Before the RNY Surgery

Well,  I haven’t really chronicled this at all in here… but I’ve done so in a profile at an obesity site.  I had gastric bypass surgery on 12/15 and will copy some notes in here to save:
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Had my first consultation 9/5/03 and was told I am definately a candidate for the surgery. I’m afraid to get too excited because that was just the doctor, not the insurance company. I was given a book to read about life/diet after the surgery and told to come back in 3 weeks for consultation#2 with all my questions, etc. I don’t really have many questions… perhaps some things about the anesthetic, but most of these questions are almost better answered by the people here than by the doctor because you get a real cross-section of events here.

Next consultation is 10/2. I’m trying not to obsess about all this.
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Had my 10/2 consultation and was allowed to ask all the questions I wanted… I didn’t have too many. I’ve studied up on this for some time. Just a matter of insurance approval.

I wrote a personal letter re: approval in hopes it will help, then mailed it to the doctor to include in my insurance information.
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11/19 approx… I got a call from the doctor’s assistant saying that the insurance needed a bit more information but could take it by phone… have I been checked for thyroid disease – Yes, have I had an upper and lower GI – yes. Have I been tested for peptic ulcer disease – No, but I had an ulcer when I was 21, it’s been healed now for years (what was the right answer I wondered). How long have I had a weight problem – Well, what’s 50 minus 6… geez, my whole life, but it wasn’t so horrible until after I had my first child at 19. Have I ever been under a doctor supervised diet plan – Well, I took Pondimen (fenphen) for over a year and was under a doctor’s supervision that whole time (I hope it qualifies).
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11/24 after MUCH PRAYER and even fasting I got a call today that my surgury was APPROVED!!!! I am so excited. NOW, of course, I have a MILLION questions! I can hardly wait.

I’m getting an open RNY. I have no idea what kind of anesthesia they use, (of course I didn’t think to ask that at my second apt.) I did find out I don’t have to get my acrylic nails taken off if I don’t want to. I’ve sent off a dozen questions to the bariatric educator in our plan. She is wonderful and an incredible help. She’s the one who runs the support groups, etc. I am so excited!!