funkeechiggen

I have Aetna and the insurance coordinator at my surgeon's office said Aetna is VERY particular about when your nutritionist appointments are scheduled. When I had my first consultation with the surgeon back in June the coordinator sat down with me and scheduled the 3 nutritionist visits (one each in July, August and September). They scheduled the first NUT visit 30 days after my initial consultation because they said Aetna has denied people for not doing that! Also, each of the 3 nutritionist visits have to be at least 30 days apart and if you miss one you have to start the process over! I have my last NUT appointment next week and then after doing the cardiac clearance tests (immediately following the visit) they will submit to insurance! Good luck with your journey!!!

OMG I can't wait to do that post-op!!! My BFF is a skinny-mini and she goes to Sams Club on the weekend and has her "free lunch" while she shops. I have always laughed at her not understanding how anyone could get full doing that but I think I will join her some weekend after I've been sleeved - LOL!

Agree with KS, early mornings are a great time to walk. But also when mosquitoes are most active! With the high number of West Nile Virus cases in DFW this summer - just be sure to spray yourself with Off, Cutter, etc. Aren't Texas summers soooo much fun?! Congrats on your success so far!!!

Also, how would they enforce the post-op 12-month support meetings?! Don't see how they can require that once they approve the surgery. Clearing you for surgery implies BCBS agrees to pay the surgeon/hospital their portion of the fees. Are they going to demand their money back from the surgeon if you don't attend post-op!? Force you to pay them back!? Very strange! What a pain in the rump! :/. In your situation sounds like self-pay is the way to go!

I feel the same way! Just got my machine a couple weeks ago. The first 4-5 days I was able to use the mask without any (major) problems. Now the mask has developed a seriously loud whistle every time I exhale which is unbearable! It only happens after the machine "ramps up" and usually just as I'm about to fall asleep - which wakes me up. I've tried dealing with the noise but end up yanking the mask off and not using it. I finally gave up after trying all the troubleshooting tips in the manual (cleaning with vinegar, tightening/loosening straps, etc.) I did contact the DME company that issued my mask and machine and I have a 30-day window to exchange the mask. I made an appointment for tomorrow night so I'm hoping they can either issue me a new mask or adjust the pressure on the machine (I think that's the real problem!). You may want to call the company that issued you the mask and machine and let them know! Don't worry about thinking you are being whiny! This is your health at stake here - you are your own best advocate! If something isn't working for you, let your voice be heard!

Wow! Great job! I'm inspired!!!

FYI - BEND classes are the diet/exercise/nutrition classes required for insurance purposes. Since you're self-pay you probably don't have to attend - lucky you! I have Aetna and they require you to complete a 3 month physician-supervised diet & exercise program as part of the approval process. There are other checklist requirements as well such as weight history from PCP, cardiac clearance for surgery, EGD. It seems like 3 months will be such a loooooong time but then I think about the fact that summer is more than halfway over and my daughter goes back to school in 4 weeks!! Three months will fly by!!!

I'm not self-pay but a glace at his website shows the price as $12,300 http://www.drdkim.net/html/bariatric-weight-loss-surgery-payment-options-dallas-tx.html#pricing

Went to my first BEND class last week at Dr. Kim's office. The nutritionist said they will soon be dropping the Optifast brand shakes and only offering BariEssentials. Just my opinion, but I wasn't too impressed with the first class and the information presented. The NUT handed out photocopies of 3 very different diets and said "choose one you prefer" and basically read from a PowerPoint the rest of the meeting. The handouts for the diet were very confusing as well and she didn't do a very good job of explaining them. In essence one is balanced diet, one is low fat and one is high Protein which I'm trying to follow. I've started drinking Protein Shakes for Breakfast and hope to replace 2 meals a day with the shakes by the time I "hopefully" get insurance approval. Then switching to 2 week liquid per-op diet should be less of a shock! Hopefully the next 2 classes will be more productive and interesting! It's all part of the journey to get my sleeve so I'm staying positive! That being said, everyone at Dr. Kim's office has been very pleasant and the insurance coordinators really know their stuff

My surgery probably won't be until October! I just started my 3 mo's of nutrition classes and the last one isn't until September 27! Wow you only have a 2 day liquid diet?! Thought most everyone has a 2 week liquid diet! Let's keep in touch

Sounds like a gallstone attack! I had mine taken out 2 years ago... The first time I ever had one (about 6 years ago) I thought I was having a heart attack. Went to the ER and none of the tests indicated gallstones and the doc there said I was probably having a panic attack. I dealt with it off and on, progressively getting worse before finding the PCP that I have now who correctly diagnosed the problem. Is your pain episodic or constant? If it's constant, it may be something else. Gallstone attacks tend to go away after a few hours.

Quitting smoking is tough... I've done it several times and in several ways: cold turkey, Chantix (too many bizarre dreams for me!), nicotine patch. For me, the easiest way is using the patch. You can take a patch and cut it in half so when the cravings get super intense you can add the other half of the patch for instant (sorta) relief. Also, I discovered that the biggest crutch for me when quitting was finding something to do with my hands other than hold a cigarette. Chewing on straws while I was at work and at my desk helped (for some strange reason). I also picked up crocheting last time I quit and that kept me occupied while I was at home. So maybe you could find a new hobby that requires a lot of concentration to keep your mind off the cigs! I have been smoke free now for over a year! Definitely glad I did that last year as I would hate having to quit in order to have surgery done. BTW - I had my first NUT class on Thursday of this week so we're on the same track! Good luck to you!!!

The No No is a NO GO, imho

I will probably be getting this same list at my last BEND class. Dr. Kim is my surgeon also Good luck with your surgery!!! (August 7 is my birthday - good choice in dates! LOL!)

Bwahahahaha!!! omg!!

That is awesome!!! Great job!

FYI - I've read many posts here where members said they were cleared to drive as soon as they were off pain meds. Three weeks seems very excessive to me and not the norm...

Giselle, Yep, Baylor Trophy Club & Wise are both "in-network" for Aetna... Good to know that! How far out was your surgery date from the date of approval? Days, weeks, months? Just concerned and want to make sure I can get the surgery done this year! I have met my deductible and a good portion of my OOP coinsurance so I don't want surgery to be pushed back to 2013! BTW - Weren't you sleeved recently? How are you doing?!

I am with Dr. Kim also but just started and have my first nutrition class this Thursday. I have done the sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Had my 2nd sleep study last weekend to be fitted for the CPAP mask, which I took home with me and am now using. (uGh!) How long after you were approved did it take for you to get the surgery scheduled?? Do you have to get on a waiting list or were you able to schedule it quickly? Also, which hospital are you using for the surgery? I checked and it looks like Forest Park is not "in-network" for Aetna. Hoping Dr. Kim does surgeries at other hospitals because I don't want to get stuck paying out-of-network coinsurance

Well, I'm glad to hear you are home!!!

Hey Ashlee, are you still in the hospital or are you at home now? Continuing to pray for you!!! I know it's hard but keep those positive thoughts going! It will help speed your recovery!

I agree... Think of it this way: If the roles were reversed and your boyfriend had the surgery, didn't tell you about it and you found out later, how would it make you feel? Personally, I would wonder what else they were keeping a secret from me and would have serious trust issues going forward in the relationship! I wouldn't want to be in a relationship that isn't built on trust...