Surgery date set!

Sorry I have not kept this up to date. I've been enjoying the amazing summer we have been having!! Surgery date is set for June 7th!! One week from today!! I met with Dr. Todd last Thursday and we are all set!! I get my orders and prescriptions on Friday. I'm so excited! I bought all my post surgery food like chicken broth and sugar free ice pops. Sone cream of wheat, applesauce and sweet potatoes. That's it for now!

Insurance company APPROVED my surgery!!!!

I got the phone call today from the amazing Debbie at Dr. Todd's office that my insurance company has approved my surgery!!!  Yeah!! I am so excited I am shaking!!!  Melissa will call me later this week to schedule the final appointment with Dr. Todd to review my test results and to schedule my surgery!  Now that I know my surgery will be very soon its time to get down and dirty with the pre-surgery diet of 30 grams of carbs ad 80 grams of protein.  Thank you again to everyone that has been so supportive of this process and my decision to have this surgery!

Its all in the hands of the insurance company now.

So today I went in for the final-final appointment where they looked over my file and said "Yep, your good to go to have surgery."  Yeah!!!!  The insurance goddess Debbie told me my package was ready to be faxed off to my insurance company this afternoon. 

So the waiting game begins.  I've done my part.  Now its up to my insurance company.  So although the disclaimer is that the insurance company has up to 30 days to approve of deny my request they say it usually takes 2-4 business days.  I really hope to have the surgery by the end of the month.  They suggest I go on my pre-surgery diet now.  80 grams of protein a day and only 30 grams of carbs.  YIKES!!!  Some of the chewable supplements I take have 4 grams already!  I got some protein shakes at Costco today (along with a 25 pack of Mikes Hard Lemonade-I'm going to have one last weekend of fun before I get down and dirty)

So that's it for now.  The next post you read will either be total excitement or unhappiness!!

Waiting......

So yesterday morning I went for a "touch base" appointment.  I thought all my test were done and submitted but it turns out I am waiting for one last clearance letter from the Sleep & Lung Dr.  It seems that the last test I took that measured the amount of oxygen in my blood while I slept was a little low.  His office said they should get a clearance letter over today and they would call me.  Then the package gets sent off to the insurance company and if all goes well I'll know when I'll have my surgery by the end of the week.  Dr. Todd's nurse says his schedule is pretty wide open this month so I'm really hoping for a surgery date on May 26th.  I have started my low carb, high protein diet today to help shrink my liver which helps the Dr. when performing the surgery.  The smaller the liver the easier it is to get to the stomach and intestine.

So that's it so far.  Stay tune for more good news later this week!!

All tests are DONE!!!

Yesterday I had my last appointment and reviewed all my test results with an internalist and performed a pulmonary function test.  The PA thought all my test results looked fine.  "Nothing to be excited about" were his exact words.  I took a little machine home with me last night that monitored my oxygen levels while I slept and I turned that in to the Dr. office this morning.  So for now I am DONE with tests!!!!  The next step is to go see Dr. Todd on Monday and get the final seal of approval from him and then the insurance and then it is off to surgery!!! 

They want you to go on a high protein/low carb diet to help shrink your liver for about 2 weeks before the surgery (the smaller the liver is the easier it is to perform the surgery.) So I guess I might need to start doing that soon.  I really want to do the surgery ASAP but I don't think I can fit it into our schedule until the first week of June.  That would be perfect!