FuriosMommy

Thanks Annette, will do!

Yay! I hope I can round up some sleeve buddies!

Thanks everyone!

No willies for me yet, I'm excited. But I have been on the liquid diet for about 6 hours and I'm dying to eat food... but it's ok, I can stick this out! I just wish my doctor's office would call to set up my pre-op testing... next tuesday is approaching rapidly!

Hi January sleevers, looks like I'll be joining you! I just found out this morning that my surgery has been scheduled for Jan 4th! I'm so excited. A little about me.... I am a 27 year old stay at home Mom and Wife. My son is 16 months old and has endless energy. I've been over 300lbs since high school. I reached my highest weight of 350 the day I had my son via c-section. I've been hovering around 320 ever since he was born. I've been heavy my whole life and I'm tired of being the biggest person in the room. I'm also really tired of breaking things like chairs and toilet seats =o( so embarrassing. I'm ready for this! It's nice to meet you all, I'm glad we are all in the same boat together. I have to have all my pre-op testing this week, but I'm not sure what to expect. Any ideas?

Hi all! I'm joining you Jan. sleevers. I just found out this morning that I will be sleeved on Jan. 4th! I'm so excited and not nervous.... yet! I've been looking forward to this journey for years! A little about me.... I am a 27 year old stay at home Mom and Wife. My son is 16 months old and has endless energy. I've been over 300lbs since high school. I reached my highest weight of 350 the day I had my son via c-section. I've been hovering around 320 ever since he was born. I've been heavy my whole life and I'm tired of being the biggest person in the room. I'm also really tired of breaking things like chairs and toilet seats =o( so embarrassing. I'm ready for this! It's nice to meet you all, I'm glad we are all in the same boat together. I have to have all my pre-op testing this week, but I'm not sure what to expect. Any ideas?

Thanks! I'm so excited.

Hi everyone! I'm coming to vent a little. My case was first submitted for approval to UHC (Choice Plus PPO) in early November. I was denied (but never received a denial letter in the mail) because I did not have psych eval info or a 6 month diet. The psych eval had just been done and for some reason they hadn't received it yet, and I was told that the diet was not required (by 3 different reps). Just this week 2 different supervised diets were submitted (one while I was pregnant and the other when I was not, both took place in the last 2 years). My doctor thoroughly documented both diets and weights and everything. My psych eval was also re-sent. Now the NCM said she STILL doesn't have the psych eval info and the diet doesn't count because I was PG. #1 there is no exclusion on pregnancy that I'm aware and #2 there was a second diet that clearly took place when I was not pregnant. I'm not sure if she is truly not receiving all of the info or if she's just incompetent. Have any of you had to have your case re-assigned to a different nurse coordinator? At this point I feel like they are just grasping at straws so they don't have to pay for surgery even though I am well qualified. It's frustrating when we pay so much for decent insurance, yet they don't want to cover important procedures. Needless to say I feel very defeated =o( Can anyone shed some light for me? Thanks!

I just had to tell someone.... I called yesterday to get re-assigned, left a voicemail. I got a call back today saying I've been approved!

Thanks ladies, I think I'll give them a call and try to work up to a manager.

I'm just curious if anyone's Psych Eval consisted of taking the long MMPI test only? I called a psych's office on my surgeon's list and told them I need a psych eval for bariatric surgery. They said no problem, I was scheduled, I was told it would be about 2.5 hours. I arrived, filled out a form and took the MMPI test. After I turned in my bubble answer sheet I was told that I was done and would receive a call only if there was a problem. I heard from my surgeon's office later that day that they received the results and everything was fine. It seems a little strange that I didn't actually meet with the doctor. We have submitted all of my paper work the UHC and they stated they didn't receive my psych eval... could it be that I was supposed to see the Psychiatrist? I'm thinking yes... but the Psychiatrist's office said that they do a lot of evals for bariatric surgery and they only do the MMPI. Just wondering if I was the only one... Thanks!

I've been having a similar experience. I was told the same qualifications and told specifically that no diet was needed, this was from three different people. My surgeon's office even called to double check and the were told the same thing. We submitted and I was denied for not having a supervised diet. Each time I called I was told that nothing could be done until we submitted for pre-authorization. I was never told anything about a nurse case manager or about a bariatric resource service. Then I got a call out of the blue from a NCM and she said I should have been speaking to her from the beginning to find out the full information on my policy and that the phone reps are only able to give me general information, nothing specific to my policy. I just don't get it... if they have my member ID when I call, how is it they aren't able to see my full benefits and requirements. It seems like there is a huge disconnect and it's very frustrating. It seems to me that this could become a bit of a bad faith issue on their part, especially if they are spitting out denials when they aren't even the right dept. It's frustrating.... You'd think that paying as much as we do for the plans that we have it'd be easier to get better service.

Hi, I just wanted to say hi from a fellow Arizonan! I hope your appeal is successful! I live in north Phoenix and I hope to have my VSG with Dr. Fang very soon. We are sending in my 6 month diet soon and I hope it pleases the insurance company. I've heard a lot of great things from Dr. Blackstone's patients. There is quite a large group of them on the obesity help arizona board.

Hi all, I am a VSG hopeful and I was wondering about knee pain. I've been heavy my whole life and always had some mild knee pain. Recently it has increased greatly due to kneeling and being on the floor to play with my 1 year old son. It's is to the point that every time I stand up from sitting or go up the stairs my left knee grinds and my right knee pops. I'm only 27, but I know I'm probably looking at knee replacements at some point in my life. After losing weight did your knee pain alleviate or was the damage too far gone? I'm sure it'll vary person to person, but in general.... Thanks!

Hi all, just chiming in. I am also just beginning the 6 month diet with UHC. I was initially told, as was my surgeon that my plan didn't require the diet. Now that I've submitted for approval I was denied for not having it. So I'm pretty frustrated. But I hope to officially begin the diet plan next month and shoot for a May surgery date!

Hi everyone, I've been a lurker for too long! My approval request was submitted to UHC on Tuesday 11/9 I'm trying to think positive thoughts. I'm so afraid it'll be 3 weeks before I hear from them and then they'll just want me to jump through more hoops! I have UHC Choice Plus PPO, I was told that my only requirements are whatever the surgeon requires from me. Let's hope that's the case. I know it's all set up by the employer, so there's really no way of knowing by all of us comparing notes. Keep your fingers crossed for me please! I'm really hoping to have my VSG before the end of the year.

Thanks Mary, my BMI is also 49 and I'm pre-diabetic. I had hoped that'd be enough. Especially since the BMI limit is 40, but now all of the sudden they need diet information. I hope to find out more today. I've been waiting to hear back from my patient advocate, but she doesn't seem to be super on top of things =o( The thank you's are a good idea!

Thanks for the response. I was never assigned a case worker. I should call and request one. I have a phone call and voicemail in with my patient advocate at my surgeon's office so hopefully she can find something out for me. She told me she had my evaluation, so it's interesting that the insurance don't have it. I shouldn't get too shook up yet until I hear back for sure. I might get lucky and only need a 3 month diet... but I doubt it. It'll probably be 6. Guess we'll see. It was just discouraging to hear that out of the blue.

Well great.... I checked in with United healthcare and they said my request is pending because they never received a psych eval or diet information from my doctor. The psych eval was done last month and I was told by 4 different people at United and by my surgeon's office that a diet wasn't required with my plan. If it is required I wish they would have told me a few months ago when I began this process so I could have already had a few months done. Ugh.... so frustrating. So I'm still not sure what they need and it doesn't sound like they are either.

Thanks for the response Vicki. I'm glad you were finally able to get your surgery done and you're doing well. I was told by 3 people that I do for sure have 100% coverage and the only requirement was "whatever the surgeon requires" is what they would always say. So I'm hoping with my high BMI of 49 it'll go through easily. The only thing I was missing was one year of medical records. I sent them 5 years worth, but I had nothing for 2006. I sent them a letter explaining that I got married that year and didn't see a doctor but attached a wedding picture so they could see I was clearly overweight that year. I hope that's enough. I've been well overweight my entire life, so I can't imagine ever feeling and looking "normal". I hope it's enough.... I'm just inpatient haha.

That's awesome congratulations! I hope to submit for approval to UHC today! I hope I have as good of luck as you did.

Hi Mrs, I'd love to be a buddy. I'm in Phoenix, Az. and a 27 year old stay at home Mom. I'm not sleeved yet, but I'm hoping for a Dec. date as well! As of right now I just need my psych eval and I should be set to submit for approval. Good luck to you, the sleeve is a great choice! I love Facebooking, how can I find you on there?

Wow, that is interesting. I was wondering about this very thing myself the other day since DH and I aren't using any formal BC methods and I'm getting my requirements together for surgery. Either way, congratulations on the baby and the surgery. Sounds like you have a pretty stubborn little bean in there to make it through the surgery. Sounds like a blessing in disguise to me. Congrats!

Wow, that's great that you have all of your information together. I just saw Dr. Fang yesterday. I think all I need now is my psychological eval. I'm hoping to have surgery before the end of the year. That might be an unrealistic goal I suppose. Keep me updated on your progress. Good luck! If you are on Facebook you should look me up.

Hi, this reply is a little late, but I am currently getting my requirements together to have Dr. Fang do my sleeve for me. He seemed nice. I actually had a consult with Dr. Juarez a few years ago, and I felt that he was just ok. Since then I have actually encountered 3 people in my circle that have had surgery with Dr. Fang and they highly recommended him. Based on their recommendations I am now pursuing surgery with him. There don't seem to be many Phoenician's around here, so It's nice to find another one! Good luck with your journey!