Rainydayz

Just curious - who says you have to lose 10%? The insurance or your doctor? Neither one requires any loss for me just proof that I was under a doctor's care for a supervised diet, but no mention that I have to lose any weight on it. The dr. says he just doesn't want me gaining any before surgery and if I lose a little that's great.

I get weepy when I'm exhausted. When I was working full time and going to college and had 2 kids I would come home at night sometimes and just sit and cry for about 10 minutes. Not sad, just wiped. Then it was over and I felt better. I'm sure it will pass, but you should mention it to your dr. anyway, especially the temp. part. Feel better soon!!

Are doctor's leery about taking you on when they find out about your sleeve? I'm not going to Mexico but I'm thinking about what would happen if I move away from my surgeon. Would it be hard to find care elsewhere?

I asked the original question not to offend or cause an argument. I'm not sleeved yet and I'm still learning all I can about the operation and what happens afterward. Yes I realize we are all unique and that's great. But what I was trying to figure out for myself if I was going to spend the rest of my life living on 800-1,000 calories a day after I'm sleeved. I guess the answer is wait and see.

Thanks for the link. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that thinks that living on less than 1,000 cal./day is not healthy. Maybe if someone gains weight on more than that they need to exercise more or something? I know when I used to run regularly I was eating over 2,000 cal/day and still losing weight.

That's great! How exciting! This will be happening before you know it!

Huh? Sorry but I didn't really understand what you said. What I'm talking about is people saying that they try to stay UNDER 1,000 calories even after they've hit their goal. Isn't that too few to even live on? Or are you saying that if its like 800 calories of protein then it's OK? I thought calories were calories. And I've been told by doctors not to stay under 1,000 calories for long periods of time.

That doesn't make any sense. In my insurance it says that "depression stemming from obesity does not count as clinical depression" or something to that effect. Of course we are depressed. We are obese! My psych eval was today. After all the questions he told me that the purpose of a psych eval was to weed out the people who were getting surgery for the wrong reasons, such as those who had unrealistic expectations that the surgery would solve ALL their problems in life, or people who were being abused because they were overweight or something like that. I hope you find another psychologist and get your approval.

Had my 2nd nutrition appt and my psych eval today. The psych said he would fax the approval over today. So yippee! I have cleared another hoop!

Gosh I love Kirstie! I admire her trying so hard for so long, but come on Kirstie. You aren't getting any younger and it only gets harder! But her religion probably has something against WLS. Too bad.

OK, thanks for the info!

I've seen some people talking about a max their insurance will pay for the surgery. Does anyone that has Aetna know if they have a max? Thanks!

Wow that's great. I can hardly wait to get there! May I ask how tall you are? When I was at 160 I was still wearing 12/14. I think it's my junk in the trunk though. I've always been "bottom-heavy"!

Is that the same as an "Upper GI"? If so my surgeon makes us get one, not the insurance.

Have you tried Crystal Light tea? I love sweet tea too and I don't usually like artificial sweeteners but the CL tea is not bad. I haven't tried the Mio things yet. I will.

I just switched from a band doctor to a sleeve doctor. At the band dr. office they were going to get all the insurance info and tell me what I needed to do. At the new place, I'm supposed to bring them a copy of the plan and they won't even see me without it. The form says "If you do not have this information your appt. will be re-scheduled." Can't they obtain coverage information with my ins. card? I know at the dentist or any other dr. they always tell me what my insurance covers not the other way around. Is it that they are just too busy to be bothered with this extra step or what?

I don't know what or where to find the exclusions section. I'm bringing the clinical policy bulletin and if they something else they can ask for it.

My insurance (Aetna) says 6 months and 3 have to be consecutive. I have some from 2009 so I'm hoping I'll only have to do 3-months now. I'm the same way as you. I'm unemployed right now and want to get this over with. I'm out of school so I should be looking for a job. But I really want to get this done and over with first.

Well i called to clarify what I was supposed to bring and it turns out I can just print the clinical policy bulletin off the insurance website. A little hassle but not as bad as having to get the whole policy and lug it with me. I still don't know why they can't just confirm this info themselves like other offices. But there were about 60 people at the seminar so I guess this surgeon is a busy guy.

I've already fiven up soda on the pre-op diet. I was drinking almost a whole 2-liter of reg. Coke a day before. I've lost 7 lbs. just by cutting that and candy out. So I will probably just stay quit. It's not something I can't do without. I'm just as happy with tea or iced coffee. But if they say to give up caffeine then that's another story!

That's great to hear. I grew my hair long when I gained weight too because of it. When I was thinner I didn't have it but it's the first place I gained when I started gaining. My bf thought I might be getting a tumor or something there! Nope, just fat baby!

I don't know. I have my 1st appt. with the surgeon in a couple weeks. I will ask then. I wouldn't necessarily be discouraged by your surgeon's numbers. Has he done other types of laparoscopic surgery? I would imagine if a doctor is experienced with other lap surgery that it wouldn't be so much different. He explained that the death was because of complications with a revision and other things. You don't have those problems right? I have the impression that the sleeve is a quite simple procedure as far as surgery goes. But that's just from hearing them talk at seminars and watching stuff on the web. If you feel comfortable with him I wouldn't worry too much.

I'm so glad I found this board. I was going to get the band and was already doing the prep work and all, then i started reading posts from people like you that regret the band and are revising or have revised to sleeve. So I started reading the sleeve board. Not many at all that regret getting it. Hmmmm. So anyway, thanks for being honest and letting people know.

I started with a lap band program. I have one month-supervised diet done with their nutritionist. I was not charged for this visit. They said it was included in the "whole package." Now I'm switching to a sleeve dr. What do you think my chances are of getting my one-month diet record from the prior surgeon's office? I haven't told them yet I'm switching. Are they under some legal obligation to give me my records? it would be nice to shave one month off my diet.

OK cool. Thanks. I really don't feel too bad about it. If that doctor did sleeves I would stay with him but he doesn't so I'm forced to go elsewhere. Can't blame me for deciding on a different procedure.