It is not that I am unlovable, but rather, that I do not love my physical state. So how can I expect someone else to love me?
But there is more than touch and intimacy that makes me want to loose weight. There is value in not fearing that one will unexpectedly or prematurely fall ill or die. Not fearing such things allows one to place their energy into other enterprises. I want to live without this fear.
I have never allowed my size to stop me from doing that which I wanted to. But, I have come to understand that my size has prevented me from discovering all that life has to offer and thus from discovering that I want more. But, I do want more. And so I have decided to have weight loss surgery. Not because I want a life less lonely, but because I want a life more full.
But, there is more to life than what I have. I can see in my minds eye the son and daughter I will have with a wife I have yet to meet. And I know that I will have neither wife nor child in my current state. It is not that I am unlovable, but rather, that I do not love my physical state. So how can I expect someone else to love me?
But there is more than touch and intimacy that makes me want to loose weight. There is value in not fearing that one will unexpectedly or prematurely fall ill or die. Not fearing such things allows one to place their energy into other enterprises. I want to live without this fear.
I have never allowed my size to stop me from doing that which I wanted to. But, I have come to understand that my size has prevented me from discovering all that life has to offer and thus from discovering that I want more. But, I do want more. And so I have decided to have weight loss surgery. Not because I want a life less lonely, but because I want a life more full.
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