slimKim14

Today is surgery day! Nervous and excited! Will post as soon as I can!

Yes Dr. Tanner is doing the surgery. Good luck. I will post as soon as I can after surgery.

I'm researching the sleeve and have been to a seminar that Dr. Tanner spoke at and really liked him. Just curious if anyone has been to him? Kim

My surgery is tomorrow morning!

You look great! Congratulations on your success! This really helps those of us who are preop. My surgery is scheduled for October 15. So excited!

Please add me as well. My surgery is scheduled for October 15.

Ok so I was approved by my insurance yesterday and I attended a support group last night at the bariatric center and got my surgery date of October 15! I guess now would be a good time to start stocking up on protein shakes, soups etc.!

I'm October 15!

I just found out from my insurance company that my case was APPROVED!!!! This is real now! Waiting on surgeon's office to call with a date. So many emotions right now. I know this is normal by reading all your posts who have walked this road already. I'm so excited to be healthy again.

Ok, I officially started this journey by going to a seminar August 3. Now after almost 2 months of doing the pre surgery test and appointments my case should go to insurance next week. I have met with nutritionist, psych eval, blood work, chest xray, ekg, letter of clearance from pcp, EGD, doppler study and everything checked out ok. Now it's just waiting on insurance decision and then schedule surgery. I'm hoping to get early October. One thing I have noticed by reading these forums is that some surgeons require very little pre op testing and others require the works. Of course, it does depend on your health history too. I have a 44 BMI, elevated liver enzymes and high blood pressure. Hoping that the next post I make is that I have a surgery date. I have moments where I think "what am I doing" but then I think about all the times I have failed at getting this weight off and I get excited again about the thought of little things that most who have never had weight issues take for granted. i.e. shopping for cute clothes, sitting in an airline seat comfortably, riding rides at an amusement park without the worry of weight limits, not having skin tags everywhere from all the extra skin rubbing together, embarrassed to wear shorts in public or anything that shows too much skin. Of course it's not just those reasons why I am doing this, both parents have diabetes and I will too if I don't get the weight off and I was told I would have cirrhosis of liver by the time I'm 50 (I'm 42) because of all the fat in my liver. This site is great and I wish everyone the best as we travel this long road to a healthier life.

I am new to this site. I'm 42 years old, been married for 23 yrs, have a 22 yr old daughter and an 18 yr old son. I have been over weight since my early 20's. I'm currently 5'4 and 254 lbs w/44 BMI. I have high blood pressure, sore knee joints and NASH (or fatty liver). My GI doc has said if I don't get the weight off soon I will have cirrhois within 10 years and I certainly don't want to be a transplant patient. I'm an RN who actually works for an insurance company, but only this year have they improved their bariatric coverage to where I can afford it. I've tried every diet out there and though I would lose the weight it always came back. I originally thought I wanted the lapband, however after doing some research online and actually speaking to friends that have had it done I believe I have decided on the sleeve. I see patients with they band and it is very common for them to vomit in the middle of a meal because something is stuck, I also have a friend whose band has slipped and will require surgery to repair it. I only have one shot with my insurance company for a bariatric surgery and I want the one that will give me the best results with hopefully little complications. I am currently waiting on my medical records from my PCP so that I can turn all the paperwork into the bariatric surgeon's office this week. Excited and nervous! Kim

I have a 22 yr old daughter and an 18 yr old son. Norton Weight Management called today and told me that my file was with insurance verification and after that they will call to schedule my assessment with nurse at the center. She said it should be by end of this week. I ask if Dr. Tanner does an EGD on his patients who are having sleeve and she said yes. If I don't hear from them by Thursday I will take your advice and call Rita..lol. How did you see surgeon first? I'm assuming the normal process is seminar...turn in forms....see nurse, NUT and counselor...then it goes for approval? or do you see surgeon before it goes for insurance approval?

I have attended seminar 8/3/13. Turned in my paperwork and medical records 8/15/13. Now waiting on nurse to call to schedule my appointment at the bariatric center by suburban. How did you decide on Dr. Gellar? Dr. Tanner was the one who did our seminar and I liked him. Haven't met any of the others.

Well I officially handed in my bariatric paperwork and medical records today! Woohoo! That was a lot of information to gather. Now starts the wait for the office to call and schedule my appointment with the nurse, NUT, and psyche appt. I think the waiting will be even harder than gathering all that information! Anyone else just getting started?

Wow! That was fast! Congrats!

Let me know how your appointment goes today!

LynnAnn good luck tomorrow and keep me posted. Where are you having your surgery at?