Crosby

I just started my 6 months last month and know how quickly it will fly by. I am glad I will have surgery in the Winter.

I'm in Western PA but not with highmark. I am going thru Hope Bariatrics in Sewickley. Surgery is 5 months off for me.

Have a great new day! And happy birthday..it is mine as well.

What's a hida scan? It shows how well your gallbladder is working. Some surgeons actually will remove the gallbladder during wls because of high frequency of gallstones with big weight loss. Mine doesn't bother with it but I already had mine out.

You could ask but they gave me all the written scripts and referrals at the first appt.

Many variations depending on insurance requirements and surgeon. I have to do 6 months of monthly pcp consults due to insurance. Everything else could actually get done in a few weeks...but I am spreading themout over time. I had my gallbladder out a few months ago so test/ results.

Congrats! I just started last month..5 to go.

It seems like everyone is so far ahead of me thought I would see if anyone out there is looking at similar surgery time. I had my orientation, first sugeon appt and one of six required weigh ins with my PCP. I should be finished everything early December but figure it will take me to January to get approved and scheduled. ( Just in time to have to pay my deductible.) I really like the idea of Winter time surgery. I am very into gardening and hope to be much more physically fit for Dpring gardening. I get goosebumps of excitement thinking about it.

Hopefully you will be able to make it. I don't really see December happening for me but it could be a remote possibility. My 6 months officially will be December 19th. I don't want to go right af Christmas but would take the 26th!

Good luck!

For my surgeon it does. He reports he has had too many cases where the GERD was so much worse with sleeve he decided to adopt a blanket policy not to do the sleeve for GERD folks. At first I was disappointed but now I am completely satisfied with going for the RNY..it is right for me.

That's exactly what I was thinking. I haver cared from dressings much but loved flavored oils. Oh well I will survive.

So sorry it didn't work out for you.

I hope I can still use oil..I make my own flavored EVOO. Otherwise I will just go dry.

I have thought the same thing...especially when I was working outside this weekend. I know the sips get bigger over time. One reason I am glad I am having surgery in the a Winter.

You have permission to Beat me into submission if needed....I am a babe in the woods and soo appreciate the insight. I have been reading and reading and reading and still have so much to learn.

My surgeon is the same. I was surprised that it is similar to my other surgeries with just one day prep. I plan to cut out all sugar and caffeine one month before so I don't have to deal with withdrawal from those two.

Yippee!!!

I can sooo relate. Five years ago I was over 320 pounds and I cried as I walked around my yard for my first exercise. I slowly lost weight and pain. I began on the elliptical the first month. It probably was 3 months and 50 or so pounds before I felt significant drop in pain. The next two years were great. I lost 135 pounds and LOVED working out. I was running for the first time in my life. I was biking over 50 miles a trip. Mountain biking became a passion at 50. Endorphins are wonderful things. I had a significant hip injury and exercise came to a halt. I was devastated, depressed and ate. I got back up to the 270's and reinsured my hip just due to the weight. Knees kill me, back pain is affecting my other passion of gardening. About 2 months ago I said enough and made first appt at a Bariatric clinic. I have until December or January until surgery and can't wait. Memories are fresh of how good my body felt. I never made it to goal but I felt great in the 180's. I know this time I have done additional damage to my body and arthritis is progressing everywhere so I am sure I will still have some pain. But I know it will be nothing compared to now. I likely will have to have hip surgery again and want to give my hip the best possible situation for recovery. You are not alone!

I think you are not getting any responses because it's hard to know what you should ask as it's based on your needs. Simply ask about the things that concern you or you are not sure about. I was interested in clean eating versus use of artificial substitutes so I asked a couple questions related to that. I didn't want to ask things about early post diet specifics because I will save that for last session if needed.

Sounds great...think i will order up your recovery.

Fantastic way to put it! I have similar thoughts and I am not opposed to the "Easier" idea. Hell I can walk without a Cane but it's is a bunch easier, safer, and less likely to cause more damage if I use the cane. This surgery is an efficient medical response to a medical issue....not a moral one. And dkell11... Congrats on your courage and I look forward to hearing about your success.

Woohoo!

Finally got my answers! The sad thing is after going through 4 different people at Aetna and getting assigned a case manager I was told to calling billing at my surgeon. One would think Aetna would be the to talk to about Aetna policy. But for any others that may at some point be seeking the answer you need just ONE weight from each of two previous years. Now here is hoping I gained enough of my 135 pound loss back by the end of 2012 to give me the 40 bmi!

For those with Aetna .....How many weights did you actually have to submit prior to surgery..beyond the 6 months directly preceding surgery. I am concerned as I had a period of time ( one weigh in ) 16 months ago where I dipped below my required 40 bmi. ( it went to 38) Do I just have to submit one weigh in record from 2012 as an example? I am struggling to get these answers directly from Aetna. I do not want to go through the next 6 months and get everything done to find out one weigh in is going to disqualify me. I would rather wait three additional months to begin the 6 month pre-surgery requirements and know all my weights are qualifiers.