flmama

Oh yes, they do have BMI requirements! I just meant no nutritional/behavior mod/exercise requirements ahead of time. It's an Aetna plan...they linked to the Aetna website with the 6 or 3 month requirement options, but the insurance coordinator said that my particular plan doesn't have those requirements. My BMI is currently 46, so I'm okay there.

I am working on the history packet for my surgeon and they have a specific question (after the general list every med you take question) that says: "Have you EVER taken cortisone/steroids? When? Why?" ...And they only give a teeny tiny little space after when and why to write in your answers. 1. Is this a big deal? I was surprised they singled it out. 2. And if it is a big deal, why isn't there more space? My old PCP would give me a cortisone injection and a steroid step pack to knock out the 1-2x yearly upper respiratory infections I would get. Any thoughts? I am planning to call tomorrow and ask, but just thought I would see if any of our gurus here had any ideas. (I searched and nothing jumped out at me on this topic.)

All docs are different but mine said no lifting (including my children) for 6 weeks. No excuses. I have an infant/toddler/preschooler. My mom is staying a week. My sister is staying a week. My in-laws are coming for a long weekend. Otherwise I am having a mother's helper come in each day and plan on spending all of my time on the floor with the kids to making changing and napping easier. It'll take some creativity, but it solves the lifting issue. I just factored the cost of help into my overall expenses.

Most chicken in restaurants is injected with sugar Water for flavor. Even if you get it grilled instead of fried, it is usually more calories and carbs than other menu items. There are only a very small number of exceptions to that rule. Any of the Atkins boards online can tell you who they are. I just gave up ordering chicken when I am out. Buffalo Wild Wings naked wings are a major offender...I think over 30-40 carbs. More than the breaded wings they sell. Its pretty scary where restaurants and food manufacturers/processors (probably the root of a lot of food issues...food shouldn't be manufactured) hide sugar and chemicals.

You either love them or hate them. They stink...you have to.rinse thoroughly before using them. I don't think they have any flavor...they taste like whatever you cook them with. My husband bated them. I found they were a gateway food for me though and rather than satisfying me they made me want more/better carbs.

You should go into a store and tell them what activities you'll do in them and let them fit you. It makes a huge difference in how you feel while wearing them!

She ate real food. None of their shakes or anything. It was protein only for 2 weeks and then protein and low carb veggies until she lost the weight. No cheese and no fruit and no grains of any kind. Its basically Atkins that is medically supervised and has supplements. She took phentermine and b12 injections. When she goes to the herbal suppressant and adds in the foods she starts gaining. It sounds like a way to keep taking her $115 a week to me, but if she doesn't mind.

My best friend lost all of her weight on it (70 lbs), but she has to keep going back and restarting the diet Bc she is unable to maintain without the drugs and supplements and strict diet. In maintenance they bump you up from 500-800 to regular calories but she cant control portions or carbs, so slwhen she gains 20-30 she chooses to start over.

So my insurance company TPA has verified benefits and coverage and requirements to me directly. I talked to the surgeon's office and they said they had to wait until after the first of the year to verify that information before they could schedule an appt. Fine. I called and gave them the info on 1/2. I called back the next week and they said it usually takes them two weeks to hear back and verify, okay fine. I'll call back when two weeks passes if I haven't heard anything. So I call this morning after hearing nothing, and the receptionist says "oh let me check...no, nothing in your file, we haven't heard back from your insurance company." What? So I get on the phone with the insurance company, this isn't acceptable. The rep from the insurance company says they haven't no contact on file from the surgeon...either by phone, fax or email...and wants to know if I gave them a copy of my plan doc which says that it is covered. She is super helpful and keeps me on hold while she calls the surgeon's office on my behalf to find out what they need and if she can verify for them on the phone. Turns out, now they're changing their story and it's "WE are so busy, it takes US at least two weeks to verify...and we promise you'll hear back from us within another week...maybe." I get it, I know they're busy. The hospital is a COE, the surgeon is an SOE...it's the first of the year...but it's pretty stinky that the receptionist would mislead me that way, if not flat out lie. I asked to speak to the coordinator and I couldn't get past her at all. I guess I get to have a discussion with the office manager once I finally get an appointment. I don't mind the wait, I just can't stand getting the run around when they could have easily said that they are busy and it takes them some time to get it all done. Sorry for the vent...just had to get it off my chest!

My initial surgeon was much more helpful...but wasn't a SOE and doesn't operate at a COE, so I changed. I'm wondering if I'm going to regret it.

You've probably got them already, they're just hiding under a layer of fat on your stomach. You have to have very little body fat on your stomach for those muscles to show.

These are the requirements by my insurance company (Aetna): · Multi-disciplinary surgical preparatory regimen: Proximate to the time of surgery (within 6 months prior to surgery), member must participate in organized multi-disciplinary surgical preparatory regimen of at least 3 months (90 days) duration meeting all of the following criteria, in order to improve surgical outcomes, reduce the potential for surgical complications, and establish the member's ability to comply with post-operative medical care and dietary restrictions: Behavior modification program supervised by qualified professional; and Consultation with a dietician or nutritionist; and Documentation in the medical record of the member's participation in the multi-disciplinary surgical preparatory regimen at each visit. (A physician's summary letter, without evidence of contemporaneous oversight, is not sufficient documentation. Documentation should include medical records of the physician's initial assessment of the member, and the physician's assessment of the member's progress at the completion of the multi-disciplinary surgical preparatory regimen.); and Exercise regimen (unless contraindicated) to improve pulmonary reserve prior to surgery, supervised by exercise therapist or other qualified professional; and Program must have a substantial face-to-face component (must not be entirely delivered remotely); and Reduced-calorie diet program supervised by dietician or nutritionist. So my questions are related to the bold items... 1. Is this counseling? And what is a qualified professional? Do they need to have a certain specialty or will any licensed professional do? 2. What is a qualified professional in relation to the exercise regimen? 3. Can I assume the dietician/nutritionist consult and the diet program with a dietician or nutritionist can be the same professional? Or I could skip this and just do 6 months of a supervised diet/exercise regimen with my PCP.

I don't have to lose 10% - I just have to fulfill the requirements of the program above by meeting multiple times over the 90 days with a psychologist for behavior mod, a NUT to learn how to eat better, and a personal trainer (certified) to increase pulmonary function and learn how to exercise for optimum post-surgery outcomes. And I have to see my surgeon 1x a month to oversee all of the areas and document them thoroughly (they all have forms to fill out and submit to him). I don't have to lose 10% though. I'm sure every plan is different though. Mine is just the basically outline on Aetna's website without anything additional. And my surgeon doesn't require anything beyond what insurance does. Thanks for all the responses - I was just hoping for some clarification prior to meeting with my surgeon's coordinator in a couple of weeks, but they felt sorry for me after I pestered them with calls and explained on the phone so I could start with the NUT, psych and PT now.

Hi y'all! I'm FLmama...I have 2 babies (3 and an infant) and am a SAHM. I am going to my required information session on Wednesday! I have PCOS and have struggled with my weight my entire adult life (once I started having PCOS symptoms). I've been researching various weight loss surgeries for several years and our new insurance covers it starting 1/1, so now is the time! I've been on Atkins for about 6 months (the only thing that works for my PCOS is carb restriction), but I am looking forward to getting rid of the fats it requires. I've only lost 10 lbs in that time (of course my hubby dropped all of his spare weight like it was nothing!). I'm 5'4" and 265. My biggest concern/fear is the surgery itself...my mother passed when I was a preschooler and I don't want my babies to go through that. So I'm scared to death of the anesthesia! Looking forward to getting to know you guys!

Woo hoo!!

You look beautiful! Congrats!

I am in PCB.

I'm early 30's and in PCB.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

Yes, anesthesia is necessary! So sorry about your experience.