Heller2u

I'm just going to try to be as patient as I can during the waiting period. Meanwhile, I'm really happy that your date came through! Congrats & good luck.

Congratulations! You guys have the best topic timing!!! I'm feeling so defeated today. I've been through 6 months of PSWL, psyche eval, my PCP sent a letter of medical necessity that sounded more like an obituary, I submitted a letter of my weight struggles that sounded more like a suicide note, and gave all of that data to my surgeon's insurance clerk. She called me today and asked "don't you have a 5 year weight loss history?" I gave her all that I could come up with which was a 5 year gynecologist weight loss history for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 (also the PCP from March 2011) to me that shows that I have been consistently overweight since 2001 at least! She was looking for the last 5 consecutive years. she sounded as if I'm going to be denied because of that and said "Well I'll submit it and we'll have to just wait and see" hmpf! I'm telling you if I don't get approved at this stage, I'm going to be so so so disappointed. What do you guys think? I should mention that I don't have Aetna, I'm in Indiana and have a local network called Physician's Health Plan.

I have not had the surgery yet, I just finished my 6th appt with my PCP last week and I'm waiting on the surgeon's office to submit to insurance. I have told all of my immediate family (Mom, sisters, daughter, nieces & Aunts). I told 2 people in my office of 50 people and I was really struggling with telling my bosses (who are physicians and I didn't want their medical opinion) but I felt that I needed to tell them. Then it occurred to me that they have never asked me for details before when I took a vacation so they may not even notice until I begin to lose weight (well more weight, I've lost 14 #'s but none of them noticed yet, just my family). So I've decided not to tell them and hopefully I will only need one full week off of work, if I need more, then I may have to tell them to take off more sick leave. Otherwise, I'm sure none of them told me when they got a vasectomy or other personal surgeries, and I didn't ask, cause I really don't want to know. Good luck in your decision making and please keep us posted!

Good luck to you, this pre-op process is a lot of mental work and makes you analyze every stage of your life that lead you here and the emotions of changing everything post-op is very intimidating. On a lighter note, my sisters (we're all dieting) and I were riding in a car together with my daughter & nieces (3 adults, 3 pre-teen girls), we were sitting at a stop light and a Krispy Kreme delivery truck pulled up next to us, I quietly said "OMG, think can take him girls?" the car erupted with laughter.

I just had my final weigh in. During the entire 6 months, I only lost a total of 14 pounds. At my 4th visit I had gained 2 #'s back and what my physician told me was that it was good because that will show the insurance company one of the main reasons I can't do this without the sleeve...duh because I fail at diets!!! They're submitting my paperwork for approval next week! Good luck to you all.

I love the reality of your posts. Never TMI, just much appreciated honesty that we can all relate to at some point in our journey!

Monica you must be so anxious! I'm anxious and I haven't even submitted yet. Today is my final visit of the 6 mo physician supv weight loss. I'm going to personally deliver the letter of medical necessity and all other documents from my dr. to the surgeons Patient Insurance Coordinator immediately after (why wait another day for snail mail) if I could I'd deliver it from the surgeon to the insurance company...I'm so ready to get to the next steps and have a date assigned. Thanks for all of the advice from others. I'll be calling early next week for sure.

Good luck everyone! Can't wait to hear your updates.

You've conquered your fear and it's so good to hear another success story! Congratulations! So happy for you, can't wait to hear more.

Good luck everyone! We're with you in spirit!

You're going to do great! All of you Sleevers that have and will go before me, keep giving me the inspiration I need to keep my eye on the prize. I now know that being emotional the night before surgery is normal and I'll add that to my mental check list. I'm having my surgery here locally but like you, I didn't want to bother anyone so I've told all that I don't need anyone to go with me, just might need a ride to & home from the hospital. (I'll reconsider that now too) Tomorrow will go well and before you know it, I'll be smiling at my monitor hearing/reading your play by play of your experience, so please give us an update as soon as you're able to.

Hi Sarah, Congrats to you!!!! How did you get around the 6 month waiting period? Sooo jealous and wish I was approved too. I'm like Bakomom still waiting...my last of 6 visits is next Thursday. I hope my approval & surgery date comes quick. My goal is to have it by October as a birthday present to myself. Good luck to you & I'll be following your progress!

Yes, I agree, the time has been well spent. I've done a lot more homework about the sleeve and the changes that I need to make than I would have if I would've been approved right away. I'm just soooo ready now to have the surgery that I'll be really disappointed if they deny. Good luck to you with both of your surgeries!

I'm with you, jumping through the 6 months of supervised diet hoops. My last appointment is 8/25 then packet goes to insurance. I'm praying and crossing fingers, toes and eyes that we all get approved! PS...I agree with the "silly supervised diet" comment. It's just a game they're playing, yes losing weight is a plus but I would've lost a lot more if I had been sleeved 6 months ago!

Thanks for the update and so glad that you're doing well.

Congratulations Lisa! I'm hoping to be an October Sleever too, don't have my date yet but if I get denied by insurance I just might join you there.

I am so grateful for this posted topic! It hadn't even occurred to me not to tell anyone (shows what a blabber mouth I am, he he), my entire immediate family, Mom, sisters, aunts, nieces, etc. know. But I've been struggling with how to tell my bosses (who happen to be pediatricians). I know they're going to have their opinions and pros / cons, etc. After reading this topic, I realized that I'm taking the time off as vacation, which I'm entitled to do and they don't need to know any other details. There's one particular girl at work who has been dieting for 2 straight years and now claiming she has all different types of ailments thyroid, gallbladder, etc. that are preventing her from losing her last 20 - 30 lbs. She reviews and judges everyone's meal at the lunch table and calls people out if they've been dieting and slip...she's very rude. I am now especially happy to NOT include her in on what will now be "my little secret" at work. Thanks for the idea...what a concept...keeping my mouth shut (might be why I'm overweight too, ha ha).

Congratulations! Very excited for you...living this process through others as time inches by.

I eat, sleep, breath, and think about VSG all of the time! I'm in the 5th month of 6 months of hoop jumping for insurance. My last appt is August 25th. After insurance approves, I have 4 weeks of pre-op meetings & tests. So I've given up on a birthday (10/8) sleeve but hoping & praying for a birthmonth (October) sleeve. Glad to know I'm not alone in this crazy insurance waiting game! My biggest fear is that insurance will deny, then what?

Hope you're doing well, I can't wait to hear about your experience. I'm living through all of you post op sleevers!