Mrs.Riene

Good Morning March Sleevers, To Mambomama, I total understand where you are coming from all of the naysayers and their friend stories. I have been on this journey of fulfilling all of the requirements to satisfy the insurance company. During that time know one express anything for or against me doing this. It is just now after all of the approvals are in and the date is set that people want to start commenting or share their "my friend" stories. They always share a story of someone who died or someone who has had many additional surgeries (plastic surgery) because of the weight loss. I told them if that is what makes them people happy then that is on them. I feel that we are all here to live this thing called life and that no one has the blueprint to tell someone else what they did wrong or right. So when I a confronted with a naysayer I simple tell them, “If you have not walk in my shoes or lived my life, then keep your comments to yourself." Keep your head up; you are making the right decision for you. When all of the weight is gone and you are able to enjoy life as you have dream, those naysayer will be that ones that say" Girl, you should have done that a long time ago" I am with you on organizing the house, plus I have a goal of painting every room before my surgery. I just want to start out fresh and new including everything around me.

Thank so much Unbanded this really help in determining how many days I need.

Unbanded - when you said that you were out for a week. Was that a 5 or 7 days week? The reason why I am asking is because my surgery is schedule on a Wednesday and I was wondering if I would be okay on Monday to return back to work.

Well I have a question. I haven't been sleeve yet, but wanted to know how long does the average person take off from work. I have a total desk job with mimimal lifting.

Thanks for the information.

Approved! Gettin sleeved on March 28th.

Thank you for participating in this group. Just to share some of my experience on this journey to a newer me. While this journey for me started about 14 years ago. Growing up I was not a heavy child, matter of fact I was so skinny that most people thought I was anorexia. After having my first child everything snapped back into place and I was my old self again. It wasn't until after I had my third and last child that I start to develop a weight issue. Actually it was my mindset of thinking I had to eat for two that started it. During and after I had my last child I began to eat more then I ever had, like 6 egg, 4 bacon and container of biscuits. My husband could not believe how much I was eating, matter of fact I could not believe it. After a while I stop, but the damage was done. I went from 125 to 190 in less than 6 months. I tried to diet but as soon as I felt I achieve my desire goal, I would stop the diet and less than a year later the weight was back on and more. I tried to work with several personal trainers to get the weight off for good, by killing myself with a workout schedule of 2 hours for 6-7 days a week, but the weight was still there and at the end of it all I was at 215. I then tried South Beach and it worked, I lost about 50 lbs. and was on my way. There was an emergency situation in my family and before I knew it the weight started to creep back on and I had surpassed my previous weight. This is when I knew I needed additional help and search for another option that would help me to keep this weight off. That is when my sister in Christ told me about this surgery. At first I thought this type of surgery were for those who were extremely obese and thought I didn't fit into that category. I went to the informational meeting with my husband and learn about all the different types of surgeries and also found out that I did fit into the category. I quickly signed all I needed to do get myself started into the program and filled all of the requirements to satisfy the insurance company. After I received the letter from the insurance company, that said I was approved for my VSG. I called my doctor's office to let them know, to only find out they had not received the letter at that time. When they finally had, they called and wanted to schedule my surgery for February 22, but because I work in an accounting unit I had to schedule it until after year-end was over. So the 28th of March, I was a little disappointed, because it seems the 28th of March was so far away. But now I using this time to prepare for the surgery, like gathering items needed for post-op and starting an exercise routine. What are some of the things are you doing as you wait for your surgery date? One for me is trying different types of Protein Shakes and reading lots of labels for Vitamins. One of my major issues is that I am allergic to sucralose (splenda). Every time I eat anything that contains sucralose, I whelp up. I learn I was allergic when I was on South Beach. If anyone has any suggestion it would be great appreciated. As I wait for my surgery date, I look forward to hearing from everyone in this group on their experience (pre and post op).

I just received my approval letter from the insurance company. Have not heard anything from my surgeon's office at this time, but hope to here from them soon. The letter was actually sent out on the 24th and I received it in the mail this morning. I am so excited and ready to move forward with the next phase.

Well Evilqween, I too am waiting on approval from Cigna PPO. My paperwork was submitted by my Doctor's insurance coordinator on January 2 of this year. Call my insurance coordinator at the doctor office yesterday to find out the status. She said they have not heard back from Cigna. I then called Cigna to see if I could find out the status of my paperwork. I was told the nurse has up to 30 days to process paperwork for this kind of procedure. So I should not expect to hear back from them until February 2. All I could say was, REALLY you guys are going to take the maximum amount of time to process something that could be done in just a few minutes. Her answer was "Yes". All I can say about Cigna PPO insurance is "Really"!!! Once I am approve. I will let you know so we can see how long they actually took.