nancytole

I'm right there with you Curvy! Monday at 7 am! Best of luck! We can compare notes

Me too! I'm getting sooooo nervous! Excited but super nervous. I just want it done---

I am scheduled for April 14. My surgeon requires the 2 week liquid pet op...except for me. I went for my final visit and he told me not to do it. Who am I to question the professional? Lol. I have to do the 1 day before liquids

Hi Greenie Finally! I found someone the same day as me! Lol

Thanks everyone. I do agree with the ones who said go to the interview, if I get an offer give them a start date 2 weeks after surgery. Another question--if, after surgery I am not feeling as well as I hope to and the surgeon doesn't give me the ok to go to work right then, then what? I haven't worked in a while so I don't know what the proper way of doing things in this situation. Thanks!

Hi All! I just need some input and opinions. I am having surgery April 14th. YAY!! In the meantime a place I interviewed with about a year ago (I didn't get the job) got in contact with me for an interview tomorrow. I am going to the interview. Do I mention I am having surgery at the interview? Do I only tell them if they offer me the job? Or do I keep my mouth shut? I figure honesty is the best policy and they may respect that and hire me despite having surgery soon. It's a job as an office assistant at a trucking company, so it's not super physical. I could really use the job!! as we all probably can with the economy the way it is. Thanks!

Mention it at what point? During interview or if/when they make an offer?

Hi Nancy from RI. My date is April 14th. 4/14/14. March 19th is an info meeting, March 26th is all the pre op bloodwork, etc. and then surgery date. Excited but nervous here. I guess the nerves because of the unknown.

Anyone in Rhode Island close to Newport? I'm pre op--one test left to do.

Aww man. That sucks! I was hoping more like 2. I'm so worn out from wait then wait then wait some more! So right now you are still Doing liquid? Just shakes? It feels like I am looking at March. I was so hoping Feb.

I have heard a good grab and go is Premier Protein. I think you get it at BJs or possibly Walmart. I have done the GNC Total Lean Meal Replacements shakes. They are ok. I usually add sugar free flavored syrups to them. DAdrianna--do you know how far out Dr. P. Is scheduling surgery?

Hi Mack There are two places I have heard of for shakes--Faunce Corner Nutrition in north Dartmouth and a place in Providence. College Hill area. Not sure of the name. You can also try GNC, Walmart, BJs (premier protein). I am currently waiting to heat from the insurance. Taking forever!!!

The coordinator in my suegeon's Office has been phenomenal. She takes all my calls or calls me back within an hour. I called the insurance company today and member services told me it was under review.

Hello After you submitted to insurance and called to get an update as to where it was in the process, who did you speak to at the insuranace company. Was it member services, or a supervisor, or who? Thanks!

I have bcbs NJ. I finished all my pre op requirements last Monday. Called the surgeons on Friday. The coordinator told me that she had called bcbs all week to submit for surgery approval. She said each time she called she was put on hold and never got through. I called bcbs and bitched! They gave me another # to call. I let the coordinator know. Hopefully she has called and got through. I am calling tomorrow to find out. This has put me back a whole week. I hope it's not another week. What if this was imminent surgery?!! Well it is, but you know what I mean

Hi My surgeon's office is submitting to the ins co today or tomorrow. Does/did anyone have bcbs nj? If so, how long did you wait for an answer? Do they usually approve?

Hi Coventry! I have Dr Pohl too. Love him! Are you pre or post op?

Do what I did. Insist on an apap machine

Below is part if the letter the insurance company sent me as far as the pre op requirements. I want to be sure I get this right the first time. I have 6 months of supervised by my physician (pcp) weight loss. It was within the last 12 months. According to the letter does this full their requirement? Also, the pcp is going to document this pre op requirement by sending in one of the progress note saying something like "Patient has attempted physician supervised weight loss within the last 12 months for 6 consecutive months. She has lost 14 lbs during this time." Has anyone dealt with this with Horizon? What do they want specifically? My pcp says I am overthinking it and he has done it this way many times before. I just want to be sure all my ducks are in a row. I'm So close, I don't want anything to hold this up Thanks! As per your request, please find the necessary documentation required with the Predetermination Request for Bariatric Surgery. Within the 12 months prior to the time of surgery, the patient must meet all of the following requirements: 1. Documentation of successful completion of at least 6 consecutive months of supervised conservative weight loss program, diet programs/plans (e.g., Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig), or the Horizon Obesity Disease Management Program. ​Successful completion means: • weight loss or at least maintenance of initial weight prior to participation of the program; and • photo-copies or print-outs of progress notes or formal documentation of at least monthly follow-up by the supervising physician, other health care provider, or program coordinator including the patient’s weight and progress relative to the goals set at the start of the program. NOTE: Pre-printed check-off forms and summary letters are NOT acceptable documentation for this requirement.

Dona. I am in RI. My doc is here in RI. The ins is through my hubby's work. From what I am reading in that letter the ins co wants monthly progress notes. Not just one with a summary. It's kind if vague.

Maybe I will speak to my surgeon's office In Monday. At their seminar I went to, the surgeon said that the office would take care of insurance. I tend to overthink things and I obsess. Lol. I know when you call the ins co you can get a different answer every time.

My whole study experience was hell too! I did an at home study which wasn't so bad. It showed I had moderate apnea. So then I had to do an in lab study with the Cpap machine so they would know what to set it on. I literally did not sleep at all!! I was there from 8 pm to 5 am and didn't sleep. The bed was gurney sized and hard. There were two cameras an a speaker pointed at me. The glue for all those leads made me itchy and never mind sleeping with the mask on my face. Oh it was also as hot as he'll in there. I took two ambien and a Xanax and still nothing. I went to my sleep doc apmt and begged for the apap. They ordered it for me and picked it up on Tuuesday. I started using it Wed night. I'm adjusting to it now. I do sleep a bit but end up taking it off 1/2 way through the night

Question--I started the process for VSG in October. I am wrapping it all up now. Last appointment on Friday with the nut. Of course as of the 1st the deductible for insurance is reset. Mine is $1000 with max out of pocket of $1000 = $2000. Lol. Does anyone know if you have to pay that amount up front or if it's billed to you? If it's up front I'm screwed! Lol. I have bcbs of New Jersey, Horizon. Thanks!

This all makes me ask this question--if you are obese and require some other surgery (e.g. Gall bladder removal) why don't they require a sleep study then?

Hi everyone- Freaking out that my date will be pushed back because of this damn sleep study/apnea issue. As part of my required pre op testing I did a sleep test. My insurance (BCBS) required that I do the at home study. I did the at home study and it showed I have moderate sleep apnea (I stop breathing 23 times an hour and my oxygen drops to 80%). So after the at home one, I had to do an in lab one with the Cpap machine so they would know what setting on the Cpap machine I would need. Well, I did the in lab one last night and didn't sleep the WHOLE ENTIRE time. I took 1 1/2 ambien, no luck. Then I took another 1/2. Still no luck. Therefore, they didn't get any sleep readings. So Monday I am supposed to go and get my cpap machine and they are supposed to tell me what setting to have it on. But since I didn't sleep are they going to make me do ANOTHER sleep study in lab? which is pointless because I can't sleep. The bed was the size of a gurney, hard mattress, wearing the cpap mask for the first time for a long amount of time. Do you know if there is anyway they can give me the CPAP machine with a general setting? This is the last thing holding me up from calling the surgeon and getting a date. I've waited SO long already. I'm more than willing to use the CPAP machine, I just don't want to have to wait another exorbidant amount of time to schedule the sleep study, etc etc. Thanks guys! Any info would be helpful!