cat1342

It's how much small intestine is bypassed. Distal= further away=more malabsorbtion, proximal= closer to the stomach=less malabsorbtion. At least this is my understanding.

Alrighty...no turning back now. Got the phone call. I'm officially approved!!! What a long freaking journey. I got to this point last year and backed out. I am doing this! November 18 if surgeon is available, if not then it will be November 20. Work approved that week and the next week off. Kids will be watched by friend. Awaiting preop appointment and two classes I have to take. Holy crap...... Oh and I am down to 224, started at 244

I just got word my surgery has been moved to November 18th!! Howdy to all you November surgeries!

So here is the update. ~I passed my nut exam...however the nut says I am a glass half empty type of person. How can a person who meets with you for 20 minutes pass that type of judgement? She couldn't be further from the truth. Oh well, at least she passed me. ~Surgeon's office has two nutritionists/dieticians. The manager dietician said I need one more month (October) before she will submit to insurance since they scheduled two visits in one month. The other dietician, the one I don't like because she doesn't take any time with me and has told me conflicting information told me she is submitting this month...ugghh. ~Finally told my boss!! Wasn't going to but she asked and I for some reason told her..even though I said to myself I wouldn't. She is totally supportive and even though I don't qualify for FMLA she approved my leave and PTO dates. ~Tentative surgery date is November 20th as long as insurance approves it. ~I started at 244# and am 227# today!! ~Found that I can stand premier Protein shakes and like unjury but since I drive all day I haven't figured out how to mix unjury on the road. ~Gave up pop completely!!!! ~Have a co worker who just had roux en y as well! A buddy to talk to is nice! I'll keep you updated and appreciate the comments! Looking forward to getting some new clothing soon! ~~Mary

FMLA is only for employees who have 1000 hours of service plus and a year of employment. I changed jobs in February...started the whole process over because my insurance changed..was approved and waiting for my surgery date. Because I don't qualify for FMLA my PTO covers it but my awesome bosses granted me a non-FMLA medical leave so that if there are complications I won't lose my job. They said "just let us know if you need more time off"...and to think I was so scared to say anything to them!

So here is the update: I was approved last year then lost my job and my insurance....Got a new job and decided I was strong enough to start everything over again. So fast forward to today. As of today I have had my initial nut appointment, two dietician appointments, and surgeon initial appointment. I need no preop testing. I have to do a total of 6 months of dietician appointments because of my insurance. I am not rushing into this but I can't wait to get to surgery. I need to have my followup nut appointment which is scheduled July 17, 4 more dietician appointments (1 each month), and whatever else they surprise me with. I can't have surgery anyways until September because I can't take vacation time until my probation period is over at my new job so I will have plenty of time to get this all done but I can't help but wish it passes by quickly. My surgeon's office hasn't really laid the whole plan out for me but they said if I maintain 10 pounds lost by month 4 then they will submit to insurance! Hopefully I get approved as easily as last time but it is a different insurance so here is hoping! I have 100% coverage for surgery and all related costs except a $35 copay for office visits! The trick is though...I have paid short term disability if anything goes wrong...which it won't and I will have about 2 weeks of vacation time accrued by the time I have surgery. I decided I would like to take about two weeks off. I would take more if I qualified for FMLA but I am not eligible until I have worked there a year. I drive 200 miles a day for work and I bought ice packs and a new cooler for the car so I can start taking Protein shakes and other food instead of buying fast food. So far it has worked well! Anything anybody would suggest or any comments would be appreciated!~ by the way...already down 7 pounds~!

So I saw the surgeon last week and he approved me for surgery. This week I see the dietitian and then in two weeks I see the dietitian again and in a month I see the nut. So within the next four weeks I should have all my appointments done! This is starting to get real I'm so excited. I'm hoping that I have a surgery date sometime in July or August but I think realistically I will probably be September. The surgeon said that at a minimum I need to take 10 days off and a month off at the most. This is largely in part because I am a Visiting nurse and I drive every day all day long. I just started my job so I won't have time off and I'm allowed to take until September so I think that's when I'll plan for my surgery. I'm worried that if something goes wrong I'm not covered for FMLA for a whole year because I just started in March. Hopefully my boss will be understanding even though I'm not telling her what I'm having done and Hopefully she will be able to give me some time off. I will have PTO to cover my time off but we're shorthanded at work so cross your fingers!

So after much ado, I have started a new job and received my new insurance cards!!! 100% coverage for this! I am ecstatic. I have waited over two years for this! I am ready! I have my initial surgeon appointment on May 9th so I expect that things will fall into place after that. I have already done a 6 month supervised diet-optifast-yuck! So hopefully that won't hold anything up! Super super ready to get this show on the road. I finally broke down and bought some summer clothes realizing I probably shouldn't try to squeeze into last years. So again, a size 22 wide went into my cart. Uggh. I felt awful but then realized that it will be the last summer I will EVER EVER shop at Lane Bryant! Please keep me in your thoughts and if anyone in Michigan is starting the process I would love to hear from you! ~Mary

So I stated a new job two months ago and filled out all of my benefit paperwork and turned it in ASAP. I just found out that HR didn't submit the paperwork so I have no insurance! It was supposed to be effective as of April 1st, Now who knows how long I have to wait. I was all set up with all my appointments at the Dr,'s office and now I have to reschedule everything, I just want to get the process started. Ugghh. Once my insurance starts, it is 100% coverage, I have waited over a year to get the right job with the right insurance. I am so mad some stupid paper pusher messed it all up.

So excited for you! I can't wait until I can post this!! Keep being motivated and positive. You will do great!

So...I started a new job this past month and the insurance is FANTASTIC. My coverage will begin April 1st. 100% coverage...NO out of pocket costs. Tell me I am crazy though. I just had two amazing interviews for a job I think I will LOVE and could stay at for years. Insurance package hasn't been presented to me yet except that it is BCBS. Here's some background. I am currently employed as a homecare RN case manager. I travel up to 150 miles per day doing patient care. I make about 63,000/year. Lots of sedentary car sitting, bad food choices being made, really really don't like what I do but if I can put up with it for 6 months I can transfer out into the ER where I love to work. It's a very large multihospital system. New job would be a leadership position-nursing supervisor in a small community hospital. I would have some direct patient care, management responsibilities and I have been working for years to land a job like this...$70,000/year. I just finished my Bachelor's so that I could move up in and get away from being micromanaged. I am seriously considering taking the new job, am I crazy? Even if there are higher out of pocket costs should I? I am committed to this surgery and will begin my journey as soon as my coverage begins. What would you do?

Thanks ladies! Your kind words are wonderful.

I am not far from you!! About 45 minutes! I am hoping for a surgical date soon. I just have to get through my preop appointments..shouldn't have to do the 6 month thing since I have done a 6 month weight loss program in the past which didn't stick. Let me know if you need any support. !

Williamston, Michigan, United States

Can't wait to use the toilet without doing acrobatics. Can't wait to buy a business suit and look cute Can't wait to take my son on a roller coaster and not have to say, oh daddy can take you Can't wait to buy a bra at Victoria Secrets Can't wait to have energy to play with my kids after work Can't wait to wear a bathing suit and not worry about...well you ladies know Can't wait to make love to my husband like a wild cat Can't wait to buy a northface jacket and a dress coat without ordering a plus size online Can't wait to show my daughter how to be confident and have great self-esteem It really could go on and on but truly CAN'T WAIT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN MY OWN BODY

Hi Michiganders! I am near Lansing MI. I am still in the beginning stages. Trying to decide on a surgeon. I thought I liked Dr. Mindy Lane at Sparrow, but then I met Dr. Dabideen at McLaren in Flint. I am 90% sure I want him. I would love any suggestions. I am also deciding whether to change my job. I was just offered a promotion but it comes with BCBS but they can't tell me what plan and the coverage before I accept the offer. It is a ton of money and management postion. I am afraid that I will have out of pocket costs. I currently work at McLaren and have McLaren Health Advantage Plus-Coverage is 100% no copay, no deductible, no coinsurance, no out of pocket costs. I hate my current job even though I just started it. I would love some input from my fellow WLS friends. BTW I am going to have the roux en y. I am a BMI of 45 and cannot wait for my life to begin!! Would love to be a support for you all! Mary

Hey everyone! I just wanted to say hello. I am a new member-just joined today but have been reading everyone's posts for months. I started my new job today and will have insurance April 1st!! Yay!! I have been thinking of and researching roux en y for years. I made the decision today that I am committed to the changes that are necessary. I set up my 1st appointment with the surgeon for April 3rd. The bariatric center in Lansing stated that since I completed a 24 week optifast program three years ago that I do not have to wait 6 months. Just need to have the pre-op appointments and labs!! Hopefully I will be approved quickly and things go smoothly. I am prepared for the bumps along the way and my husband is so supportive. I just have a few questions for those who have undergone this surgery. Anyone have Dr. Mindy Lane at Sparrow? Any reviews would be nice. Also, I am an RN and can't take unscheduled time off since I am in a probationary period for since months. How would you go about asking for the time off. I am private and won't be sharing this at work. I don't have an office and work by myself going to patient's homes. Most of my work is not labor intensive-mostly computer stuff. What does everyone have to say about my tentative plan...surgery on a Wednesday, off till Sun. Back to work on Mon *IF* I feel up to it. Or should I plan to take that whole next week off? I am leaning towards the whole week but don't want to jeopardize my job. Not eligible for FMLA until 1 year of employment. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Not even sure I will be allowed to drive the week after surgery.