Thick'n'Thin

Prayers for you folks having surgery as we speak!

I don't know the answer but I found the doctors office knew better than even the insurance representatives what was needed. Hopefully they can answer your questions tomorrow. I just know that my insurance, which I was told by insurance CS requires 12 months of supervised diet before approval, is in fact very simple to go through now. Good luck!

You are not alone in this. Trust and believe! You have all of us here..strangers or not and the outcome will hopefully make you forget all of the hurdles before surgery. I'm sorry to hear of your trials before surgery but again you are not alone. You are in my prayers. My surgery is 10 days away and the anxiety is like wow right now but I continue to pray on this thing and I know he won't leave me. Thank you. I will pray for you as well! Hopefully this new challenge will be a much needed distraction from the breakup.

Hey folks. I decided to seriously consider the sleeve mid-September. After a false start with the wrong doc for me I had my consult with my wonderful surgeon Oct 25th. I knew I wanted a surgery date between college semesters, preferably late December. It was going to be a challenge to make that happen in just under two months. But I had my preop appointment Nov 27th, all my tests and hurdles having been jumped in a month, and am being sleeved Dec 23rd. Like everyone else I am nervous and excited. I had an unexpected turn the day I got my surgery date. I ended my relationship with my BF, who's support I was counting on to hold my hand through this. It's all so overwhelming: the changes from the breakup, the hurt and grief, the unknown future, the crunch at the end of the semester at school, the disappointment of my family not prioritizing being their for my surgery (my parents, my next of kin, are still deciding if they will take their not yet scheduled vacation on my surgery date or come and be with me), lost hopes, loneliness, and trying to mentally and physically prepare and get my affairs in order before surgery. God's got a purpose and plan but I am being pressed on every side. If you are a prayer and wish to, pray for me.

Ya, you have booked up the 30th. I wanted to go with you, and it also may have been a bit more practical for me on the 30th, but wasn't open. It was either 23rd or the new year. Yep, two week just like you- preop diet. It's coming so soon, 9 days? Im unfortunately in the mist of dealing with relationship issues with a lying boyfriend who I probably need to walk away from. Between that heartache, my full course load at school, work, and responsibility at home- I'm about done at the moment. It's overwhelming! To become single again, adjust my expectations for my future (moving, marriage, children, etc) and now with surgery...I can't process it all. Good luck to you!

Well, we have a surgery date. December 23rd. It's real now. Scary!

I don't know if there are any left but Vitamin Shoppe store (not online) had the Roadside Lemonade on clearance for $19.98! I was told it was until they sold out, as they were being discontinued. I don't know if that part is true. I also enjoyed the lemonade!

Congrats on getting a date! I may try to do Atlanticare's support group. It's so much closer to me than Kennedy (45 minutes versus 1 hour and 35 minutes) and I know a sleeve patient I can probably ride with. It would be cool to check it out preop but I have classes on support group night (Mondays). Next semester I think Monday may be doable. I probably won't crash the holiday party. It's just so far to travel. So you are done all your preop tests? Did they submit to insurance for approval yet? Do you mind sharing any preop instructions?

Had my preop class today. It was mostly things I knew but I got a better overall idea of what my hospital experience would be. I also met a few other Dr. Neff patients. Hopefully one of the young ladies will join me here on the forum to keep in touch!

Had my pulmonologist appointment today. Sending me for a pulmonary function test on Friday, since I smoked from 15-25 years old. Hopefully the test is sent to the pulm. in a timely manner, and the pulm, sends the clearance to my surgeon in a timely manner. I hope the cardiologist doesn't ask for additional tests too on Monday because my preop appointment is next Wednesday! I don't know if I can go to my preop without all the clearances back yet.' NJ mom of 4, will I see you Thursday at the preop class?

I can tell you my experience. When I called my insurance company to find out what the requirements are I the rep had to find documents to refer to as he didn't know. The document said I was required to undergo a 12 month medically supervised diet before I would be approved. When I called the surgeons office (and what I found from other sleever's with my same insurance company) was that this was not true. The 12 month diet was outdated information and I didn't have to furnish any documentation history besides my weight over the last five years.

Hi. I just wanted to mention, if the shots are made of collagen protein they may be a bad source of protein. If u Google the ingredient you find that the amino acid in it, on a scale of 0-100 in bioavailability, is 0. Meaning our body can't utilize it as a protein source.

Nutritionist visit done. She was nice. I'm approved for a total of 6 visits over the next three months if I wish to see her again. Now to the Pulmonologist, Cardiologist, Preop Class, and Preop Appointment with my surgeon! Ahh! It's beginning to feel like ti could really happen and in two weeks I might have a surgery date! Just confirmed my spot in the preop class.

Fender benders are definately a stressful addition to our lives. Will you be losing insurance or changing insurance? When does that happen? If it's Jan 1st could you bump surgery to before then?

How far are you from Cape May btw? Sorry the preop list is getting longer. Here's the upside. You will have a more thorough check up of your health than most people get. Either you will have the peace of mind that you are fluffy but in otherwise good health, or you will find there was underlying silent health issues that you are fortunate enough to be able to address now and improve your health even more! Try to find the positive. Each test is one step closer to a healthier, thinner, more energetic SandeeD

Hi SandeeD. I feel ya. Some ppl closest to me aren't 100% on board. It's the usual: but you can just eat right, but it's so permanent, why not just get the band? I'm so used to being a people pleaser it is hard to do what I want without these ppl being my cheerleader. When I do what I intent to do, they will support me and hopefully reflect back and agree it was the best choice for ME. My mom is one of those 50-75% supportive ppl. She has always struggled and had to focus on a diet. But she is overweight, though only 170 on a 5'2" frame. However, being 300+ lbs is a different creature. I think this is where support groups will prove valuable. Sadly, there are none locally to me and those 45 minutes away are on my school nights. Missing my lab sciences, especially since I need the best grade possible to enter competitive RN programs, makes it a challenge. Thank goodness for the forums. Perhaps you could even make real life friendships out of people you meet who are sleeved. Ya;ll could have dinner parties, serve surf and turf and not break the bank

I'm sorry you have had so many complications. I hope that the life changing weight loss will be worth the troubles you are experiencing. I agree that you should contact the doctor now, not wait til tomorrow. The severe cramps and coffee grind should be reported. Good luck.

Great, you are ahead of the game! I wonder why he is requiring 3 NUTS and and 3 support group meetings preop. My surgical group, along with the requirements of Horizon, only require one of each. What did you think of the support group meetings? What do you and the NUT do?

Yep, they pay for that. Just the psych clearance for surgery they told me they don't cover. The psychiatrist I met with suggested I might want to set up an appointment with my local counseling center to talk through whatever might be on my mind. She said that getting in for the initial appointment takes a long time, as there's only one service in my area that takes Horizon, but that followup appointments would be able to be scheduled routinely. She said Horizon would cover those appointments, just not the clearance. I might make an appointment for shortly after surgery just in case. I don't feel a burning need to talk to someone now but it would be good to be able to see someone without a two month wait if and when I want it. If I don't want it later? Cancel. Who knows what emotional rollercoaster surgery will be. What happens when you can't eat your emotions? Anywho...I'm getting off topic!

What insurance company do you have? You could search the forum for others who have your insurance as well. The insurance company could give you an answer. But then again, my insurance company told me 1 year of supervised diet. They were wrong, this info was outdated. I actually have no time or diet requirement.

Welcome Ranisha! I am using Dr.Neff. From consult to hopefully surgery date will be just under 2 months for me. I also am trying to have surgery during semesters. It could be very challenging to accomplish everything in less than one month. First, you need to get open appointments to a good 6 specialists. They may need to order more tests. The specialists will need some time to write up their reports and send to the surgeon. The insurance company may take a week (or who knows how long, just a guess) to approve you. The surgeon also needs an open slot on his OR schedule. If you are like me, perhaps classes don't begin again til Jan 21st? Perhaps you have a bit of wiggle room with surgery timeline? Could you talk to your surgeon about beginning your preop clearances before the first appointment? I scheduled my NUT and psych ahead of time, all the way back in September! As you can see from my sig, it took til Nov to get them scheduled. You need a referral from your primary anyway, and they will also be the one to write your referrals for preop clearances. I'd call the surgeon, tell them the situation. If they say it's ok get a list of clearances they will need, call around Horizon providers and find the quickest appointment dates you can. That's the only way I can think of to have a shot at the surgery timeline you want. Keep in mind, you will likely need to schedule a second appointment, preop, with the surgeon before your surgery date. My surgeon does all three major surgeries, and didn't express his preference to me. He asked what I wanted. The first surgeon I met seemed to really prefer the band. I wanted a surgeon who does these often and is fully convinced of the sleeves benefit. I read that the best way to avoid complications (that is within our control) is to pick an experienced surgeon. My surgeon said he was the first to do the sleeve, and the most experienced in it, in all of South Jersey. Good luck to you!

The preop class I want to go to is Nov 21st, a Thursday. It runs from 9:30-11:30am at Kennedy Stratford. We have to call 856-346-6470 to reserve a seat.

Hello:) I completed my psych eval Tuesday. I went to a place in Millville, which was a $150 one and done thing. I was chatty so it probably kept things going a bit longer than necessary. She had me fill out a new patient registration set of papers: history, reasons I wanted surgery, why I thought I was overweight, etc. We sat down and she asked me about everything from my childhood, substance usage and history, sexual/emotional/physical abuse, coping strategies, support systems, relationships, criminal history...lol. I was very candid actually. I said things to her (the bad and ugly) that I don't share with people often, let alone a stranger...who I want to declare me mentally fit! LOL. I was beginning to wonder if I was being too honest for my own good (some of my admissions I thought could go against her approving me) but she cleared me and advised I learn new coping strategies, get regular exercise, see a nutritionist, and consider making regular therapy appointments to help me in any ways I might need. I was there about 1 hour 15 minutes, but like I said- I was chatty.

I was reading the effectiveness of various BC methods recently. Check it out HERE. I was surprised to see depo has a use failure rate of 6%! Then I was shocked to read that a warning is given that depo should not be taken for more than 2 years due to risk of bone loss unless other forms of BC are considered inadequate HERE. I used depo for six months but the break through bleeding was something I didn't like. I like Mirena. It has a use failure rate of .2%, is good for five years, gives a much smaller and localized does of progesterone, gives me a much lighter period, and doesn't require daily pill taking. I'm not saying there are no cons though. Placement was an unpleasant experience for me. I had unpleasant cramping at first, particularly during my period. Today, it's like nothing is even there.

If you don't mind my asking, what kinda things did the cardiologist and pulmonologist do? I have them and the NUT left. We're gonna be neck and neck! Are you going to the Nov preop class? If so, hopefully we will meet! I need to call and get scheduled for it.