36 Year Old with Lower BMI Ready to Change Her Life! St. Louis Park, MN

I've struggled with my weight most of life and it has always caused me to be self conscious. I've been the pretty fat girl for as long as I can remember and my weight has recently hit a high of 278lbs! I'm 5'9, so I carry my weight well, but I hate the way I look. I've watched the women in my family struggle with diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol my whole life and I decided I needed to change.
I spent 7 months researching procedures and clinics, as well as the approval process for my insurance company before deciding on a clinic and filing out the initial paperwork. Once I finally decided on the Park Nicollet Clinic Weight Management Center, I made sure that I was informed on the process. I was in for my first set of appointments on March 6th and it was an all day event. The entire staff of the clinic was incredible.. I am on methadone and I have a history of DVT, so I went in thinking I was going to be judged and treated badly, since that is usually how doctors react. My Bariatric MD. Dr Young was amazing. He didn't make me feel like a junkie and asked about why I am on methadone instead of assuming I was a heroin addict. He also made ,me feel comfortable when it came to my blood clots. I wasn't the first patient who has had the same concerns and I won't be the last.
The Bariatric RN Candace is a peach. She made me feel amazing about myself. She was so helpful. She exceeded my expectations.
I then had to meet with the psychologist. I went in a little apprehensive since I was a psych major my first time around in college and I know how psychologists in this type of position like to use their power. Unfortunately, Jill Leer didn't prove me wrong. She was rude and had no clue what an LADC was (licensed alcohol & drug counselor)! A layman may not be familiar with the term but a psychologist with a phd should be. I wish I would have looked her up before I met with her so I would have been more prepared. I'm not the only woman she has been rude to. Just be prepared. I'm a journalist by trade and I am going to be sharing my journey on my blog and I am going to make sure that every knows about her. She went as far as accusing me of lying on the MMPI and basically failing it. It's a personality inventory! There are no right or wrong answers. She continued to make problems afterward since she was so convinced that I was going to relapse on pain mess after surgery that she wanted me to have another clinic deal with pain control so they couldn't be held liable for my high risk case! I had to have my LADC and the doctor who prescribes my methadone write letters in my defense about how low risk I am for relapse and that I have had 7 orthopedic procedures in my 8 years of being on methadone and I have NEVER abused my meds. She was told to release my file and I was file approved, but she made issues about things that were non-issues. I'm very open about my recovery and I'm proud of my sobriety, so to be told I'm going to do something like relapse on pills that I can't feel thru my methadone just angered me. It's about methadone discrimination, but I'm lucky to not have to deal with her anymore.
I met once with a dietician Jodi, who was great. She was impressed with how well I feed my family. She also seen why my weight was not changing. My thyroid disease. My levels are 3.5 times that of a high normal. She cleared me for surgery after our first meeting. I met with the physical therapist as well that day. She was amazing as well. We walked and talked and she was impressed at how limber I was for being put back together with metal! I was an athlete in high school and I've had my ankle and knee replaced and my wrist has metal as well. I also suffer from back injury that caused a major case of sciatica. I was spinal stenosis and three herniated discs to boot. My weight needed to come off. I was starting to feel it in every move I made. I was a filter in my femoral artery to prevent DVT's and my circulation is compromised because of it, so my left leg is always swollen and purple and the heavier I get, the more pain I'm in...
Ok, so I made it thru my appointments and I was cleared for surgery by my team. I was submitted to my insurance company on Friday April 17th!! It went fast for me, but I was prepared for the process. Once I hear back from the team coordinator, I'll being scheduling to see and meet my surgeon for the first time. I'm so excited! I was told about ten business days is normal for approvals on prior authorizations, but my insurance company is rather swift. I hope to be updating by the end of the week with a date to me surgeon!
I should have started this in the beginning of the process, but I was overwhelmed with life and the way people in my life acted to the news of my surgery.
Sorry for being long winded, but I will be better at reporting my progress from now on!
Best wishes!
Mellissa

I called Medica yesterday to see where they are in the approval process and after being put on hold several times, I was finally told that I should have a decision not later than May 1st. It's Tuesday today, so I will be impatiently waiting until Friday before I call again!

Thursday after I called Medica to see how if they had a decision yet and guess what??? My surgery was APPROVED!!!!! WOOOOO HOOOO!!!!! Marla, the extremely lovely and gracious scheduling coordinator called me today, May 1st to tell me I was approved and I could schedule my appointment to meet my surgeon!!! I am scheduled to meet my surgeon on May 13th at 9am. My mother, who is deceased, was born on May 13th and it is also the birthday of my beautiful niece Charlotte, so this day is going hold even more significance in my life. Marla also scheduled me to see Jodi, the sweet dietician, on May 20th to go over my 10 day liquid diet. They also wanted me to have an ultrasound on my gall bladder, but I told her that it would be kinda of hard to see it, and when asked why I had to explain that I donated it medical research in 2006 after it almost killed me. LOL She looked through my records and seen that it was in there that I had it taken out, so obviously I don't need to do it. I am so excited. I have been working a long time at trying to get my life back together and getting myself healthy enough to stick around. My fiancé, who is suffering from stage 3 liver disease at the age of 34, also got approval from his insurance company for his medication to be paid for. We got it today and a 28 day supply costs $40,000!!! It will slow down the destruction of his liver and cure a life threatening disease, so we are doing so well.
This has been an amazing day and we need to celebrate this weekend. I went out to shop, since they opening up a few great stores in the mall behind my house, and I had to stop myself from buying clothes! Last weekend I used my coupons at Old Navy and bought a dresses for summer, but I will be able to wear them after my surgery since they are made of flowy fabric. That will be the hardest part, not being able to shop until I plateau. I love clothes and I am a bargin hunter by nature, and all of my favorite stores email and text when I haven't spent any money in a while giving me coupons that I can't resist! I just need to save all of the money I would spend in a little nest egg for my new wardrobe!
That's all for tonight! 12 days until I know the date of when my life will be changed forever!
Have a great weekend everyone!