lauriev

My last appointment was my NUT on 10/2. I didn't hear anything through the rest of October, finally I started calling them and asking for info and then about a week and a half after my phone calls started I got the approval letter from the insurance. I called asking what my next step was and they told me they still didn't have the approval from the doctor. Needless to say they got on board, I have my surgery date and have scheduled my ultrasound and pre-op appointments.

Good question about the thyroid meds, I hadn't even thought of that! I have been trying to get all my Vitamins and Protein either picked up or ordered online so all my stuff is here waiting for me when I get home!

Thanks for sharing, I have kept mine to myself to the point that I don't even have a ride to and from the hospital.....guess I have to let someone in at some point or hire a limo......guess that is an option as well, but maybe a tad bit expensive

I am Dec 4 too!!!!

I am always in my snuggie now.......I got it as a joke one year for Christmas and decided I really liked it; maybe I need a thicker one now - lol

I got my date today - Dec 4!!!!!!!!!

Got my approval letter in the mail on Friday, called the doctors office twice today trying to get talk to the lady that does the scheduling, she was unavailable both times ugh!!! I would really like to get this done before the end of this year simply because I have already met my deductible and next year my deductible goes from 500.00 to 1750.00; will make it work either way, but that is money I can spend on new clothes! Plus like so many others have said I take the end of the year off at work so it would be so much easier for me to be on the liquid diet without co-workers eating and trying to feed me all the time!

I got a letter from the insurance company today and not quite sure how to interpret it. It says: Based on the documentation submitted, 43775 for a laparoscopy sleeve gastrectomy is covered under the member's plan. However, predetermination of benefits does not guarantee payment. Benefits are always subject to other applicable requirements such as preexisting conditions, limitations and exclusions, payment of premium and eligibility at the time of care and services that are provided, and participating and/or network provider status. also, note that some services require predertification not quite sure if this is approved or not and the doctors office is closed for the day - help????

ok, so I called the insurance company and the lady told me I AM APPROVED!!!! she said the other verbiage is just to say that if I am no longer employed or my insurance is no longer active at the time of surgery then it is not covered. Then she sent me an email with several videos on sleeve surgery, anesthesia and recovery My next task is my ultra sound and my endoscopy - so super excited!!!

what do you guys do with your stuff when you go alone? I was thinking of taking my ipad or my kindle or something but wasn't sure there would be a safe place for it during my procedure

I have a stupid question. I would like to do this and use my sick time at work to take off, but I will need a doctors excuse. Can I get an excuse from you guys for missing work that does not specify exactly what I have had done?

Congrats!!!! Good luck!!

I am so excited for you both!!! Good Luck!!!!

I am in Baytown. no surgery date yet, just starting; but I will certainly be happy to buddy up with you. I am talking to Dr. Turnquest but I am afraid my insurance my deny me in which case I will be self pay - I am doing this one way or another!

My husband's insurance company offered a fairly substantial discount if you bought one and kept up with the 10,000 step goal. I thought this was pretty cool and as someone said, "keeps you honest". My insurance company offers discounts for activity and goal setting, but there is no real tracking done to know whether or not you did the task and most people just fill it out to get the discount. With that in mind, I can see more insurance companies moving to a system like my husband has.

looks like you and I are on the same time table. I had my consult on 9/9. My nutritionist visit is 10/2 and my psych consult is on 9/17. The initial paperwork they gave me says I do not require the six months of dietary counseling, but they also told me that was subject to change. I have several people in my office that have been to this surgeon, some had to do the additional counseling and some didn't. I don't know why that is, possibly a difference in the tier of insurance we all have (our company offers 3 plans through BCBS) Anywho, the doctor told me depending on how long it took me to get my nutrition and psych evaluation I could have surgery as soon as October!! I am so excited!!! Maybe you and I can be buddies???

I also want to keep my surgery a secret. I am curious though, do you work? I am trying to figure out what I can use for an excuse for being out of work and what I can use as an excuse for eating only soft foods when I come back. We have a lot of lunch meetings where I work and we are constantly going out with vendors, I thought I could get away with ordering salad and then picking through it so it wouldn't be noticeable that I wasn't eating as much but some of the things I am reading are leading me to think that idea won't work.