Chelsea E

I had never heard of the sleeve until I accompanied my best friend to visit someone, her longtime friend Jessica, the day after her own sleeve surgery. At the time I was probably hanging around 220 pounds and not feeling it too bad and Jessica was over 300 pounds. I ended up hanging out with Jessica a lot and watched her on her journey lose well over 160 within a year. I decided about 6 months ago, at 245 pounds, that I wanted this surgery and I called my husbands insurance to see if it was covered... which it wasn't. Now I have enrolled in my own health insurance at work, called in about the surgery and know now that I will be eligable as of january 1st! I am so excited and I cant stop thinking about the surgery. I read up about it everywhere I watched video on how they perform the surgery, I considered having it done in Mexico, I have even sat down and gone through an online seminar from the hospital I would like to have it done at. But the wait is killing me. Can anyone tell me how long it took to get the ball rolling? Should I go get some of these required tests done before january? Will my insurance accept all of the information prior to january 1st? Will I need to pay the deductable and the 20% thats not covered all before the sugery or can I make payments as I go? Otherwise I will have to wait till I get my taxes back in february... I just want to get it done on january second so that I know its covered but that it will happen as soon as possible. Ive read up about pre-op, post-op, and stages 1-3 diets, and even with all the facts and risks I think about it all day every day. Does anyone have any advice that might help me stop obsessing over it? Are my hopes too high? I am probably closing in on 120-150 pounds over weight and while I was pregnant from January-October 2013 I had no health problems. I just have been heavier than I should be my whole life and sense I graduated high school and started working full time I have packed on the pounds and cant seem to control my over eating and run into tendonitis and ligament problems when I exercise, my sciatica doesnt help either. I already walk about 10,000 steps at work every day and do a lot of lifting and adding to that always leaves me hurting and I almost cant do my basic job requirments as I grow in size every month. I figure I dont want to keep talking about this with people who dont understand so I might as well share all of my thoughts on here where everyone is talking about it already. =] Sorry that was so long. I hope I get some great conversations started with some like minded sleevers!

Man 8 am so jelous of the progress you all are making. I have to go to a conference and get all my appointments set up. When I saw my doctor she gave me zero direction and said she was pro surgery but didn't give me a referral. She also said that I should make sure that if I make these appointments before my new insurance kicks in that I make sure they will accept it. It almost seemed like she didn't believe I qualify or that she doesn't want me to qualify.

Will do, thanks Veronica

I decided to have my sleeve done in the us to ensure my medical leave of absence is fully paid at work. But my insurance doesn't kick in till january. I went to see a doctor and get a general check up and she is pro surgery but didn't give me any information. As of now I think I need to go to the hospital I plan on having it at and see what they suggest. Now that it is December I hope I'm not too early to start some appointments and get this show on the road!

I hope arizona hospitals are that helpful!

What state are you in heav85?

I have set a doctors appointment for tomorrow morning to see if my PCP will give me the recommendation paperwork and start all my testing

Unfortunately we Havnt met the deductable for my insurance this year but I agree with the sense that I'm probably saving the insurance company money and I should get this started now thank you both for your reply's I sure hope I can make payment to the hospital. The money is what I'm afraid will hold me up