SumPsychChic

So I'm just starting this journey, and I'm glad to have made the decision to do it, but I figure the best place to ask about some skin issues in a group around my age, since most people I know that have done this are older. As far as saggy skins goes, how bad was yours? They say that in our 20s, the skin should "snap" back more on it's own, and I know I'm going to have more than some others because of my high weight right now, but I'm just curious/nervous about how bad it might be, since I already know up front that insurance does not cover any help with it.

Okay, I had my first appointment at Emory on October 23. My insurance requries a 3 month supervised diet. I go back to the surgeon on November 26, which is about a month after the first visit. That means one month is done with the diet, two more to go. That means at December 2x appointment, I will finish month two and January 2x appointment, I will finish month three. At that point, I should be able to send off insurance information and have surgery shortly after, sometime in February or early March.. BUT why are people telling me that a 3 month supervised diet actually means 4 months? And why did the front desk lady say that my supervised diet doesn't start until my second appointment?

Yeah, I'm trying to look at it that way and I've already made changes for the better, I just worry because of the coming insurance situation. I talked to the doctor about it that day, and he was the one that said it started, but then the front desk upset me. I think I'll still be okay since my PCP also started making notes the same day, but there's not much I can do except know that even if I change insurance, as long as I still do it within a year, these three supervised months will still be good and not have to be repeated. EDIT: just saw your adding about Obamacare. I'm in Georgia. Georgia didn't take on ANYTHING helpful. I am unemployed right now, so I don't have to have Obamacare, and should be eligible for Medicare, BUT Georgia denied coverage. They also denied coverage for WLS, so even if I have to get it if I find a job soon, it's not covered. O_O EDIT2: I should just move! LOL

I'm not sure. It was my first appointment at the surgeon's office, but the doctor said the diet started that day, front desk said next month, which was where the confusion came in at. I saw my PCP on the same day, and he is taking notes of my diet, excersize and everything insurance requires to, so I have a second doctor doing the supervision at the same time incase something happens. If I knew that insurance required it to be explicitly listed as being on a supervised diet, my PCP would have been writing it in my files for the last year, because I've been doing it with him, but I only see him every 2 months, not every month, and insurance requires monthly visits, so now doing that with him too. Of which of course this may not matter, because there is a giant possibility that my insurance is going to change in January because of the whole Obamacare/my father changing jobs/I turn 26 in July.

Okay, but by what you are both saying, I am right and not the lady at the front desk? October - visit 0 November - visit 1 December - visit 2 January - visit 3 and finished, move on to filing insurance and pre-op diet for surgery...

That is awesome! I've been researching for a few months. It took awhile to get that first appointment, but I look forward to it. I think I get to meet the surgeon on this next visit, so that is exciting, but it isn't until Nov 26, pretty much a month after my first one. Maybe we will see each other in support group or at an appointment at some point in the future since the appointments start out in a group. Good luck!

What insurance do you have? I called my normal hospital and they had a nutritionist that worked with bariatric patients. It wasn't through Emory, but Piedmont. Also, Emory gave me the name of 3 psychologists, so that helped. You should be able to make an appointment with them whenever you get out of your meeting at Emory tomorrow. I think since no required diet, they said they generally get people into surgery within 2 months or so, but I'm not sure since I have a required diet, but I'm sure they can help, everyone there was nice.

Dr. Singh is the medical doctor there. From what I could tell, he handles your appointments and clears you for surgery, while Meghan is the nutritionist and then you have a surgeon also. BUT, their nutritonist for whatever reason didn't count for insurance, I had to make an appointment with a different one for that, which wasn't a big deal. They also require a psychologist, but since your insurance requires it, you will already be going to one. I scheduled an appointment with one of the ones they gave us that was on my insurance plan. My letter of necessity came from my PCP, but I think Emory just requires it to be from someone other than them. I wish I could have surgery sooner, but at the same time, I feel comfortable getting myself prepared and making changes with my food now.

Yeah, I've already decided to start working out during my pre-pre-op diet. I don't know exactly where the surgeon want's to see me weight wise, but I'm looking at around 200ish pounds probably. I was thinking about trying to do wraps along the way some to help, that way even if I do have surgery later on for the skin, there won't be as much along the way to make me conscious.

It depends on your insurance I think. I had my first appointment there 2 weeks ago, but I have to have a 3 month diet with my insurance, so I'm looking at a feb date for surgery they said. Be prepared, my first apointment lasted 3-4 hours. They actually sent me down for lunch because the wait was so behind. Not sure how often that happens.

Thanks guys. Yeah, I've lost some weight in the past, but nothing like I expect with this surgery, so it's something on my mind. I've been overweight my whole life, so I know and expect some skin to be there after, but I'm hoping with excersize after, it will help. And skin care, of course. My first and most important goal is to better my health by losing the weight, but I can't help but to think of some of these things that will happen because of the fast weight loss. My insurance might cover panus, with skin issues/rashes, I think, but it has to be paired with other problems. Although, I probably will be changing insurance next year, so that might change.

Yeah, I really liked Dr. Singh at my appointment last week. I get to meet Megan this month. I'm doing my supervised diet through my PCP, but I'm still looking forward to what I'm going to learn with them too. The front desk staff was a little off, but I'm thinking it may have just been a busy day for them, they seemed all over the place, while everyone in the back was friendly and seemed to know what they were doing.

How has your experience with them been? I just got finished with my first appointment there earlier this week. I have to do the 3 month supervised diet for my insurance, so I have some time. I felt like the team was great except the front desk ladies.' Edited to add: Athens, Georgia here, but going to Emory Midtown for surgery.