Sunday, 6 March 2011

Today is the first day of the rest of my life!

On Tuesday, 22 March 2011, I finally undergo bariatric surgery at UH Hospital in Cleveland.  My surgeon is Dr Leena Khaitan, and my dietician is Heather Butscher (who is curelly abandoning me to work at another clinic and I will now have to trek there to see her!)  I also have a second dietician, Rene, and my insurance specialist is Al Swope. My therapist/big sister is Karion Stiles-Roach (not affiliated with UH, but she can be found on http://www.catholictherapists.com/, which is wher I found her- she has literally saved my life)  Yes, I am being melodramatic about Heather- she was simply the best part of everything, as I did not handle the frustration of delay very well.

Tomorrow I see the cardiologist for my cardiology clearance!  3:30 PM at UH on Euclid Avenue.  Thankfully the new parking garage is open.

I started the journey towards the bariatric surgery on 21 September 2010, at the UH Case Medical Center Bariatric Surgery Information Meeting.  Geoff took me and I was so nervous- what if this wasn't for me?  Could we afford it? Dr. Khaitan was the medical presenter - she and Karen the surgical nurse answered all of our questions and all of my concerns were allayed rather quickly.  There are three types of procedure- the lap band, the sleeve and the bypass.  I went in determined to go with the lap band- it appealed as being the least invasive, even though all three procedures are done laparascopically!  Unfortunately, due to the amount of weight I need to lose, the lap band would be the least efective for me. 

The next day, 22 September 2010, I called our insurance provider-  As I am on disability my primary insurance is provided through Geoff's employer, CSX.  My secondary is Medicare.  I wept with joy when I learned that our policy covers all three procedures- "I won't be fat anymore" is what I cried to the insurance adjuster with whom I spoke.  Gary was his name.  What a beautiful name too!

I was required to attend a 3 month surgical prep program, which is where Heather entered my life (Karin had already been in my life for over a year).  I had to see a dietician once a month for three months and attend a group meeting to qualify for the surgery.  Now the problems started-  I made my appointments with the dietician and the surgeon and had to cancel three or four times as Geoff could not take me (darn derailments at the Willard Hump Yard  :) )  I was getty edgy to say the least, and that was not appreciated on the homefront. 

FINALLY, I was able to schedule my first appointment with Heather, Dr. Khaitan, and the program's phsycholgist, all for 10 November 2010!  What a relief!  Geoff wanted to be at the first appointments, and this was the only time I could get all three on the same day!  (to be continued)