WVLoser

Congratulations ~ so happy for you!!! The countdown begins . . . .best of luck to you!!!

Lisa ~ that is totally AWESOME!!!! I am so excited for you. Even though you will be 3 hours away from me (Wheeling, WV), I will be sending you some good ole West Virgina hugs for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery!!! Good Luck and keep us posted!!!

Good thoughts coming your way for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery!!!

I'll be thinking about you tomorrow ~ sending good thoughts your way for a safe trip and speedy recovery!!! You'll do GREAT!!

So last week I went to the informational session with my surgeon - I actually went up to her after the session and asked about VSG and if she had the specific surgical code for it so I could give it to my insurance. She was very nice and said she could not remember off hand, but to call her office and they could give it to me. I called - they gave it to me - I talked with my insurance and was good to go. Today the surgeons officed called and said that I was in fact a bariatric candidate (duh!!), however, they do not perform the sleeve!!!!! She said that if I wanted RNY we could proceed. Uggghhhhhhhh!!! Sooooooooo I hung up picked the phone back up and found another surgeon! Unfortunately I now have to wait another 2 weeks until their information session!!! I'm trying desperately to relax, breathe, and understand that this is just a rough patch in my overall journey. God grant me the patience!!!

I have only read some things, but by all accounts he appears to be a very good doctor. I'm sure you will do great. He has quite a few VSG's under his belt and the facility looks very nice. Thanks for your support. My disposition is much better today and I'm ready to "get back on the horse"! :thumbup: I've decided to go ahead and start my 6 month diet documentation, in anticipation that this will be my next hurdle in getting my surgery date. Hope all is well with you ~ Take Care! Beth

Thanks to all! Shaking this one off and trying to get my head into a better place. Lisa - I considered Dr. Nease as a possiblity - unfortunately he is 3 hours from me and this new surgeon is just an hour. Good Luck in December!!!

Awesome!!! Congrats!!!

Thoughts and prayers coming your way - Good Luck!!! You will do GREAT!!!:mad0::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

That's really great news. I am hoping to hear from my surgeon this week (ugh! her secretary has been out sick - how dare she :mad0:). To my knowledge the only requirement is the psyc eval. I am sooooo hoping a surgery date will be set sooner rather than later. Thanks for all of the updates on Federal BCBS - it is so encouraging to see that this insurance company has "seen the light"!!! Good Luck to all of you future sleevers/losers:thumbup:!!!

So I just got home from an informational presentation by my surgeon and she has indicated that unfortunately there is a good chance that my insurance will not cover the VSG. I have Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield. Needless to say I am a bit bummed, I really wanted the VSG due to the fact that I have chronic headaches and take Advil quite a bit - which I will not be able to do with the RNY. Does anyone else out there have Federal BCBS? Were you able to get approved? While RNY is not out of the question - I just kind of had my heart set on VSG.

I'm waiting on a surgery date, but in the meantime I am trying out a few products to see what works for me. I recently bought a Protein drink called "Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60" - Fruit Punch. Here are the nutritional facts: 24FL oz Calories - 250 Sodium - 500 mg Potassium - 210 mg Carbohydrate - 0 mg Sugars - 0 mg Protein - 60 mg It's actually not bad, but I want to be sure the calories and sodium are within the correct range. Can anyone help me out with this one?:biggrin2:

Tiff - thanks so much for your input. Good point about changing taste buds. I really enjoy your posts and look forward to your input as I continue. Thanks again!!!

Clarification - I have the pre-mixed stuff. So the nutritional info is slightly different (as indicated above).

Yep - that's it. What do you think?

Congratulations! What in inspiration ~ I'm so ready to have this surgery!!!! Thanks for posting!

Dr. Carol McCloskey - Magee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh. They are suppose tocall this week so there is a chance I might get in to see her soon. I hope so ~ I would love to have a November surgery date!!! How are things progressing with you? Meet with the surgeon yet, date yet???

So far so good ~ but I won't really be excited to I have the final offical word and a surgery date!!! Right now, I am cautiously optimistic. My surgeon did not think it would be covered, but I got the exact surgical code and exact diagnosis code and called my insurance company and the girl said that "yes it is listed". I know I meet the BMI requirements and according to the insurance girl the only other thing I need is the psyc eval. Supposedly my insurance does not requrire the 6 month diet. Again, cautiously optimistic!!! Fight as hard as you can and convince them it is in THEIR best interest also. They won't have to pay for all of your medical expenses in the future!!! Good Luck!

Best of luck with your journey. I too am new to this and can't wait to get started. I just spoke with my insurance last week and it appears that they are going to cover it!!! My surgeon is supposed to call me this week with the next step. Can't wait to get on the losers bench!!!:cursing: Good Luck!!!

OMG - just got off the phone with my insurance and the sleeve is listed as an "approved procedure"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAHOOOOOOO!!! Thank you so much to everyone who commented and offered words of advice. What an awesome resource this site has been. I know this is just the beginning of the ups and downs that this roller coaster will provide. Next step - all of the inital testing to get formally approved!

Kooter - thanks I would really appreciate that!!! My husband is in the military so I am assuming it is the same kind of insurance, but I don't know. I'm going to call first thing in the AM. Someone else posted that as long as it's listed as "medically necessary" (duh!!!) then it should get approved. At least hers did.