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Hi all! I spoke with my surgeons office today, they called to be sure I am on track and see if I needed any help. I have Cigna which requires 3 month nutrition visits. My last one is scheduled for April 10th. The woman at the surgeons office said that if I completed all my tests before that I can set my date for as soon as April 13th!!!! I thought I needed approval before setting the date?

Hello, So i started my Pre-op nutrition visits, and the first month I GAINED WEIGHT! 6 lbs. I am trying to get back on track now, because I have gained about 15lbs since my initial consult with my surgeon. Is there anyone else out there that gained during their insurance approval nutrition visits?

Hello, So i started my Pre-op nutrition visits, and the first month I GAINED WEIGHT! 6 lbs. I am trying to get back on track now, because I have gained about 15lbs since my initial consult with my surgeon. Is there anyone else out there that gained during their insurance approval nutrition visits?

I am very scared cause as of my nut appt i am up 13lbs from my original surgeons visit weight! And they wanted me to lose 10... yikes! so the next 2 months i have to lose 23 lbs, or i am guessing i can't get the surgery on time. OH BOY!!!

@@jersey_girl_86 I am in the SAME BOAT! i gained 6lbs! My nut was not happy with me at all! I have hypothyroidism too. She said that if i don't lose the weight they will not approve me. So i have to get my butt in gear!

@@Mel24 The first step I made is with my surgeon. If you have a surgeon in mind that you want to use, i would suggest seeing them first. Mine had a nice little packet that included every step I needed to take for them, and for my insurance. They went through everything with me, and set me up with a nutritionist that works with bariatric patients and knows the approval process. It is a pretty long list of things to do, but just having it HELPS TONS!!! I am in the same boat as you, It seems SO FAR away, but I find that it is actually helpful to mentally prepare for this, seeing as I am a food addict. So i find that making small changes now may help me emotionally. It seems like we may be on a similar timeline so friend me if you would like : )

@@Mel24 Yes the insurance approval process seems daunting! I initially saw my surgeon, and they gave me a list of things i need to do. I have been slowly going through the list. I let the surgeon know i was doing WW at the time and she said that they can get a little strict about the rules and that i needed to see a nutritionist to track my weight and exercise. When i asked about doing it with my PCP, she said to be safe i should see a nutritionist because they will know exactly what to do, and what i need to be approved. The worst part is, is that it is actually 4 visits, the initial visit and then 3 more, AND they have to be 30 days apart. So i started on January 6th, my first "real" visit was Feb 6th, and i have 2 more to go... March 10th and April 6th. I just want to do it right the first time and not go through the hassle... Good Luck!! Keep us posted on your progress with Cigna : )

Hi! I have Cigna, and sadly I have to do 3 months with a nutritionist no matter what. It is annoying! Best of luck!

I love this! And I feel the same way!!! It is time to evolve past that scared girl, and mourn the loss of her. Wonderful post!!!

Hello All : ) I just started going to my nutritionist for my pre op approval process and she told me to start trying out Protein shakes. I wanted to ask you all which ones are your favorites? I have used Pure Protein in the past, not sure if that is a good one for Bariatric surgery though. Thoughts?

Hi, I have cigna, and it is a similar process to Aetna's.. I just had my first nutrition appt on January 6th, at that point my nut scheduled all of the other appts for the next 3 months, and i am scheduling all of my other appts in February. My surgeons office told me they would help with scheduling appts but i find it to be easier to do it on my own, because i have so much time. My nutritionist was affiliated with my surgeon, so they just automatically update my information. I still have to see my PCP, and get all of the blood work/ EKG/ sleep test done. All of which i am going to talk about with my PCP. Not sure if that really helps you, but I was told that I could schedule it all on my own, so that is the road i am going down. I thought that the surgeon would file for the approval after all of the nutrition appts and other requirements were completed. Good luck to you

hello, Welcome to the site! I find it to be really helpful! Sadly I am doing my preop stuff and probably won't be sleeved until May : ( That is a great idea to start a little support group though : )

Awesome, i will definitely try that first! I need more protein in my life!! hahaha

Absolutely Gorgeous! Amazing job!

have you had your first appt with your nutritionist yet?

Harleyquinn, and Fritz, I am just starting my journey too! I am hoping to be done in April, surgery possibly early may? I will add you guys as friends

So i have recently been thinking about getting the gastric sleeve. My therapist is actually the one that recommended it to me. Just a little background, I am 5'4" currently 278 lbs ( i have recently gained a lot of weight after a breakup) I have hypothyroidism, and depression... currently on meds for both. I have an appt with the surgeon on Dec 19th, and there is a seminar on 12/9 that the receptionist said i should attend. I have Cigna insurance, i called and they do cover the surgery. I have been on and off WW for 4 years, in 2010 i lost 40lbs i cancelled for about a year, and then rejoined in August, but haven't been consistent with going to meetings or weighing in. I also did Medi Weight-Loss this year i signed up for 3 months, and went regularly for 2. I have all of the paperwork... and all of my bank statements. I have a question about the insurance would that be enough to show that i have tried? I have also done the skinny rules (bob harper's book) atkins, south beach, starvation, and every other diet known to man. My will power is great... but i can't seem to get below 215lbs. I am an emotional eater, i have been working on this for a long time... there is a lot of fear with giving up food, and there is a lot of guilt and shame around it. Anyway, i was wondering what you all did for your insurance requirements and how you deal with the emotional eating, before and after surgery? Thank you!

Thank you all again! I have met with my surgeon, and had my first nutrition appt. I went to my first support group as well. It was so interesting! I do feel like the sleeve is the best choice for me, and although i am really scared about giving up food, I know that it is necessary to move on with my life. I am more afraid of what will happen to me if i don't have the surgery than if i do. And that is how i came to my answer. Thank you all for the support, I love this site!

Ok, I am going to be really honest here, and l am petrified to give up food! food has been my friend, my enemy, my boyfriend, my lover my everything... in times when i didn't have all of the other things, or i wasn't getting my needs met! I am on my journey and I am ready to have a new life I know i don't want to be this weight for my health, but in the years I have dieted and lost a ton of weight, I have come to the conclusion that i am afraid of failing, and i am also afraid of SUCCEEDING! I have had my appt with my surgeon, and nutritionist, I know that i want to do this. I am sure that this is the right decision, but is there anyone out there that is dealing with the FEAR?!?!?!?

I will not miss food being my life! And I will not miss the anxiety of seeing people I haven't seen in a while!!!!

I am sooo glad a lot of you can relate to me! And it is so awesome getting such great advice and encouragement! This is an unfamiliar road for me, So I am not sure what to expect, but I love that you are all here to chat with! Thank you guys! Xo

I am right there with ya Shizwiz. When is your surgery date? Do you have one yet?

Hahaha! I like your thinking! food CAN SUCK IT!

Lipstick lady, thank you for giving your opinion, and i agree with most of what you say. Before i started this journey i was sick of being fat, i was tired and I was READY to lose it... I think that as surgery approaches (in 3 months) my fears set it.. and unlike any other "diet" i will no longer have the ability to go back to my old habits - when i say i will no longer have the ability, i mean that I am preparing myself for NEVER eating the way I have eaten again. EVER. I am grateful that i have another 3 months cause that is just more time to mentally prepare myself for this life change. This is definitely not a decision i am making on a whim. I appreciate your opinion and It looks like you are doing AMAZING!!! congratulations to you!!! and thanks again !!

You guys are all so right, i know that i will not be "giving up food" but I WILL be giving up Emotionally eating, and switching to eating to live. I think that is my biggest hump to get over. I mean i don't know who i will be without this weight, so like everything in life, the unknown is uncomfortable. I love this site! you guys are all so positive and uplifting. Thank you all!