Round 2- CIGNA 2, Lori 0

I was shocked to pick up the phone today to hear Jennifer's (the insurance coordinator at My New Self Bariatric) voice.  She was cheerful.  I was hoping this meant she had good news for me.  She told me she got a call from the medical director at CIGNA.  Then she dropped the bomb that once again he chose to deny my request for gastric bypass surgery on the grounds that I haven't been "fully compliant" with the medically supervised program.  His concern was that I'd had my band drained in 2010 and that it's been dormant for 3 years before I requested the surgery.

Um........it took me through 2010 to gain all my weight back (and then some) to have the desire to try again.  Then by 2011 I'd lost my job and spent all of 2012 uninsured.  So forgive me Mister Medical Director for not moving according to your plan or expectation!  <yes I'm pissed>

Trying to hold back tears, my first question to Jennifer was, "What now???"

She suggested I revisit the lap band with Dr. Scott, get adjustments and let him monitor my results and go from there.  The thought of puking up every bite I take is so unappealing to me right now I can't even see straight.  BUT I have to "play the game" in order for them to see that it didn't work for me.  Apparently the slew of clinical pages from Dr. Malley's office in Kansas (3 yrs of history) wasn't enough.

Obviously I'm the only one who is going to be beat into submission here.  I made an appointment for Friday, September 13th to have my first lap band adjustment since January 2010.  This should be fun!  I'm hoping we only have to try this for 3 months before we can resubmit for surgery.

I could be completely surprised and discover that with a totally different doctor, perhaps I can find success with the band.  That would be the ideal outcome.  Then I could lose weight and avoid the surgery altogether.  Otherwise, I have no idea how long or how hard I'll have to fight to gain approval.

Until then, it's being more mindful of the quality and quantities of the food choices I make and giving the band one last try.

I'll continue to blog throughout that journey, as well.....documenting the foods and success/failures I have along the way.

For now I can go back to making plans as the surgery doesn't look to be happening in the next few months!  So I'll continue to book accessible seating so I can enjoy a sporting event.  I'll continue to get the extra seat on the airplane when I travel.  I'll continue using seat belt extenders in the car and on planes.

And I'll start trying to move the mountain (150-200 lb weight loss goal) one stone (pound) at a time until I can get an assist.

If I can ever get surgery approved, I'd like to have it by year end. since I've met my deductible for 2013 and for a few other reasons, too.

I feel like the little engine that could.  I think I can..........I think I can....................