Tiffany Talbert Corbet

It's so hard to keep a positive outlook, though, when one has so MUCH weight to lose. I find myself starting to feel great about what I've accomplished so far, then I inadvertently see my silhouette in a store window, and see just how fat I still am! There's a tendency to think "What's the use? I'll never be able to do it." Wow, doesn't THAT sound familiar? Most of what you wrote about your weight lost experiences matches mine to a "T"! I've struggled all my life, and I don't think "thin" people really get what a struggle it is. It's not simply calories in vs. calories out. It's that stupid little voice inside my head that decides it's a waste of time and I'll never get to where I want to be because look how far I've got to go. Seriously!? I'm looking forward to this surgery rendering that little voice mute in my head so I can be very successful. Not only win this battle, but win the war and declare vicotry. Good luck to you! It looks like you're headed in teh right direction with a good attitude!!

Oh, sweetie....please call your dr's office and talk to the nurse or the dr. Maybe the hospital has a nurse line and they can help with an idea of what you can do? Does the bariatric center where you had the procedure have a support group you can join to get help from the other members? I want so badly to help, but I have no advise past that.

I did a search for them, and they are kinda low on Protein. Only 9 grams per serving. The unjury shakes have 20-22 g protein per serving, and they're pretty yummy. Go with what your doctor approves and you're comfortable with. That's the best course.

You might double check who/where they sent it to make sure they submitted the right info to the right company. Lots of patients and insurance companies they're dealing with, and I'm learning the ARE NOT PERFECT!

I have UHC. As one posted commented, it's going to depend on the options your employer has included in the policy. Best practice would be to call their member line and ask them what the coverage is. The policy I have (I have the more expense of the 3 we have to choose from) covers it 100%, no co-pay. Requirements (I was told when I called twice) is BMI 35+ with co-morbidity or 40+ without, 5 day notice prior to the procedure. Here's what really happened (once the dr's office got their crap together and got it submitted to them....but that's a whole other can of worms). BMI requirements as stated, don't know about that 5 day thing, psychological profile (which I think the dr office thought I needed, but UHC didn't request), and then a 5 year height/weight history (the dr office said UHC requested, I wasn't told this the 2 times I called). After it was finally submitted, I got a letter from UHC in the mail telling me I was approved two weeks later (last Tuesday). According to the member line, it's scheduled 8/31....I'm still waiting to hear back from the dr's office because yesterday they told me they had not received anything from UHC. So all-in-all, I think my issues are currently with the dr's office. Good luck!

I'm right there with you. The first week went by, and I called the dr's office to see if there was news from insurance, they hadn't even submitted yet! Then I couldn't get an answer from the insurance company on the progress, and couldn't get a return call from the dr's coordinator. Last Tuesday (3 weeks since meeting the surgeon, dietician and physical therapist) I got a letter in the mail from insurance that was approved. Nothing from the dr's office. I waited until today, still nothing. I called this morning at 10:30 and the coordinator actually answered her phone. Long story short, she said they didn't receive anything from the insurance company, but it might be out in the mail, she'd have to go check. If it's not there, she'll call the provider's number to get the billing code and give my file to the nurse practitioner who's currently in surgery and she'll call me to star scheduling the pre-op tests and explaining the next steps and what to expect. I'm with you on the waiting, I'm not good at it either. I feel like I've been pushing a rope trying to get this moving! Good luck. It will happen, and it WILL BE GOOD NEWS!

Keep in mind, the boils may be painful, but more than likely manageable with your dr's help. Most important, they will make plastic surgery a "medical" necessity instead of "cosmetic", so in a small way, they are a good thing. Congrats on the WONDERFUL weight loss. Keep looking for the positive and try your best to avoid the negative. Talk to you primary, or call you psychologist and tell them if you are having any bouts of depression. They can help you with therapy, or medication (or both). Don't be afraid to ask for help. It's not a weakness. (I've been on a low dose of Welbutrin and it's helped a lot. My primary saw the signs when I burst into tears talking to him last year during my physical about my struggle losing weight all my life. I've only been seeing him 2 years and he caught on that fast. None of my other doctors ever said anything.)

OMG....I do this, and I haven't even had the procedure yet. According to insurance, 8/31, but I have not heard from the nurse practitioner for the exact date. I liked your idea, SpecialK, and I was actually thinking that when I was reading the original post, and then I read yours. Instead of words though, I think I would just put a picture of my before and my after on the back and let people ask. Maybe we can get our primaries to post our pictures and stories in their offices or waiting rooms so people will see them and give out info on how they can contact us if they want to talk about it. (??) I still can't get over my primary give me a fist bump the other day when I told him insurance approved the procedure.

I hear ya! I've got an oar on that boat and I'm right there with ya. Not so sure they'll listen to me any more than they do now, but I can guarantee you they'll hear more from me than they'll be able to see! Plus, I can stop getting the glances from people and watch them put their heads down because they're not quite sure how to interact with me. Like we can't interpret what those mean. Yes, maybe we put that vibe out there, but I can tell you this. These little skinny minnies around here will have a good run for their money when all is said and done, and I have 8 - 10 years seniority on them. Plus, the guys can stop looking at me like it hurts their eyes, and just be jealous and wonder how good my hubby has it. Rock on, sister-friend. Take that new position and rock it! You will be the star, and they will all see just what a great person you are and how strong you are being able to do this for yourself and maybe (though doubtful) regret how they've been treating you up until now. Vent on.....we're here for you!!!

So I just called the UHC member number and asked if they could give me any information regarding the progress of pre-approval for the sleeve procedure. I was told what information they request from the dr's office, etc. (which I already knew....that wasn't the question!) and then was told I would have to talk to someone in the Care Coordination department. Prior to transferring me, she looked up in the system to see if there was any additional information. In there she found an in-patient pre approval for a surgery 8/31 - 9/1. I'm guessing this might be my date! Except....... Then when she transferred me to Care Coordination, I got NOTHING in the way of information. The best this lady could tell me was that it was still under review. She couldn't tell me if they were going to request more information (since they blindsided me with height/weight requirements for the past 5 years.....that I wasn't told about the two times I called asking about coverage and requirements needed for approval!), or if there was an indication of when an approval would be made. The best she could tell me was I would know when I (or the Dr) was notified via mail or if I (or the Dr) called back to check on the status. REALLY!? Are they using the same computer system? Neither my husband nor I have surgery scheduled (I've NEVER had surgery) and there's nothing wrong with my husband that would require an in-hospital stay, let alone surgery. SO.....I prefer to believe my surgery date is going to be 8/31 and will just wait patiently for the Dr's office to call with the approval and the instructions for what procedures need to be performed prior to the surgery. Has anyone else had this type of encounter with the insurance company? I've never been through anything like this with the insurance company in the 13 years I've had coverage with them, but then the most I've ever had to have covered by them is my visits to the OBGYN and an EKG to see if I have a heart murmur. Other than that, I just pay my $10 copay, and wait for the letter showing the coverage I have and what was paid by insurance on my behalf. (I'm a lucky girl, I know I shouldn't be bitching this much....just anxious to get this started!) 43 years of being overweight, and this tool is presented to me as a MAJOR weapon in my battle against the bulge, and insurance is making me suffer with the waiting game. That's ok, when it's all said and done, I WILL be victorious in this war! Tif

So I took my chances and called the dr. office. Amazingly, the coordinator was who answered the phone. I was very calm. I told her that I was calling for an update because I had received an approval letter from the insurance company on Tuesday. She told me she had not seen a letter from them yet, but it may be in the mail and just not made it to the office yet. (really?) She said even if it's still not in the mail, she will call the provider number for the insurance to get the case # and then get the file to the Nurse Practitioner, who will get with me to schedule the tests needed. (Then she asked if I had had any of the pre-opt tests like the endoscopy....really? You haven't returned my calls.....how can I be scheduled for anything?) Anyway, the good news is, they're finally on the ball again. I feel like I have to goose these people just to keep them moving forward! (And here I was afraid losing the weight was going to be the hard part.)

UGH....was he the only surgeon in the practice? I'd be calling another bariatric center. Don't give up! Call your insurance company and find another bariatric surgeon in-network near you. And don't get too upset with your sister.....she doesn't get it!!

Well, I finally got an answer. I'm APPROVED! And I didn't get the news from the doctor's office. I got a letter in the mail on Tuesday from UHC. I called insurance on Tuesday (before I got home and got the letter in the mail) and was told that it was approved. So I called the doctor's office, and of course I have not received a call back. I have not talked to the coordinator in the surgeon's office since they called the week after my appointment asking for additional information because I called them on forgetting to submit my paperwork! I'm just about at my wits end. I'm trying very hard to be patient. I don't like doing other people's work, and I shouldn't have to be the one to persist with the office to get some feedback on the next steps! I want so badly to let loose and let them know how I feel, but I don't want to piss anyone off prior to the procedure. So I'll probably hold my tongue and share my opinion when I get that all to often submitted survey from the hospital asking about my experience. (Probably not good that I'm an Exec. Asst. for a Senior VP at a national construction company, and former McDonald's GM from a tourist community so I'm high on details and customer service.) Everything I'm experiencing is definitely rubbing me the WRONG way. (Oh, and of course this is my PMS week.....those poor girls.)

I personally didn't have a problem with United Healthcare. It's going to be up to your employer (if it's through your employer) what your policy covers. My company included WLS as covered 100% as long as certain guidelines were met. It was a pretty low hurdle....BMI 35+ with co-morbidity; BMI 40+ w/o, along with a 5 day notice prior to the procedure. Once the dr. office submitted the request, they came back with an additional request of 5 years weight/height history, but that was all they wanted. Took about 2 weeks, but I got the approval letter in the mail this last Tuesday. Now I'm just waiting to hear back from the dr office as to the next steps. Call your member # on the back of your card and ask for care coordination and see if your policy covers it. I don't have any answers for any of your other questions, but if you're curious about the dr, go to your primary and ask him/her their thoughts. The surgeon I'm using was recommended by my primary and I trust my primary to the ends of the earth. Go visit the surgeon. Ask what their record is. Complications that have happened, how many surgeries they have performed. Go to a support group that is hosted by their office (if they have one) and get opinions of current and past patients. Best thing you can keep doing is asking questions, and not stress. Take as long as you need, and get all the answers you need to put yourself at ease with your decision. Hope this helps just a little bit.

If it's just that you don't like the protein shakes you've tried, try www.unjury.com. They have some good protein shakes. Choc, Straw, Vanilla and Unflavored.

www.unjury.com Weird name, but the mixes are very good. I took the chocolate and added some of the Hershey Dark Chocolate powder (1 Tbsp) and it was wonderful! They have an unflavored as well that you can add to any drink you like. There is a strawberry sorbet that I'm anxious to try with my strawberry Crystal Lite when it gets here Friday (I just ordered it today. $6 shipping!). I don't think I will have to start my pre-op diet for another couple weeks (just got the approval letter from the insurance company today, waiting for the dr. office coordinator to contact me....), so I want to try them now to see what I can do. I made the vanilla and added frozen strawberries to it and it was just like a shake from Sonic! I also found some turkey broth in the store the other day. Thought that might be a nice switch from the chicken broth/stock. Oh, and they have a multi-Vitamin that's specially made for wls patients that you only have to take once a day, and Calcium citrate too. Good luck!!

Hi Mariah! According to insurance I'm scheduled for August 31 too, but haven't heard direct from the dr. Keep in touch so we can compare as we go through it together! tif

You go girl! I had a revelation with Facebook, actually. I've caught up with several people from my graduating class, and there are many who were small (cheerleader) types...as you state between size 0 and 4 while I was sporing 22/24's. There were those who were mean and rude, others were "ok", and those I grew up with I never felt any animosity from. Now with Facebook, I'm finding several of the 0 - 4 group have had stressful lives and are now bigger than I am! As you said, I'm not gleeful that they've gained the weight, I'm just happy that they now are in a place that they understand what I was living through at the time. Karma has her own timing. Sometimes she can be kind and let you experience that repercussion immediately.....other times, you have to w-a-i-t patiently to see the full effect of what she's able to do. You look M-A-R-V-E-L-O-U-S, darling! And that smile just makes everything look even better on you. Soldier on! You're beautiful and doing great!

I wonder if the success following the surgery vs. success/failure rate of doing it without the surgery comes down to the ghrelin hormone that is depleted when removing 85% of your stomach so your body is no longer able to produce so much of it. So, following surgery, your body isn't able to produce so much and your brain is now free to work without interruption from an overactive hormone to cause failure? Just my thoughts. (This might be why you "get" it and your hubby and mom didn't. You don't have the hormone produced as much any longer, but yet they still do.)

Have you tried making it with chicken broth instead of water? I tried it, and like it was said earlier, it didn't taste like Campbell's, but it wasn't aweful. I also found some Swanson's concentrated flavor packets to add a little to as well to bump up the flavor a little. Work with the flavoring by adding spices, etc. to see if you can get it to your liking.

Terry, I'm so sorry, but you made me laugh out loud. I wasn't laughing at you per se, as much as I was laughing at the fact that everything you described sounds exactly like what would happen to me. No matter who I'm with, I always end up being the one to "fall down". Curious about the drunk one minute, sober the next. I wonder if because of the surgery and the hormone changes if your body is processing alcohol differently. Very, very interesting. Thanks for the peek inside your adventures. Always QUITE entertaining. Glad you're well and safe (all but a few cuts, scrapes and bruises).

What does your primary say? That's great that the surgeon thinks you're done and don't need to lose more, but (imo) I would think your primary would know you better and have a better opinion on where he thinks is most healthy for you to land. I LOVE my primary, and regardless of what my surgeon says when this all takes place and I get to where you are (milestone-wise), I'll take my primary's opinion over the surgeon. Just my 2 cents. PS. Great work! How exciting! I'm still waiting for the insurance to give in and just approve the surgery so we can get on with it. With so few requirements, one wouldn't think it would take very long to approve when they are all met.

Thanks, Tracey....thanks chitown....it's always amazing how much info everyone here has and how willingly they share it! I'm sure they're busy first thing in teh morning, so I will give them a bit to get settled into their routine of the day and give the dr's office a call again.

I do, but when I called them this afternoon (2:30) I got the answering machine and didn't receive a call back. Hoping maybe they'll call me tomorrow morning. This is the same office who forgot to request my psych eval (that I had a month prior to meeting with the surgeon) to complete my paperwork to submit to the insurance initially. I had to call the physchologist and, it turns out, the dr. office emailed requesting the eval right after I left the message. (Maybe because I called the Dr's office asking if it had been submitted when the insurance company told me they had nothing?) Then, after they had that, it turns out the insurance required 5 years of height/weight history (which no one told me the 2 times I called insurance before starting this to find out if it's covered and what the requirements are). So I had to chase down those records since I've only been seeing my PCP for 2 years. I'm an Exec Asst., and the "misses" I keep encountering are really rubbing my OCD the wrong way. I work very hard to pay attention to details in my job, I expect those in similar positions to do the same, and when they don't, I feel like I'm having to do a supervisor's job. (Yes, I'm ranting just a bit.) One would think for each patient they would have a checklist that matches up to their insurance requirements so they can make sure they have all the information needed prior to submitting to save the "bumps". Like I said, maybe they'll call in the morning and will be able to get a more decisive answer than I got. My husband says I just need some patience. (DUH) He knows I want this yesterday, but I need to slow down and just wait. {sigh} He's right, I just don't like it when he is!

Very cool! Hope you took a minute to do the Snoopy Dance, because you deserve it! Congrats!!!