D.Lo

Just an update for all. I am officially 3 weeks post op and I am happy to report I am ALOT better! The depression has subsided I didn't even visit the support group yet. I am so happy to say. I still have mental cravings....especially for cheeseburgers LOL but I am not down in the dumps at all. I am still on the full liquid diet for another week and then I progress to purees. I cook every day for my family and have been dealing with things very well. I just truly was not mentally prepared for the mourning of food that I experienced week 1& 2. That was the hardest thing I've truly ever had to deal with mentally. I have lost about 32 pounds in 3 weeks so all is well thus far. Have a great week and God bless.

@@Peekboo I will! Thank you

@@Peekboo thanks for the reply I'm looking forward to being able to eat again and feel somewhat normal. I truly just want flavors

Hello all my surgery date was 10/13 and I've lost about 28lbs. It's probably because I don't want a thing to eat. The protein shakes are gross, I don't really like yogurt and I want nothing else. My biggest issue right now is coping with some major depression and the thought that I'll never be able to enjoy another meal with my family or friends. Going to talk to a counselor this week to get through this.

@auntjanny@bobbyswife Thank you both. All great advice and nice to know that I am not alone. I am 2 weeks out today and I can't wait to be at 5 weeks +

Thank you all for your comments and well wishes. I will be seeking to visit a support group. I really do hope that it works.I didn't realize how attached I was to my food. I was always the happy cheery girl cracking jokes while cooking, stuffing my face etc. Now I'm like down in the dumps and depressed. I will keep you all posted. Thanks again.

Hello all, I am almost 2 weeks post op and I have been somewhat sad. I had a rough first week, had a 2 day hospital stay because of a collapsed lung and fever. Since then I have been home recovering and I have gone through so many emotions. I have to cook for my family of 3 and that time is probably the hardest. I have been following the all liquid phase to the best of my ability. I am only able to get in ONE shake and the rest is Water about 40 oz daily. I tried an egg the other morning at the approval of my doc, but I wasn't too crazy about it and I felt extremely full afterwards. I thought I'll just stick to the liquids until I move on to the puree stage the doctors must know what they are doing. I am worried I wont ever be able to eat a real meal again. I also think I should've done more and tried to lose it on my own although I had tried since I was 15 and I'm now 38. I keep hearing it gets better but right now I hate not being able to part take with my family at dinner time and I also dont like the way I'm feeling with the major restriction. Will I ever be able to eat somewhat normally again? I want this mental regret to go away. I have cried to my husband and thank goodness he is very supportive. Any comments are welcome. Please tell me it gets better from here.

@@swtpea637 how are you feeling?

Yes, I visited the nutritionist at my doctors office for 3 months, I had a psych evaluation and that's it. Your surgeon's office should have given you a list of what you should have completed. I would recommend that you do exactly as they suggest so that there is no question when your packet is submitted. Does your surgeon turn in all the paperwork for you? Mine did, they were very helpful. Good Luck.

Just an update. I submitted the paperwork as is and I was approved in less than a week! My surgery date is 10/13!!! AETNA ROCKS!

Hello Wanda- Thanks for replying. I actually was approved for my surgery 2 weeks ago and received my surgery date on Monday. My sleeve is scheduled for 10/13. I am also nervous, but I have no plans on backing out. I need to face this weight/food problem head on and get my weigh under control. I wonder do you have an Instagram account? I have joined the site and began to "follow" many people on the same wls journey. It is encouraging to see their photos and you also get alot of tips about food/vitamins/excercise. I try not to read any negative posts about the surgery because all that will do is scare me off. I have learned that everyone's journey is different, so I can feed in to the negativity. Good luck with your surgery!

Hello I am going to Dr. Andre Teixeira I really liked him at the seminar, he was very charismatic and also very confident in his work and the work of his partner Dr. Jawad. My insurance required me to attend a Center of Excellence for the Procedure. http://www.orlandohealth.com/orlandoregionalmedicalcenter/ourmedicalspecialties/Bariatricsteam.aspx?pid=6146 Thus far, the experience has been pretty good. The insurance person John submitted my paperwork after 4 months of visits with their staff Nutritionist a very nice lady. Based on my present experience, I would recommend this facility. Good Luck.

Krystal Thanks for the reply. I mentioned that I wanted to have this procedure done to my family physician back in early April. I had a physical done at that time. Then I didnt see him again after that. I just did everything with the Bariatric Surgery office. Their nutritionist on staff. I visited her in May, June, July and August. But no, I did not visit my primary physician at all during those 4 months. I thought all my weight info was being documented and taken care of at the Nutritionist visits. I guess from reading below I needed to make Primary care visits on the same days as the nutritionist visits and document 2 weigh ins? It's just not clear enough...you know? "AETNA- REQUIRES NUTRITIONAL AND PHYSICIAN MONTHLY VISIT (90 DAYS FROM START TO FINISH-4 NOTES ARE NEEDED TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLETION OF PROGRAM AND MUST NOT GAIN WEIGHT DURING THE PROGRAM"

Hello all. I have an Aetna plan which does allow for the Bariatric Surgery. I completed all of my requirements including my 4th Nutritionist visit this past Monday 8/25. Needless to say, I was overjoyed because my paperwork was about to be submitted any day now. Much to my dismay, the insurance coordinator at the Bariatric surgery office called me to tell me he was missing the paperwork from my Physican which shows that I was seeing him in conjunction with my nutritionist visits from (May 2014-Aug 2014). I told him that I was not aware that this was needed. He said it was on my Pre-Determination Checklist and we discused it back in April. I referred back to the checklist and it states the following: "AETNA- REQUIRES NUTRITIONAL AND PHYSICIAN MONTHLY VISIT (90 DAYS FROM START TO FINISH-4 NOTES ARE NEEDED TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLETION OF PROGRAM AND MUST NOT GAIN WEIGHT DURING THE PROGRAM" I guess I missed it (althought, I believe that the inusrance person should have been verifying as to whether or not I had all the required forms at least 2 months in so around July) There are certainly 4 notes as they require above, but they are all from the Nutritionist. Now I dont know what to do? 1.) Do I submit packet as is without the physician notes and hope they approve? 2.) Do I ask my doc to write a letter stating that I did see him during this time and see if he will do? I am afraid that I will need to complete this entire process all over again if I am denied. Has anyone else had this issue or similar? Any advice would be apprecaiated. Regards!