7/13/07

They told me the MRI results should be available Wednesday. I didn’t hear from anyone Wednesday, so I waited until Thursday to call. It seems like the department has fallen apart. I called my care coordinator and got a message that her voicemail box is full. Nice! I called the main number and asked for her and they told me she was out on maternity leave (I had previously been told she was on medical leave, so this was no surprise) and that she had switched departments. They gave me the name of two other people to call. I called one and ended up at my old care coordinator’s full mailbox (Uh-huh, that’s useful). The other number led me to Rita, who is also a care coordinator. I left a message, but today I never heard from her. *Sigh*

7/7/07
Well, I finally got my referral for the MRI. They only authorized an abdominal MRI even though Dr. Khalili requested an MRI of the abdomen and pelvis. I guess they didn’t think there was any reason for an MRI of the pelvis. Frankly, I wouldn’t mind being MRI’d from head to toe. It would give me peace of mind, but at least I don’t have to wait for the blasted referral anymore. I got an appointment within the same week on a Saturday. I went to my appointment and lay in the body casket for about half an hour. They just ask you to hold your breath for about 15 seconds then release, then you get a break for a minute or a few seconds, and you do it all over again until your done.

So here I am today, waiting for the referral so I can lie in the body coffin (MRI) so they can find out if the mass on my liver is harmless or not. I read that the MRI of the abdomen and pelvis is 1 hr 15 mins. However, they do get the results quickly. Well, that sucks, but I have to do it. Cancer is more of a threat than obesity. Bummer! That’s all I can say for now.

I got a call from a nurse telling me that the abdominal ultrasound that I had early May revealed a 2 cm x 1.6 x 1.55 cm mass on my liver. ( Huh?! Why did they wait to tell me this now???) Now they want me to have an abdominal and pelvic MRI. *groan* Now I have to wait for a referral for that.

I got a voicemail from the gastroenterologist telling me the biopsy results were okay. He said “Congratulations! You can continue with the procedure!” Woohoo! I called the care coordinator back. He said they would send all my test to the clinical staff to look over.

6/1/07

Yay!!! I’m done with all my preop testing! When’s my surgery date gonna be, I wonder? I called the surgeon’s office to see if I could schedule surgery. The care coordinator told me, “No. The doctor has to look over all your tests and then decide if they want you have more tests.” *Womp! Womp!* That’s the sound of my heart sinking. They did not have the results of the endoscopy biopsy yet, but the endoscopy was normal.

When I showed up for the endoscopy, they had me down for an endoscopy with sedation and the gastroenterologist tried to talk me out of having it without sedation. I told him I didn’t have a ride so it was not an option.

Guess what? It was not that big a deal. They give me a solution to numb my throat. Then wheeled me into an operating room. The part I was most afraid of–swallowing the scope– was nothing. They slide the scope down you so quickly that it’s in there before you know it. I understand why some people panic. It’s strange to have something in your throat. They blow you up with gas so they can see inside. You have to keep taking deep breaths. The reason they discourage people from having endoscopy without sedation is that some people panic and think they can’t breath, but you can breath.

I had to go Friday to get blood tests and an EKG before the endoscopy. I still don’t know why I needed them, but they were required.

5/24/07

I had to wait a week to hear back from Cedar Sinai about whether they would be willing to do an endoscopy without sedation (because it would be hard for me to get a ride–they won’t let you take a cab). Finally, they called me to tell me they could do it without sedation, but they left a message saying the next available appointment for an endoscopy was June 15th. Huh!?? I called back and asked if they had anything sooner, even if it was with a different doctor than the Dr. Stein whom I had had the consultation with. I got an appointment for May 31st, 1 week away, at 3:30 p.m.. *Sigh* I breathed a sign of relief. Okay, I have to go all day with out eating, but I can do it.

In my last post, I mentioned a strange letter from the Cedar Sinai Medical Group that mentioned that I was approved for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and that I didn’t believe this could be THAT LETTER that every one who wants WLS prays for. I spoke to my care coordinator, and it’s true!!! Unlike other surgeons who wait until you’ve had all your preop testing, they submit for insurance approval after you see the dietician and social worker.