Pelicanlady

I just got call from a nurse with United Health Care wanting to do my surgical admissions counseling. He asked me when my surgery date is and I told him that I didn't have one yet. I was still waiting for approval from UHC. He told me that he would call me back in a couple of weeks and see if I have a date yet. I wonder if this means that the UHC might just be approving me, but he let it out of the bag early. Fingers and toes are all crossed. Feeling very hopeful.

Good luck with your surgery in July. I am hoping for a July date, when I get my insurance approval. I have been going back a forth over whether I really need to do this, and the answer is yes!

Hi Lynn, They don't require 6 months supervised weight control program, which I am happy about. As far as co-morbid conditions I have arthritis. I agree with you, with my history you would hope they would figure surgery would be better for me. I have been with the same insurance company since 2000. I just noticed that you have your surgery date coming up very soon. Does your surgeon have you on a liquid diet? Good luck with your surgery.

Great post. I will be going to WDW later this year. I hope to have my surgery in July, still waiting to hear from insurance. I was wondering what dining would be like. I'm glad that they honor the card we get from our surgeons. It will be so nice to be able to fit in all the rides without worrying or worse, the seat belt not fitting. Good luck everyone.

I had my meeting with my surgeon the end of April, saw the psych on May 20th. Now I am waiting for my surgeons office to submit to insurance. If all goes well I could have surgery beginning of July. Keep on reading everything you can get your hands on. I even went on YouTube to watch videos that people have made to show their journeys. I just put VSG surgery in the YouTube search bar and started watching. Good luck and hope you don't have to wait too long.

Great information. Once I get my sleeve I'll have to get one.

I'm also a newbie. Met with my surgeon the end of April and the psychologist May 21st. My insurance requires me to be obese for 5 years and see the psychologist. My weight has been up and down all my life so I don't have records of being obese 5 years in a row. I hope they just mean proof of 5 years of being obese. My surgeons office should be sending my paperwork to my insurance tomorrow. This waiting is killing me. One thing I have been doing is researching VSG. I have read books on it, and have watched loads of Youtube videos. It's good to see all sides of this surgery and watching peoples journeys. Good luck to everyone.

Can't wait until I get my surgery. I am hoping the insurance company doesn't keep me waiting for an answer too long. Glad you are doing good and are going home soon. Hope this wind dies down soon. It is blowing like crazy down here in Green Valley.

@ Halloweenbaby24 I figure a doctor,is a doctor and as long as they have your weight that should be good.

I had my medical records from 1993-1998 that I gave to my surgeons office to submit to insurance. During that time I started at 258 lbs, went on a doctor monitored diet, lost 107 lbs, and then proceeded to gain it all back. I am hoping that will help. Good luck everyone.

I too am in the same boat. When I have my weight under control I have no problem going to the doctor. When my weight is out of control the last thing I want to do is see and doctor and have to get on the scale. I hope to hear from Dr. Welle's office tomorrow that they sent everything to my insurance.

Glad everything went okay. I wonder if the itching is from the pain meds. I had that once after a surgery and it was the pain meds. How did they treat you at TMC? Do you get a private room or multi-bed? How was your doctor. Can't wait for it to me my turn.

Hello everyone. Well, I am progressing along. Tuesday I go see the psychologist and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions or comments on how their visits went. Once I pass the psychological test my surgeons office will submit paperwork to my insurance. I have been doing lots of research online so I will have an idea of just what is going to happen. I can't believe how many people have made YouTube videos while on their VGS journey. Lots of valuable information out there if you just look. This forum is wonderful. I haven't posted much, but read everyday. I have already started to give up some items that I don't need to eat to keep me healthy. I have given up soda and caffeine. If everything goes good and my insurance approves me I am hoping for a July surgery date. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Good luck. Sending prayers your way.

No, I don't have to do them, as far as I know. My surgeons office said just the 5 years obese and the psychologist. I will be calling my surgeons office Thursday to see if they sent my paperwork in to insurance.

This is our little Muffin. Sorry I couldn't figure out how to do it smaller.

I am so excited for everyone having surgery today. Prayers to you all.

Pjpanda, thanks and good luck tomorrow. I will say a prayer for you and your surgical team.

Itsmekarenlee, I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience with you psych. I can't believe she had you I tears and didn't stop and find out what was going on. Doesn't sound like she is very good with her job. Wow, that was some long test. At least at the end she did talk to you, but still that just wasn't right.

That sucks that you have to pay that out of pocket. Is it your insurance company that requires it or the surgeon? My insurance requires it, so they pay 85%. Good Luck.

Hi JHood2005 Just got back from the psych appointment and it was a breeze. We talked for about 30 minutes and that was it. She said she would type her report up tonight and have it on my surgeons desk by the morning for him to sign. I passed it. I didn't have any 300 question test like so many people say they have. She told me that I was mentally ready for this surgery. Have you started your coaching calls yet?

So, I just got back from my Psych visit and it was a breeze. We talked for about 30 minutes and that was it. No 300 question test for me. She told me that she would write up her report tonight and it would be on my surgeons desk in the morning for his signature. I passed it! Now the hard part is getting insurance approval.

I have UHC Choice plus also. I have to see a psychologist and have a 5 year history of being obese. I would be nice if they all had the same requirements.

That's wonderful news. I have UHC choice plus and they require me to see the psychologist and have a 5 year history of being obese. I see the psych tomorrow and not sure how the 5 year history will go. I lost over 100 lbs. in 1993 and regained it all and then some by 1998. I lost over 100 lbs in 2005 and I started to gain again in 2007. I wasn't considered obese again until 2011. I really hope my surgeons office can work miracles with UHC. So many hoops to jump through just to save the insurance companies money down the road.

Good luck. Hey Pjpanda, my Dr is Dr. Welle in the same office. Good luck to you. I am still in the beginning stages. I see the psychologist this coming Tuesday. Then they will send to insurance. I am hoping for a July date, that is, if my insurance approves me.