Need4Change

I have my pre-op appointment Friday afternoon. I did my chest x-Ray and EKG yesterday. My surgeon indicated that I had no pre-op diet because my BMI was under 40. In the past, I have been diagnosed with a "fatty" liver - due to several issues. My surgeon is aware, as he evaluated the diagnosing scan before he removed my gall bladder in December. Here is my dilemma... I was very relieved at not having a pre-op diet, so I didn't object and make a case against my (presumably still) fatty liver. In my mind, he is already aware and maybe it isn't fatty anymore. Am I fooling myself? What if he notices something in the chest X-ray and decides it needs to shrink and pushes my sleeve out a couple of weeks? What if he gets me in the OR on 8/24 and thinks it's too big and cancels. Should I do a self imposed liquid diet, just in case? Ugh.

8/24 for me as well!

I have four children and two of them know. My oldest daughter is 22 and will stay with us for a couple of days to get my younger daughters off to school (7 & 10) and help care for my son (13 months), while my husband is on night shift. I told my 10 year old, but not my 7 year old. The 10 year old is very smart and I knew she'd figure something was up. She was worrisome at first and asked a lot of questions, but as I answered, she became understanding and supportive. I didn't tell the 7 year old because she is a blabber mouth.

I will have mine in Jacksonville, Florida. It seems like it is still a long way out, but in reality, it's just over two weeks. I am sooooo ready to do this!

Yay! Congrats on your date too! No pre-op diet required for me, just fasting after midnight. I have to check in at 6:00 am with surgery at 8:15. What about you?

I have BCBS (FL) through my husband's employer and unfortunately it is a contractual exclusion on their specific policy. Luckily I have Medicare as a secondary and my surgeon is hopeful they will pick it up. I hope your situation and outcome are better than mine. Good luck!

Technically, if you tell someone..."I'm losing weight because I've changed the way I eat", you're telling the truth. You should be able to say it with confidence and KNOW that's why you are losing weight. The tool you have is your business.

Hi everyone! I was hoping to be a July sleever, but slooooow paperwork processing has me focusing on August. I am 41 and a mother of four. I suffer from chronic debilitating migraines, severe sleep apnea, pernicious anemia, congestive heart failure and chronic hypertension. My BMI is 36, but I have more than enough co-morbidities. I have my final weigh in with my surgeon 7/30 and we will schedule the surgery then. I haven't received an official approval yet, as I must wait for my primary insurance to deny before submitting to Medicare. This waiting game is killer. Anyone else in NE Florida?

Initially I contemplated not telling anyone except my husband. I don't want to feel judged. People have a tendency to look at surgery as taking the easy way out, when it couldn't be further from the truth. I ultimately decided that I would tell a few people that would likely find out anyway. I figured I would rather be judged for taking action, than be crudely judged for being fat. Only my MIL has been skeptical. I will prove her wrong! I think it's important to have someone to chat with that knows what you're going through. Sometimes support best comes from people that have been there or are there now. I am hoping to find a buddy as soon as I get my date.

I am also in NE Florida. Just scheduled my final weigh in with my surgeon for 7/30. I hope to be sleeved mid August. I have told a select few family and friends, but not many. It's not their business. I have the support of my mom, husband and kids and that's all that matters.

Yay! I am so happy to see everyone getting approvals and surgery dates. I am still waiting on my approval and hope to hear soon, since my paperwork was submitted last week.

Has anyone been sleeved with these conditions? My pcp ordered a blood panel and there were indications of both. I'm a little worried. Any input is appreciated!

The Pernicious Anemia has been causing trouble for years, but was just diagnosed. I am most concerned, right now, with receiving the sleeve approval with these conditions and how (if approved) it will affect the sleeve.

My final appointment with my primary has been scheduled for June 17th ????

I am on Medicare. I was told by my surgeons office that it has been changed to 3 months of hoops (NUT, support group, psych, pcp, etc..) to jump through, instead of 6. I am at the 60 day mark now. I have only seen the surgeon for the consultation and won't actually see him again until after the (hopeful) approval. This should eliminate any additional bills that won't be covered. My BMI is 36, with several co-morbidites. I really hope this gets approved.

I have severe obstructive sleep apnea. I was diagnosed five years ago and have tried sleeping with a c-pap twice over the years - each for several months at a time. I found it impossible, regardless of the choice of mask. Some people just can't do it. I suffer from chronic migraines, chronic congestion and insomnia and all three complicate sleeping with something strapped to my face. If my impending sleeve doesn't clear the apnea, I will be fitted for a dental apparatus that will force my lower jaw forward while I sleep. It is intended for mild apnea (not severe), but my pulmonary specialist said that he will take what he can get.

Great post! It's encouraging, yet realistic. I, too, would love to see before and after photos, as our starting stats are quite similar.

My BMI is 36, so my 3 month supervised diet makes me a little nervous. I want to show that I'm serious, but the flip side is dropping my BMI below a sleeve-worthy number. It's a catch 22, I suppose. I have severe sleep apnea, chronic hypertension, high cholesterol and Congestive Heart Failure. I have shown a propensity for developing diabetes (gestational diabetic in 2 of 4 pregnancies) and also suffer from chronic migraines, which has landed me on SSDI. I'm kind of a mess and REALLY need this, but know that the big picture isn't always in focus when it comes to insurance companies and approving claims. Fingers emphatically crossed for July for all of us!

I, too, will have my final pcp appointment around mid June. Once done, his paperwork will be forwarded to the surgeon and then it will all be submitted to insurance. After that I am looking at 7-10 days for an answer. As soon as I get the okay, I will be scheduled for my final surgeons visit, where he will put me on his surgery schedule and we will go over my pre-op diet. His assistant said to imagine a late June/early July date. Part of me is worried that, even with several co-morbidities, I will be denied because I have a borderline BMI. I am soooo ready, but It's hard to be excited when I am still worried about approval.

I am just starting my journey (have done the first 30 days with pcp and completed psych evaluation and nut counseling) and am in the Jacksonville area. I also have BCBS and have been told the sleeve will not be covered by my specific plan. I have Medicare as a secondary, so it will fall under that policy. I am also going through Baptist Bariatrics, but with Dr. Morgenthal. I was hoping I'd find a few people here from the same office!

Hi! I was just wondering if anyone has had experience with getting an approval while on Medicare? I have BCBS of FL through my spouse as a primary and Medicare as a secondary. My doctors office said that my BCBS won't cover the sleeve, but Medicare will. I am curious about the requirements and out of pocket expense with Medicare. Thanks in advance! Kim

Thanks Kathy! I guess I'll go ahead and introduce myself... My name is Kim. I am 40, married and have 4 children (21, 9, 6 and 8 mos.) I was declared disabled in 2011, with chronic debilitating migraines. I have had the migraines since I was 12, but the frequency and severity reached epic proportions around the time I hit my 30's. As the migraines persisted over the years, I gained weight and developed chronic hypertension. In time, I also developed high cholesterol. In June 2014, I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with my son, when my blood pressure (195/115) earned me an emergency c-section. Stemming from that pregnancy and delivery, I ended up with postpartum cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. The boat I currently sit in, is not wanting to be the fat girl in the room anymore. My BMI is barely 35, but I can already see myself turning into my mom (I would imagine her BMI is 40ish). My parents have passed along some pretty poor genetics and that tips the scales even more. My father died of colon cancer at 59 and my mother fought and beat brain tumors (at 27), breast cancer (at 29) and has been battling lupus since her 30's. Given my obnoxious genes, my medical history (I failed to mention my sleep apnea diagnosis 5 years ago and the fact that I was a gestational diabetic for 2/4 pregnancies) and my BMI, I am really hoping to qualify. I've already met my potential surgeon, as he removed my gallbladder in December. I have my consultation next Thursday and I am READY! I am hoping for a smooth approval and for things to move in a timely fashion. That's not too much to ask for, right? ???? Any input regarding medicare, BCBS of FL, my health history, or anything else - is welcome! Thanks for reading my novel!