laffypatty

Well that would be tons of fun!

I've been having the exact same thoughts. For so long, VGS is all I've wanted, but the more I research it, the more I think, "What if?" I have a 5-month-old and a 2-year-old. The thought of having complications from surgery and leaving them motherless makes me breathless; however, it's equally terrifying to think of what may come if I DON'T have surgery. I'm 33 years old, have a BMI of 40.3 and absolutely no health problems - aside from osteoarthritis in my knees - so I'm considered low-risk. Nonetheless, it's all a bit scary.

Hi there! I'm in southwest Louisiana, and I'm also using Surgical Specialists of Louisiana. My last pre-op visit is TODAY!

Hi! I manage public and media relations for a Fortune 500 telecommunications (voice, video, data) company. Since beginning my career 13 years ago, I've put on about 80 pounds. It's tough to be so overweight in my line of work because it makes TV appearances the most dreadful task. My last pre-op appointment is tomorrow and I'm hopeful everything will be submitted to Aetna in the coming days and that I'll be approved. Would love to be sleeved in early September!

Really feeling the size of my load today. What should be a joyful time with my family, my time at the beach has left me feeling sad. This time, it's beyond my 250-pound appearance bothering me. I find myself having so much difficulty walking in the sand and sitting in those low beach chairs is almost laughable. I was terrified to sit for fear they'd break. I let out an audible sigh when I made it down and didn't fall through. Getting up was just as painful. Everything will be submitted to my insurance in mid-August and I pray for approval. I keep reassuring myself that next year's beach vacay will be far more enjoyable with a far smaller me! Trying to stay positive these next few days and not let on how bothered I really am...

I love this forum. I love that there's always someone who's "been there, done that." I have no cormorbidities, but I'm praying that the letter of medical necessity my orthopedist wrote for me (osteoarthritis and i need two new knees) will do the trick. I'm praying hard that I get approved as soon as everything is submitted in August. Congrats on your 70-pound weight loss, Jacquie! That is amazing!

I saw my orthopedist today because of terrible knee pain and occasional swelling. I've had knee problems since I was a kid (I've always been overweight), and the knees have only gotten worse with age and excess weight. Anyway, so I went see my doctor to discuss the pain I have every time I try to exercise and every morning when I wake up. Before I could tell him about the pain I was having, he peeped his head into the exam room and asked if I'd had X-rays yet (on this visit). Long story short, he took one look at my X-rays and said that my knees are awful for a 33-year-old and riddled with arthritis. I told him that I was in the process of getting approved for weight loss surgery. He asked me my surgeon's name and went on to dictate a letter into his recorder - stating medical necessity for my surgery. He said that I had osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease and would likely have to have both knees replaced before age 40 if I don't lose 100 pounds. I knew it was true, but I cried like I hadn't cried in ages when I heard that. Has anyone been approved with a letter from an orthopedic surgeon stating that type of diagnosis? I have Aetna, a current BMI of 40 and over the last few years my BMI has fluctuated between 37 and 42. I have no other comorbidities. My blood work came back as if I were a healthy 21-year-old!

And by the way, you look AMAZING!

I don't have any of Aetna's short list of comorbidities (sleep apnea, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes). Has anyone been approved by Aetna with a BMI less than 40 and some *other* obesity-related issue, such as orthopedic problems and asthma? I have a BMI that's fluctuated between 37 and 48 over the last three years. My BMI was highest while pregnant and I'm sure insurance won't accept that. Pre-pregnancy BMI is just under 40 and post-baby BMI is 42ish.

I went to surgeon's office Monday for my regular visit with the nurse practitioner and nutritionist and I lost another four pounds. My BMI is now 40.3. I refuse to just stop losing weight, so I plan to wear ankle weights OR SOMETHING at my next appointment in August. So crazy!

I'm entering my third month of a 4-month process to be approved for gastric sleeve surgery. If all goes as planned (fingers crossed), I'll have surgery in early September. At that time, I will have a daughter who's almost three and a son who's six months old. Right now, my daughter weighs 32 pounds and my son weighs 18 pounds. (Yes, he's a BIG one!) To those of you who've been through this with small children, how HARD is it? I know that I won't be able to lift up on anything over 20 pounds or so for the first month, and I keep telling myself that it's ONLY A MONTH, but that seems like a long time to not be able to pick up my babies. On the other hand, I am so ready to do this, and if I don't have surgery before my baby starts walking, I won't be able to do it until he's at least 3. But I'd like to hear from those of you who have done it. FYI, my mom has agreed to help out during the week, and my mother-in-law will help us on the weekends. My husband is also very supportive of this surgery.

Me too!!! I am OBSESSED! My paperwork will be submitted to insurance next month. Hoping to be sleeved by early September. Best of luck to all of you waiting on insurance approval!

Miss Piggy, Would you mind sharing with me some of your comorbids that Aetna doesn't usually consider. I have none on their "list," but lots of orthopedic problems related to excess weight. Thanks for any info. Feel free to private message me if that makes you more comfortable.

Well it sounds like you're well on your way to a healthy life! I'm hoping to get sleeved in early September and put an end to a lifetime of yo-yo dieting. I wish you the best of luck!

For those of you sleeved with small children: did you have to submit weight history? If so, did you submit pregnancy weight?

Good evening! As I get closer and closer to submitting everything to my insurance (Aetna), I fear I'll be denied. However, my husband has agreed for us to pay for the surgery regardless because he knows it means the world to me. I was very happy about the decision until this morning. My best friend, a doctor of general medicine, called and told me to make certain my insurance would cover me in the event there were post-op problems related to the surgery. Anyone have any advice/experience in this matter?

I just love this forum and all of you! Thanks so much!

I have a very public job as a spokesperson for a major company in town. It'll be pretty impossible to deny that I did something drastic when I do the surgery. I'm one of the most candid people you'll ever meet, so I'll likely let people know. I've recently been asked by a local publication to be a mommy blogger to share stories of family life, working, raising kids, etc., and I'll probably use that as my platform to let people know. I've struggled with my weight since childhood. Those who know me as an adult have seen my weight fluctuate from a size 12 to my current size of 22. It's no secret that my weight goes up and down. The way I see it, others will probably think, "Good for her! If I see that this works, I may just try it myself!"

That's good to know! Lets hope that's a standard for all bariatric surgeons.