kalfin13

Just got my date today, April 13 with Dr. Hoehn (kansas city)!! I have about 6 people coming to stay with me for a whole week at the end of March which also happens to be the same week I have to start my liquid diet. It's gonna be hard! I put a picture of me when I used to be skinny on the fridge and pantry so I can look at it and be reminded of why I have to keep on track.

Thanks ya'll! I actually got my approval letter in the mail late yesterday. I mean I could've had an answer last week if they would have called or I guess I should've called but I was trying not to bother them. Nonetheless I have my approval now and am soooooooooo excited!

UHC has had all my info for a week now and still no answer. Just getting really frustrated. I'm usually a very patient person, but I am so anxious to find out if they are going to approve me or not. I think I have literally made myself sick worrying about what they are going to say. They said it could take up to 15 business days to make a decision, ugh!

Hubby comes in from the mailbox yesterday evening and hands me a letter. It's from UHC. I was so nervous and thinking if they sent a letter they must have turned me down, but they APPROVED me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so overwhelmed with emotions. Now all the nerves are setting in for sure. I have to call my coordinator today to schedule my surgery, but I am hoping for the second week in April. I am so ready for this journey, but at the same time all the "what ifs" are driving me crazy. I just want to say thanks to all who post of their experiences on this website. During my 6 month supervised diet time, I have become obsessesed somewhat in reading all that I could about others experiences and research and ya'll have given me so much information. This site was truly a blessing to me.

wow congrats on the weight loss!! Have you ever been to onestopplus.com? They have plus size clothes that pretty much all come in petite. The prices are very reasonable too.

I am in north KCMO.

I'm game! Would be nice to meet others in the area that understand what you're going through. Well I say all this in hopes that my insurance decides to ever approve me!

I am also using Dr. Hoehn and I have UHC. I just finished my 6 month diet on Feb. 17 and everything has been submitted to UHC so just waiting for them to stop driving me crazy with all this waiting and give me an answer..lol. It will depend on your health but the only thing Dr. Hoehn required me to do was a scope and psych eval. I initially chose Hoehn because UHC didn't cover St. Luke's cause I wanted to use Dr. Price as well just because a friend of mine used him and loved him. Then two months after I had started everything St. Lukes started taking UHC, but I'm glad it worked out the way it did. I've met Dr. Hoehn a couple times already and he is always very attentive and most importantly non judgemental. I was frustrated at first when I found out about the 6 month diet, but now I'm glad I had to do it cause it gave me a chance to talk to a lot more people and do a lot more research. Hope it all works out for you and don't worry the 6 months goes by in no time!

I'm playing the waiting game with UHC too. It's driving me crazy!!! I thought my surgeons office had send all my stuff earlier last week so I called UHC today just to see how it was coming along and they said they didn't get it until the 26th. She also said it could take up to 14 days (although I've never had them take long to approve any other surgery anyone in my family has had) but I sure hope it doesn't take that long. I will be a complete basketcase if I have to sit around and wait that long!!!!

Looking for recommendations on different products that you have used since WLS such as your favorite blenders/mixers, food processors, etc. or any other type product that you just feel you can't live without!

I have UHC Choice Plus. My case manager just got all my stuff sent to UHC yesterday so I am still waiting to hear whether I am approved or not. I have not had a BMI over 40 for five years and I actually just barely made the weight at my last weigh in (UHC required me to do a 6 month Dr. supervised diet) and I also don't have any comorbidities so I am very nervous about what they are going to say. This really doesn't anwer your question, but I guess I'm trying to say I hope they overlook the BMI and just look at the weight gain over the years. Good luck to you!

All my replies to other people's posts are being deleted. Just wondering if it is a technical issue or if I did something?

Hope I get mine that fast! As long as we've had UHC they have always been good about not keeping you waiting long. All my stuff will be turned in tomorrow morning after my last Dr. supervised diet visit and weigh in so I really hope I can get an answer tomorrow too or else I'll be going crazy waiting all weekend plus the holiday Monday!

I'm sure this has been asked before but do any of the websites give Vitamin samples like they do the Protein stuff?

I don't know anyone who has had the sleeve with with him but I know a couple people that had lap band. They had nothing but good things to say about him. I am having mine with Dr. Hoehn at KC Bariatrics.

I am using Dr. Hoehn too. Did you have yours done at Heartland? What did you think about it?

I've seen a lot of questions about returning to work but I would like some input on kids. I have 3 year old twin boys who love to use me as their personal junglegym. I should be having surgery at end of March and my parents will be coming to town to help with the kids. Just curious what ya'lls experiences were as far as dealing with small kids after surgery?

I'm in Smithville and hopefully will be going back to school in the fall at Western so will be in the St. Jo area a lot.

I take the chewable juice Plus and while I haven't had my surgery yet my doctor said I would be able to take them after surgery. I have never been able to swallow anything bigger than tylenol so chewable are the only option for me. I am also a distributor for JuicePlus and I have a couple clients who have had WLS and one takes the chewables and one the capsules and neither have had any problems.

As far as the insurance goes I am in the same boat. I am five months into my 6 month doctor supervised diet. I also have no co-morbidities so my weight is the only thing qualifying me for surgery. I have about 95 pounds to lose so when I first weighed in I was literally two pounds from being not fat enough. I absolutely could not lose any weight during my 6 month diet and I actually have even gained 3 pounds since I started. I just basically haven't tried to lose but I've been exercising so that I wouldn't gain a lot. I guess I can let you know in about a month how the insurance feels about it!

Just curious about playing sports after WLS. I was always an athlete until I started getting too fat to participate about 8 years ago. One of the things I'm looking forward to after surgery is getting back to playing. I don't see any reason why one shouldn't be able to play after everything has healed but still curious of others experiences of playing things like flag football, softball, tennis, etc. after WLS.

I did decide to stay with Dr. Hoehn and I absolutely love him and everyone I have had to deal with at Shawnee Mission Med. I wasn't happy about paying the $500 but I think I made the right decision. I am having to do the 6 month dr. supervised diet for my insurance which I will be through with in February and my surgery should be around the last week in March. I LOVE the therapist he requires you to see prior to surgery. He has been a huge help. I know you're hesitant about paying the money but (even though I haven't even had my surgery yet) I definitely don't think you will be disappointed with Dr. Hoehn.

do u happen to be in the kansas city area? just everything you described sounds like what i was told although i'm sure there are a lot that are the same. anyway just curious.