Jennie1980
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2016
- Messages
- 35
Hello,
I'm Jennie. I live in the hills of Northeast Tennessee. I'm 35 years old, married to a great man, mother of 5, yes 5 daughters. I have 3 grandbabies. That is not a typo, nor is my age.
I guess I'm what I've seen referred to as a lightweight. I'm 200 lbs at 5 feet 3 inches tall. My BMI is currently 35.3. I am in my pre-op educational and dieting phase.
My PCP is on board. She's educating herself as I go. She's great. There's a bit of a language barrier so getting her to understand specific language required for insurance purposes can be a challenge but she supports me, is a great doctor and wants me to be better, so we work together on that.
My surgeon is absolutely amazing as is his staff,the hospital and the staff there. The hosptial is a Center of Excellence. My husband and I attended siminar. I've had my initial consultation with him but I've interacted with him before because my sister had him do her RNY. I can not sing his praises enough.
He will not do RNY on me because I recently quit smoking. Even though he appreciated my willingness to do that for myself after 25 years, he explains that the risk of ulcers is too great and he will not do RNY for any current or previous smoker. He doesn't do Lap Band. He suggested a sleeve or DS for me. After a lot of learning, I've decided on DS. With my BMI, I know some people may consider that extreme. I have many comorbidities. So, to me, it is worth the risks and responsibilities.
I have private insurance but excludes bariatric surgery. I have medicaid (Tenn Care, Blue Care) that covers if medically necessary. My surgeon and office staff are certain I will be approved after I finish my insurance required six months of supervised dieting. My 4th monthly visit is this Monday.
My required psychological evaluation, blood work and metabolic testing are scheduled for May 5, 2016.
The required comorbidities for approval by my insurance are: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which I have. Hyperlipidemia, which I have, diabetes, I am on metformin for fasting impaired glycemia, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy, I have neither of those (Thank God), and debilitating musculoskeletal disorders. I have arthritis and fibromyalgia that cause chronic pain. Medication is not controlling the cholesterol after over a year on it and with dietary changes. The metformin isn't controlling the pre-diabetes. Two of these six plus a BMI of 35 or greater are required for insurance approval. I have 3. Possibly 4, depending on the insurance company's classification of impaired fasting glycemia.
I have a long list of other things required for insurance approval. I am jumping through the hoops and here is why:
People in my family tend to drop dead in the 40s of sudden cardiac related deaths. 4 paternal uncles who had no clue they had heart disease. I don't want to do that. I do not wish to have a heart full of stints like my mother. I don't want to take cholesterol medicine forever, like my father. I'd rather skip the heart attacks, strokes and quadruple by pass surgeries all together.I loved my grandmother and I am proud to be like her, but I don't want to celebrate my 30s with 2 heart attacks, quadruple bypass or insulin dependant diabetes. I don't want to be like my maternal uncle with a pacemaker after heart attack. I don't want to be like mom's youngest brother who celebrated his 30 birthday with a heart attack, has 19 stints in his heart, has had bypass and is on a heart transplant list because he stopped counting after his 23rd heart attack. At 48 years old, that will not be me. I will still be rocking! I don't ever want to take ineffective, make you feel like crap, diet pills ever again. I'm tired of feeling bad, constantly. I'm tired of diets that don't work.
Here is what I do want! I want to play on our playground equipment with the kids. I want to run, skip and jump with the babies. I want energy. Oh how I covet energy. I want to get off the pain meds. I want to have a pain free day, on the regular! I live in one of the most beautiful places, at the foot of the mountains. I want to walk and explore! I want to dance again. I love to dance. It makes me feel good even though I have no talent for it lol! I miss it. I want to ride a horse again. Every weekend like I use to. I want to go on adventures with my husband and be able to keep up with him. I want to sleep comfortably. I want to get out of the house and feel good. I am a recent licensed cosmetologist. I can't work. But I will. By the new year! I want to throw my CPAP mask in the trash. I want off the yo-yo. I want to learn about my new life. I want to go get it. I'm willing to work for it. I am willing to take responsibility for maintaining my vitamins, minerals and protein. I am ready to get my body moving again.
Gaining quality of life is worth every risk and every responsibility to me. It is going to happen and I am blessed to have people to share the life changes with.
Thank you for allowing me to join your group, read your stories, and go through the education, struggles and triumphs with you.
Oh, I do want to fit in those piles of clothes I have too!
I'm Jennie. I live in the hills of Northeast Tennessee. I'm 35 years old, married to a great man, mother of 5, yes 5 daughters. I have 3 grandbabies. That is not a typo, nor is my age.
I guess I'm what I've seen referred to as a lightweight. I'm 200 lbs at 5 feet 3 inches tall. My BMI is currently 35.3. I am in my pre-op educational and dieting phase.
My PCP is on board. She's educating herself as I go. She's great. There's a bit of a language barrier so getting her to understand specific language required for insurance purposes can be a challenge but she supports me, is a great doctor and wants me to be better, so we work together on that.
My surgeon is absolutely amazing as is his staff,the hospital and the staff there. The hosptial is a Center of Excellence. My husband and I attended siminar. I've had my initial consultation with him but I've interacted with him before because my sister had him do her RNY. I can not sing his praises enough.
He will not do RNY on me because I recently quit smoking. Even though he appreciated my willingness to do that for myself after 25 years, he explains that the risk of ulcers is too great and he will not do RNY for any current or previous smoker. He doesn't do Lap Band. He suggested a sleeve or DS for me. After a lot of learning, I've decided on DS. With my BMI, I know some people may consider that extreme. I have many comorbidities. So, to me, it is worth the risks and responsibilities.
I have private insurance but excludes bariatric surgery. I have medicaid (Tenn Care, Blue Care) that covers if medically necessary. My surgeon and office staff are certain I will be approved after I finish my insurance required six months of supervised dieting. My 4th monthly visit is this Monday.
My required psychological evaluation, blood work and metabolic testing are scheduled for May 5, 2016.
The required comorbidities for approval by my insurance are: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which I have. Hyperlipidemia, which I have, diabetes, I am on metformin for fasting impaired glycemia, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy, I have neither of those (Thank God), and debilitating musculoskeletal disorders. I have arthritis and fibromyalgia that cause chronic pain. Medication is not controlling the cholesterol after over a year on it and with dietary changes. The metformin isn't controlling the pre-diabetes. Two of these six plus a BMI of 35 or greater are required for insurance approval. I have 3. Possibly 4, depending on the insurance company's classification of impaired fasting glycemia.
I have a long list of other things required for insurance approval. I am jumping through the hoops and here is why:
People in my family tend to drop dead in the 40s of sudden cardiac related deaths. 4 paternal uncles who had no clue they had heart disease. I don't want to do that. I do not wish to have a heart full of stints like my mother. I don't want to take cholesterol medicine forever, like my father. I'd rather skip the heart attacks, strokes and quadruple by pass surgeries all together.I loved my grandmother and I am proud to be like her, but I don't want to celebrate my 30s with 2 heart attacks, quadruple bypass or insulin dependant diabetes. I don't want to be like my maternal uncle with a pacemaker after heart attack. I don't want to be like mom's youngest brother who celebrated his 30 birthday with a heart attack, has 19 stints in his heart, has had bypass and is on a heart transplant list because he stopped counting after his 23rd heart attack. At 48 years old, that will not be me. I will still be rocking! I don't ever want to take ineffective, make you feel like crap, diet pills ever again. I'm tired of feeling bad, constantly. I'm tired of diets that don't work.
Here is what I do want! I want to play on our playground equipment with the kids. I want to run, skip and jump with the babies. I want energy. Oh how I covet energy. I want to get off the pain meds. I want to have a pain free day, on the regular! I live in one of the most beautiful places, at the foot of the mountains. I want to walk and explore! I want to dance again. I love to dance. It makes me feel good even though I have no talent for it lol! I miss it. I want to ride a horse again. Every weekend like I use to. I want to go on adventures with my husband and be able to keep up with him. I want to sleep comfortably. I want to get out of the house and feel good. I am a recent licensed cosmetologist. I can't work. But I will. By the new year! I want to throw my CPAP mask in the trash. I want off the yo-yo. I want to learn about my new life. I want to go get it. I'm willing to work for it. I am willing to take responsibility for maintaining my vitamins, minerals and protein. I am ready to get my body moving again.
Gaining quality of life is worth every risk and every responsibility to me. It is going to happen and I am blessed to have people to share the life changes with.
Thank you for allowing me to join your group, read your stories, and go through the education, struggles and triumphs with you.
Oh, I do want to fit in those piles of clothes I have too!