mclorrie

Good luck to all of you next week! I'm hoping and praying I get my insurance approval next week!!

Just got the call from my patient coordinator at my surgeon's office. My medical team reviewed my case, and approved me for surgery. They are now submitting it to insurance for approval! Once they get the approval letter from my insurance, they'll call me for pre-op! Oh my goodness! I'm getting excited and nervous at the same time!!

Welcome! When I decided to have WLS, I received a referral from my PCP. I had to attend a weight loss seminar at my surgeon's clinic. Afterwards they scheduled an appt. for me to meet with my surgeon. My insurance required a six month doctor supervised weight loss program and a psych evaluation before they would approve me. And my surgeon had a list of requirements that I had to complete - which included cardiac clearance, two psych evaluations, last five years of weight loss history, among a few other things. Best advice I could give you is to consult with your primary care physician to see if they can provide you with a referral or call a weight loss clinic to see what your first step would be to start your journey. You may also want to check with your insurance provider to see if they could recommend a surgeon. If you're self pay - I don't know too much about how to find a surgeon in Mexico, but I'm sure that someone who's done it can provide you with good information on how to proceed. Good luck!

@Licia'sjourney - I ordered some sample packets of Syntrax Nectar from mybariatricpantry.com. There are a few packets that could easily mix with water, that you could use as a clear liquid. Good luck on your journey!

Shout out to all those from Iowa! Let's chat! Who's your surgeon? Where are you at in your journey VSG? This month will be my last of six doctor supervised appointments. My medical team will review my case and decide whether or not I'm a good candidate for surgery, and then they will submit it to my insurance for approval! I've been on this journey since I've seen my primary care doctor in December, who recommended this surgery for me. It doesn't seem long to me at all! I've been visiting this board and doing my research on VSG, and I'm ready to go!

Thanks @@TammyDTM! That's awesome @imjenn!! I can't wait till I'm in your shoes!

@@TammyDTM - now my case is in the hands of Dr. LaMasters and her medical team to approve, and then it gets submitted to insurance. Do you remember how long it took to approve your case? Was it a couple of weeks or less? Thanks!!

Thank you! Ever since I started on this board in January everyone has been so helpful! And I agree! Every pound loss is shrinking my liver too! Still hoping to be on the loser's bench in June!

Finally!! I'm done with my six-month doctor supervised visits! YAY!!! Now comes the waiting game!! My surgeon and medical staff will meet to discuss my case and determine if I'm a good candidate for surgery. After that - it gets submitted to my insurance company. (This could take up to a month - tops)!! So it's questionable whether if I'll be a "June-sleever" or a "July-sleever." @Seahawkgirl & @@mykdzmom - I may be joining you on the losers bench in July!

Thanks! Good luck to you too!!! Go Huskers!!

@mykdzmom - Haven't heard from you lately! How are you doing??

Less than two weeks! Good to know. I've been with them since January, and I agree! I feel like I'm in really good hands!

Hi! Sorry! Haven't checked in a while! I'm glad to meet you!! @ - since you have the same surgeon - how long did it take for them to review your case and submit it to insurance? I'm getting so antsy! Congrats to both of you for your weight loss! Wow!! :-)

Checking in! Welcome all new June sleevers!! Woo-hoo!! I'm still hoping and praying I'll be on the loser's bench with the rest of you next month! One week from tomorrow is my final appointment of my six month supervised weight loss appts. required by my insurance. After everything is said and done - my case goes to my surgeon and her medical team to deem if I'm a good candidate for WLS. Once they approve - it's submitted to insurance - let the waiting game begin!! Hopefully I'll be posting good news in a couple of weeks!!

Welcome!! When I met with my surgeon, we discussed the surgery in detail, and she reminded me that this is non-reversible - I think she wanted to be sure I knew that this is what wanted. I also met with someone who went over all the requirements I needed to complete before my surgeon would clear me for surgery. I had to make an appointment with a cardiologist, two psych appointments, sleep study, as well as attending one group meeting. I had to do - six month supervised weight loss - required by my insurance. This month will be my last appointment. Each month for me, I met with my NP, and NUT. We discussed my diet, and they offered recommendations on my diet. I really never thought about it, but I really wasn't eating right! I thought this six months was going to take forever, but actually it's flown by! Good luck with your journey!

Trust me, it will fly by! I started my journey in December, and in 18 days I'll be at my sixth and final visit. With all the tests that I had to complete with the cardiologist, psych appts., etc. it made it go quickly! Good luck to the both of you!!

I'm nearing the end of my six month doctor supervised weight loss requirement. For those of you that have UHC, when did your pre-op diet begin? Did it start when you got your approval? Or after you had your pre-op appointment?

Thanks @wannaBthinsoon!! How are you doing btw?? I know you got sleeved what? A week ago? I had my fifth appt. yesterday, and I'm right on track! My sixth and final appointment is May 19 - we'll go through my check list to make sure I've completed all my requirements (which I have). And then my medical team will meet to discuss my case and decide if I'm a good candidate for WLS. If they all agree, then it gets submitted to UHC for approval! Once approved - I'll get the call to schedule my pre-op appt, at that time, I'll meet with my surgeon to schedule surgery! It's getting REAL now!!

Just returned from my fifth Dr. supervised weight loss, and I'm happy to say that May 19th will be my sixth and final appointment! I didn't take into effect that I met with my primary care physician in December, which counted as the first of six appointments! Whew! So glad I asked! I was a little worried!! My last appointment, we'll go over everything make sure I completed all the necessary steps (which I have). My surgeon and weight loss team will review my case, to make sure I'm a good candidate for WLS. After they approve it, then it will be submitted to insurance for approval! I can't believe it's finally becoming a reality!! My pre-op diet consists of 1200 calories (per day) which includes protein shakes to be sure I'm up on my protein before surgery, because I won't feel much like drinking protein for a few days afterwards. After my two week pre-op diet, I'll have a two day liquid diet - then surgery. . . Oh! And I've lost a total of 14 lbs to date, I'm doing well on my journey and said that my meals are well balanced. So I'm right on task! I just wish this next month flies by so I can be on the losers bench! @@Seahawkgirl - I really hope you get a June date! I've seen on this board that several people got their surgery moved up! I'll pray for you!! @@mykdzmom - You've got to be a June sleever too! You, Seahawkgirl and I are all in this together! Do you have a peer that can be your back up while you're out of the office? I'll be praying that things work out for you too! :-) To everyone else, welcome to the June Sleevers Club!

Thanks for this inspiration Recycled! I'm on month 5 of 6, and this is all I can think about! You're so right about this journey going so quickly! Today is my next appearance, and I have been losing weight, (not a lot) but enough to show that I'm serious about having this surgery done. I'm so looking forward to being where you're currently at - losing weight, and losing it fast!!

My next appointment is this Wednesday, I'm going to ask about this. When I questioned them before, they told me that patients have been approved with six visits.

Thanks. I know why the pre-op diet is necessary. I have to do a calorie reduced diet for two weeks and a liquid diet for two days. Just wishing it to get here sooner!

"Sigh. Look how optimistic I was there! My insurance doesn't count the first visit with the surgeon as part of the six-month nutrition program. So my last appointment won't be until June. Which means my surgery will likely be July. I was hoping for June for many reasons, one being that the company I work for is moving in July, and I wanted to have it done and take the time off before the move. Blah." @@Sharon1964 Oh no! Do you have United Healthcare? The reason why I ask is because my weight loss clinic told me that they included my surgeon's visit as the first one too, (I was seen twice in January which they counted as the first two). If that's the case, then I won't be sleeved until July too.

Thanks! That makes sense. I had it in my mind that it would start immediately after my last appointment. I'm just getting impatient! ????

I've had terrible heartburn too. My surgeon told me to take OTC Omeprazole every morning, since I started taking it, I don't have any problems with heartburn.