MrsRoboto

Finally got my date! I go in July 27th and I can't wait!

My insurance may pay for the actual surgery but I had to pay out of pocket for the nutritionist visits and the psych visit (he didn't take insurance of any kind) and my 5-week Behavioral Skills class. I've also had many co-pays leading up to surgery. All in all I've paid over $1000 out of pocket so far. But that's my insurance and the things my surgical program required.

I've had 3 c-sections. I'm expecting this to be a breeze compared to those!

Thanks for changing it! It will be harder to join now though. I think whoever is in charge will have to add us. Fair_Maidan, I'm going to PM you my email and I think you can send me an invite. I hope this isn't too much of a pain!

Can the FB group be changed to Secret instead of Closed? I know a lot of people want their choice for surgery to stay private. I'm too afraid to join a non-secret group.

Just keep your eye on the prize. Think how badly you want this. The first few days are rough but it gets easier. You can do it!

I love the Cookie Dough and the Cookies and Cream, but the only way I like them is warmed in the microwave for 12 seconds. They are warm and gooey heaven! Straight out of the package I don't like the texture at all.

Hi everyone! Originally I'd been posting on the June thread but that's obviously not happening so here I am crossing my fingers for a July date. I've completed everything for my program and I'm just waiting for insurance approval and my date now. I met with my surgeon on June 19th and was told my paperwork was going to insurance that afternoon and it would take 2-3 days for approval and then I'd get my call. Well, today when I still hadn't heard anything I decided to call my insurance company just to check the status of things. They said they hadn't received anything from my surgeon yet! Beyond frustrating. So I called my surgeon's office and they told me I was on the top of the pile and would be the next to be sent off. Oh, how convenient. So now I wait. The good news is I have no pre-op diet. I did have to lose 10% of my excess body weight to qualify for surgery, which was 16 pounds, and they consider that my pre-op diet. I've lost 27 pounds so far and I'll just keep on trucking until surgery.

I just called Cigna to check my status and they said they had never received anything! I seriously wanted to cry. My doctor said they were submitting everything on 6/19 and it would take 2-3 days. I waited all last week for my call. SO frustrating and disappointing. So I called my doctor's office and she put me on hold and then came back and said I was on top of the pile and would be the next to be sent off. After all these months this has to be the hardest part. I am so ready and I've done all I can do. Now I just have to sit here and rely on other people to do their parts.

It's nerve wracking, isn't it? My info was supposedly submitted on 6/19 and my surgeon said approval should only take 2-3 days. I haven't heard anything yet and I jump every time the phone rings.

York, Maine. Hi! I used to live in Exeter! Are you pre or post op? I'm currently going through the process at Portsmouth Hospital.

You just need to do what your surgeon says to do. Some require a pre-op diet and some don't. Mine does not require a liquid diet and I consider myself one of the lucky ones. (Though they did require me to lose a certain amount of weight in order to qualify for surgery, they consider that my pre-op diet.)

I'm currently going through the process in Portsmouth, NH. I went to my orientation seminar back in February. Then I had my first official appointment which kicked off my 90 days on March 10. I had my final weigh-in appointment on June 15 and fulfilled all the other requirements before then. I just met with my surgeon last Friday and they were supposed to have submitted my info to insurance that afternoon. Now I'm playing the waiting game and hoping to hear from them any day with my surgery date. My date should be about two weeks after approval. It sounds like you can count on an August date. Fortunately NH schools start back fairly late, though you may not get as much recovery time as you're hoping for. Good luck!

I have a 2 night stay. I'm planning on bringing lip balm, deodorant, toothbrush and travel toothpaste, brush and hair tie, phone and extra long charger. I'm going to wear comfy clothes in and wear the same clothes home. I may pack a pair of loose pj pants to wear under my gown so I'm more comfortable while walking.

My surgeon just submitted my info and told me it should take 2-3 days.

My surgeon (in NH) said it should only take 2-3 days. That was on Friday so I'm hoping to hear by Wednesday!

It depends on your insurance and/or program. My insurance doesn't care whether I lose or gain. My program requires that I lose 10% of my excess weight or I cannot have my surgery, so they would not be okay with me gaining.

My dream is to be able to buy clothes at Target. Cheap, cute, fashionable clothes!

Yay!! I hope you get your approval really quick!! The wait made me crazy!! I wanted to call & bug my insurance company, but I held out. It was approved 15 days after they submitted it. Good luck!!! He told me it should only take 2-3 days for approval. I really hope he's right because even that is going to kill me! I'm nervous. I suddenly have this fear that even though my insurance covers it, what if my husband's employer doesn't?? I'm trying not to worry about it because I think the odds of that happening are pretty low.

I was required to lose 10% of my excess weight (16 pounds) during my 90 day supervised diet. That was my program's requirement, not insurance. The nutritionist put me on a 1500 calorie per day diet and I was supposed to break that down into three 350 calorie meals and two 200 calories Snacks. It was high Protein, low carb, low fat. This was also to help me get used to what eating would be like post-op. However, to be honest, I just did my own thing. I had a hard time getting my Breakfast calories in and I don't like snacking between meals. So I would (and still do) have a Premier Protein shake for breakfast every day, usually a salad for lunch, and dinner would be very low carb (grilled meat and veg) or I'd have a bit of carbs (a serving of rice) with meat, then fruit or a Quest bar for an evening snack. I've also done my share of splurging once or twice a week eating out or getting takeout. I've lost 27 pounds so far and I'm still chugging along until my surgery, which should be in the next few weeks. Low carb is a pretty good way to go. It's tough in the beginning but after a week or so, the cravings will stop. I used to be a sugar addict and that stuff doesn't really appeal to me anymore.

I finally met with my surgeon today! He is a Ukrainian fox! Seriously, he walked in the room in this wicked tight tshirt and I was like "who is this stud?" Annnnnyway, they submitted everything to insurance this afternoon and he said there was absolutely no reason I should be denied and I should be getting a call next week to schedule my surgery. Finally!! I'm going to be jumping every time the phone rings.

I don't think Cigna requires any weight loss, just that you're going to your monthly weigh-ins and you're on a "supervised diet." The weight loss must be part of your surgeon's program and it'll be up to them whether they think you're ready for surgery or not.

Hi everyone! I don't have my date yet but I'm expecting it to be in July. I've completed all my program's requirements and I meet with the surgeon on Friday and they'll be submitting everything to insurance then. I'm hoping I'll get my date at that appointment! I don't have to do a pre-op liquid diet. I did have to lose 10% of my excess weight though, which was 16 pounds. I went above and beyond and so far I've lost 27.

I've been going to all my favorite restaurants, getting takeout, and making all my favorite things for the past 3 months. (Only occasionally, not every day! I've still managed to lose 27 pounds in that time.) So it's been one long goodbye to all my faves. But my final farewell is going to be fried clams and fried scallops with clam chowder. I'm a Mainer, I need to get my fill of fried seafood!

I'm in Maine but I'm way down on the coast by NH. I'm having my surgery in Portsmouth.