LaLaLucy

That is awesome! I'm glad everything worked out for you. I will keep you posted. I have pre-op appt on the 5 th and my pre-op diet starts on 10th and surgery on 14th. It's going fast now!

@@ReaderGirl thank you for for the detailed experience. It helps to know that 1 day is not out of the question. I admire those that did out patient! That is incredible. I hope everyone healed well and have had no complications. It always makes me feel a little less scared when I read everyone's experiences. Even the not so great ones that I've come across still pulled through and have no doubt that they would do it again. Thanks for sharing everyone!

Thanks everyone! I am hoping that I will be feeling better in one day. I tend to have a hard time waking up from anesthesia and it usually takes me an entire day to feel normal just from that. Fingers crossed that I will be ready to go home on Saturday. Thanks!

So glad I found this topic. My surgery is August 14th and my pre-op diet starts on the 10th. I am so stressed about the artificial sweeteners. I absolutely hate them. I am not a sweet eater in general so realistically can I get by with broth and water for 3 weeks?

I'm August 14!

Congrats! I got approved as well and my surgeon called today with my date for the 14th! Your surgery date is on my birthday! Happy for you!

@@tls1210 I finally got approved and my surgery date is on the 14th! I was hoping they kept the 11th date to have a few more days to recover before our family goes to the lake but I will take it. Insurance took 5 business days to approve. Keep me posted on your progress!

So sorry you were denied. Sounds like something easily fixed by a phone call from your Dr .'s office. Did your Dr office give you any guidance about what you should do next?

I called Aetna this morning and it was still pending. I called this afternoon and it was signed by the medical director as approved but hasn't been finalized yet. Whatever that means! Sounds like good news to me so I hope I hear from my doctors office tomorrow. I left them a voice mail. I am scared to be excited right now.

Any word joymarie? I called Aetna twice today and it's still pending. Ugh.

Right now my surgery is scheduled for August 11th and our family vacation is August 22-29. It is a low key vacation since we just rented a house on a lake for the week for our family and my husbands family. I don't anticipate swimming since I haven't been in a bathing suit in years. I planned on just hanging out with the family and spending time with our nephews new baby and helping some of the younger ones fish at the lake. I will be 2-1/2 hours from home. I need advice. Should I postpone the surgery? How did you feel 11 days post-op? Any tips or advice is appreciated!

I'm sure you will be able to do some. I wouldn't lift anything if I were you! I helped my friend take her daughter last year and we were there just long enough to bring her stuff up, make the bed and unpack her clothes. Maybe 30 minutes. She really didn't want us to linger lol. Bittersweet time for you. Congrats!

I think mine was submitted last Tuesday and Aetna asked for additional information and the office submitted that Wednesday. They confirmed they had everything they needed when I called Wednesday. Maybe we will hear good news on Monday! Keep me posted!

Joymarie I am still waiting on approval. I called Aetna on Friday afternoon and it was still pending. My surgery date is August 11th if all goes through.

Thanks everyone! This sounds promising. I was afraid I was being unrealistic since the nurse at my surgeons office was totally against it and thought I was out of my mind. I think it will be relaxing and good to recuperate at the lake. I just pray I am not faced with any complications. My husband is very supportive. I am not telling anyone else. I'll have to just tell everyone I had surgery and skirt the details with humor. Maybe vaginal rejuvenation will make them laugh and not ask any further questions! We have a fun and funny family.

Thanks! I plan on doing as much walking at the lake as I can. My husband is driving and I am getting my 4 boys to help pack. They are ages 10, 14, 23 and 25.

I am also waiting for approval from Aetna. Everything was submitted this week. I hope I get good news soon! Good luck to you!

Good to hear! I don't have a date yet. When I went to my endoscopy I asked everyone about him and they all said he was great so I felt better about it. A nurse and a patient that was in the recovery area for her husband both had him. They both were very happy as well.

Hi tls1210. I was just checking in with you to see if you have moved forward with Dr Hamad? I met with Dr ramanathan and decided to stick with him. Everyone I asked said he was great and since I'm so close to being done it was easier to stay.

I think you look awesome! My brother died of AIDS and although I wouldn't normally use his death as ammunition in a conversation I think I would have if I were in your shoes at that moment. I'm sure it would have shut them up. I'm hoping to have my surgery in August and my coworkers are very vocal and opinionated about everything and everyone. I'm preparing myself for the worst.

Aetna requires that you must have one of the following if your bmi is under 40. Sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease. In order for a diagnosis of sleep apnea, your breathing must stop for a certain number of seconds and they also track your blood gasses and pulse along with other things. Did you get a copy of your report? Just snoring doesn't mean obstructive sleep apnea which is what they are looking for. Good luck!

He is in with west Penn hospital which is the Allegheny Health Network. I still have my last weigh in for July and then I'm done. They suggested Dr Ramanathan for me but I don't know much about him other than what you find on Google. I have several comorbitities so I am always getting blood work done related to them/obesity. Almost all have been done through my PCP who is really supporting me and making sure I have a strong case for insurance approval. Nothing has been denied so far. Fingers crossed!

Hi there. I'm in the same boat. Just got the call last week saying the surgeon is leaving. My last appointment is in July before we schedule surgery. I want to switch to Dr Gagne so I called his office yesterday and the nurse said that they have a difficult time getting the records transferred from Magee if they even get them at all. I would have to start over if they didn't get them. I went to my PCP today and they will get them to me so I can get them to Dr Gagne. I liked Dr McCloskey but the office is difficult everytime I call. Dr Gagne's staff seemed much more helpful and courteous on the phone. They spoke with me for 40 minutes and went over my whole situation since I'm almost complete with preop stuff. I have heard great things about Dr Gagne. Good luck!