Margie

[Guest guest]

Hi Margie,

I see that you are self-pay and wanted to give you a few tips from

experience. You mentioned you are picking up your blood results and

ekg results. Take an extra copy with you to the hospital. Even

though you give them to Dr. R. they don't always make it to the

hospital. If I wouldn't have had a copy with me at the hospital they

would have done the blood work and ekg again. I handed them copies

of the tests results and that saved me money. I also was very

conscious of what they were doing. They came into the room and did a

blood sugar test on my roommate (she had diabetes) and then they said

it was my turn. When I questioned them why (I didn't have diabetes)

they said they would check again if I needed it... they never came

back.

I stayed at the Homewood Suites (I think the special med rate is $75)

and it was very very nice. It had a seperate bedroom which was nice

if you want to nap while your husband is up and about. They also

have a nice outdoor pool and serve light breakfast and dinner free in

the lobby for anyone with you. There are resturants and a small

shopping close by and Home Depot (a man's heaven) is right across the

street.

Good luck in your journey.

Jane McShane

MGB 3/20/00

250 / 200

> Dear Lori,

> I couldn't have said it any better or relate any

more to how

> you explained telling your true weight. My husband and I have only

been

> together 45 years and He does know my weight and it is hard for

anyone to

> realize what we deal with Daily. I try to tell anyone who doesn't

understand

> to carry a 1 or 200# bag around and let me know how they feel. I

had my PCP

> apt. today and I finally got my physical bloodwork and ekg done. I

am

> supposed to pick up my Dr. letter and physical form and med records

and all

> on FRI??? I will have a pap tomorrow. I am hoping to be able to

send my

> packet fed ex on Fri but I guess they won't get it till MON?? I am

hoping to

> have my big date with the Doc on July 26th. I will be self pay due

to an

> exclusion. I just can't believe this is finally coming to an end. I

am

> talking about the packet work! It is sooooooo worth it, but Whew!

Loads of

> work. My Pcp told me he would help me in any way he could, but

that he is

> soooo concerned that I won't get the results I am planning on. I

told him

> that he would not be discouraged when he does see the results. He

said " You

> know you would get the same results if you ate what you are going

to be able

> to eat after the surgery, without the surgery " ? I thought " If you

only

> understood " . That is the most dissapointing thing to deal with,

Dr.'s that

> just dont get it. But, I do commend him for at least being open

minded enough

> to support me. The other Dr. in his office Blew me right out the

door!!

> Anyways I am so happy to be at this stage of the game. I never

dreamed in a

> thousand years I would even be alive to see the day when someone

would be

> able to help me this way. My PCP also said today " I dont even know

this Dr.R

> and he could be a great surgeon or a ??? " I said let me tell you

something

> Dr. D I am trusting this Dr. with my life!! He is the only one that

will

> touch me. He said " OK " .

> So wish me luck, I am trying to get the 26th as a date. I am

praying just

> like you for all the post ops all the pre ops and all the ones that

are doing

> everything in their power to get approved!! I dont even have a

slightest

> clue what I would do without all of you on this list. It is a

blessing to

> have found you all. I feel happy to know I am not alone, not that

God doesn't

> understand and isn't with me, although he was skinny too?? LOL JK

But, I am

> hoping to meet all that I can when I get there. I have a feeling it

will be

> the next best thing to the pearly gates!! I am absolutely Not the

least bit

> afraid and I haven't met Dr.R in person or even talked to him for

that

> matter. I am sure I am in Good Hands thanks to all the post ops.

OK Now I

> need to know something, I am not interested in Cheap motels or

hotels. I need

> to know the most clean Nice hotel around the hospital. It doesn't

have to be

> next door. But I need one that has other things to do around it,

restaurants,

> stores? book stores? anything??? My husband is like a caged animal

in a

> hotel, unless there is any activity goin on like........ well you

know ,

> it's something we can not do the day after! LOl Ooooops sorry this

is soooo

> long. Oh keep me posted on everything! xoxoxo Margie SC