BeccasFreeLife

Really??? Wow, now you have me scared! But so far everything has been going good. (Knock on wood) I haven't had to pay 1 cent for anything. Lord give me strength if they don't approve me before January, because like you, I won't be able to get it done for quite a while.

Dearest LipstickLady, You are my HERO!!!!!!!!! I read your signature on another post and loved how candid and funny you are. Now after reading this post it just sinched the deal, I think you're spectacular!!! LOL PLEASE keep us posted, I would love to hear how your Thanksgiving goes!! The only people I can't wait to see my success is my ex husband and his wife! Like your SIL my ex's wife never ceases to drop her not so subtle innuendos. They don't know I'm having surgery and it's non of their business. I will see them in June when they come down for my daughter's graduation. I should be 6 months Post Op.

"Now my goal is WORLD DOMINATION!" That's too funny!!! Congratulations!!! On a side note can anyone tell me how to MOVE my ticker as I lose weight???

I have Aetna too and like AuriP said, most everyone I've talked to on other plans have to go through the same guidelines. The only ones who do not have to jump through hoops are self pays. When I decided to even begin looking into VSG my weight was 217 and my BMI was 41.9. But I had started a Diabetic diet with my husband and had gone down to 206 which put me under a BMI of 40. So my only option was to be tested for sleep Apnea as a pre existing condition.. Thankfully (Or not, depending on how you look at it) I do have moderate to severe Sleep Apnea so that qualified me. Don't give up! Keep doing whatever you have to do. Aetna pays 80% of the cost. I'm lucky in that we had already met all deductibles this year so I am covered at 100%!!

My heart hurts for you!!! I would be devastated too. I'm glad you've dried the tears and are ready to fight!! Please keep us posted!!!!

How exciting for you!!!!!!! Congratulations!!! I can't wait till I get my surgery date!!!

Wow I had no idea that was even an option!!! Congratulations!!

Congratulations!!!!! Good luck to you on your journey!! To those of you on a 6 month wait, have you asked to see if your insurance offers a Fast Track program? I have Aetna and I too was told it was a 6 month wait. But because we had already met our deductibles I insisted I had to have my surgery before January. They got me approved for the Fast Track which is 90 days. It's a much more fast paced program, you have to cram everything you would have done in 6 months into 3, but I've managed to get it done. I have my last appointment on Nov 26 then I'll get my surgery date for December. Just something you all might want to check into.

Hello Everyone, My name is Rebecca. I guess this is my introduction story, so here it goes. In February of 2013 my husband suffered a stroke because he was a non compliant Type 2 Diabetic. Although I tried for years to make better meal choices for him, I really was very ignorant to proper carb servings, and portion control. We have 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. At the time of his stroke our 2 boys were already grown and gone, but we still have our two daughters at home, a 17 and 6 year old. We went through 4 months of hospitals, physical rehabs and neurological rehabs for my husband. Here I was supposed to be helping him and it was all I could do to push past the pain in my knees and feet. By the end of the day I was exhausted, yet insomnia robbed me of precious hours of sleep. I came to the realization that I needed to get healthy, not only for myself, but for my children. I had tried in the past to get healthy with diet and exercise, but none of that was worth anything when I had no support from my husband at home who would bring goodies home and suggest eating out 2-3 times a week. But after the stroke I decided to take control. I went to all the nutrition classes and got to meet with his therapist and learn how to do things right. I discussed with my husband how I had been researching VSG for 2 years and I was finally ready to seriously look into it. I started by going to my regular doctor to look at my knees and feet. I am 5'1" and when I got on the scale I weighed 217. He said my left knee already has some degeneration in it. And my right foot was sprained during a routine treadmill walk. I looked online and found Dr Michael Lara at the Las Palmas Bariatric Center. I went to a seminar in July and began my VSG Journey. I've had my ups and downs. By the time I actually had my first appointment I had lost 10lbs because of our new Diabetic diet. Which was great news, BUT it put me at a BMI of 38.9 which is under the qualifying BMI of 40.0 which I had been at 217. So they sent me off for a sleep apnea study. And they found I do have sleep apnea so I now qualify with a pre existing condition. Because of my husbands stroke, we have met all our deductibles and so I am on a fast track to get my surgery done before December. It has been non stop doctor visits every week. I've already had my mammogram, my pap and the barium swallow and H-Pylori done. I've taken they psych eval and I just need to more doctor visits in November before they'll give me my December surgery date. I am excited, nervous, worried and sometimes numb to the whole process. I'm not afraid of the work, in fact I can't wait to get started, because this time I KNOW I will see results. I guess one of my biggest worries is of course excess skin. I'm hoping I won't have too much excess. I also wanted to ask about the many supplements that need to be taken. I was recommended to take my supplements from Bariatric Advantage. Is anyone else familiar with this brand. Are there other brands you recommend to look into that are just as good. Well that's my story in a nut shell, I have some family members who do no want me to have surgery and others who are 100% behind me. I gained my weight pretty evenly in my face, stomach, legs and arms. So when people look at me in clothes I don't look too bad. So I have received a lot of negative comments from people saying, I don't NEED surgery, I just need to put a little more focus on exercise. Or they actually wish me to not be able to have the surgery because THEY don't think I need it. I really have to tune them out and focus on what I need and want for myself. My support system is pretty great. I am a member of the www.SmokinHotMamaClub.com and my cheerleading squad consist of over 6,000 loving and supporting women! My mentor is Pam Crim and she is has already taught me so much about becoming a better woman so I can be a better wife, a better mom, a better friend and a mentor to others. I guess that's it, feel free to ask me anything. Sincerely, Rebecca

Thank You all for the welcome!!! I just had an appointment today, things are looking good. Just one more appointment at the end of this month and I'm ready to get a surgery date! I'm really excited!!!