2goldengirl

Sign a release of records and give contact info for any MD's you have seen in the past year;. They'll ask for what they need.

Your insurance doesn't determine your preop diet, your surgeon does. Some surgeons don't require one, based on their experience and your starting weight. Not something to worry about!

Are you on meds for high blood pressure? Your blood pressure may have dropped from weight loss, and adding meds that make it lower can make it very low, which makes you feel like you just crawled out from under a rock.

@@Elode, thank you so much for this thread. I'm preop, so I'm trying to wrap my mind around what future thinking and choices will really need to be like. Threads like this are a huge help.

Lactaid. Most of the chain groceries here in CA have their own version.

I would follow the NUT advice and see how you feel after a couple weeks.

It confirms that you have the benefit for bariatric surgery, but there has been no decision made on approval or denial of any surgery (possibly because no request has been submitted yet). It also means you have to be eligible with your plan at the time you have any services (standard disclaimer). I hope this helps!

I wonder how it would turn out if I stuffed a turkey with crab, scallops, celery, onion, old bay seasoning and breadcrumbs. Crab Cake Stuffed Turkey. You really know how to hurt a San Franciscan there Our Dungeness crab season has been delayed - toxic algae blooms are causing issues from warm ocean temps. Dungeness season was supposed to start tomorrow. It's a huge disappointment for the hordes of folks who look forward to the season opening each year, but a potential economic disaster for the fishermen who make half their annual income from crab season.

Here we were, thinking you'd been off enjoying something that involved having to scrape together bail money, and you've been all responsible and everything!

Back when I was in my 30's, I had my tonsils out ten days before Thanksgiving. While I could swallow, chewing was really hard for me - the muscles in my mouth and tongue were really sore, and I had trouble getting food from the front of my mouth to the back of my mouth. The first solid food I had was on Thanksgiving. All I could manage was a bit of turkey with gravy, some sweet potato, and some mashed potatoes. I will never Forget how heavenly it was to actually eat something. I was still having trouble talking. Two pals came over to help me cook. I write every stop of the entire meal out on post-it notes and stuck them on the kitchen cabinets. I just slapped them on the counter instead of talking. I'm guessing all the newly-sleeved will have holidays every bit as memorable!

Preferred IPA will be doing the actual review of your surgery based on LA Care's criteria. You shouldn't have to contact them directly, they have to apply your request against LA Care's criteria.

Honestly, the first thing I would do is ask for repeat bloodwork just in case there was a lb error. With results so far outside the norm it's reasonable to do that. I'm a bit surprised your PCP didn't pick up the phone and call the surgeon and have a chat with him.

At 5'3" and 216 lbs, your BMI is 38.3. Medi-Cal requires specifics concerning co-morbidities (for example, your high blood pressure) to cover surgery for patients with a BMI less than 40. You can call LA Care Member Services and ask for their criteria for bariatric surgery. They will either give you a link to view it online or send you hard copy. I hope this helps!

I'm no veteran and not one of the folks whose voice you miss, but I have to say I absolutely LOVE your post. Thank you for taking the time to share it. It's lessons like yours that those of us on the early end of our journey need most.

I wasn't sure whether health plans did this - I'm in CA and most health plans delegate case management to medical groups. In the group I work for, anyone with a referral from their PCP for bariatric-related services gets a case manager. The truly fortunate get...me! We contact those members as soon as they get involved in the process, go through health plan requirements, answer any questions, and make follow up calls after surgery. We do have some comprehensive programs in the area that duplicate a lot of this, and we leave it to the member whether they'd still like a case manager.

EXACTLY. Always, always, find out your insurance requirements BEFORE moving forward. They are often available by simply googling "nameof nsurance company medical policy bariatric surgery" insurance company name medical policy weight loss surgery or surgery for morbid obesity. It's so much better to know rather than feeling you have no control and fretting over it!

This is a link to Anthem's medical policy for bariatric surgery. I know I've posted this link before somewhere. https://www.anthem.com/ca/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053317.htm It says 40, or one > 35 with comorbidities AND that you do have to follow a six continuous month program in the two years prior to surgery. Thsi policy is available online to anyone. Be familiar with it, and you wont' have to wonder "will I get approved?" You'll know. Good luck!

Stop. All of you. Just stop doing this do yourselves. This is not a race, and your goal the first few weeks is NOT to lose weight, it is to heal from your surgery. Will you lose weight? Undoubtedly. Your bodies, all of you, have been through a lot.The first order of business for your body is to heal. For that, all you need to do is follow directions - get your Protein, get your fluids, do your walking. Trust the process. Yes, I'm being very blunt about this. I'm serious. I have coached people into and out of surgery and postop phases for more than 30 years. Take your scale and give it to your best friend or your next door neighbor if you have to, but get off the damned thing for the first few weeks.

Of course you're scared; hearing statistics will do that to you, especially when you've just had laid out for you every worst-case scenario in the book. Here are a couple things to remember. First, Any surgery of any kind has a risk - your band had risk. And you did that successfully and are healthy enough to consider revision. Second, most people don't get leaks. and of those who do, only some of those end up in the worst-case scenario your surgeon described to you. Third, the studies that result in those complication statistics are done with pretty small sample sizes. here is a link to some of them (scroll down on the page) http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/lap-band-revision-surgery.html It may make you feel a bit better to actually read the studies. I know I like facts. Good luck, whatever you decide.

I realize the importance of resistance work in a sound fitness program, but since the last time I consistently did a resistance program, I've developed arthritis in my right shoulder, and I have some impingement in it as well. I'm a female in her early 60's. This means working overhead is pretty much out, and depending on the day, push-ups are out, too. Suggestions, anyone? I'm thinking I can handle planking pretty consistently. Extra points for things I can do without driving to the gym. I do have free weights at home. I really want to ditch the excuses and get something started. Thanks!

Here is a link to UHC's policy for coverage of bariatric surgery. I hope it's helpful. https://www.unitedhealthcareonline.com/ccmcontent/ProviderII/UHC/en-US/Assets/ProviderStaticFiles/ProviderStaticFilesPdf/Tools%20and%20Resources/Policies%20and%20Protocols/UnitedHealthcare%20Medicare%20Coverage/Hidden/Obesity_Bariatric_Surgery.pdf

You realize you don't have to skip stuffing and gravy? Take smaller portions than you may otherwise have done. We co-host with another couple and have between 25 and 30 people. I'm always so busy that I don't eat much, though I do enjoy sipping on wine from midafternoon into the evening. I'm pre-pre-op, and I don't have a 6-month requirement, but I have a longstanding set of habits for the holidays. I know which foods are my favorites, and I focus on those. I don't feel the need or desire to eat everything. I skip the appetizers, except one stuffed mushroom (one of my faves). I love the taste of ham and turkey together, so I have a little of each. I may have a bite of pie after dinner, but I'm just as likely to take a piece home and have it for Breakfast on Friday. A year from now, I expect to be 9-10 months postop. This kind of approach is likely to work as well for me then as it does now. And for that, I'm thankful!

The six month requirement for UHC is to show that you have adhered to a program and been unsuccessful. Is your WW online or have you been going to meetings? I don't think the online qualifies as you don't get the components in online that you do in meetings. I don't know anything ideal Protein, so I can't help you there, except to say that what UHC is looking for in a program is structure, behavior modification, nutrition information, etc. 35.1 IS low BMI to qualify for insurance pay. I wouldn't want to go below that during your six months. As for the vaping, nicotine really gets in the way of healing. If you are nicotine-free, that will help you. Good luck! Good luck!

Thank you for all these posts, it's a real treat to see start to now. You are absolutely stunning all dolled up for the wedding! Your husband's eyes must've popped clean out of his head when he saw you. I hope you feel as wonderful on the inside to match.

California.