PlannerGirl

I am scheduled for surgery on the 18th and I am looking forward to working my sleeve hard. From everything I've read, after surgery one of the keys to losing fast is exercise. I'm looking for a workout accountability buddy. I've got some buddies at my gym, but I'd like to work out with someone who is having similar experiences as me. I go to Larry North Fitness at Preston Royal. Anyone interested?

Sometimes a good cry is very healing. I have decided to employ the 24 hour rule. In my business life, when something doesn't go my way, I allow myself 24 hours to b***h about it or wallow in it. Since my surgery one month ago, if something gets me down it's one day, that's all, then back on my feet and moving forward. And yes…..YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Aaah, muffin top, how I hate thee. Thank goodness for Spanx!

We're all here pulling for you. Please let us know the outcome. I think it's outrageous for one BCBS to cover the procedure when another calls it investigational. There needs to be consistency. Also, to refer to at as exploratory, when there have been countless success stories is ridiculous. (Sorry, I really get on my high horse when insurance companies screw around with people's lives) In any case.......best wishes for approval!

YIPPEE!!!

I love the "I'm on a fast" suggestion. I would perhaps alter it a little and go with "cleansing fast". If they ask why you would choose this time of year you could tell them, "I figure if I have the will power to do this now, I have the will power to truly get this weight off" Then.....when you start shrinking, they'll believe you're amazing will power. The rest will be our little secret.

Welcome to the club! Yay for you!

When i thought I might be denied, the coordinator at my doc's office suggested the lawyers at obesitylaw.com . I called them and spoke to them and they gave me a ton of advice and didn't charge me. It's a husband and wife team, and I was very impressed. They charge a flat fee between $600 and $1200, which I don't think sounds outrageous and their track record is unbelievable. It sounds to me like you could really use an advocate. Look at their website, there's a lot of articles he's written. The insurance company needs to be taken to task. Don't let them get away with treating people so callously. Best wishes, and I'll be sending all my good luck vibes your way.

No hernia, that's just my doc's standard. He says he wants the time for the stomach to heal. I don't mind it either, it's easy to mix some Protein powder into skim milk. I'm not usually hungry, so it's no big deal.

I had my surgery on November 18th and lost 15 pounds in the first 13 days. Now the scale hasn't moved in 3-4 days and I'm freaking out. I know I shouldn't weigh myself daily and confession here.....it's more 8-10 times a day. I am drinking (Dr wants full liquids for 6 weeks) 400 calories per day and I am getting my 60 grams of Protein. I am also doing between 30-45 minutes of cardio (stationary bike) daily. Did anyone else experience this. Based on the math of calories in and calories expended, I should be losing 6 pounds per week.

YIPEE!!!!

Before you start spending your own money, I would look into the appeal. I think you said the new insurance cover other WLS? If so, there is a ton of research out there that can support getting a sleeve. In addition, if they are covering the sleeve for the higher BMI and the other surgeries for lower, it's somewhat illogical and sounds like something you could win. I would seriously give this a shot. Paying a deductible and a max out of pocket beats paying for this on your own. In addition, there are obesity law attorneys out there that may be able to give you some advice. I worry that if you pay for the VSG on your own, and there's a complication, you will be stuck with the bill for that as well. I'm not sure how that works, but it could be financially devastating. Be tenacious........I'm betting you can get them to pay. I'll be rooting for you.

Don't let this make you crazy. It's really not that bad at all. They will give you drugs at the hospital and drugs for home. My experience was liquid tylenol was enough at home. It will be ok, I promise, and you'll be soooooo glad you did this! Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

Hi, I just found this thread....can I play too. I was sleeved on November 18th and had a small complication. When the doc made the fist incision and felt around he found a fibroid tumor on the outside of my uterus the size of a football. Luckily, after checking with a gyno, he was still able to do the surgery. After two nights at the hospital I was able to go home. It looks like a hysterectomy is in my near future, but I'm hoping to hold it off long enough to combine it with a tummy tuck. I felt pretty good from the get go and after getting my drain tube out on Wednesday I am pretty much back to my regular routine, without of course the eating. My doc has me on full liquids for 6 weeks. I don't mind at all as I've been adding the unjury unflavored to Soups and I really like the Unjury chocolate in skim milk. I am truly surprised out how much easier this has been than I expected. I know I am very lucky for that as not everyone has had the same experience. I am so excited to see what the next few months have in store. I can't wait to see how quickly this will all happen and I feel up to the challenge. Is anyone on the thread from the Dallas area. I would love to find someone with a similar experience to exercise with sometimes.

Remember, today you are not only fight head hungry, you are fighting real hunger, in a stretched out stomach. I had my surgery 10 days ago and I can't believe how NOT hungry I am. I do have some head cravings, but I recognize them for that and move along to something else. I think once you are sleeved and healed you will think this is the best decision you every made. Good luck on your surgery in a few days......it will work out fine and you can start your new healthier life!

Your 14 months at Curves should show attempted weight loss. The good news is, every time you go to curves you check in with the key card and they keep a record. I would suggest asking the team at your Curves to give you some sort of print out of your attendance. I would also ask for your weigh in and measurement info. If you have been watching your diet during this period, I would write a detailed description of what you've done. Thing is......they say you have to attempted weight loss, it doesn't say you had to be successful at it. Lastly, is your insurance through your work, perhaps a large company. If it is, check to see if your company has a claims advocacy department. Copy them on all correspondence with BCBS. When I applied through my insurance, I was missing some information, but I made up for it with a lot of additional documentation and got approved on the first try. I wrote what I believe were some fairly persuasive letters which I would be happy to share with you and you can tailor it to your situation. Helping folks get approved for this surgery is sort of a new life mission for me. It frustrates me immensely when the insurance companies jack around with peoples lives like this just because they can. The co-ordinator at my doc's office has asked me to help a few folks there. With some strong words and some tenacity you can get this done. If you need help, let me know.

Love love love that story Katt. Do you think perhaps you should change your screen name here to SpiderNana. I think there may be a theme song for that name!

I am having a very similar experience. I had surgery on the 18th and I am completely back to my old self except the eating. I have done a lot of errands and chores, I have cooked for my family and guests, been for a bike ride, and (TMI warning) made my husband happy sooner than he thought I'd be able to. I was really expecting this to be much harder, and I couldn't be more pleased it isn't. I know not everyone's experience has been this easy, but I encourage anyone who is having fears and considering canceling to overcome them......it is so worth it.

I've been loving my Unjury protein. I found the best price at Amazon.com I like the chocolate mixed with skim milk or plain yogurt. I also am adding the unflavored to most everything. Try it, it's good.

I'm sleeved!! I feel so much better than I had worried about. Sugery started later than expected and there was a suprise. When the surgeon made is first incision and felt inside he found a fibroid tumor. Appaerntly I have a fibroid in/on my uterus that extends to my chest and is the size of a football. The surgeon called in a gyno to check if he could still do the sleeve and luckily we were still good to go. So it seems a hysterectomy is next for me. A friend of mine who is a doctor suggest holdig off if I can until I lose the weight so I combine it with a tummy tuck and insurance pay for a lot of it. That makes the news a litter easier to take. In any case, I'm thrilled to become the slender woman I know is inside of me.

I found the Gas X strips to be so important. I also had adult extra strength liquid tylenol, which helped me get off the pain meds very quickly. The Protein powder is a must, test your flavors and mixes prior to surgery. I like to mix the chocolate into my greek yogurt for a very high protein meal. Try and pick up some skim milk when you get home. I've been using gummy Vitamins, calcium, and Omega. It actually feels like a little candy cheat. Get yourself some good trashy magazines, it's a little boring at the hospital. Good luck!

So glad you had the good sense to call your surgeon when it felt wrong and also glad he got back to you quickly. So sorry you're dealing with this but I have faith all will be ok. Hopefully years from now this will be one of those funny "remember when we did Thanksgiving at the hospital" stories. In the meantime, rest and recover, it sounds like you're in good hands.

Congratulations on your milestone Maddie, your goal is just around the corner. Posts like yours help us all stay on track, thank you for that. Enjoy all the new pleasures your new body allows.

We're all here to answer questions and for support. Congratulations on making a life altering decision.