Its Here !! The Day is Here !

My surgery day is finally here , well tomorrow ! I cant believe this day has finally come !! I am so anxious I cant hardly stand myself today ! After 3 long years of feeling like crap , 3 long years of searching for a solution , 3 long years of feeling like this was a hopeless case and I would never get better , its here !!

My only fear, worry , is not being able to get sleeved the same day my band is removed . I worry about that very much . If that happens I dont know if I can get sleeved .. I dont know that we could afford it . As is is I am using the money donated by so many sweet people for this deductible .  So If i have to go through another surgery next year, it will be another $2000 deductible ! GRRRR I hope that is not the case.

I am ready though ! Thank you everyone who has been so kind to me and stood by me through this ! I love ya lots! I'll update when I am able !

Facts about my surgery

Today was my nutritionist appointment for my surgery . I was suppose to have my pre op today but the doc had to reschedule so i go back tomorrow. I thought for the most part today was going to be repetition from when I had my lap band , but I did learn some new things . Some of the eating habits and ways that I will have to eat with the sleeve are different . For one because of the issues I have had with my band and the removal I most likely will have to double the amount of time on the post op diet. For instance instead of being on liquids for 2 weeks I will be on them for 4 . ( Piece of cake since thats all I have lived on for months anyway lol) Also with the sleeve I will have to take supplements for the rest of my life now . ( Multi Vitamin, B-12, B-1 and Calcium I think that's it )

So here are some interesting facts about the surgery ... First off ... 80% of my stomach will be cut out . My stomach will now be about the size of a highlighter !

Second 2-6 months post op my stomach will be so small the amount of food i will be able to eat 3 times a day will fit in this ....

An Altoids container . CRAZY huh . This is MUCH MUCH less than post op with the band . But I am ok with it . At about 6 months post op my food will fit on this .

A tea cup saucer . Meals should take me 30 minutes to eat , This amount of food even should take me 30 minutes to eat , I need to chew my food slowly and take very small bites. My husband asked me if i was ready for this . I will answer that the way I did with the band. Im ready for what I know is coming. I know I cant be prepared for everything. This surgery is going to be rough I think , recovery is going to be rough but I am as prepared as I can be. Am I ready to eat very small amounts of food ? Yes . Good quality food ? YES. I am just ready to eat FOOD .

Tomorrow !! one step closer

Tomorrow Nutritionist appointment AND my pre op with my doctor !! YIKES this is moving at warp speed now ! So tomorrow I should have a good idea of when I will have my surgery !!!!

14 business days and counting.

Still no word on surgery from the insurance company . Today has been 14 business days and counting.
I spoke to the surgeons office last week and they said that legally the insurance company has 30 days to answer . I am assuming that means 30 business days , so i guess I am half way there .
I am ok with the waiting, as long as they do not come back with , " we made you wait but OH yeah you need to have an upper GI now " . That would just take longer and waste more time.

Eating still involves shakes and liquids. I am currently trying to find a powder that I can tolerate due to migraines and taste really ! BLAH !!

Due to HORRIBLE acid reflux I had to buy one of these lovely things today . I feel like I live in a nursing home, or at least sleep in one ! I nearly choke on my acid reflux , so hopefully that helps !

I AM NOT CRAZY ...

I have been having mild anxiety attacks since I left the doctors office the other day . I was not sure what was going on with me .. I was talking to a friend ( Thanks Susan ) and she made me realize that alot of my anxiety is coming from hearing from the doctor himself " This is a serious situation you have ". I knew my band issues were bad, I knew it had to come out , but to have a doctor tell you " This is serious your in a bad situation how are you eating ? " Yet feel like there is not much i can do about it yet is where the anxiety is coming from.

Also the doctor telling me " this is bad " validated I AM NOT CRAZY . 
I am not crazy when I cant eat one day and can another, Its not in my head ! Its not in my head when I say I can FEEL my food and my liquids going through my band . Its not in my head when I throw up my food everyday ! Im was actually relieved to be validated ! That someone else was there to SEE and HEAR YOUR MESSED UP !!!!

3 More Weeks and more road to cover financially

3 more weeks until I go see my revision doctor. I am very nervous, anxious , excited etc. I am hoping they tell me I need to have this surgery right away .... I am afraid what might happen financially  if i have to carry the premiums for a long time . Its a scary process. I am still about $2000 short on my deductible, premium fundraising efforts . As it is right now i have enough money for the deductible. So if i have to have the surgery right NOW im fine. But if I have to have surgery in a couple months and have to keep paying the premiums I am worried I wont have enough . In other words I have money to do either or but not both !
If anyone can help me with the fundraiser I ask to do what you can , even if it is to pass it on . I am funny aware there are other more deserving people out there who need the money for other reason. I understand that I just want my life back. If you want to read more about my journey you can find it here.
You can find my youcaring.com fundraiser page here.  Thank you for any and all help !

Things are Moving along , I still need some help ..

Today I sent in my first payment for my PCIP insurance. Septembers payment. As of September 1st I will be insured. On September 14th I will go see my revision surgeon . Since my eating is getting worse, by that I mean my symptoms are getting worse, more frequent heart burn , throwing up more, not able to eat many solid items I feel the need to go forward with this ASAP . I am hoping the doc and the insurance will and can push this through before the end of the year. Money is still an on going issue . If anyone is able to help out with my fundraisers or if you can pass the info on I would REALLY REALLY apreciate it .
Thank you so much
My Scentsy Fundraiser ends soon
https://kateholcomb.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy?partyId=96185137

The You Caring Fundraiser Will end Sept 6th On my Birthday !!

 http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?url=lapbandrevisionsurgery&fundraiser_id=4914#.UBgGr4avExm.facebook

And the Velata Fundraiser ( Scentsys Chocolate Fondue YUMMY ) 
https://victoriakogan.velata.us/Velata/Buy?partyId=96217489

Again if you can  help or share I would really appreciate it !!

THANK YOU SO MUCH !

Get ready this might just happen !

Today I called the insurance company and asked them if they received my information for the PCIP . They told me they had and I was approved ! My insurance will be in affect Sept 1 !

It has hit me this surgery just might be happening !! I am so very excited ! I am just ready to feel better.
I emailed the doctors office to see if they can schedule me an appointment for sometime in September . So i should know by October i would think when I can or if I can  have my surgery !

Today has been a LUCKY Day

Today has been a great , lucky day !!!
First off I started off the day with getting a second part time job  ! I can still work my first part time job, they will work around my schedule and I can make some extra money for my surgery  !

Second I received a good amount of donations in the mail ! YAY ! I  now need about $2300 for my goal for my surgery .
I am still selling items on an online yard sale group to help me get my goal as well as still hoping for some help for donations for my fundraiser .

Lastly I got a call from my insurance company and my denial letter for my insurance is in the mail i should get it Tuesday ! ( Denial is good ) its the first step i need.
 So I will apply for the PCIP insurance tonight , send in the denial letter as soon as it gets here and the process is off !
YIKES THIS MAY HAPPEN 

Fundraiser Help .. If you can help out please do

In efforts to help raise money to get the insurance I need and the deductible for my surgery I have created this page. IF you can please help please do , if you can simply share this link I would really appreciate it
PLEASE SHARE MY FUNDRAISER PAGE From  youcaring.com  !

Thanks so much

Insurance can kiss my A$$

Get this , I have been trying to find insurance for our family , we have been in insured for a long time. My oldest son HAS to have it before he goes to college. So I find this out today !
How stupid is this : BEFORE My lap band I was too FAT For Insurance, no one would give it to me , AFTER No one would insure me becuase i had the band NOW Since I have had issues they wont insure me ! So I can not get insurance unless its through a group plan PERIOD ! EVER ! Unless my band comes out and I am not so sure I could get it then.
I am having some issues again like i did last year with stiff joints and fatigue and pain. So I really wanted to get it fixed, I am in tears right now .

Listen up:Insurance: Before and After Lap Band Surgery

This has been something I have been meaning to talk about for some time. But kept forgetting ( damn topamax ) its been an issue for me again so i'll talk about it now.
First a little back ground. When we owned our own company we needed to get private health insurance. So I called the agent, went over everything with him and he called me in his office to go over everything. Keep in mind I was still 250 pounds at the time. In the office was him, the owner of the company and some other dip shit woman.
I guess they thought they would woo me because I owned this little company and they thought they could get more business out of us. They proceed to tell me the cost of the boys insurance as well as my husbands . Ok fine , (BTW Cost of private health insurance is NOT that expensive ) Then the dip shit woman looks at me and says " We cant insure you " I said " WHAT " She said " YOUR UNINSUREABLE " I said " why cause of my migraines again " She said " You cant and wont get coverage because your too Obese!"
NOW I was FURIOUS. First off You do NOT SAY to a WOMAN in front of a room full of people " SORRY YOUR TOO FAT you cant get insurance . She should have warned me ahead of time that that MIGHT BE AN ISSUE with the insurance . Not to BLAST it out . I was HUMILIATED . Then she says " SO you want to go ahead and sign here for the boys and your husband " I said " NOPE I WILL NOT " They looked at me like i was crazy . That's when i looked at stupid woman and said " First off as a WOMAN you should have more sympathy for another woman to know you dont tell them " SORRY you cant get insurance cause your too FAT in front of other people let alone men , you should have taken me aside . Second off you all new my height and weight , you do this daily you knew damn well when i spoke to you on the phone i could have possibly gotten denied due to my weight . So a LITTLE Heads up on that would have been nice" .
That was one reason I got the surgery .

Now fast forward a few yrs to post surgery . I asked someone after getting surgery about getting insurance. They took my info ( BTW my BMI was normal at this time)
and when they called me back the agent told me . I am sorry but we cant find anyone to insure you your " Uninsureable" WTF ? For what NOW , Im normal weight, no longer Obese ? Why now ? The reason ... THE BAND.. Because I have the band , its considered a forigen object in my body NO ONE and I mean NO ONE will insure me . They wont even put a ryder on the policy that excludes anything to do with the band.

NOW I will say I have Two options . One option and not the best . But it is one is::
Most states have what's called a high risk health pool . For people who can not get insurance ANYWHERE else , were denied , the risk pool insurance will cover you . The catch . For JUST ME its nearly $600 a month . Its a pretty good policy . Like i said though its expensive .

For FYI here is a list of other states that have risk pool plans.

The second option . A group plan . IF I could ever find a job , group plans cant deny you for preexisting conditions, SO i have been told.
So once i find a job , once i get benefits i should be ok.

Why am i telling you this ? To scare the hell out of you if you dont have insurance and tell you not to get the band ? NO NOT AT ALL.
Im telling you so your aware. So you can have a plan in place.
If your someone who works in a work place that has group plans, its not an issue.
If you have private insurance and you get the surgery , to be honest im not sure what happens ? If they can drop you or not ?
I would think no ? But im not 100% sure on that.
My point , just be aware. That if you have to you might have to get on a risk pool insurance if you have other conditions that warrant long term care.

Just thought i would share !!!