tonid2328

You are close to me literally! lol I live in Desoto, I am getting sleeved on July 29th as well, but I will be at Baylor Downtown. My surgeon is Dr. Kuhn. I would also like to keep up with your progress as well especially since we will be sleeved on the same day if you are ok with that?

I know, I am super excited and nervous a bit. I can't wait though. I really want to be slim again.

I am July 29th as well. I am near Dallas, Texas

I am from Desoto, TX MaddieJ, You will be sleeved before me. (July 29th), and I would love to hear about your journey.

UPDATE: I had recieved a date for July 22nd for surgery, but now it has been moved to July 29th! Hey, I am not gonna complain. I will take it! I have come a long way from my initial post and I am still trucking until that day I change me forever. I am SOOOO excited! I am not telling everyone though, because there are always some nay sayers and negative people that have everything to say about it, and none of it is going to help my situation. So only my husband, parents, grandfather, oldest son, and a few co-workers know. Now, it seem like father time is on tons of sleeping pills?

Hello Everyone, I am completely new to the whole process of sleeving. To let you know a bit about where I am at, I have just had my first visit with the sergeon who has explained to me how much the surgery will help me personally and that his staff would help me with the remainder paperwork. I have had blood work done, and was informed that I would need to go through a 90 day process with a dietician, and since my BMI was 42, I will only need pre-op routine exams, (ekg, xray, etc) a eval from a psych, and afterwards my paperwork will be submitted to Aetna for approval. I have checked with my insurance and saw that I do meet all the criteria for the procedure and that the steps the physician told me were accurate. What I need to know is what can I expect to happen during the psych eval, the nutrition consults, and possibly a time frame of how long it takes once I have completed the required steps as listed above. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Surgery date is July 22nd in Dallas, Tx. I am so excited and ready to become slimmer and healthier. Preop clear liquid diet to start July 15th. I wish my insurance covered it 100%, but hey I will take 90% Just ready to get it done. For any of you that are having your surgery a day or so before or after me, I would love to keep in contact with you and swap stories of how you are doing. Kind of helps to know someone else is right there with you in your same situation.

Hello all, I am also a July 22nd sleever! So excited to know there are more like me that are just as excited as me about this procedure. I can't wait for the new, healthy, slim me

Good Morning All, I too have taken the journey that most of you are still in i.e. psychologist, nutritionist, egd, lab, letter of recommendation, two year history of weight, and attempts at weight loss. Currently I received my letter of approval from my insurance company (Aetna) and was given a date of July 25th in that letter, but it may be sooner. (paperwork submitted May 29th. Approval letter received June 15th) I have begun to prepare for the post op by purchasing Protein shakes, popcicles, etc. Chewable Vitamins are in place, and now on the pre-op liquid diet to shrink the liver. I am SO Excited about the new journey and also nervous because I am that person that eats because I need comfort or just because I know it was there. I am 5'7 with a starting weight of 269. Current weight is 262 and that lost was just from the 3 month span of nutritional visits of which I was not required to lose any weight from. I began the process on January 18th 2013. It is a lengthy process, but if you are willing to stick with a major lifestyle change for a better you, then this for you! Some have told me that I actually did not have a very long process and I credit all of that to my surgeons insurance coordinator because I was very much informed about what my insurance required, and what I would need to have in order to get approved. I did what I was instructed and now I am just that much closer to where I want to be! I just want to encourage all of you to stick with it, not everyone will be on your side in this. (I learned that from experience) You have to choose not to listen to the Nay sayers and do what is best for you and your health. In the long run, I know that this will be a great decision for one because I am doing this for ME!!! Good luck to all of you in your endevours. I will continue to make post to keep you all informed as to my progress and feel free to message me. Blessings

Thanks for posting Rycherchick, My journey seems to have been very similar to yours. My initial visit was on the 18th of January, I had my EGD done about two weeks later, I had my Psych eval done and initial Nut visit in Febuary and three more followed approximately 30 days apart from one another for a total of four appointments. It ended on May 28th. In the mean while, My doctors office clerk was working behind the scenes getting the other information that would be needed which was a two year history of being overweight. Since I had already been seen by another physician a few years back and was on Phentermine for a while, I had that taken care of. So all in all, it does seem to be a smooth transition. I can say that I have a great group working for me. (I also have nurse co-workers that had the same proceedure who are helping me through the initial process and helped me know what to expect. It is great to say that they have also become a great support system for me and while I will be in the hospital, one nurse has opt to be my personal nurse/coach through the healing process! I am so blessed throughout this whole ordeal. I can't wait to be beautiful again!

Update # 2..... Completed all required documents, test, proceedures etc for Aetna on May 28th. Documents submitted on May 29th, Approval via phone given on today!!!! Whoo Hoo!!!! I had my initial appointment with physician on January 18th and five months later we have and approval. Waiting now to schedule a date for sleeve procedure.

Update!!! WOW is all I can say. I am so excited about what is about to happen that I can cry. The family trip is underway for June 2, but what is so great is I have already begun the nutritional visits, found out that I was not required to lose any weight with it (although it appears that you will without event trying), just have to be able to monitor what I eat, and show that I can be consistent for at least 7 days out of the month. My nutritional visits will end the later part of May which means my application can be submitted to the INS and I should have an answer back by the time we set sail! Returning I should have a surgery date set. I am loving the idea of knowing that this will indeed be my turn around year!!!

Hello everyone, and thanks again for sharing your stories with me. All of them are very insightful. Here again I have another update. I have since seen the Psychologist and was cleared from that aspect. (Mark that test was extremely long to me too!) Either way it is good that I am not crazy for wanting this procedure according to the psych (Smile). Now we are on to the nutrition portion. I have yet to see the nutritionist but have an appointment at the end of this month. The more I do and get done the more I get excited about turning my life around for ME!! Now, this may be a bit petty, but I want to know what you all think. Here goes.... I want to take my children( 3 teen boys 1 pre-teen girl) on a much needed cruise this summer....but I know that I am working towards having this surgery possibly around May or June at the earliest if things go well. With school starting in Aug. would it be better to have the surgery before the trip or after? I don't want to be feeling miserable and not be able to enjoy doing things with my kiddos, but I also don't want to waist any more time being overweight than I already have. How would you go about this?

Thank you all for responding. I have an update. I took all comments and your advice into consideration and here is where I am. I have both my nutrition and psychologist appointments scheduled to begin in Feb. I have since seen my PCP and learned that I have high Cholesterol and am a borderline diabetic. I have been prescribed Metformin for that. I was told by my PCP that those two co-morbid conditions may also aid in getting an approval from Aetna, so it appears that I am on track with what you all have explained to me. I realize that those conditions are good for insurance sake, but to know that I really really need a major change or risk other major issues makes me that much more motivated to have this procedure because I want to continue living and being there to see my children grow. Thanks to you all for sharing your story with me, I know that I am on the right track for me!! I will continue to keep you all informed if you wish, and will continue to check back with the forum for support. Again Thanks to all of you.

Thank you for replying first of all Taking control, I do have a question for you: what was the bmi you listed when you received your denial the first time, and how do I make sure I cover all the angles just in case the first time around? The doctor that I have has worked numerous times with Aetna and has also performed the same procedure on two of my co-workers who both had the same insurance as I ( which is why I chose this doctor), but our circumstances are a lot different. they didn't have the bmi numbers 40 and up, but they had the other issues that went along with obesity. (sleep apnea, Hypertension) I guess i am just putting too much into this but I wanted to know from people who have my scenario.