LisaDM

I was very nervous about telling people about my surgery. Even to the point I was deciding whether or not to lie about it. I had already told my husband, family and a few close friends and my boss, but no one else. The problem is I have a job that requires lifting, so I have to take 6-8 weeks off work. I knew I would have to give some explanation to my coworkers, at least the ones in my department. I decided I didn't want to lie and I would just tell them the truth. I was prepared for some backlash and negative opinions. I was prepared to explain the surgery and why I thought it was what I needed to so to be healthy. Turns out...everyone was very positive and encouraging. Coworkers even said they are excited for me. They know how I have struggled and are happy that I am excited and ready to commit to a drastic change to be healthy. It made me feel a lot better to be honest especially with such positive reactions! :-)

My date is October 7 th too! :-). I have occasional freak out moments, but for the most part are am just ready to get the surgery part over with! I know the beginning will be really hard and I am glad I have the support of my husband and close friends. I am ready to change my life and live healthy. October 7th will be a good day!! :-)

I have read about pb2 but haven't tried it. Do you just added it to your protein shakes?

So my paperwork has been submitted to my insurance company for review! I am excited and very anxious. I recently discovered that my insurance company did a revision to the policy on bariatric surgery and I am not so sure I still meet all the requirements. The old policy actually listed weight watchers as an acceptable 6 month weight loss attempt, the new policy doesn't list any specific program. I am concerned that weight watchers won't count and I will have to do a whole new 6 month program. So I am excited about submission, but I am unfortunately not very optomistic. :-(

Yep! It's October 7th! :-)

OMG!! Today I found out that I was approved by my insurance for my surgery! I was so sure I would be denied and have to appeal, but I got approved from the first try. So excited, but also kinda freaking out. It makes it so real and it's less than a month away. Still have to schedule a pre-op appt with my PCP and some labs plus an appt with the anesthesiologist. Wow...in less than a month I will start my journey to a whole new me! :-)

Got my approval this morning. Surgery is scheduled for October 7th! :-)

My date is October 7th!

Thanks for all your well wishes! I just got my approval this morning! :-)

My surgeon mentioned that bypass is the better option for those with GERD, but didn't push. I am not thrilled about the thought of re-routing my digestive track so I like the idea of the sleeve much more. My surgeon did say that if my reflux gets uncontrollable/intolerable, the only solution is to revise to bypass. I will go in knowing that revision to bypass is a possibility for me, but hope for the best.

Looking great! Smile in the next one! :-)

Wow. They sent you home the next day? Hopefully with good instructions and with pain meds. Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks! I trying to stay positive, but not getting my hopes up. It's the waiting that kills me!

I had my final appt with my surgeon today and was given the go ahead for surgery and set the date for October 7th! We will be submitting the paperwork to insurance on Tuesday. I am so excited, yet so nervous. I was told by the medical coordinator that my insurance have been "bastards"! So that's not a great sign. I have a BMI of 35.8, but two comorbidities so I meet the basic requirements. My concern is I did t lose much total weight during my six month required diet. I yo-yoed throughout but from start weight to end weight only lost 3 lbs. I took a vacation in the second month and fell way off the wagon. I am staying positive though. I feel like they should approve me, but insurances like to save money whenever possible. Wish me luck!

I have an appt with my surgeon to get the "go ahead" for surgery and then submit to insurance. I am hoping to schedule the surgery date then too, pending approval of course. I am fairly confident that I will be approved. I meet the requirements, but you just never know with health insurance! So I will keep my fingers crossed for all of us hopefuls! :-)

My surgeon and NUT reccomend more than just the multivitamin. If it is a standard multivitamin, take two each day, but the barbaric ones just one a day. Then an additional 1500mg calcium carbonate and 500mg b12 each day.

I am in a similar sutuation. I want the sleeve, but my surgeon is concerned about my GERD becoming worse. I have down some research and I have found both negative and positive results with the sleev and GERD. Some folks say it eventually got better and don't news mess, others have had to revise to gastric bypass becuase the reflux got too bad. I have also discovered that I have a hiatal hernia which is causing some of my GERD. Personally, I am uncomfortable with the rerouting of the digestive track with bypass, the sleeve is muh less invasive. I feel that if they can repair the hiatal hernia with my surgery then I can work the sleeve to my advantage. With no WLS I will be on GERD mess my whole life anyway, so it's no change if I continue to news them with my sleeve. I have my final appt with my surgeon to get the "go ahead" for surgery on Friday. I guess we can talk to about it then. I still have no doubt that I will go with the sleeve.

Yay! Congrats! :-)

Congrats! You can really see a difference already. You look great! :-)

LifetimeLoser is right. You really can't hide anything in a physical evaluation. I the only reason I could see the need for a PT eval is to get an exercise program to prepare for surgery and the post op exercises. I doubt there is anything that would hinder your pre-op process. Anything they find should be helpful to you.

This evaluation is for the surgery? I don't have a requirement like that, but I am a physical therapist assistant. I have never heard of any PT eval that wasn't just the start of a treatment. No pass or fail with that, just a jumping point to get a baseline and goals to work toward.

I have concerns too. My insurance has a $1000 copay then covers 100% after that. Still a lot of money to me. But worse, is I have to take extended time off work because I can't work with a lifting restriction. I have short term disability but it is far from my usual pay. I know times will be tough, but I will save on gas money. Plus we eat out a lot usually so I will save with not doing that! I know that it will save money and my health in the long run so it is worth it to me. Maybe try to put money aside whole you get through the 6 month wait period. Hopefully you won't have to take much time off work for it. Good luck!!

So, any news on approval?

That sounds amazing!

I just had my psych eval this morning too! I passed and she said I was a good candidate for the sleeve. I have my final NUT apt today and a support group tomorrow. Then I am ready to submit to insurance!