peteyrulz

Good luck to you too! I'm 58; my surgery is Thursday. I can't believe it's just around the corner! I am a bit anxious but A LOT excited! Reading these posts has helped put my mind at ease. My extended family is not happy with me having this surgery; they are afraid for me. I tell them I am more worried about the flight across the country than anything else. At least my husband is supportive. Good luck to any upcoming sleeves!

I know, right? I have been jumping insurance hoops & dealing with officious medical office personnel here in the US since March 2014. Finally throwing all caution to the wind and heading to TJ. I can't believe it's here in less than a week! We've got this!! ????????

@@lex8701 Morristown Medical Center....was that formerly known as Morristown Memorial? That's where I was born. Many, many, MANY years ago. I'm having my surgery in Tijuana. I'm starting to get very nervous! "What ifs" are starting to pop in my head, but then I remember my weight would kill me sooner or later. I have a feeling this is going to be a very long 6 days til surgery. ????

@@lex8701 my surgery is June 18th too. I, too, was born & raised in Morristown. I miss it so much! Where in MoCounty did you live? Good luck to everyone! One week from today.

Wow they keep you at the hospital/ hotel a few days...that's great! They're keeping us in the hospital just 2 days. (arrive Monday a.m., surgery pm, stay until Weds when they discharge mid-morning) I've chosen to stay in SD 2 extra days because I'm afraid of DVTs & PEs on my long flight home so soon after surgery. I'm a Nervous Nelly! Thanks for sharing your experience!

June 18th here!!! TJ here I come! (that's if I survive this pre-op diet! ????

Hi pr pitbullgirl! love your username, btw! I'm going to TJ June 18 for Dr. Rodriguez. I realize I'm too early but I wish you were going same time, I'll be going alone as dh is staying home with the wee ones. My Spanish is awful, even after 4 yrs in high school. I'm bringing my pocket translator with me. Good luck!

YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!!!! Congrats!!! I am STILL fighting for approval. Hired the Lindstroms last fall.

@@JamieLogical Thank You!! Awesome list!! I have about 100 MX packing lists in that many places. Those of us [me!] who aren't organized really admire those of you who are! ????

Welcome Karla! lol...it is hilarious that you were talking in Spanish. I, too, get so caught in research that it literally takes over my brain. And I've been doing this for over a year! It's going to be a fun ride! ????

Hi judi23! My tentative trip to TJ is in June but I don't have a date yet. still waiting on my passport/card & final insurance denial. I'm guessing June for sure with my fingers crossed! Dr. Garcia is whom I have finally chosen. Such a hard decision; there are several excellent surgeons from which to choose. I'll let you know if I'll be there around your dates. I'm traveling alone so it would be great to "know" someone.

Oh wow @tafuller. It was $250 last year. At the time I did not realize that it was nonrefundable, & I did not get approved. Been appealing for almost a year. If I get a final denial then Yep! I'm out the $250. what sense does that make??!!!

I, for one, am glad you asked this! I was too embarrassed to ask. ???????? I understand that several drs release the gas at end of surgery. I know that Dr. Hidalgo in PV does this.

as a person who used to be scared sh#%less of needles, the self-administered shots are not nearly as bad as I imagined. I had injections for fertility treatments about 15 years ago. Easy peazy!

This is GREAT news!! I'm so happy for you. Congrats!

This. I'm sure it's always been this way, but I've noticed it as I've gotten older. But the world is filled with men who think every woman in the world must conform to his idea of beauty. They're assholes, plain and simple. I know this because I have many friends who think this way, even though, they themselves are far from perfect. Luckily, I don't have to date any of them. But be warned ladies, they are out there. They don't have a sweet side that no one else knows about. They're not sensitive once you get to know them. When you peel back the layers on an jerk, you just find more jerk. To the OP, your time is much better spent on finding a person who will appreciate who you are now, and the journey you took to get here. So it might be time to fire up that long dormant sense of self confidence and tell him if he has a problem with it, he can hit the bricks. Sorry for posting in the ladies room, I'll see myself out [/ @Jerr_Berr I was just perusing this thread & your post caught my attention and I've got to say, YOU ARE A CLASS ACT!!! I love this: "When you peel back the layers on a jerk, you just find more jerk." No truer words were ever written! It amazes me how shallow some folks can be.

My surgery is scheduled May 20th (YAY!!!) with Dr Nick at the Microsurgery Institute (fka Northstar). Any other out-of-towners in May? When are you flying in? I'm wondering, at which hotel are you staying? and, how many nights will you be at the hotel? I got my packet today but there's no out-of-town information included.

@@Miss Mac thanks so much for printing the NIH list. My older brother died in 2011 from heart attack at 65. My insurance was completely uninterested in the cause of his death, they only were interested in whether I had HBP, diabetes, or sleep apnea. when I first started this journey 1 yr ago my BMI was 38-39 with depression, GERD, & osteoarthritis. Now my BMI is 41 & I also have HBP. Thanks insurance! I can't help but think if they had approved me IN JUNE that I would be at my goal weight by now AND NOT HAVE HBP. I realize my health is my own doing but this past year has been sssoo stressful with denials and appeals. I wish the there was a standard for insurance to follow the NIH list. My insurance is BCBS federal emp plan; you'd think the feds would use NIH's guidelines, right? Not a chance! Anyhoo...let me get to my point I hired Lindstrom Advocacy back in Oct. They're still working my case & thru a comedy of errors at the surgeon's office & OPM it has taken much longer than expected. I have tentative surgery date in May with Nicholson Clinic (Dallas); if my appeal doesn't work then I am throwing in the towel & going to Dallas via self-pay route, it being less expensive bcuz they will fix my hernia & do the sleeve for nominal fee. (I wanted to go to MX but the hubs wouldn't entertain the thought) I've been mostly happy with Walter & Kelley but sometimes I would not hear from them & I'd get SO FRUSTRATED!!! It's been a long road!! Sorry to blah blah blah. Fighting insurance is horrendous and it's not usually as drawn out as my case. The Lindstroms are the way to go if you need to appeal. Money well spent! thanks so much for letting me rant!!! ????????

I have a lot of size 8s from before I got pregnant. I'm hoping to get back to these clothes, even though they are probably out of style by now! Size 8 is where I want to be.

After a year of fighting and waiting and trying and appealing and waiting, and waiting some more, I've decided on Dr. Nicholson in Dallas. Partial self-pay, as he will be repairing my hiatal hernia as well. I hired Lindstrom Advocacy last fall, but it seems they could not help me. Some of my emails have gone unanswered, which surprised me because they were very responsive early on. Maybe I'll never know the final result of the appeals. Sooo... Dr. Nicholson here I come! Don't have a surgery date yet, I'm hoping soon. I am beyond excited!

@@TREVORSMOM & all other Nicholson patients! TREVORSMom how are you doing? are your incisions any better? I have 2 ques for Nicholson patients: 1. Do they send you home with prescribed blood thinners? 2. Do they supply compression stockings/socks before you leave, or is that something I need to bring? I spoke to their surg coordinator yesterday & forgot to ask.

My main weakness has always been Coke. I love a nice, icy cold Coke on a hot day. My nut asked me what I would miss most...I said my Coke! I haven't had any soda in over 10 months, & I haven't been sleeved yet. ( thanks A LOT, BCBS!!!) I miss it terribly but I'm pretty darn proud of myself. I agree that small sipped amounts every now & then should be ok. Feeling deprived of anything is what got me here in the first place!

@@Deborah1960 I live in Fburg! I haven't heard of him...will definitely check him out because I live very close to Spotsy Regnl. my plans are to go to Nicholson in Dallas.

@@TREVORSMOM How are you feeling ? Hope you are doing well!

@@sunshinewhit When I started this adventure in March 2014, my BMI was almost 39 & I didn't have any of the 3 major "accepted" co-morbidities.