Mistie

You're welcome! I was terrified - but it was downright pleasant! Lol. So much in fact, that it has me excited to continue - it has really motivated me, and I've already lost 6 pounds in the last three days. Loving my clinic! You'll do great, Lisa!

Thank you, everyone! And @@Jessica Ellison-Correa, you can do this! If they gave you a diet to follow, even slowly but surely, even if just losing a few pounds, that will keep you in the program and get you to your surgery! I've lost 6 pounds in the last 3 days (I'd rather lose more up front, so I don't have to stress at the end if I lose enough), so if I can do it, anyone can! GOOD LUCK!

Sorry you had that frustration. I have BCBS state. On the upside, they DO have it so that if it is medically necessary, you have the option of having the surgery! That's awesome! Most plans do not have that!

Just to add on to what everyone else has said - the timing to have the surgery really does seem to be now. As has been said - there will ALWAYS be obstacles and things that come up. As the old saying goes, if someone waits until 'the right time' or 'the right finances' to have children, there would never be any children born. The same applies here. From another perspective - you said the children may likely be in the hospital for a bit, and one may have complications. So when would be a better time to have surgery - now, when they are in the hospital under close medical supervision, and only your moral support, not your physical attention is needed? Or later, when the children are home, and your daughter is trying to tend to them, and needs your physical help caring for two babies, one with possible medical needs? Seems to me like you should RUN to the hospital to get surgery ASAP! Good luck to you, the new mommy, and the new littles!

Thanks for the info! I just ordered. So much cheaper than what I can find here - and easier than trying to track it down locally!

@@linzlou2000 - Thank you! I had a bad experience with a clinic back in April, but the clinic I'm working with now - well, I just can't say enough good things about. Now, I've only had one visit, but it was an excellent visit! LOL

I'm now looking at late October, possibly November. It all depends on insurance. I was doing the 6 (7) months with BCBS, but I started the 3 months with my doctors office. If insurance does not get touchy, I will finish the 3 months before the BCBS, and can submit and have surgery by end of October. If they are difficult because I was doing their program, as well, and make me wait (which I can't imagine why they would, if I have met the other optional criteria - we have a choice as to which one we want to do) - it would be end of October. I'm in Mississippi, going to Baptist Nutrition and Bariatric Center

If so, I would definitely encourage anyone to go there. I had a bad experience at a different clinic back in the Spring. I went to this clinic last week - and honestly, it felt like heaven. They were EXCEPTIONAL! They were SO nice. They felt invested in my care from the moment I walked in the door. I walked in and was in the waiting room less than 10 minutes before I was called back, and they started working with me immediately. They did all kinds of work with me from the start. I have NO complaints, and could not ask for a better experience!

She is at Baptist Nutrition and Bariatric Center - it's at 1190 N. State Street

I have not had surgery yet, and I am very fortunate that my doctor does not require a liquid diet, only a change in diet - one I managed in the past (though doing it willingly and because I HAVE to are two different things). That said - remember this isn't forever. You only have to do this for a few days. I would suggest setting yourself small goals. Make it through until noon without anything you're not suppose to have. Until four o'clock. Until 8 o'clock. Breaking up your times - then feel proud of yourself for every time frame you can make. You might even consider rewarding yourself! Put a dollar (or 5!) in a jar for every time frame you make it through for your new wardrobe you're going to need! Since at night is when you're starting to graze/cheat (I have this same issue - I can be good all day, and then at night I lose motivation and want something to chew on!) - think of ways to combat that. Tape reminders up everywhere of what you're doing and why! On the fridge, cabinets, mirrors, etc., so you can NOT pretend it's not on your mind (I do it...I'll deliberately push it aside so I can eat something). Next, find something else to chew on that will give some satisfaction - ice (but don't over do it) - perhaps even get a mouth guard to chomp on. Whatever works! Another thing that works for me is...GO TO BED EARLY! If I go to bed and sleep... I forget I want to eat. So don't take any naps during the day, and get in the bed earlier at night. Remember - this is only for a few days. Lose those last few pounds, take deep calming breaths to go to sleep, and before you know it, it will be surgery time. You WILL be able to do this, you can make it. Thousands of others here have - and you can be just as successful!!! Good luck!

Mississippi. And I'm meeting with Dr. Cummings tomorrow!

And see, I would have wanted to say, "I know we are about the same size! Have you considered weight loss surgery?" Lol

I get that you love your doctor. However, a doctor should support you, not attempt to control you with fear. If you are leaving your doctors office feeling bad about yourself and/or bullied, it's time to move on. And bullied is the word that is coming to me from reading your post. A couple of years ago I went to a doctor who prescribed WL meds to give that a try. Every visit, all she did was harp on how horrible one of my other meds (Depo Provera shots) are, that I need to get off of them, how bad they are for me, etc. I tried to explain that I understood the risks, but my gynecologist, who I've been seeing for almost 10 years, had tried a half dozen other meds, and this one works... She didn't 'hear' me. She had her OWN AGENDA. And it did not coincide with mine. No Depo, at this time, means me coming close to bleeding to death (sorry if too much TMI) - it's the only thing stopping it. She didn't care, she just had this idea in HER head of what *I* should do. So if your doctor 1) bullies and/or 2) has an agenda that does not mesh with yours and makes you feel unheard. Go elsewhere. I wanted to keep taking the meds... but I stopped, because I refused to go to a doctor who treated me with so little respect and had so little respect for me, my opinions, and my ability to make decisions. I wish you the best of luck. Where there's a will, there's a way - even if it takes a little time!

Hi folks, Just a question. I know every doctor will be different, but does anyone have experience with a doctor allowing/not allowing tests previously conducted to be utilized? I ask because I have had sleep studies done twice in the past (most recent in 2010) and my most recent colonoscopy was in 2013. I know my doctor will tell me, just curious 'beforehand' about the experience of others. Thanks!

That's wonderful to know! I'm hoping since nothing really changes (unlike blood work, for example), mine will be accepted, as well!

Thank you for sharing! I'm much earlier in my journey (I still have to meet my surgeon - but next week!). However, I've been compiling a list of questions. I'll share these, even though they are for folks a little earlier in the process, as it might help someone when prepping. Some, I know the answer to, others, were just things I was contemplating, but I'll add them all, just in case it might help someone... Which surgery (sleeve or RNY?), based on current medical issues? How long will I be in the hospital? How long will I need to be off of work? What tests/prep will I need before surgery (ie. other doctors)? What Vitamins will I need to take post-op? Long-term/short-term? What can I expect in regards to hair loss? Is there a specific type of Protein product you require/prefer your patients to use? What type of pre-op diet do you require? What type of post-op diet can I expect? (by the way - I have on my list, as well, about the catheter, drainage tube, etc., lol)

Yay! Congrats! I can't imagine how excited you must be! In no time at all, you'll be living a new life!! Please let us know how it goes!

Don't laugh - it's not that my doctor has required anything (yet), I'm just trying to prepare before my FIRST visit! LOL. These are just some of the tests I've heard (read about) others have had to have, so I was just wondering if more recent tests I've had done would 'count,' to save time, money, and quite frankly, the experience of doing them again! I hate the colonoscopy (I can't be put to sleep with narcotics, I stop breathing - so I have to be awake during this procedure...FUN!) and sleep study. Everything else, I don't mind. If I can bypass the sleep study and colonoscopy, potentially pulmonary, as I saw him last year (I have a history of pulmonary emboli), I anticipate the EGD, EKG, and quite likely a visit to the cardiologist (no heart problems REALLY, but I had several mild heart attacks a few years ago due to a random virus - the receptors on the virus were the same as on my heart, so when fighting off the virus, my body attacked my own heart! The damage healed up quickly though, since it was an external cause) - none of these do I mind though, as they are fairly quick and painless. Now, my mother DID ask if I thought, when they tell me to go do the psych eval, if they would just let me talk to myself, since I'm a licensed counselor (actually, PhD, rofl). Hmmm, now wouldn't that be an awesome report! Glad you've gotten so much of yours out of the way, @@Sharon1964 - you must be getting close!

Thank you! I look at it as I just have time to come up with more questions. I am also going to go ahead and get medical records from some of the doctors I know they will want them from (ie. gastro doc, obgyn, etc.), as I do have a complicated medical history. And I know! They told me to expect to be there several hours. Honestly, I think it's great. It's a 3 hour drive, so I'll take care of a lot at one time. It also helps me feel that things are/will be moving right along, AND this will allow me to get so many questions answered, because I will be meeting with almost everyone in one day! It also makes it feel like they are more efficient, and I like that. I went to another doctor previously, and it was a disaster (they told me I had to lose 125 lbs before they would do surgery - uh...that's why I'm here? They also never set me up for a nutritionist, instead, tried to tell me to eat salads to lose 125 lbs before I could have surgery - when I reminded them I could not, because of taking Coumadin, the nurse was clueless - talk about flashing red lights going off! - and then the doctor said he would not operate on someone with a history of Crohn's disease - even though I have not been treated since I was 13, ie. 26 years ago, and it says on his website which surgery is recommended for someone with Crohn's!), so I chose not to return to that clinic, and instead, chose this clinic courtesy of my PCP. So they are definitely getting points for arranging everything like this! After the last attempt... I'm definitely praying for a better outcome. I admit to being quite nervous - not about the surgery or anything else, more so because of my experience with the other doctor!

That's for the feedback, guys! You're giving me hope! One less thing to stress over (I would rather not stress, and then be told I have to do it, than to simply stress all that time, and have to do it anyway - at least I'll get a little peace until I know for sure, because there's hope! LOL). I was suppose to meet with my surgeon for the first time tomorrow (surgeon, bariatric nurse, do labs, meet with financial person, and nutritionist - all at the first appointment, whew!) - however, the surgeon had something come up and won't be there. They moved me to next week. Glad it wasn't longer, since it took me almost 2 months of waiting just to get in now!

Oh my goodness! That's terrible. To me, that skews the results somewhat...when you can't actually sleep for the sleep study! I'm thinking, like you, what's changed? Pretty much, once you have it, you have it, until you start losing the weight...soooo! I'm crossing my fingers (and if I ever have to do another sleep study, my legs, too!)

sleep test = disguised torture! "Here, let's hook several dozen electrodes to your body; attaching them with a nasty goo in your hair all the way to your feet. Then, we are going to tell you to go into a room where WE control the temperature, and tell you to lie on a bed that may or may not be made of concrete. We will leave some lights on so we can look at you all night - yes, we know it's creepy. Now, wiggle onto the bed withOUT knocking off an electrode. Wait, you have to pee? Sigh. Ok. Don't let any of your hanging wires dip into the toilet! Back? Great! Let's try again. Now, all this... Now we want you to....GO TO SLEEP! We won't disturb you unless an electrode comes off or malfunctions - which is approximately every time you manage to doze off. Sleep tight!" Yeah, I hate that test too! Roflmao. Guess it isn't so bad for most, but I'm such an uneasy sleeper, I was just miserable! I might beg my surgeon for mercy! Hah

I'm not sure @@Elode, I just saw several mention the colonoscopy, and I hate that one - so crossing my fingers I can bypass it since the tests are every 5 years and I'm only 2 out. Same with sleep, hate the test, and hoping since already dxed, they would just say ok. It's not like the sleep disorders went away! Lol Thanks for the feedback!

@@jss1988 - it's a great option! The other was the 3 months supervised, but since I wasn't with the surgeon yet, thought this was faster. Even more interesting, is since I just completed month 3, they are sending me a gift pack, has a pedometer, resistance bands for arm exercises, a cookbook, and a few other goodies. So glad BCBS finally approved wls!

I'm hoping for November or December. I met with one doctor who was a jerk, so I am now scheduled elsewhere. To save time, I chose the 6 month phone calls with ActiveHealth (through insurance). I am scheduled for a visit with the surgeon for August 5. I'm hoping to accomplish all other requirements between then and the first of November when I finish the phone calls. Then I submit for approval and get a date. So, as long as the docs schedule works with me, I can do November/December.