Great news yesterday. The folks at Broward Center for Obesity Surgery called to tell me my insurance had approved the surgery. This news provided me with a great sense of relief, since I was quite uncertain about whether they would approve or not. My age, their earlier refusal to pay for a test when my PCP had listed "morbid obesity" as the reason for the test, and my general level of anxiety all contributed to my concern. When the call came, I was jubilant!
The contact person at Dr. Marema's office told me I must now arrange appointments with cardiac and pulmonary specialists. I need to have an EKG, an echo-cardiogram (because I once took Phen-Fen), and a chest x-ray. I called one of the recommended cardiologists to arrange an appointment and Catch-22 jumped up and bit me on the cheek (the lower one). The cardiologist says I can't have the tests until two weeks before surgery. This puts the testing either just before we leave for the Christmas holidays or forces us to postpone the desired surgery date until mid-January rather than right after the new year as I wish. I'll be calling the doc's office today to try to resolve this. I think I need to have a surgical coordinator appointed to help me manage these issues.
Meanwhile, I'll move ahead attending the various meetings designed to help patients prepare for surgery. Dr. Marema's practice sponsors a variety of meetings and seminars designed to help prepare patients. These meetings include subjects like healing faster, learning to shop in the super market, eating out, life strategies, wellness, and so-on. We're planning on attending a Resource Meeting to be held in Ft. Myers on Saturday. Some of the other meetings are more problematic for us as they are all held in Fort Lauderdale in the evening. Since Lauderdale is almost a four-hour drive for us, we'd prefer to go over there as infrequently as possible.
I've been swimming nearly every day and have worked up to swimming sixteen lengths of the pool. This is just under three hundred yards. Considering I could barely finish six lengths when we arrive three weeks ago, I think I'm shaping up a little. I'm sure the work will show in my cardiology and pulmonary tests when I have them. The exercise also has given me more energy and I feel better. We're also riding our bikes around the park. Irene thinks I'm eating more sweets, almost as if I'm filling up on things I won't be able to eat in another few months. I hope she's wrong, since I'm not always aware of my eating habits. I know that I'll miss certain things I like to eat and that I have a terrible sweet tooth. Giving up fruit seems like a big sacrifice to me as well as peanut butter. I'll also miss quality bread.
Meanwhile, the process appears to be moving ahead on schedule. As I get closer to the surgery I think my anxiety is increasing. I have moved from something that seems like a really good idea to confronting the reality of surgically changing my life in a few months. I know it will do me good and I know the consequences if I don't go ahead. Nevertheless, it does loom ahead as a major point in my life which will change nearly everything.