KSTUZ

I hope u do too!! Praying for UR date soon!! I know we will keep in touch U and I!! WOOOP!

10 days apart!! We will keep in touch! Yay I'm pumped!

Congrats on getting started!! I have Aetna, so they require a 3 month nutrition and diet program. I had a little bit of probs cause, long story, my husband had a heart attack and triple bypass at age 37 back in feb/March. I had a net gain during those 3 months. Aetna states U cannot have a net gain. And I had no weight for 2013. So I was denied. (July) Then i appealed - denied again. (Aug) I hired Lindstrom obesity advocacy (They were EXCELLENT!!) And was approved Oct 3rd!!! I started my first meeting was January 7th 2013. And my surgery is set for 2 days before!!! I'm so happy and even tho it took a while, it was worth it. The denial definitely hit me hard and the next denial was even worse. But it lit a fire in me that I wanted this and I had to get real serious whether or not this was for me. And it is!!! The denials made me get my head together and with lots of family and friends support I have fought thru and here I am!!!! So the whole process took me a year, a friend of mine, who I went thru the whole process with, was sleeved on aug 11th. So I am only a little behind. Now is my time!! Any questions let me know and good luck!! Keep in touch!

Yeah exactly:) I'm right outside of philadelphia, pa

That would be awesome! Need a surgery buddy! Jan 5th is my husbands birthday. It was that or the end of the month! So I chose the 5th. Haha! Have to do whatcha gotta dooo!! I could have had a date in December but, with my job, it's not an option. Covering the shifts around Xmas are so difficult, I don't have kids, I always cover the holidays, and in the medical field so we only shut down for the "Holliday" so my warm and fuzzy boss says that jan 5 date. What's a few more weeks!! Jskallsldkjcksl!!!!!! ????excitement!!!! ????????

Thank you!! I'm freaking out with excitement!!

Keep me updated on any news!!

I was just approved last Friday!! I did have the Lindstrom Obesity advocates (Kelley and Walter Lindstrom) fight my appeal after my first appeal denial. They submitted it to Aetna (I continued going for NUT visits and weigh in and showed a steady loss) and was APPROVED!!!! Just waiting on a date now! U can fight it if u get denied. I had a weight gain and no weight for 2013. Still got approved. It's all in the way the appeal is written! Please keep us posted on how u make out!!! If YA need any info from me feel free to contact me!!! Fingers crossed for you!!!!!

Hay! I'm in philly burbs, just got approved (FINALLY!!!!) and waiting on my date. How are u making out?!?

Thank u so much!! It still hasn't sunk in- hopefully scheduling a date tomorrow!! Wooot! ????????

So after getting denied by Aetna for a "net gain" during my husband heart attack and triple heart bypass, I appealed....and was denied again. I don't even know where to pick up and start now. I sent in all of his discharge paperwork so they knew I wasn't just making excuses. And I'm not. I know I messed up. I know I gained. I know how to now fix this. But I'm lost on moving on to my second appeal. I'm depressed, severely. I'm miserable. My husband is ready to kill me I think. I'm crying all the time and I just wanted this for myself so bad. I know I have to get over my "pity party" and start fighting but honestly I feel lost, alone and just really down. Almost like I don't have fight left in me. Help.

APPROVED!!! Got the email today and they already faxed my Aetna approval to my surgeons office! 2nd level appeal is approved!!! (????screaming for excitement!!)

I am THRILLED!!!!! I'm still in shock, I can't believe I'm approved. I don't know if it has completely sunk in!! Haha! Yay!

The appeal was AMAZING that Walter wrote. Kelley was fantastic and I had a weigh in 2 weeks ago and Aetna was already reviewing my appeal, I faxed another weight loss to Kelley and she had it faxed to Aetna to make sure that was also reviewed. She called and emailed today. The paperwork says October 3rd, I had to email her. I'm sure they are super busy. So make sure u check in!! I don't regret them helping me at all! I would do it again and again. 100% I was very skeptical at first, but she's always answered my emails right back within hours. (I'm in pa, they as u know are in Ca) so 3 hour time difference I had to keep telling myself!! Thank You!! You better keep me posted!!! Fingers are crossed and I know they will get you approved too!!!

Hiiiii, Aetna have 15-30 days to look over the appeal. So I'm stillllll waitinggggg! This has to be the longest wait. Other problem is this, one coworker went on maternity, then another coworker had a seizure and diagnosed with a brain tumor and had that taken out. So I can't even have it done until probably January. Soooo yeah. That's all the news I got so far! Will keep You's posted!

Are you kidding me?? I was reading your post with my jaw hitting the floor. I still don't believe it. U are going to get thru this. I'm gonna pm ya. Talk to ya soon hun

My coworker and I started this journey together. She was approved and her surgery is Aug 11th. I was denied and I'm appealing and fighting my ass off to get approved. Recently I noticed she isn't telling me anything about her surgery what the following steps are or anything about the whole process, which I found to be odd. We even talked about having it done the same day and would be a great support system to eachother at work. Now I know that maybe she was just feeling bad that I was denied...wen tho I am truly happy for her...I'm jealous. Deep down. BUT did my best to smile and encourage her and asked her questions and was getting short answers. I mentioned to another coworker that she started to seem distant and a little short with me. And I found out she feels uncomfortable around me. ME! I was a little taken back. I've known this woman for 15 years...I'm kind of hurt she just shut me out. It makes me feel worse. I keep saying "I'm right behind you!! Don't u worry! I'm fighting I will get it approved!" And to find out I make her uncomfortable makes me feel awful. I'm excited for her, I want her to tell me what's going on and how she is feeling and doing like we have been the last 6 months! I guess id feel bad too if it were the other way around, but I think I'm doing a pretty good job at staying positive...I was very down and out the first 2 weeks after I found out Aetna denied me..obvi!! But I was honest with her and she knew how I felt. I didn't want her to feel bad. This woman is not always easily approachable. As long as I've known her she can be a tough cookie...so just coming forward and talking to her about it may not be that simple- especially since my other coworker promised me not to tell her that I know. I know it's ridiculous but I work 40 hours a week with these women as I'm not trying to stir the pot...even tho to break thru this, I know we should just talk about it. Just needed to get that out! Ahhhhh

Awesome!! Hoping the same for you! Keep me posted! Kelley has been fantastic and Walter is handling my case. He wrote a killer appeal letter. Hoping this does the trick! Fingers crossed!

No prob, I'm still waiting for approval. My friend was done August 11th and it's been rough seeing her at work now that she is back an I'm still sitting here waiting. Hopefully my lvl 2 appeal will be approved. It was submitted last Thursday.

Congrats! That's great news!! Keep us posted how u both make out and GOOD LUCK!!

I am so very sorry u have to go thru this- but I am an xray tech and we do swallowing studies, message me with ANY questions and I'd be happy to explain what will happen and what to expect. I'll be thinking of you. Stay strong, this too shall pass.

Definitely!! Will do!! U do the same! Keep me updated!

Hey darla!! So my second level appeal was submitted on Thursday sept 18th. Lindstrom killed my appeal. It's soooo good. So hopefully I will have good news to report soon!! Thanks for thinking of me

Thank u so much and CONGRATS!! You must be thrilled! Did u set a date yet?? Make sure u keep me posted on EVERYTHING. I can't wait to keep in touch throughout ur journey. :) :) I'm still fighting for it! But thanks so much for thinking of me, I am hanging in there. Trying to stay positive. I will update u wen I hear anything at all!! Katie

Thank u so much I've gotten so much support thru here. I will keep u posted! U do the same!