Bubbletoes

I had my sleeve and repair of hiatal hernia done yesterday. I had a rough night last night, (nausea & vomiting), but I'm feeling pretty good today. I can go home this afternoon if I can get down 64 ounces of clear liquids and keep it down. Yay! Good luck to every one having their Sleeves done today and tomorrow!

I have Aetna and so far my pre-op journey has been such a pain! I finished with all of the requirements (blood work, sleep study, 4 weight loss appointments at least 30 days apart with the doctor, 2 required psych evaluations with two different psychologists, an EGD, a cardiac stress test, leg ultrasound or Doppler on my legs for blood clots and medical clearance from my cardiologist, pulmonologist and endocrinologist) in April. I have insulin dependent diabetes for 41 years, hypertension and CAD with a stent. My BMI at my first weigh in was 41. My surgeon scheduled me for surgery on May 4th knowing everything they wanted was completed and then sent for approval. Wrong! My last weigh in appointment with my doctor was one day too early, because we calculated wrong because of the short month of February. I had to schedule another appointment for another final weigh-in but could not be scheduled until May 14. My coordinator also told me not to gain an ounce over my original weight or I would not be approved (no problem - I lost 21 lbs which took me down to BMI 38 which was fine). I was rescheduled for surgery on May 20 after my first date was cancelled. Needless to say I've been on pins and needles waiting for approval which finally came this afternoon because my coordinator has been on the phone with them constantly until they gave her an answer. The day after tomorrow is my day! All I can say is make sure every whim your insurance company wishes for is taken care of perfectly! The stress alone with this process is enough to send us all to our local psych ward!

I also work full time and I have a slim husband who, although totally supportive of me, also likes his meals which I cook every evening. It's not easy sometimes but there is absolutely nothing I want more than to get to a normal weight, so nothing will get in my way this time!

I have been on a liquid diet for over three weeks and it gets wearing. I joined a gym in April and have made good use of it. When I think I can't deal with not having something to chew that tastes good, I head to the gym. My first time there I struggled to walk slowly on the treadmill for ten minutes. Just a few weeks later I can walk on the first incline for a half hour, ride a recumbent bike for 20 minutes and then use the stepper for another 15-20 minutes. It feels so good and I rarely think about food anymore. Even better, I've lost 21 lbs and I'm mentally ready in every way for my surgery on Wednesday. I hope they clear me soon to get back to the gym afterwards. Two months ago I could hardly walk, and didn't want to walk. This journey has already done so much for me! If you really want this, think positive thoughts and keep telling yourself you can do whatever it takes. I'm 64 yo, I started at 277, and am 5'8". If I can do it, anyone can do it!

Hah! My tablet changed "sleevers" to "sleepovers". Just another first world problem to deal with. ????

Hi Jake. Great list! Unfortunately I won't be sleeved tomorrow with that huge crew. My surgery was postponed until May 20. Good luck to all you new sleepovers tomorrow!

If you still have you blood glucose monitor it wouldn't hurt to check your sugar from time to time, especially if you have another shaking, sweating spell. Make sure you are getting enough protein each day and keep some glucose tablets or gel around "just in case".

Hang in there, Patsy! Your weight loss will start up again soon!

My May 4th surgery was postponed until May 20th. I was soooooo close, but I will patiently wait for my day to come. In the meantime I am continuing my semi-liquid diet ( two liquid protein meals and one small meat and veggie meal) and I go to the gym at least four days a week after work. I really have to force myself to go but I always feel so good when that 75 minute workout is over. I hope everyone here is doing well and things are going smoothly. As my date approaches instead of being nervous, I'm calming down. Time to really think things out now that all the pretesting and endless doctor visits have dwindled has helped me to get my priorities in order. I'm thinking good thoughts to those before and after surgery. Keep on keeping on!

What really burned me was I had already turned in my FMLA paperwork to HR and gotten the time off I wanted approved at work. Now I have to do that again while saying I can't really be certain of the dates, etc. Aetna seems to think we are just policy payers and not real people. Thanks for letting me rant. I almost feel better now.

.My rocky road adventure with my insurance is ongoing. I was scheduled for my sleeve for May 4th, but last week on my 5th day into my liquid diet, Aetna once again threw a roadblock at me due to a technical problem. I needed 3 visits with my surgeon at least 90 days apart and my last visit was scheduled for day 90. The surgeon had something come up and asked me to come in the day before which was fine with me, neither of us realizing it was day 89. Aetna said nope, that's not cool, cancel the surgery! We were all like... REALLY?? Long story short, I couldn't schedule a second last visit with my surgeon until May 14 and he tentatively scheduled my surgery for May 20th. (I had my EGD today and they found a hiatal hernia. No biggie, surgeon will fix it.) After I got home my Navigator called to say Aetna called her to "check on my progress moving towards surgery". I guess she gave them an earful since they're the ones who have impeded my "progress" for months on end with their ridiculous BS. Maybe May 20th will be my day. I've stayed on my liquid diet and plan to stick with it since I'm used to it now. If nothing else, the pounds are melting away.

My surgery date was May 4 and I was 4 days into my two week liquid diet when I got a called from my "navigator" this afternoon. Stop everything, she said. Aetna is still messing with us. Long story short: New tentative surgery date is May 20. I'm so frustrated and annoyed by both my insurance and my bariatric program. I had finally got my FMLA papers filled out by my surgeon for work (he charged me $7 to do that!), and made arrangements to have three weeks off. (Hey, I have 2 months of sick time in my bank... I want to use some of it!) I had to tell my boss, oops, never mind, maybe two weeks later, but I'm not sure. This ordeal would make anyone crazy! I'm glad I had my two psych evaluations already! (Yes, my insurance required two different psych consults!) I'm hanging in, but holy moly! It's not like I'm asking for a heart/lung/brain transplant!

Thanks for your words of support Cococat, Patsy, Lady and Toler. I always feel so much better hearing good thoughts from others who have been there or are in the middle of it like me. I'm so glad I found this place! You made me laugh, Coco! So true! ☺️

Just a quick update on my dilemma... it looks like Aetna will relent on the center of excellence requirement but I still don't have any solid reassurance yet. My surgeon says forge ahead! My EGD is scheduled for April 29, the same day I start my five day preop liquid diet. I'm still on the schedule for a May 4th sleeve so I am finishing up my paperwork for medical leave this week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! ????????????

Awesome, Patsy! Keep up the good work!

My surgery date is just 3 weeks away, yet I'm still waiting for official approval from my insurance company. I have been having an ongoing problem with this since January and now that it's getting down to the wire, I'm getting nervous! My story probably isn't unique, but I find it pretty ridiculous. I work full time at a local hospital and have my insurance through them. My hospital began a Bariatric program last year so I jumped at the chance to go to a seminar and begin the process to eventually have a VSG. I called my insurance company and was assured that they (Aetna) would pay for this surgery after a $250 deductible. Awesome! I began the program and after a few weeks, my navigator called me to tell me that my insurance has hit a snag. For employees of my hospital Aetna won't pay for surgery not done at a hospital without a Center of Excellence designation, including my own. The program at my hospital is too new to qualify for that yet. I called and asked about other hospitals in the area. Sure, I can have it done, but it will be out of network and the bulk of the cost will be all mine. Amazingly, my hospital has had all this fanfare about the Bariatric program beginning, ALL employees have had to go through "obesity sensitivity" training, and there are posters about it all over the hospital. My surgeon has appealed to administration and administration has appealed to Aetna to drop that requirement in my case and possibly some others. After months of talks, they are still at a standstill. Can you say frustrating?? I have a BMI of 40, I've had diabetes for 41 years (insulin dependent), hypertension, have CAD with a stent in one of my coronary arteries, and recently found to have severe sleep apnea found during my sleep study I had as part of preop testing. I'm currently using a CPap. My health has been very good until the last few years, thanks to the ravages of diabetes, and even though I've been on a healthy eating regimen, weight loss has been slow to nil. I need this surgery! My husband has fantastic insurance, but adding me to his would cost over $900 a month. Not an option! If this doesn't go through I will go to Plan B: wait until December when I turn 65 and go through Medicare. It's not what I want, but at least it will be there (I hope!) if I need it.

You have inspired me to have no more second thoughts about going through with this, Cherich! May 4th sleeve, here I come!

I'm so happy to find this group so I don't feel so alone in my final Quest to do something serious about my weight. This board doesn't seem to be very active right now but maybe we can change that. Senior Sleevers, unite! By the way, I'm 64 and my sleeve is scheduled for May 4, 2015.

Is that a sugar free bit you're chomping on, Rocky? ????

I'm May 4th too!

Thanks, Sleeved2015! It's nice to be sharing this wonderfully scary time with others who completely understand. ☺️

I haven't posted much but I've been reading all the posts and have learned so much. I have been having a problem with insurance for months, but my surgeon got a verbal ok today so we set my surgery date for May 4! I almost can't believe it, and won't until I have that piece of paper in hand. It looks like I'll be in good company as we start our new reality next month!

I have been a lurker for a few months and feel like I know some of you almost well. This is my first post. I am 64 years and have been overweight since I was a child. I've lost and gained back hundreds of pounds, the last two times more than 80 and 100 lbs. This is my last resort. I am so hopeful that this will help me lose, and more importantly, keep the weight off. I have been in my bariatric program since early February but I'm still appealing my insurance who pulled the rug out from under me after first approving and then changing their tune. I've done what I need to do including starting on a Cpap, doing the psych evaluations, have gotten enthusiastic letters of support from my endocrinologist and cardiologist, etc. I have a BMI of 41, diabetes on insulin for more than 23 years, hypertension, and have had a stent put in my coronary artery because of a 97% blockage. I feel my health will no longer carry me through what should be the rest of a long life. I'm desperate to be approved. I have a very loving, supportive (slim & handsome) husband, an excited for me daughter, and six supportive siblings. I'm ready for this! I've lost 15 lbs since I starting seeing the NUT in February. I can't wait until the day I can finally announce my surgery date to my future new friends here in this forum. Thanks for listening! I feel better already.