Ab1986

My husband has BCBS and his policy states that abdominalplasty is covered when you have rashes and infections and it hinders your daily movement.

Mami, We moved into a a new house last year and our neighbors had German cockroaches. I about died! http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002Y2GNVM That stuff works wonders! It is a bait gel that you place little dots at the corners of all cabinets, under sinks, behind the light switches. I even bought a case for my neighbors and they were GONE within 2 weeks from my house and a month from hers.

http://www.cigna.com/assets/docs/health-care-professionals/coverage_positions/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf Here you go. Looks like it is a minimum of 3 months. Basically tyhat means you may submit and they approve it or they come back and say continue the diet for another 3 months. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Bje I have a question for you. I just had my sleep study done and they would not let me sleep how I normally do. The told me I had to sleep on my back. I could not fall asleep until I finally told the tech I was just going to go home bc I can't sleep on my back. I ended up flipping over to my side/stomach and sleeping for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The DR who read my study said I had 58 apneas. I went back for the triation (sp?) and the tech would not let me sleep how I sleep at home. They made me sleep on my back with 3 pillows under my upper body while I had the cpap on. In the morning they told me I didn't need a bunch of pressure to keep my airway open. I feel like since they would not let me sleep how I sleep at home, this Cpap is going to be useless. Are they able to see what pressure I need at home and change it if it needs to be increased since I will be sleeping on my side/stomach and not my back? Is it normal for them to tell you that you cannot sleep in the position you normally sleep in? Thanks in advance for your help.

Well I was worried for nothing. Of the one hour I was asleep I had 58 apneas. I go back tonight for another study with a cpap.

I also have a vitamix but have it for a different reason. My daughter is disabled and eats via a gtube. She did not do well on pre made formula so we feed her all real food and use the vitamix to blend it! It has been a godsend! I make smoothies and ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, soups. There isn't much you can't make in this thing. It is going to be really handy for after surgery.

I saw my dietician on my own for a year before I ever went to my surgeon. He has a dietician attached to his office but I don't want to pay for it again because my insurance won't pay for it.

Hi everyone! Has anyone been able to complete surgery with having a sleep study ruled as inconclusive? I went last night for my sleep study and the tech wanted me to sleep on my back. I'm completely unable to sleep on my back because when I relax enough I feel smothered and I wake myself up. I tossed and turned until 230 when I finally told her I was going to have to turn on my stomach to sleep. In the morning after not sleeping longer than 45 minutes at a time, She said that there was some interesting findings when I was sleeping on my belly but because it was not being visually recorded she was unsure as to what the doctor was going to do. She said he could do one of three things. 1. he could rule the study as inconclusive. 2. he could have me return for additional night study using sleeping medication to aid me. 3. he could rule the study as I have sleep apnea and have me come back in for a sleep study with the CPAP. My question is, if you rules the sleep study is inconclusive will that not allow me to continue with having bariatric surgery? Is there anyone else out there that has not been able to complete the sleep study because they've not been able to fall asleep for being a belly sleeper? Thanks in advance!

It was awful. I can't sleep. I may have to come back and do it all over again bc I couldn't stay asleep. Now I have to go home and deal with 2 babies after a night of maybe, 2 hours total of sleep.

I am also here at my study! Just got set up and ready to go to bed. I am the same way! I have not slept alone in years and hoping I am able to actually sleep! My BMI is 57 and I also have high blood pressure. I am fairly certain I have sleep apnea though. Good luck!

I have not had surgery yet but I have heard of people doing a "5 day pouch test" to jump start weight loss, make sure their pouch is not stretched, etc.

I'm so sorry Heather! I wish I had the answers for you! Maybe try increasing your water intake as well as protein? Are you able to walk for exercise yet?

Give yourself a break though. You are doing great! The weight will start coming off soon!

Kris I find if I set an alarm on my phone it helps to keep me on track for remembering my supplements. I also carry a small bottle in my car so in case I am away from him when my Atlanta goes off I can take them.

I am still pre op but from what I have heard it is normal at a month mark to experience a plateau for a couple weeks and then start losing again. Are you getting in enough Water? Sometimes increasing water intake and increasing your Protein consumption can help even if it is by 5grams.

I am going to be changing insurances in Feb. I know they will cover the RnY but unsure of all the prep testing they require. I should be able to be approved in march sometime. The problem I am facing is my oldest daughter who is 3 is special needs and completely dependent on me for all her care. She is supposed to be having hip surgery on the 5th of March and be in a full body cast from breast bone to toes for 6 weeks. I am figuring that I wouldn't be able To have the surgery till after hers. So that puts me at the beginning of may. My question is how soon can I care for my daughter? I was half lifting/scooting her into my lap and transferring her from her wheelchair to couch/bed by using my arms and scooting her about a week after my csection with my youngest. It never hurt me and I made sure to lift "smart". I was picking her up normally by a month post csection. Currently my oldest is 32lbs. I do not really have anyone that can come stay with me to help with her. I was going to speak with my surgeon about it at my follow up from my endoscope on the 9th. Anyone in a similar situation or have any advice? Thanks.

@Vicki Thank you Vicki! I finally found a PCP that is willing to help me! She was appalled by my former PCP and said that with all the info I provided her she feels I will be a wonderful candidate. What you said about taking care of me is what I said to my husband. I told him "How can I continue to care for her in my current situation and have this much trouble in just 3 years of having her? I was ok physically (though still morbidly obese) and didn't have back issues, knee issues, ankle issues etc. She is only 32lbs right now. Even. You have trouble carrying her for long periods (more than 5 minutes) and lifting her over and over. I am with her 24/7. What am I going to do when she is 4'11 and 60-80lbs?!? I have to do this for me, to make sure I am here for her. No one is going to love her and take as good of care of her except me. Nothing can buy love and care." That is when he said he really understood why I am going into this full force and trying to get it done ASAP. It is hard for me. I am so used to doing it all alone. Between running my own household and taking care of my own children along with taking care of my elderly grandparents (cleaning and laundry at their home, chauffeuring them to appts, helping keep their finances in check) I don't have time to care about me. Lol

@ Lolwaiting Nice! How have you been doing? I know you just had your surgery right?

I was talking to my husband and trying to figure out how to do this. I think we are going to have him take some vacation time and hire someone to come in and help in the morning when she wakes up to help me lift her and bathe her. I can change the diapers and things without lifting her. It just seems such a waste of money to have someone come in and just lift her for me. But I also do not want to risk hurting myself. Thanks for responding. How have you been doing with your RnY?

You still look beautiful. I'm pretty new here but I think I just found my girl crush! I hope I have as great as a result as you have had!

So I am in the middle stages of getting approved for RNY. I thought I didn't have any health issues but found out I have high blood pressure. I had to beg my PCP for a referral to a surgeon. Went to see the surgeon and he is positive he can get me approved. I am 5'1 and 300lbs. Been seeing a nutritionist for almost 12 months. I went back to my PCP to get the required referrals that I needed to get testing and clearance my surgeon wanted. I met a lot of resistance. My PCP finally told me he didn't believe that any form of obesity was a disease. That "Good old fashioned diet and exercise works for EVERYONE" and he didn't think I needed this surgery. ^the above statement came AFTER he took my blood pressure and said "wow it is a little high. 220/156, are you upset?" So I told him I wanted a referral to a cardiologist to see about my blood pressure issue. He said that it was only one reading and I don't have a blood pressure issue. I asked him if he thought I looked like an idiot or if he thought I was an idiot since I have Medicaid. He just looked at me and I said "a reading of 220/157 is stroke levels. I am an LPN and even I know you should be sending me to the ER. If I walk out of here and something happens to me that is caused by my blood pressure, I will make sure I hold you personally responsible". He then got upset and walked out saying he would be back to take my BP again. Came back 15 min later and it was 201/103. That is when he told me he wouldn't help me get the RNY and that I should not be "Embellishing my issues". I responded with "Wow, I was unaware of any ways to FAKE or EMBELLISH a blood pressure reading. I must have tampered with your MANUAL blood pressure cuff and your stethoscope". I left the office after he told me to come back in 2 weeks after I watch my salt intake. 15 minutes later he called to tell me I could pick up my referral to the Cardiologist. I am concerned because I need a PCP who is going to help me but don't want to keep PCP Hopping. Is there anyway to find a PCP that is understanding of morbid obesity as a disease?

If I were you I would call them tomorrow morning and make sure you are not supposed to be on any special diet. Some surgeons are different and only require you to be on 2 days of a liquid diet and then nothing for 12 hours prior to arrival at the hospital. Some require 2 weeks of a liquid diet, others (like mine) require 1 month of a low carb/no sugar/low fat diet (ie: Atkins) with the last 1 week liquid diet with 1 meal daily and then 2 days full liquid with 12 hours prior to surgery NPO. Call tomorrow just to be safe.

So I have done almost a year of Nutritionist visits. I have lost 26lbs. I went Wed for my psych bariatric eval and passed. Then yesterday I went for orientation and my consultation with the surgeon. Everything went well, they said I should be able to be approved. They gave me a checklist of things that both the doctor and possibly my insurance would require. Nutritionist eval and documentation 6-12 months ^done Psych bariatric evaluation and recommendation ^done Letter from me outlining why I want surgery and what I am suffering from ^done Cardio clearance- EKG, stress test Gall bladder Ultrasound Blood work Endoscopy sleep study and pulmonolgy clearance ^need referral and scripts for the above from PCP My surgeon is in Ocala, my PCP is in Clermont and I live in Orlando. I decided to stop in my PCP office on my way back to grab the referrals and scripts (he works in a walk in clinic) and he asked that I get written documentation from my INS company of what they wanted to have submitted for approval of surgery before he sends me for clearances to have the surgery. Called insurance company and NO one will give me written info because the procedure is only done in times of medical necessity and each case is decided on a case by case basis. I go back in with the PCP and he says he will not give me any referrals or scripts for tests until I am approved for the surgery through my INS company. INS company verbally said I had to have "6-12 months diet documentation from a nutritionist/physician, Comprehensive pre/post op plan with a Bariatric program, clearance from Cardiologist, Gastroenterologist, Documentation of No Endocrine issues that could be causing the morbid obesity and a BMI of over 40, documentation of any co-morbidities". They said if all the appropriate documentation is not submitted it is an AUTOMATIC Denial. I told the doctor this. I showed him the emails between me and a supervisor at my INS company with telling me that "There is no written procedure to follow for a MAGICAL approval". I have the option of changing my INS plan with a good enough reason. Should I just change it, find a new PCP and INS? I already checked with my surgeon and they take all of the other insurance options I have to switch to. Ugh I am so frustrated. I feel like no one wants to help me. :-(

Oh no! Can you see another Gyno? I would really want to cry if I was that close! The Endoscopy and AnX test is being done by my Surgeon. He said my PCP can do the 12 lead EKG. But I need a referral to the Cardiologist to get approval for a Echocardiogram and a script from my PCP for the GallBladder ultrasound. My PCP says he doesn't want to waste $$ on those test that I need for surgery clearance before my INS company says yes. In his opinion the Ins company should make a decision based upon the Nutrition, Psych, Bariatric doc and The info from the PCP and say yes or no based on that info and THEN the INS company should say to get clearance from the specialist And the Clearance tests. Which I understand what he is saying, but the insurance company wants it all done then will give approval. I'm trying to find out now, what the requirements are for the other insurance companies I can choose, so I will know if I can use all the info I already have or if I have to start all over. I really, really hope they Gyno give you clearance!!!