suez1105

Ok, so I posted on here before about my surgeon's office saying they wait until right before my surgery to submit my paperwork. Well, my surgery is scheduled for this Monday, Sept 19, and I called the office on Friday to check to see if they had heard anything about me being approved yet. She said she was just submitting my paperwork to them that day! I am seriously going to be mad if I get denied this close to my surgery. I mean, I don't understand why they don't submit my paperwork after all my prerequisites were met! I have had all my appointments finished for at least 6 weeks already, just seems odd that they wouldn't submit everything sooner in case I was denied so we could try and rectify the situation. I know a lot of people are initally denied because of missing paperwork or needing something small from your doctor or surgeon which is easily correctable but since they are waiting so long, if I am initally denied, then it will push my surgery back. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I work in a hospital, our schedules are made a month in advance, I can't just take off whenever I want. I think I will initally be denied, I just have no luck when it comes to things I want, everything always has to be harder for me then everyone else. I had initally prepared myself for being denied, but would think I would be approved because like I said, why should anything in my life be easy, but figured it would be sent early enough that if any problems did arise, it would be fixed before my surgery date. Does anyone else's doctor do this?

That is just really ignorant. I went into my family doctor and just told her I was getting it done, with or without her approval, infact, I didn't even want her approval, I just wanted to tell he I was getting it done. Tell him to go and find another doctor, if this is what he wants and needs he will keep looking until he finds someone who will give him a yes. I so wish I had started on this path a long time ago, I am not sleeved yet, but my surgery is Monday 9/19. I think just getting started and getting to the seminar was the hardest part, but once I was there, I just couldn't wait to get it done. Good luck to your friend.

I was really worried I wouldn't be approved, but today I got the good news from my surgeon's office. Everything is good, and my surgery is on Monday!! Now I am already getting the jitters, but am more excited then anything else. Please wish me all luck and prayers, and I can't wait to be on the "other side" you know, the SKINNY SIDE!! Thank you all for the answers that I needed through all my hoop jumping, thank you for your support and kind words of encouragement. I know I am still going to need it after my surgery, but just wanted to say that this board has helped me more than you will ever know. For sooo long I have fought with my weight until the point where I just kind of gave up. I became a prisoner in my own body, hating myself and I stopped living life. I know the next part of this journey is going to be tough, but I feel that it will be so worth it in the end. I know that doing this surgey is very drastic, but it is necessary for me. I so wish I could just stop over eating, but I can't do it on my own and I feel no shame in needing help to become the person I knew I always could be. I hope and pray everything goes smoothly during my surgery, I hope and pray that all of you who are still fighting to have this surgery get it. Don't be discouraged, don't give up, don't second guess it, just do it!! Here's to living the second part of my life to it's fullest without the added weight on my body or my mind!

Good news everyone, I got THE call from my surgeon's office, I was approved today!!!! I did have faith in the office, BUT, I know how fickle the insurance companies can be. I was worried more about them, I have heard them deny people for the stupidest thing, even if you have done everything they asked. Thank you all for your support and I can't wait to be on the loser's bench!!! Only 5 more days, woo hoo!!!

Good luck. I am supposed to be sleeved next Monday, if I am approved that is. I am going through the same thing, the "what ifs" too, I am sure it is normal and everyone who has been sleeved before us has probably done the same. I look forward to hearing how you feel after surgery, good luck and see you on the losers bench soon!!

Anyone else scheduled or hoping to be sleeved in September? I am finishing up my pre-op stuff, have a NUT appointment next week, then need my Upper GI, one more NUT apptmt in August and should hopefully have a surgery date the second week in September! Can't, can't, can't, wait!!!

Ok, so I dropped everything else my surgeon needed a week ago Friday. I called the office today to ask when I should hear something about my approval. The woman said she won't even send it until like a week and a half before my surgery. My surgery date is September 19. I think that's ridiculous, I ran around like a crazy person getting everything done, and now they are just going to sit on my paper work until then? My other issue is I work out a hospital, and our schedules are done monthly. Right now the draft is out for next month and into October so I wrote my PTO days on there for my surgery. Problem is, if I am not approved and only find out after this schedule is out, I will need to use the PTO I put in for, because they will have already found coverage for my shift. I don't have a lot of PTO, and I am afraid that if I am denied and I appeal and do get approved, I won't have the vacation time for it because I was forced to use it already. I dont' understand what the big deal is about sending it out now so I can plan accordingly.

Ok so they are sending my paperwork to my insurance company on Monday. So what will my insurance company do? How do they approve you? Will they call my doctors offices to verify my info? Do they check my medical record? What happens and how long does it take?

Hi, I just wanted to say that for me, when I am heavier, my acid reflux is really bad. About 8 years ago, I lost about 65 pounds, and my reflux became almost non-existant. I am thinking after the sleeve and when I lose enough weight, I am thinking mine will lessen. I also am trying to follow the rules of not laying down after I eat, trying to eat earlier in the evening, trying to stay away from milk products too late as milk has a lot of acid believe it or not. I am also taking a zantac once a day and that seems to really help. I would think if you are having success with an acid blocker before, why wouldn't it help you after along with following other reflux reducing rules and losing weight? I know for my dad, nothing but a prescription stregnth pill helps with his GERD and then even then, he has to stay away from certain trigger foods. I hope it works out for you whatever you decide.

Ok, so I have been wanting to go on the pill for like forever now, lol, but have just kept putting it off. Hubby and I are using another form of birth control but I want to go back on the pill to regulate my period again. My period has been irregular for 20 years. I was on the pill before two different time, but never really stayed on it long enough to finally get regular. This time I would really like to, but I know it can cause weight gain. Is that something I need to be worried about? I wanted to go on the pill a few months ago, but figured with upcoming surgery and the risk of blod clots after surgery and the fact that the pill makes you more suseptable, I figured I would hold off. I know it probably seems silly, but if I am getting a surgery to help me loose weight, the last thing I want to do is to slow it down! Anyone have any insight or ideas? Should I wait till I loose my weight? Will it even matter? Thanks everyone!

Ok, so we know that VSG limits the amount of food we eat, but the choices are left up to us on what we can eat. As somone who is pre-op, I am worried that I will have a problem making good/better/healthy choices. I am not a snacker, I honestly only eat 3 meals a day, and occasionally have an after dinner dessert. My problem is my meals are #1. Too large and #2. not always healthy. The portion thing will be controlled by the surgery, but how is everyone doing with their choice of food? Now I am pretty much a good eater, although the last year or so my diet has just been terrible, but for the most part I enjoy mostly grilled/baked/broiled foods, and I do eat a lot of vegetables/fruits. Of course, I do enjoy fried stuff and that is going to be my biggest battle. I mean I know we can eat some of the unhealthy stuff, but for the most part we need to change to be healthy. Is anyone having a problem with this? I have heard some say that they don't like a lot of what they used to eat pre-op, and sweets and other junk just doesn't have the appeal that it used too. Just wondering about your experiences. Thanks so much for all your support!!

Ok so I started the process a while back and Aetna requires you to submit a 2 year weight history. I only went to the doctors once in January 2009 and my weight was 246. In 2010-11 it has ranged from 260-280. I did not have any other co-morbidities. A few months ago my doctor classified me as high blood pressure but I am not on meds. She also finally ordered blood work and my cholesterol is high as well but again not on meds. They are both high,but not to the point that I need meds yet. Since my weight for 2009 wasn't high enough my BMI was like 37 it has to be a 40 for no other co-morbidities. Now I was wondering, since I just had my sleep study on Monday and was diagnosed with sleep apnea,will that help, or will it still matter that my weight wasn't high enough in 2009 and now might have to wait for 2012? If they look back, they will see I have always had a weight problem, but like everyone else I tried dieting and would always fluctuate between 240-270 and now at an all time high of 280.

No, I have not been submitted yet. They say they submit everything after I have had all my tests done. I thought that was a little odd, why should I got through with an upper GI and other tests unless I know for sure if I am getting it done.

Great post!! 1. To love getting my picture taken again! 2. To be able to shop in regular stores and wear cute clothes 3. To stop backing out of events because I am sick of feeling like I am the fattest one in the room. 4. Looking forward to my next trip to Disney World. The last 3 trips I was miserable with my feet hurting and chubby chaffing! 5. To wear a cute dress or skirt, I hate wearing dresses/skirts cuz I look terrible on me! 6. To possibly wear a bikini and if not, and hot looking one piece is fine too! 7. To get thin enough to get a tummy tuck, I have always had a pouch as far back as I can remember. Probably like 14-15 when it developed. Can't wait to get rid of it and actually feel what a flat stomach feels like. 8. To be able to wear my high heels again. 9. To get a cute hair cut, not some thing just cause it will flatter my face. 10. To wear my hair in a ponytail or up in a style. I don't do it now cuz my face is so fat. 11. To be happy with myself and to love myself. I deserve to love myself I am a good person, but I hate myself because I am fat. 12. To have my sex drive back and to be able to be adventurous in bed again. I can't wait, like someone else said, I can't wait for the summer to be over so I can get sleeved!!

Tifykins, you are a wealth of information and experience for us pre-sleevers and newbies. thanks for sticking on here and helping us. I know a lot of people post on here until they loose the weight and then are gone. It's understandable, but we really do appreciate all those who stay and even come back to check in with us and offer any insight. Thanks so much!!

What an absolutely wonderful post, thank you so much!!! I am hoping to be a September Sleever, so this is going to come in very handy!!!! Thanks for not forgetting us now that you are skinny, all of the veteran's on here really help us newbie's!! I could read about the sleeve all day, but hearing the words of wisdom from those who are already sleeved helps soo much more!! Thanks again!!

I know evryone thought it was weird that I was walking around before my sleep study praying I would have apnea, lol. They just don't get it. I think it will help and thank goodness it was diagnosed, lol. Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it.

What if your weight/BMI for 2009 was 37 with no co-morbidities at the time, but now your BMI is 40 and have Sleep Apnea, high BP and Cholesterol? That is the same concerns I have. I am afraid I will be denied. The insurance person at my surgeons office just told me to hope I have sleep apnea, so I am hoping that overrules the rest. Thank goodness they just diagnosed me with it on Monday night. Now we shall see.

Wow, thank you to all of you for the great information, I really appreciate it!!!!

Ok, so I am currently going through all the pre-op hoops and am looking at a tenative surgery date of the second week of September. I do have a couple of questions, if you guys don't mind. 1. I have heard differing opinions on whether stretching of the sleeve is possible or not. Some say no, others say yes. Can you or can't you stretch it out after surgery? I am not really a big snacker, My 3 meals a day are just too big, and not always the best choices. With that being said, obviously I got this way by eating too much and by basically stopping all of the exercise I used to do, and that was a big one for me. I have to keep exercising, that is what is really going to make it or break it. I worry though about over eating of course, how will I not make the same mistakes again? I have lost and gained hundreds of pounds over the years by over eating, will this help me? 2. Also, I am very willing to follow the meal plan, proteins, veggies and then carbs if there is room left, but honestly, why can't we eat what we want since we are only eating smaller portions of it? I mean, I am not going to graze on a Whopper and fries all day just cuz I can, but If I can only eat like 2 bites of it, why won't I still loose? I mean, isn't that the key to normal eating? I was always told to try and get into the habit of having a little bit of the things I want to eat, but just not go crazy on it, because we all know what happens when you deprive yourself, right? Skinny people eat like I do, they just eat less, so won't I loose weight as long as I am cutting back my portions and following portion control? 3. I worry, because they always say you have to eat a certain amount of calories or your body will go in starvation mode and hold on to all your fat which makes you not loose weight. I am hearing stories on here about people only eating 600 calories a day. I want, no I need this to work for me, I cannot fail again, I refuse to be fat for one more minute than I have to. I know it works for some people, but could this happen? I mean I have tried portion control and slim fast and everything, else, is it easier to loose weight with this? I mean I can follow a diet to a T, but it is hard to when you feel like your starving, I am hoping this will help to curb the hunger for me to make me stick with it. 4. On last thing, and this is related to number 1 I guess, Why can't you sip a little when you eat? I have to drink when I eat, does it really stretch your pouch to have a sip or two of water with your food?? I am so thankful to this site, I have been lurking for so long, and I just really would like to hear from people who have been there. Thanks so much!!!

I feel the same way, I back out of things all the time because I am so unhappy with myself. I am constantly saying to my husband "after my surgery I will..." I just can't wait for it to get here. I am (hopefully) looking at the 2nd week of September. I kindof wish we could get pre-authorized for the surgery. I am kind of worried I will be denied even though I have done everything they have asked me. I think it should be more like they look at our history and then tell us if you do this (all the pre-op stuff and supervised diet) then we will pay for it. Not do everything they ask then say well we decided you don't really need it. I will be devestated if I get denied as I don't have the funds for self pay. I wonder how much you can get for selling a kidney nowadays? Lol, just kidding on the kidney part.

Ok, so I have been going to all my pre-op appointments and have a question. My surgeon is sending me to a gastroenterologist, and he did tell me that they are going to do a test. Now I forget if he wants me to have an upper GI or an Upper Endoscopy. I will of course call the office and double check again. My insurance company doesn't require referrals, so I don't have anything written down. I was just wondering which one it was. Thanks!!

I just called the office because I had another question and asked about this. The secretary told me Upper GI. Can they tell if you have the P-Pylori bacteria or ulcers or hernia with an Upper GI? I remember the doctor telling me that they were looking for hernia or ulcers. I am thinking the GI doc would know what he wants?

I can't wait until all the hoop jumping is done!! Initial surgical consult-done PCP visit to start 6month supervised weight loss program - done 2nd PCP apptmnt-done Different surgical consult with a different doctor- done 3rd PCP apptmnt-done Pulmonologist consult-done Psyc consult-Doctor was sick, so was re-scheduled 4th PCP apptmt-done sleep study consult-done pulmonary function test-done 1st sleep study-done- diagnosed with sleep apnea 5th PCP apptmt-done 1st NUT appointment-done so many done, so many more to go, lol. Psych consult is tonight Last PCP apptmt is Thursday GI consult is Friday second sleep study in on July 20th 2nd NUT apptment is July 22nd Last but not least, Will have to have the endoscopy or upper GI not sure which the doctor wants. 1 more NUT apptment THEN, SLEEVE ME BABY!!!

I am so glad I read this post, as I wondered the same thing. I guess are Bariatric surgeons really do know what they are talking about, as it sounds like this really is the best surgery for those of us who can't do portion control on our own! I too am a fairly healthy eater, I love fruits and vegetables, and at home, I broil, bake and grill everything, I rarely fry anything. I am also fine with butter spray and butter buds. I just eat wayyyyyyy tooooooo much of it. I am soooo excited, I am looking at a tenative surgery date of September. I just did my sleep study last night, and I am so happy I have sleep apnea. Well, not happy about the apnea, but there was a question about my weight in 2009 and I was afraid I wouldn't qualify, so now with the apnea, my doctor told me I would definately be approved! I go for my psych consult tonight, my GI consult on Friday and my 2nd NUT apptmt next Thursday. After all that, I will have 1more NUT apptm, my GI proceedure and my last sleep study to get fitted for my cpap/bipap. So excited!!! Good luck to all of us pre-sleevers!!