It Starts Here

Since I was 16 I have been trying to obtain the bypass surgery. I realize in the ten years that has passed, I could have lost the weight on my own, but, obviously that hasn't happened.

In July, exactly one year ago today, the 28th, Tim got a job with US Cellular. We didn't realize it then, but their insurance picked up the surgery. We had missed the deadline to add me, so we had to wait till December. I was frustrated, but, I had waited this long!!

January came, and went, and I was now a "domestic partner" with Tim. I was so excited to apply for the surgery, and when it came back denied, I was pretty heart broken. I had done 8 months of weight watchers prior, I knew that most insurances required at least six. Apparently, they forgot to add 6 months of a physicians supervised exercise routine as well. I worked around that, remembering all the things we had done, and created one.

So, time to reapply! And wait two more weeks for the response....

Denied....

Time for the Psych exam! I went the day that I got the flu. I almost felt bad, but the doctor was less than what I expected, so I didn't mind exposing him. Never once did he look at me, my answers were honest, but anyone could have lied through it, as easy as it was to see what they were looking to hear. To make it worse, everything I said he had to type up, and he typed using his pointer fingers. The fact that he came to get me 15 minutes late, and let me go ten minutes early, meant that we had to have two sessions. Yippee! The second visit wasn't as bad, meaning I didn't have to excuse myself to go throw up. With that done, I had to fax over the results to the hospital...

Sane! Imagine that!

Still denied.

Time to meet with Jeniffer, the dietitian. We spent most of the time talking about her kids, our hobbies... things we enjoyed. I knew everything we were suppose to go over.

Next came the gym... I had to join a gym, to show I knew how to use exercise equipment. $150 later.. yes, I know how to use a leg press. Thank goodness for that requirement! Time to reapply...

Denied...dammit! Apparently I don't know how to change my lifestyle. WHAT!!!

IWLC told me to write a letter to the insurance. A letter telling about all the changes I had made, my diet, my activities.... Also, outlining my goals, my hopes. 15 pages later....

Mom was also suppose to write one. This was a hard one for me. Her letter consisted of how I had struggled all my life. How at 8, I was put into a weight loss class for fat kids. How she knew I was successful in my life, but I would never see myself that way unless I lost the weight. Bitter pill to swallow, but she is right.

Tim had to write one as well. His was more what I expected!!! All about how he was ashamed of the insurance, claiming to cover something, then jerking people around. How we took their insurance because they seemed respectable.....

Time to apply again...

APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED

I guess they felt sorry for the little fat girl :D What ever it was that did it, I'm thankful to my mom and Tim, for being willing to step up and help out.



Where to go from here......

A phone call from IWLC, come to the hospital on June 11th for your first meeting...

Until then.....