kalew

I would also talk to your bariatric surgeon to see if you are so under-nurished that you can't have a needed surgery. I have seen them do surgery on many other patients before who would of been in far worse condition. You would have to increase your calories post op for good healing.

One more week to go! starting to get anxious... the pre-op diet is getting easier though. Maybe it's only because I have a cold, hope I get better quick.

Hi all, I have my UGI, lab, xray, ekg tomorrow. Not looking forward to that at all. I have a bad cold too. Hope it is all gone in a week, surgery date is May 17. Anyone ever get their surgery rescheduled due to a cold?

Aetna does cover sleeves now. Google Aetna's Coverage Policy Bulletins, and look under obesity surgery. All of their criteria is listed. Good Luck!

Congratulations!! You are making the steps toward changing your life. You can do it, this is a tool that will really work. Thank you for sharing your story. We all want to live to see our children and grandchildren grow to be there for them. My surgery date is May 17 with Dr. Nick in Dallas. Can't wait to start being able to do more things again, get out more. Good luck to your and will keep you in my prayers.

it is what it is!

Almost finished the first week of my pre-op diet, it is getting easier. The big kicker was learning that if I don't loose weight he will not perform the surgery as it would be too great a risk of liver damage. before starting my diet I did have a few "last meals" but started trying the shakes for breakfast and lunch. I have lost 5lbs. My husband has been a hawk to make sure I stick to my diet.

Good luck on your surgery tomorrow! Let us all know how you are doing. It's the beginning of a new way of life!

Yep have to stick to the diet, I just spoke with a bariatric nurse specialist and she said they had a patient that didn't do the pre-op diet and their liver was too big when he got in there and he couldn't do the surgery, too much risk of damaging the liver. So it is very important to do the 2 wk diet!!!!

I have had similar reactions from my overweight friends. One wanted my clothes, others it just made them feel bad about themselves. Makes them face the fact that they are also overweight and need to do something about it. When you start a diet your friends have seen you start many diets probably and are there to sabotage you too... We have eating buddies, just like alcoholics have drinking buddies.

That's great, let your friends help you! I will be sleeved May 17 and I am struggling with the preop diet, the protein drinks and bars are all sweet and I am getting tired of sweet after just 2 days. ugh... doing better since I just had dinner. baked chicken and steamed broccoli. not bad, at least it wasn't sweet. Of course watching my husband eat anything he wants doesn't help. ha ha.

There are several hotels right outside of the Baylor Plano hospital. I would be happy to fax you the list that Dr. Nick's staff put in the binder you get when you go in to see him. A family friend was at the Baylor Heart hospital right behind Baylor Plano hospital and was a miracle patient. I am sure she would of died any place else, so I feel that if any problems happen to me while I am there I am in the best of hands. Best of luck to you in your journey!

Started my pre-op diet yesterday, I am having a hard time, I really want a sandwich! I'm doing the slimfast diet and already tired of sweet. Everything is sweet, except for dinner. I'm looking forward to that.

Here it is.....This is a quote from a ASMBS report regarding Aetna and UHC beginning to cover the VSG. They are hopeful that other insurance carriers will follow suit soon. "We are pleased that Aetna and United Healthcare now includes sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures," said John W. Baker, MD, FACS, President of ASMBS. "In the rapidly changing field of bariatric and metabolic surgery, it is important to provide coverage and access to a wide range of proven treatment methods. Sleeve gastrectomy has now reached that threshold where the data and our experience with the procedure supports its safe and effective use in people affected by the chronic disease of morbid obesity." Here is a link to the whole report. http://asmbs.org/Newsite07/news/ASMB..._seo_FINAL.pdf . You may have to copy and paste it into your browser. Hopefully between this and the Bariatric Surgery conference coming up in June, we will see more people being successful with insurance coverage.

On another feed it was mentioned that Aetna is now covering VSG surgery, if that is so, many others will as well. It has less complications than a Roux-en-Y and none of the issues with banding. Win/win for insurance companies. It will be standard coverage soon, maybe 2011.

I don't think it has to do with your being self pay at all, just call back. I don't leave messages I just keep calling until I get someone. They are all so nice, I will be at the support group

I also was thinking of lapband until I went to Dr. Nick Nicholson for his seminar. I didn't even know about a sleeve before and really seemed to fit me! I could just see all kinds of long term issues with a band. My insurance (federal) covered the sleeve so I was able to get approved by Dr. Nick's staff in just a few hours, I was amazed! I was ready for a long drawn out fight. Anyway, I start my pre-op diet tomorrow, I've lost a few pounds already. I have my surgery on May 17 at Baylor Plano (amazing hospital); current bmi is 37, I was pre-diabetic, joint issues, cholesterol rising, ... everything pointing in the wrong direction. I tried working with a dietician and personal trainer twice to only gain back the pounds I lost and then some. I'm really miserable being this fat, getting to not even want to leave the house... I can't wait to finally have a tool that will work!

Start my diet on Monday... not looking forward to that part. I bought some greek yogurt and had one and a slimfast bar for dinner tonight. It was really good and I'm still full several hours later!

I'm planning on going this month, believe it is the 12th. Have you been to one?

I have surgery with Dr. Nick May 17! They were able to get my insurance approval fast, I was amazed! I start the 2 week slim fast diet Monday, have tried it several days this past week, but had to have one last...... (whatever) several times... ha ha. Plan to be 100% starting Monday. His office staff are excellent! I'm having the surgery at Baylor Plano. Anyone else having surgery on the 17th?

How is your pre-op with Dr. Nick going? I start mine Monday... Good luck with your surgery!! I can't wait to get started!

ok, thanks, its the refined sugar thing.... I thought that was just for Roux-en-Y bypass surgeries. So it upsets your stomach with a sleeve too?

Congratulations, mine has also been approved and my surgery is scheduled for May 17. I keep reading articles and posts to remind me why I am doing this. Starting the pre-op diet Monday. I'm really ready to move forward..

Answer me this, if we are only taking in clear liquids, basically consuming 0 calories... why does it have to be diet? wouldn't a few cal be beneficial to get the fluids in?