jens1

Hello, I just had my first appointment of the 29th of July. I guess I am kinda lucky I only have to do the EGD and six month diet. I only have to lose 16 pounds in that period of time. I also don't have to go thru the psych evaluation. My psychiatrist wrote a long letter to my surgeon and they accepted it as my evaluation. I am happy about that. I wish you all the best during your weight loss journey. Keep us all posted on your progress.

My husband just started his new job in September of last of last year. Our insurance didn't go into effect until december 22nd. I honestly have no clue how they came up with my obesity is a pre-existing condition. I have major back issues that should be pre-existing but they are being paid for. They have done nothing but confuse me. Anyway I know they don't pay for the six month diet so I went ahead and got that started.

You shouldn't have any problem getting an approval thru bcbs of alabama. I have bcbs of alabama. I called and spoke to a rep and you shouldn't any problem getting approved as long as you meet their criteria and provide medical necessity. I have gotten approval within a week on the five other surgeries I have had.

I have BCBS of Alabama. I hope everything works out smoothly for you. Let me know how it goes. They have actually said that my obesity is a preexisting condition. So I am going to have pay for everything until December. I already have tons of letters from all my doctors, so I figured i may as well go ahead with the six month diet.

I know in my heart I am doing the right thing. I want to be healthy and rid of my health problems that came along with being morbidly obese. Then why doing I keep second guessing my decision. I am still along ways from my surgery date. I have to do the six month diet. I feel like I am going to screw everything up. Is normal to feel this way? I very scared of the pain after the surgery. Which I find odd cause I have had 5 open back surgeries( very painful). Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

Thank you for your replies. I feel so much better knowing I have a place to turn to when I have question or just need some support.

I live in Northwest Arkansas. I have my first appointment on May 10th. It was supposed to be on April 19th but they moved my appointment. I am looking for someone who is just starting to share experiences with. What was your first appointment like? I have to do a six month diet for my insurance. Hoping the time goes by fairly quick. I am obsessing about the surgery already. I am so ready for it.

I don't know if it will effect your surgery or your weight loss afterwards. However, my husband has an under-active thyroid and he lost over 50 pounds in just a few months since the he started the meds for it.

I am new to world of WLS. I have my first appointment coming in a couple of weeks. I am worried about the mental eval. and my bipolar disorder. My bipolar is well controlled. I take my medicine regularly. I am worried that the psychologist is going to somehow use my mental illness against me and not pass me. Has anyone else with bipolar disorder had WLS?

Good morning to all! Its gonna be a good day. I went to the dentist for impressions and I didn't gag once. Super happy about that. One more week until my appointment, the anticipation is killing me.

I need a buddy too. However, I am just a newbie, I start my six month diet for the insurance company next week. That's when I have my first official appointment with the doctor and dietitian. I am nervous not knowing what to expect.

I am looking to exchange experiences with someone that is close to or at the same stage I am. I am having my first major appointment next week. I will be getting lab work, chest xray, exam, and dietitian visit. I ready to get this process going.

It's nice to meet you both. My name is Jennifer. I have been dealing with obesity the majority of my life. I am 33 years old. I cannot remember a time when I was not overweight. I went to my spine surgeon and he told he was going to refer to me to the weight loss surgeon. I was never happier to be called fat in a doctor's office. Lol! I have thought about the surgery before I just thought I was not a candidate. I am really excited to finally be making this major life change. I am going to my PCP today to ask him for a letter of approval that is needed for my insurance. I hope he is as supportive as everyone else I know. I would hope he would want to help me get rid of some of my co-moribities. I have sleep apnea, diabetes, PCOS, and GERD. I hope this isn't to much info but I just want to give yall a little info about me.

Welcome! The people on the forum are very supportive and helpful. I am just starting I go for my first appointment on the 19th of this month. I am a ways from surgery, I still have to go thru the insurance mandated 6 month diet.

Tomorrow I go pay my enrollment fee for the weight loss program. I will have my first appointment scheduled then. The initial appointment is 4 hours long. It includes some testing, a doctor's visit, and a visit with the dietitian. I almost marks the start of my 6 month diet. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time.

My official appointment is April 19th. Can't wait to get this started. I am so ready.

Thanks for your replies. That helps me feel better. I sure was stressing about it last night. I thought what was the point of putting all this money and time into this if they are just going to fail me on the mental evaluation. I am more worried about this evaluation then anything else I have to go thru to proceed with surgery. I have a friend who going thru this with me and she is doing it purely for cosmetic reasons. I have major health problems from being overweight, I need this surgery to help save me.

You said you were being treated for a mood disorder and not your bipolar. Why not? Studies have shown that people will often turn to alcohol after weight loss surgery as a coping mechanism.

I need to get started on a multivitamin. I thought about getting a vita pack from GNC. I was wondering where others on the forum have purchased theirs. Thanks for the help.

I am so excited to get this started. It's all I think about. I am so ready for my first appointment. It is 4 hrs long. You see the doctor, have labs, ekg, set up the EGD, see nutritionist and dietitian. I hoping they don't make get a new sleep test. I am ready to commit to my new lifestyle.

I am glad you were approved. I am still waiting on my first appointment. I am really anxious, cause I don't know what to expect.

I am just starting out my journey through weight loss surgery. I attended the seminar last thursday. Suddenly I am really overwhelmed by the whole situation. Its not really about the money or anything like that. I am worried about the 6 month diet I have to go on. I know I am ready to commit to this. I am worried about going to the first appointment cause I don't know what they are going to do me. I am very nervous around doctors I don't know very well. Is normal to feel this overwhelmed about the whole situation?

Well, I made it through the seminar. I am more excited than ever. I ran in to a girl I used to work with there. We have decided to do this as a buddy system. I am glad i will know someone who is going thru the same thing. I still have to pay for the registration fee. I will do that in few days when I get paid. Then I will go in for my first appointment. I will be having to pay cash for some of the fees because my insurance will not cover the medically supervised diet portion of my treatment. Luckily its only 10 dollars a month to see the dietitian and nutritionist. I hope everyone is doing well.

I am scared of the surgery part. I don't know why, seeing that I have had 5 open back surgeries. One would think I wouldn't be scared of surgery anymore. Lol!

I am just starting out. I am going to the seminar on thursday evening. I met my surgeon while I was in respiratory therapy school. I have seen many of his patients and how they have turned out.