cwalck

happy to know that 12 days out and you feel good. I want ot get back to my life immediately. I walk my dog 3 times a day and probably a total of 2 miles.

My decison has been made. Just waitng for Medicare. I had switched doctors midstream and the first doctor did not do the sleeve and i did not even know about it until i went to the hospital at Univ. of Pennsyvania and he talked about it in his seminar and i knew that moment it was the surgery for me. So your post gives me great relief that it WILL be covered. I am very comfortable with that decision. All I need is the stress test and approval and i am good to go week of April 5! I am wishing and hoping.

My doctor said no problem getting the sleeve paid for although after hearing all of you I am a little worried. He said Medicare will pay for it under his orders. He has had other patients do it. he has done about 100 of them so far, mostly Medicare paid for. I know for sure other insurance companies don't. I am hoping because of my medical history they will see the light. All I have left to do is my stress test and we were planning on April so i guess they are working on it. I will feel better once I get approval.

Because I am a diabetic and have sleep apnea, I had all my test reports available. Having the chest xray and uppper GI tomorrow and stress test next week and I am done that part. Also have the Psych eval next week. The doctor told me I could probably schedule at the end of the month because my insurance does not require any pre op diet care. I told him my head was not ready and that my husband had a week off in April for Easter and to schedule it then. There were 2 young women there just starting their journey and were shocked I was waiting. I explained that I was 60 and fat for 60 years. This is the only body I know and since I was not going to be thin the day after surgery, what is the difference of march 1 or April 5? So I cannot belive it. Up until Monday I was having the band and now am so happy to be having the sleeve because my insurance company is covering it. I am so grateful. I will be posting as soon as I am done!:blushing:

Impressive weight loss! And in such a short amount of time. I am amazed. I hope i can do this. when I filled out the psych paperwork they asked 1-10, how successful do you think you'll be. I rated myself a 7. Only because I have done it so many times in my life and I get to that 35 pound mark and slide backwards. I want this to be different.

Sandra, fortunately I do not have pre-requisites for diet prior to the surgery. i have been the same weight for 5 years so I don't go up and down much and I am already very active. I walk 2 miles a day 5 days a week. I have a stress test next week and my upper GI and chest x ray today and I am done. they wanted to schedule for March 1 but I am moving it to Easter week. I would talk to your doctor andhave him fight it. My doc says he has gotten everyone one of them approved. carol

I don't know what medicare Advantage is. I am only 60 and have straight Medicare and they told me under doctors orders, they have to cover it. It is the best forme due to previous abdominal surgeries and scar tissue, Yeah for me. I do not have to go to any pre surgery diet programs. I just get my tests done and do it.

I would appeal. Because of previous abdominal surgeries, the sleeve works best for me unders doctors orders. So I feel very lucky. Carol

I am scheduling surgery for Easter week. April 5. I do not have Medicare Advantage. I have straight medicare and I called them and they yes, under doctors orders that this is the only surgery suitable for me. he has a CPT code for it. I am going to University of Pennsylvania which is al arge teaching hospital. Don't know if that has anything to do with it.

Once I learned about the sleeve, I was all the way in! No doubts at all for me. It just felt right. I give all of you tremendous credit for paying out of pocket. Not so sure I would do it if I had to pay all the expenses myself. Go for it Jackie. My surgeon said 3 days in the hospital, 2 nites. He promised I would not die and he said there is very little risk of infection. The bandis out for me. Your price sounds very good and if the surgeon comes recommended and the facilities are top notch, absolutely! they wanted to schedule for March 1 but my husband is off a week in April so I am waiting. I tried to explain to people in the waiting room "I have been fat all my 60 years. I am used to this body. I have been the same weight 225 for 5 years. It's not like I am going to wake up thin the day after surgery. What's a month more?" Carol

thank you thank you thank you. I know I will be happy with my decision.

I see many of you have switched from the lap band to the sleeve. I was on the road to lap band for quite awhile and am almost done my my testing stage and ready to go. I switched surgeons just recently because my primary asked me to, due to his concerns about the surgeon. In doing so I saw an article about the sleeve and went to ANOTHER (my 4th) about the sleeve and this seems like such a better option. My surgeries are fully covered by Medicare so it is my choice. I have been on the band forum for months but just joined this today. What are your stories and why the switch. My primary does not like the foreign body thing about lap band and I don't like having to travel an hour to the city hospital for fills. I am joing a post op support group locally which seems to be the best idea for me. So why the change from band to sleeve?:confused1:

I know. I am so glad I researched the sleeve because I love salad and oranges and asparagus and lots of other things that are no no. I am definately going for the sleeve.

Research research research. I was so close to the band and switched mid stream. Have only 1 more test and the psych eval. I have been to 4 different seminars. This is a good place to learn and help make the decision. I have been reading for hours this morning. I did not think the sleeve was covered by my insurance but since January 2010 it is and I think it is the best way to go. Certainly not as much actual maintenance as with the band. You can gain the weight back no matter what surgery you choose, I have seem them all. But the fact that they do them laproscopically now makes all the difference. I am so comfortable with my new decision.

I saw my new surgeon yesterday and he agreed that Medicare will NOW cover the sleeve if the pre auth is worded correctly and has the correct codes. That is the way I have decided to go and I am 60. I have no problem losing weight, I just can't keep it off. I fortunatley already exercise regularly but i want to get my diabetes under control and get rid the the sleep apnea. I was on insulin for 12 years and off for the last 1 1/2 years, so much nicer! So if I succeed with this,lif will be easier for me. Fortunately my husband doesnot care either way. Am hoping to lose 60 pounds!

I am just starting on my journey and have been researching for months. Just switched surgeons and procedure from the band to the sleeve because it IS covered my Medicare. I have been married for 36 years and I think telling your husband statistics is not really the issue. He needs to support you no matter what!