TaRena

I posted previously on how excited to hear Cigna is so quick to approve. Its been a week since my case was submitted so I call the automated system to get the pre-cert status. STILL PENDING. I request to talk to an operator and find out that they are waiting on clinical notes for 6 months. First off aren't clinical notes automatically sent with the file and 2nd I was only required 4 months of supervision not 6. I'm awaiting a call back from surgeon's office. I hope Cigna just gave me a canned answer and its not truly the case. FRUSTRATED! Ta Rena

I have only told my husband, children, parents and one sister who has had the surgery. I'm not intentionally keeping it from others in my family but I am intentionally keeping it from my in-laws. My MIL would be supportive but she is a blabber mouth but doesn't mean to be. Its my competitive SIL who thinks she's a princess. It was ridiculous when I was thin. She only gave me the time of day once I gained weight. She is so bizarre. She would see it as me trying to outdo her or something. I just don't play her games and want to avoid it altogether. People do get weird when you tell them about it. SMH! Ta Rena

When I got stretch marks in pregnancy they itched after having the baby. I think its probably moire common than you think. Some may not realize its their stretch marks. Ta Rena

Good luck today. Let us know how it goes. [emoji3] Ta Rena

I too do the Body Fortress chocolate with PB2. Reminds me of a Resee's cup. Will try it with the vanilla, Thanks! Ta Rena

The same thing has happened to me in just the past couple of days. I started the program in the last week of April and have done everything I'm supposed to. I've lost weight consistently then out of nowhere I've hit a wall. Still stuck to the program then this past weekend I too lost control. However, I realized it and got back with what I'm supposed to be doing. I could kick myself tho! Ta Rena

YES! I plan on going thru PatchMD. Haven't seen another brand. My aunt, an RN, had surgery 4 years ago. She uses the patches and her labwork comes back within the right ranges ever since she started using them. Before she would gag and vomit up her vitamins or end up skipping a day or two because it's just so hard to WANT to take them. I'm definitely on board!

Hey Ready4theday! Good luck tomorrow with your last NUT appt. Please let me/us know how your approval with Cigna goes. I've gotten everything crossed for you.

I am also very encouraged to see that Cigna is so quick to approve. My final NUT appointment is 8/3/17. My surgeon's office has called me twice this week to touch base and to let me know that once I have that appointment things move fast. Just an FYI for those of you who have Cigna Open Access Plan. I called yesterday because I have been very concerned about having an In Network Anesthesiologist. I could not find one associated with the hospital I am using. I was thanked for being so proactive the CSA was so surprised. I said I have been stuck with a large bill before when an Out of Network (OON) provider was used and I don't want to be surprised again. This was what I was told. So many anesthesiologists are OON these days and hospitals will schedule who they want anyway. That it WILL be OON and billed as such. Because its such an issue, that once I get the invoice for the remainder I need to call them with the Invoice information and they will call the Anesthesiologist billing office and negotiate to settle for what has already been paid. Therefore I will never see that invoice again an no more out of pocket for that. I was pleased for the first time when dealing with insurance. [emoji16]. Good grief, I hope that made sense! Ta Rena

That is not acceptable at all! So sorry you had to go thru that Ta Rena

I would call weekly to verify the surgery date. Just a little gun shy from being dragged along for 4 months. Need that security is what I would say. Haha!! Ta Rena

I would be calling them if they hadn't called within the the first hour of opening. As much as you've been pushed aside they should me making you and the issue a priority. Squeaky wheel gets the oil. Make some noise. I'm not saying be disrespectful but definitely make it known you're unhappy with the way things have been handled. Good luck tomorrow I'll be checking in on you. That is...after my first Nutritionist appointment! Woohoo! [emoji2] Ta Rena

I'm just getting to read about what happened on Friday. I'm frustrated FOR you. Not only are you being lied to but the surgeon has lost your chart! Really?! Makes you feel confident in your team. It almost sounds like everyone is just passing the buck. Your only alternative is to change teams but that would mean starting all over from square one. SMH! I do hope you get resolution to this and fast. I'm rooting for you and pray you do get the satisfaction you deserve.

I'm certainly interested in seeing what you find out tomorrow morning. Or what song and dance you'll get. So sorry you're dealing with this. Like you need the extra stress!! Good luck in the morning. I hope you get some justification. Ta Rena

I had my Orientation last week 4.20.17 and I not only met with my surgeon but also my coordinator. All of my pre-op visits were scheduled at that time which consists of 5 nutrition w/ 2 of those via phone; 1 physical therapy; and 1 psych eval. All of these will take 3-4 months and then it is submitted for FINAL approval. Which I'm told by my coordinator that her history with my insurance company usually takes 2 weeks on average. So I am looking at August/September 2017 surgery date. I think much of it depends on what your insurance requires then what your provider's program requires as well. My insurance only requires me to go to a surgeon and hospital that is a "Center of Excellence" and that my PCP provides a letter indicating he feels I will benefit from WLS. So all of my appointments are required by my program. Ta Rena

Denied with a BMI of 52 with conditions! I have First Health thru Cigna. I have never cried as much as I have in the last several weeks. They have told me that they will only approve if I can prove that I am endogenous. That I can't lose weight any other way. The whole reason I have a weight problem is because I have several problems with my feet. I was always underweight until the problems with the feet arose & I can't exercise without causing more pain. I have been taking very strong pain meds for years, meds for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, neuropathy, swelling & inflammation. I have developed a tolerance to the pain meds but refuse the doctor's advice to increase the dosage because I am so afraid of them that I suffer often in pain. I truly feel I am slowly dieing. I started 2 months ago eating and drinking Protein, cut the carbs to nothing and a lot of salads with turkey. I ride the stationary bike and do resistant bands. I have gained 1 lb!!! I then requested my doc write a prescription for a weight loss med...Cigna denied coverage for it. Received a different prescription for weight loss...again denied. I can't even get a list of covered meds from these jokers so that I can ask for one they cover. My husband's employer is contracted with the federal government and they switched to Cigna 2 years ago. I have had several surgeries on my feet plus other surgeries not related to my feet and have NEVER had issues such as I have had with Cigna. Luckily their contract is up in June and a new contractor will be hired. Hopefully they have better insurance. In the meantime I will proceed with trying to prove that my situation is endogenous. I applaud those of you who don't loose their cool & sanity through the approval process.