Katcloudshepherd

Good luck. I hope you're approved. I'm waiting for my insurance, (1st request). I have Humana PPO Federal Employee. The request for approval ws submitted 10/20/13 but my insurance has 30 days to make a decision. I'm REALLY praying and hoping for a surgery the second week of December.

My name is Kathleen and everyone started calling me Kat a few years ago. My maiden name is the Polish word for cloud and my married name is the German word for shepherd.

I'm waiting on an answer from my insurance also. Humana PPO Federal. My surgeon's office submitted my paper work last week, (October 23) and they have 30 days to reply. I've never prayed so hard in my life. I want this so BADLY so I can start the long journey to LIVING a healthier life. Sending positive thoughts to y'all---I hope we all recieve a yes answer.

Congratulations on your approval!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) I hope to be there soon. I wish you a good surgery, an easy recovery and all the very best. I've told very few people at work. I just feel I cannot trust most with something so personal and I don't need any negative comments.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you.

Hello, I'm 6 feet tall and currently weigh 338. I'm awaiting insurance approval. Request was submitted last week and they have 30 days to respond. I'm praying it will be a yes. My concern is I don't have the comorbitidies of diabeties or high blood pressure BUT my knees are totally gone and need to be replaced. I also have a herniated disc and compression fracture in my spine. I've set my goal on this site for 220 pounds. I hope to see 200 pounds again. My joints would be SO much happier at that weight.

Thank you!

WTH??????????????????? I'm sorry your NUT isn't as supportive as one SHOULD BE!!!!! For someone in her position to make a comment like that strikes me as unprofessional. I saw mine the other day and I saw a wedding picture on her desk. When I looked at her picture---I thought to myself: "I'd bet that she's never been fat a day in her life." Unless you've been judged by complete strangers as lazy and undisciplined, I don't think you can TRULY comprehend what people in our position go through on a DAILY basis. I can't stand negative comments to someone who has endured what you have. Know that in the eyes of God--we are ALL BEAUTIFUL Maybe she meant it as a compliment? ????????? If not, I hope she get's Beotched slapped by Karma.

Father in heaven, guide the surgeons hands and keep SmileyJo in your care. Please help her recover quickly and with no complications. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

I have Humana federal and it's a PPO. I was told bariatric surgery was covered and I made the initial consult with my surgeon, Dr. Gonzalez, in San Antonio, TX. I had two required nutrition, (NUT) appointments and I had to have a endoscopy, (Upper GI) to check for hiatel hernia. Right now all I can do is pray that my insurance will approve the surgery. Good luck on your journey and I wish you success.

Hey there. I don't have a picture of myself because I don't like pictures of myself. I picked the snow leopard because I was born on February 15th and my first name is Kathleen but everyone refers to me as "Kat"--- close enough to "cat". This photo was taken in November of 1991 when I was 26. I hope after the surgery to be able to fit into that uniform again.

I am hoping to have the sleeve in December. I too, went to Overeaters Anonymous for years. I've reached the point where I cannot continue like this. I am so blessed to NOT have diabeties or high blood pressure or other co-morbidities but my joints have reached the point that if I don't do something---I"m not going to be able to work, even an office job, much longer. I was crying on my way into work today, because the pain in my back and knees was so bad when i got up this morning. I pray every day my insurance will approve this surgery. Like the others have said, if your not ready you have to seriously consider doing this now. I am 100% committed to this. I will do whatever I have to because I cannot live with this level of pain anymore. I wish you the best. I was thinking this morning that those blessed with good health have no idea how fortunate they are.

Wow! Congratulations to all of you. Y'all look so GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know it was a long hard journey for many and I pray that I can have the surgery the 2nd week of December.

I too started the process without my PCP. If the prescription was for phentramine--I have personal experience with it. I went to a "weight loss doctor" who gave me phentramine for almost a year. I lost 60 pounds and then had to go on high blood pressure medication!!!!!!! Beliveve me, as soon as I stopped taking what is basically legal speed, that weight came back faster than a speeding racecar. I'm waiting to see if my insurance will approve my surgery. What concerns me is I don't have comorbities like diabeties or high blood pressure. However, my knees are so bad they need to be replaced, (too young) and I have a compression fracture and herniated disc in my spine. I just want to be able to wake up, walk and move without pain. I hope you will be able to do what you need to do to get there and I wish you well on this journey.

This may be a strange thing to want to wear. I'd REALLY like to be able to wear my Army Class A uniform again. Haven't been able to get in it since 1994. OMG that was last century!!!!!!!!!

I've yet to have the surgery. Because I have a compression fracture in my spine and a herniated disc, I work out in the pool for about an hour, 40 minutes cardio and then about 10 resistance training and then a 5 minute or so cool down/stretching. Anyone else work out in a pool?

Hey there caligirl 3 my last smoke was Friday, October 18th as well!! I originally had quit in 1993 but I smoked regularly the last two months. Don't ask me WHY I started smoking again--I have no clue. I have my final NUT appointment this afternoon and I've already recieved my psych clearance. I pray every day to have this surgery the second week of December. I have one more stepping stone--my upper GI to check for a hiatel hernia. I thought I'd better quit so I'd be able to honestly say to the NUT my last cigarette was Friday. Next stepping stone caffeine. I think my normal 5-6 cups of morning coffee is going to be harder than the smokes. I'll skip, hop wear purple everyday--WHATEVER it TAKES to make the surgery a sucess. Sending positive prayers and wishes to all who are closer to their surgeries.

I am in the process of gaining insurance approval for the surgery. I was initially VERY interested in the plication procedure. However, the surgeon told me: "I could make a lot more money if you had the plication because you'd have to pay cash BUT if you were MY sister I'd do the sleeve. He said no matter what---those sutures on the folded stomach WILL come out. He said then you've undergone major surgery and you're right back where you started : ( ! He said with the plication you also keep the part of your stomach which produces the hunger hormone Grelin. So your hunger will most likely still be there. I decided on the sleeve because it's the constant hunger, along with other issues which keep me in the food instead of living life. I am praying and praying I can have the surgery the first week of December. Several have said but THE HOLIDAYS. My response is I'm going to have to deal with them at some point anyway! Whatever you decide, I wish you only the BEST outcome.

I pray that you have the very best outcome. I have my first appointment on September 30th to begin the long journey to better health. I too have been working for over ten years on the emotional issues which caused me to be in the condition I'm in. THANK GOD for this forum!!!!!!!! I have spent many hours reading posts from those who have the courage to undergo this. YES COURAGE. Those who have not walked in our shoes have no idea of what we endure on a daily basis. Again, I wish you the very best and safe travels.