Huntingnurse

Who all uses it? I just got one through work - I work for HCA and they have a thing called H2U that is supposed to help you get healthy (ties in with insurance as well). Since I have a high BMI I was able to get one for free - They cost about 100.00 at Best Buy. If you have a profile and want to add me mine's http://www.fitbit.com/user/23RCRX

He's a doucher.... feel free to tell him another MAN and FATHER said so. I'm a NICU nurse and do that in and out on a daily basis. It's not the end of the world. Grow up.

I can't believe they're forcing you to drop the five or else cancel surgery???

Yesterday I had my third nutritionist visit and also had my psych consult. This is officially the halfway point. I must admit that I do have one regret - I went to the free (required) seminar in May - but I didn't have my initial consultation until July - which throws me literally in a race against time to make it in by the end of the year to prevent my deductible from resetting or (hopefully not the case) my insurance dropping coverage for the surgery - I have UHC through HCA. If I had only gone to the initial consult right away I'd be slated to get sleeved in October!! Oh well, hopefully I make it in by the end of the year. Here's to the halfway point! Almost there!

Anyone else go through this? I've tried to have WLS before and was denied by insurance both times. Always had a BMI over 40 but was told no... had medical records from when I was 11 years old to the date I applied showing my weight and weight loss attempts (I'm only 32 now).... yet they always found some loophole. I'm with UHC now for my insurance. Like a dummy I picked the high deductible at the first of the year (the thought never crossed my mind to try again after being denied so many times in the past)... so I'm out of pocket at least 1,900.00 before surgery. I'm trying to get all labs, EKG, Chest Xray, UA, and EGD done at the hospital I work for so they're covered 100% (procedure anyway, not the doctor's fee) to cut down on out of pocket. I know a few people I work with who've had some form of WLS performed... so apparently they WILL approve it... I've called the reps a couple of times and have gone over the requirements thoroughly... and I'm meeting them now... just really really really scared to get my hopes up just to get punched in the gut again. Anyone else feel like that? How'd you get over it? Did you wait until your surgery date to let anyone know what you were trying to do? .... sucks.

I haven't submitted to them yet. I have in the past with other companies.. I'm still going through all of the hurdles right now.

But would any of you say that you've noticed improved memory? I have a horrible memory and everywhere you read it says that excess of carbs (why I'm in this shape anyway) can cause it... as well as aspartame... etc. Sounds like EVERYTHING bad for you can cause it... SO I'm wondering once everything bad is out of your system for a while have you noticed a better memory?

AAAAANNNNND..... I'm Screwed. Lol.

Going through that myself - I'm almost done with the second month of my 6 month supervised diet. Also, very annoyed at it being needed - Like I woke up yesterday fat... really? ive been dieting in one way or another for 20 years... and I'm 32. I didn't gain but didn't lose at my first appointment - she wasnt mad but she said "oh well, at least you didn't gain." lol. I want to get serious but I'm also scared of "what if i lose too much and get below 40 BMI?" I'm about a 41.5 with no co-morbs and don't want to get too low and get denied...

Ok hopefuly some of the fellow nurses on here can relate - I have a feeling I'm going to be quite the difficult patient post-op. My doc says a 2-3 day hospital stay so I'll be coherent for most of it (I'm thinking the anesthesia will clear by the day after surgery). I'm not going to want anyone checking on me and taking care of me lol. I'm of the mindset "just give me the stuff and I'll do it myself." Plus I have no desire whatsoever to wear a hospital gown - I plan on taking sweat pants and a tshirt with me. If they try to make me wear the gown I'll probably just be butt nekkid in the bed next time they come in out of spite lol. Anyone else think they'll be a difficult patient? I know the pants could rub the incision site or whatever but I dont want to wear the gown lol. Now keep in mind this is coming from someone who's only almost halfway through the supervised diet - 3 1/2 more months until I can even try to get the surgery anyway.

Tracey - It's one of the sister hospitals - I'd be too self-conscious to have it at the same hospital I work at. Not too crazy about the idea of everyone knowing my business lol. I'm actually a NICU nurse so my patients don't really apply. I just have a feeling I'll be saying " nah I got it" a lot when they come to do stuff lol. Too self-conscious. Also - I'm going to request no catheter if at all possible. I know when I did a brief stint in OR the guys never got catheters for whatever procedure they were having - unless they couldnt go AFTER surgery THEN they got one. Then again it wasnt bariatric patients.. so who knows.

Ok a lot of it was sarcasm - the saying "Nurses make the worst patients" is kind of what I was getting at. I really am too self conscious to want to walk around in a gown though It'll just make me uncomfortable to have people "taking care of me" but I know thats part of it.

So does your husband lol

Great... just what I need to hear. Still pre-op but in the middle of laser back hair removal lol. Im not sasquach but it was enough to bug me. Have a hairy chest/abdomen too but not ridiculous... hopefully it doesnt get worse or cause more laser hair treatments. Those things sting.

I get really bummed that I have a hard time fitting on some of the rides at Six Flags with my little girl :-/ it's embarassing. I can usually squeeze in though but still..

Good Luck!

That won't be anything new lol.

I'm in Bedford - still pre-op. Going on month 3 of 6 for the med supervised diet. Have United Healthcare through HCA. Hope to god I get approved when it's all said and done.

Back in the days of nursing school I saw a couple when I had my rotation over there. After actually WATCHING it... I must say I'm dreading it. That's one thing I'm NOT looking forward to. I've never been put to sleep and not looking forward to it. Going to sleep is also what I really dread about the surgery. :-/

My Nut said that it's based on your initial weight..... can't say I didn't totally fall off the wagon and pad a few pounds (about 10) prior to my initial visit.. lol just saying.

I'm in Bedford - when I started the process I lived in Plano but moved here a couple of weeks ago. I'm seeing Dr. Sheetal Patel - I have to use an HCA facility and she has privelages there at Med. Center of Plano so I'm just driving back and forth when I have to see the nutritionist. They have everyone pretty much there in their practice - her, nutritionist, psych RN... Makes it pretty convenient. They're called 360 Bariatrics.

Can anyone share their experience with HCA's plans on United Healthcare? I work for an HCA hospital and am starting the journey towards getting surgery. So far I've been to the seminar, had the initial consult with the surgeon, and have been to the first medical manage weightloss appointment with the dietician. It's all out of pocket so far, because I have such a high deductible. I signed up for the high deductible plan before realizing that bariatric surgery was covered. Its the $1,900.00 deductible with 70/30 after deductible met. Fortunately the hospital stay is covered 100% with HCA hospitals. So what are any of your stories with UHC (even if you don't have HCA's plan)? Any unforseen hurdles pop up? Did they move quickly? Since I started this month we're thinking I can possibly squeeze in at the end of the year.... fingers crossed.

Oh and Tinker - like your signature - also an RN.

If I had the cash I'd self pay in a heartbeat. :-/

Sorry to hear that I know they cover bariatric surgery here... they do have the hoops to go through including the 6 month medically managed weight loss attempt That blows. I've been BMI of 40+ for MANY years... its not like 6 months will change that.