So, here we are in June and I am finally submitted to my insurance and awaiting approval. It seems like this has been going on for a lot longer than it really has. I have to remember that it was less than a year ago that I begun this journey.
So let’s review what I have done to this point. The first and most important thing is research. Lots and lots of research. Take the time to read about the different procedures and options that are available. Use the internet for all it’s worth. There is a vast world of information regarding weight loss surgery out there for us. Review the doctors, their programs and their staff. You can find many in-depth reviews from actual patients about their experiences with the medical professionals they have worked with. Take the time to educate yourself. I am still seeing the value of taking my time and learning as much as I could before I took the next step. Just remember, discernment is the key.
At the orientation is where the process really begins. That’s when I started to feel that this may be a reality. I began to really see that I didn’t have to continue life on this path. There is help. There are options, and they are not just for other people.
Then there were the tests. Education from the dietitian. The reality check of what was entailed in succeeding after the surgery. Realizing that the surgery is simply a tool. Without complete lifestyle changes, there is no way this surgery can do what it needs to do. Then a psych evaluation. Did I really understand what I was embarking on? Did I have realistic expectations for the surgery? An abdominal ultrasound. Four days spent worrying if the results would show some unknown reason that I was not a good candidate for the surgery.
This was all in addition to 6 months of continuous check-up’s with my own doctor. A requirement of the insurance company before considering a surgical option.
So now, we wait. I was submitted to the insurance last week. I wasn’t very concerned about approval before that. But now that I am waiting for the answer, it seems to be taking forever. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified that I am going to be denied. I have tried so many different things to loss this weight and become healthier. Unfortunately, all roads have led me to my current obese state. I know this is just a tool, but it seems to be a tool that I desperately need. A tool that could completely change whatever time I am blessed to have on this Earth. A tool that could literally be the difference between life and death.
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