bubbly_d

Hello Nyvsg, The entire process took about 6 months. I attended the first seminar on November 17th. I then had my first nutritional appointment on December 28th (group appt) and two individual follow-ups each a month a part. At the second individual appt, the nutritionist signed off on my progress and I was able to set up my appt with Dr. O'Malley. I had my consultation and selected my surgery date on March 26th. Had I not been on birth control, he could have sleeved me the next week, however you have to be off for a month prior and a month post. I was sleeved on May 1st and at 6 1/2 weeks out, I am down 26 lbs from my heaviest weight and 22lbs from the day of surgery. I received the call from insurance approving my surgery literally 5 hours after my appointment with Dr. O'Malley to set up my surgery date. I was shocked! If you have a BMI over 40 with proven attempts at weigh loss you should have zero problem getting approved. Best of luck! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Hello! I live in Rochester, NY and I'm planning on surgery with omalley too! I was wondering how long it took you from the seminar to the Surgery date? I've been told that with excellus BCBS it can take up to two years, that's really discouraging to me!

Hopefully you get a date soon Sharon, the wait is the worst ????

Welcome SimplySharon! Have you had your procedure yet?!

Jennifer, tomorrow is the big day!!! Wanted to let you know that I will be sleeved at 10:45am I can't believe it is finally here!!!!

Just got my time may sleevers, I arrive at 8:45am tomorrow and will be sleeved at 10:45am!!!

Hi cooperjack, I had EXTREME insurance anxiety. When I talked to my surgeon about it he said only about 4% of his patients get denied. That made me feel a little better. I was shocked that I got an approval phone call from Excellus BlueCross BlueShielf the very same day my paperwork was submitted. I am scheduled for surgery May 1st I am sure you would not have gotten this far in the process if they did not think you would be approved. Good luck!!

I am a member of the May sleevers group and they have a very active private group on Facebook. Would that be a more convenient way for everyone to communicate? I would be more than happy to set something up if you all think so! There is zero way for anyone else to see that you are a member of the group

Thats great! I'm sure she will sign off at your next visit and you'll be on to meeting Dr. Johnson! As long as all of your other paperwork is in, it should take about a week for them to give you a call to schedule your pre-op with him and then a surgery date!!! Dr. O'Malley could have gotten me in for surgery the week following our consult, but if you are on birth control, you need to be off of that for 4 weeks prior due to blood clots. I would've stopped taking much sooner had I known that The count down is killing me though....I just want it to be here already!!!

Hi bangbangbarbie, I am 28/f/ny and scheduled for a VSG on May 1st. I am not quite at the same stage as you are post-op but would love to hear about your experience and possibly keep in touch along the way. Where abouts in NY are you and where did you have your surgery? How are you feeling now? Diana

This app has been so great! I kept my support system small on purpose and I look forward to letting people wonder as I start dropping lbs as silly as that sounds! I may check out MONARCH post-op depending on how I am feeling along the way. I look forward to hearing how your nutritionist appointment goes! Good luck!

Hi Moneyme, I too would love to hear about your experience! Jennifer, so sorry to hear about the gallbladder. At least they can do both at once. My GB was fine but they did find some signs of fatty liver which was really a wake up call about the silent effects that obesity has. I am glad we can share this experience as you said!! I have only told a very tight knit circle of people and while they are all very supportive, I'm sure they're sick of me talking about it Have either of you been to the MONARCH support group at Highland? I know it's open to both pre and post op patients, but I have yet to check it out. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I'm Diana and I live in the North Winton Village! I did not lose any weight. In fact my first few interactions with the center kind of discouraged me. I had a referral from the pcp yet when they called to confirm my attendance at the seminar the receptionist made a remark about not thinking I'd get very far bc my BMI was just over 40. I then had a similar experience at my first weigh in at the group nutritionist appt. The nutritionist asked what insurance I had when she calculated my BMI and then with a smirk made this comment about having my work cut out for me. I made sure that my weight stayed the same between weigh ins just to ensure that I'd have a BMI over 40 for insurance approval. It wasn't until my appt with the PA who ordered all my tests and talked about the different procedures that I finally felt like I belonged there and was making the right decision. I guess now that I have a surgery date and approval it's all history And I had already introduced myself haha oops!

I had two one on ones with the nutritionist. The first she said to keep doing what I'm doing but to increase Protein. The second appointment was literally 10 minutes long. She said my journal looked great, my weight was exactly the same (my bmi is just over 40 so I was advised not to lose along the way for insurance), and she sent me on my way with protein samples. After that, as soon as all of your other paperwork is in they should call to schedule your consult with Dr. Johnson and set a surgery date. And then it all gets very very real!!!

Hi! I attended the information seminar on November 17th and had my surgical consult with Dr. O'Malley on March 26th which was also the day I received my surgery date and insurance approval. All in all about 4 1/2 months plus a month until my surgery date. He could've gotten me in the first week in April but you have to be off BC for 4 weeks. I am sooooooo excited! How has the process been for you this far?? Who is your nutritionist? Diana

Hi Everyone! I am so excited to be sharing this experience with you all...my surgery date is Friday, May 1st!!! Exactly 3 weeks from today I would love to join the facebook group if possible....please share how to do so! Best of luck to everyone! Bubbly_D

Hi Idonails74, I am also going through the process at Highland, but with Dr. O'Malley. Do you have a surgery date yet? I get sleeved on May 1st!