The Waiting Game and Dr. Roulette

It was a long six-month process from the time I attended the informational seminar and my surgery date. This is important: you need to be your own advocate. I hand-delivered all my files to the KC Bariatric Center office. I documented every call I made regarding my weight loss surgery. I knew it was a long process and I knew that I had to have my surgery before the end of the year, so I was determined to keep pushing things along.

I got the call from my doctor's office on August 6 saying that all my documentation was in order and that the letter of medical necessity was being mailed to my insurance company the next day. You know how you remember exactly where you were when significant life events occur? Well, I was sitting in my son's car, waiting for my husband to get finished turning in the U-Haul we'd rented to move Tyler into his first college apartment.

I knew that insurance companies could take more than a month to issue their findings, so I prepared for a long wait. On Saturday, August 23, I got the mail and noticed a letter from our insurance company addressed to my husband. Since I normally handle our insurance stuff, I opened it up. It was THE LETTER. The second paragraph began, "Based on the information reviewed, we are pleased to inform you that coverage is available."

I think I re-read that sentence a dozen times. Tears filled my eyes and I couldn't speak. I handed it to my husband and he said, "Awesome. Way to go!"

You cannot begin to imagine the overwhelming sense of hope I felt at that moment. Accompanied by a huge dose of humbleness, as I realized how many people don't get this opportunity for one reason or another. To me, this was the biggest hurdle (so far) I'd crossed. I knew there would be plenty of other obstacles in my path on this journey, but at least now I knew the surgery would happen.

I made the appointment for my initial consultation with my surgeon and appointments with a cardiologist and pulmonologist and continued to meet regularly with the psychologist. I also met with a dietitian. So many doctors! However, I appreciate the thoroughness of this program, especially the psychological aspect. My theory is that overweight people aren't overweight because they're always hungry. There are most often deeper issues that need to be addressed and it's been a good, eye-opening experience for me.

Ok, gotta run. My yummy lunch of cottage cheese, hard boiled egg, deli turkey and lowfat yogurt is screaming my name.

Next on The Egg and Eye . . . Revelations