HappiTam

The questions are very straight forward, just be honest about why surgery is needed and what you expect the outcome to be and acknowledge that you know that the changes that you will be making in your life are understood. It may seem like a ton of questions being asked, but in hindsight they were helpful because I had to think about and verbalize my future.

I'm still in the pre-surgery phase also, but have been spending time researching smoothies and other things that will be needed immediately post-op. My only advice so far is if making smoothies with red fruit & spinach put in not clear glass before drinking....the color created is a brown slushy mess. So far the worst part is waiting for the next step, and the next step followed by another step.

Mayo Clinic has recommended the Flinstones Complete (non-gummies) for me.

Okay, so you grazed and then spent time thinking about it. You've are aware of the behavior, you've talked to others about how to avoid it from happening again and also helped other (like me) by bringing this up so others can prepare to avoid the same situation. I truly thank you for your honesty.

I'm also traveling to Mayo Clinic in Rochester to have Dr. Todd Kellogg perform my Roux-en-Y. I was told 4-8 weeks for a insurance approval, but it was approved in 3 days, now I'm just waiting to have a surgery date scheduled. Hopefully, that when I return on 1/23 for a barium swallow image (yuck) they will pick a date. Fingers crossed!!

Waiting patiently......,there is no such thing. Waiting stressfully is more like it, it hate that feeling! I called the insurance company today and found out I was approved, so I immediately sent an email to my surgeons to let them know they should be receiving a hard copy of the approval in the next few days. I may come across as a possible control freak, but I am trying to be as proactive as possible to be the best possible advocate for myself as a patient. Best of luck.

Unfortunately all insurance policies are different. I would call the insurance company a couple different times to get multiple explanations from different people that work there. Sometimes someone can just explain things better than others. My prior insurance company would not cover bariatric surgery. In 2001, it was recommended for my severe GERD, my records had shown the need, but it was denied. I tried appealing the decision without success. Fast forward thirteen years and multiple failed surgeries, again it was denied even with many specialists stating that it now was my only option. As of 2015, my employers insurance carrier was changed. I was prepared to again battle it out with an insurance company and stressed about it daily. It was submitted to the new carrier on 1/9/15. Today, I called to verify it was received and found out it had already been approved as of 1/13/15. I was (still am) in shock. I'm hoping you get a similar surprise soon.

For my insurance company it was billed as Psychological Services because it was a needed step to qualify for consideration for surgery.

I met with one surgeon at Mayo Rochester last week & am going back to meet with 2 more next week. I'm not a future sleever (will have Roux-en-Y), nor in Minnesotan (I'm your eastern neighbor from La Crosse WI), but I'd love to hear how everything is going for you. :-)

My insurance will be MMSI as of 1/1/2015. I've completed the psych eval and have one session left for the behavior modification. How long of a wait did you have between the end of the modification and getting the surgery date set?

I'm currently pre-op and like to plan ahead, so I've been asking a lot of questions at appointments. The behaviors modification counselor I'm seeing has been stressing that I work now on improving muscle tone to help avoid sagging upper arms, but she hasn't had encouraging ideas for my wrinkled lower stomach. My primary physician said that a Panis surgery will likely be needed. Having have already experienced insurance issues I thought, it would be considered cosmetic, but my primary physician explained if it is causing skin breakdown it would be seen as medically necessary. So if you are having skin problems where it folds over on to itself, please have your physician document it for you just in case you may need prove later.

I'm still pre-op for WLS, but leakage has also been an issue for me and it seems to be more common than you'd think. Since I have not been able to loose enough weight to take the pressure off my bladder I've tried a couple procedures to help. For stress incontinence (sneezing, coughing, or laughing) the first was a fine mesh to put pressure on my urethra to stop leakage...worked ok for a short time. Secondly, a collagen injection around the urethra on three sides was the winner. Now sneezing & laughing don't cause any worrying. For urge incontinence (you've got to go suddenly NOW feeling), Botox injections into the bladder walls keep the bladder from wanting to "let it go" until your ready.

I'm still a pre-surgery gal, but the counselor and nutritionist have been stressing the food logs to me, so I'm logging everything thing through my "Fitbit"and it makes it so much easier than writing it down. The suggestion of "The 5-day pouch test" sounds logical (if it really does work), I'm bookmarking it "just in case" for later. You can lose again, look what you did last time!

The forty+ years have been much better than the 20's and 30's for me too! It is funny how the exact number doesn't seem to matter that much, I for one tend to forget my age, which could either be a good attitude or early dementia. My mom is the only one that is quick to quote the number and has even worked it in to my nephews math practice by telling him that however old he is always add 40 to the number and you'll have Auntie Tam's number. Unfortunately he's good at math. I did turn mom's math example against her when I explained that if he added 60 to his number, he would have grandma's number, and that is way bigger than mine!

I'll also miss the buttered movie popcorn, but I look forward to being comfortable sitting in the theater seat. My behavior modification counselor has being telling me to "slow down and savor the foods I'm eating", fortunately when I am thinking about what I'm eating now, some of the bad stuff (aka my favorites) have now turned into gross stuff in my mind and I have no interest in them. You are so right, it is hard to think about what you'll be missing, but just think of what the trade-off will be. I hope your countdown to the 17th goes quickly and your surgery safe. :-)

Thank goodness no PE!! It is terrible that you have had to go through such a terrible experience. Hopefully you'll be feeling better soon and your doctor has a new plan for you. Wishing only the best for you. Tam

Happy goal date!! I'm looking forward to your success story!! Tam

Congratulations!! I hope to make that statement myself in 2015. Tam

I live in La Crosse, WI but will be having surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester in 2015, but a date has not yet been set. Currently, I'm a couple weeks away from finishing up the behavior modification counseling and trying to gather as much information as possible. I look forward to hearing about all of your accomplishments!

That is great!! Congratulations!! Tam

Congratulations!! One month from now the surgery will be in the past. :-) Tam