sassyfrass23

@@RNY-Gal is your insurance through you or someone else? Mine is with my husband's employer and we had a bit of a discrepancy in my policy. I ended up reaching out to my husband's HR department and asked for clarification as the insurance company (UHC) was zero help and my surgeon's office was a bit difficult in getting answers from. They just weren't taking it as seriously as I was. In the end- there was a verbiage error in my policy and it has worked out to my advantage luckily. The HR department went straight to their UHC rep to get the answers though. But I was grateful to have both of them working diligently to help me better understand what was expected of me. And I CLEARLY read your policy as either or. Not both. It's actually written quite obviously. I don't see how your coordinator or the insurance company can misinterpret that?

@@MKJohnson15 bless you! I couldn't imagine being on liquids for 4 weeks. I'm having a hard enough time preparing myself for the required 2 weeks. After hearing your length of time, I will not complain as it can clearly be worse!!!

My file was sent to UHC on Friday. I called tonight just for kicks and giggles, but it wasn't showing in the system yet. So I shall try again at a later date!!

I'm not going to ask how you prevented it...or what you did to improve it. Just curious if anyone is open to sharing pictures of their hair loss? Strange request, I know. But what I am envisioning is quite frightening so I'm hoping pictures might be able to put me at ease. I already have "thinning" issues due to my PCOS, so hair loss isn't a foreign concept to me. I also understand that everyone's experiences are unique and vary. Hair loss will not deter me from having WLS. Just trying to prepare as I approach the big day!

Well...you just made my night! ????

I feel the exact way towards, Dr. Now. I had a hard time reading him from the get go and couldn't imagine being one of his patients when comparing his treatment with my actual surgeon who is much like Dr. Somers. Dr. Nguyen is gentle but CAN be assertive if need be. That's only if you don't follow his guidelines. If he was anything like Dr. Now, I'd probably be looking for a new surgeon. And yes, I foresee the balloon having the same kickback as the band. While some patients have had great success with it, I think the negative results far exceed the positives.

I thought the exact same thing! As did i! When I first heard of the balloon, the concept confused me and I couldn't understand how it benefitted the patient after removal. Then I saw how it was used correctly on this show and it all clicked. Speaking of- I still can't believe they placed and removed that thing while the patients were awake. Blew my freakin mind. It was basically the same process as my EGD. Actually...probably a bit more than just the scope they did on me. And you best believe they put me to sleep for that. Lol.

@@glitter eyes and @@sharkgirl how in the world could you not photograph your hair loss process after WLS???? ???????? Kidding! Thank you for the suggestions. I've heard mixed reviews about Biotin results but figured it wouldn't hurt me to take it, so might as well. @@goblue9280 thanks! I've never payed attention to the age of those who reported hair loss. Perhaps I should be more observant with that to see if I see a pattern. I hope you and @@BobbyD are right and think that my "younger" age will play in my favor Either way- I can handle the hair loss as it comes. If I am forced down the wig route, so be it. Losing my hair is not going to cause a heart attack unlike this extra chub I'm hauling around! @@bigbit I don't know how to respond?? ???? Congrats on not suffering from clogged drains like others have? Lol.

@@Dub ...you are KILLING it! Many kudos on the weight loss thus far. You look phenomenal! To be quite honest....totally surprised to receive any pictures on this thread. I figured I may be asking a lot since most ppl probably didn't think to record that aspect with pictures. Genetically- I have been set up with promising hope as I age. My daddy (deceased at 63) had the perfect amount of salt/pepper mix and never thinned before his passing. His siblings who are in their 70's and 80's...all have FULL heads of hair. My mama has the THICKEST and prettiest hair. She's never once colored it and has a total of maybe 20 grey hair?? She mentioned coloring it the other day and I told her she was crazy...any 61 year old would be grateful to have her hair!

I know, @@Renkoss ! The whole situation floored me. I'm looking forward to surgery.....DEFINITELY! But I'm more anxious to be done with THIS part of the process. I just want to relax and stop wondering if they have received my file, approved my file, denied my file, lost my file...etc.

@@JamieLogical I'm definitely gonna have to give Weight Loss Ward a go after I finish this series! You're the 3rd person I've seen suggest it.

......well, @@Daveo ? :'(

So here's my plan, I'm going to picture myself losing basically all my hair and needing to resort to wigs temporarily. That way....if I only lose a little, I won't be disappointed! here's to hoping I have the same results as you! Oh..and I saw your full body pic you posted the other day and you looked fantastic!!!

Yeah- I've seen a few ladies where it has thinned in the front or right around the hairline. I know I'm probably imagining it to be worse than it actually will be. That's why I was hoping for some pictures to help give me a better idea of what to expect

Ahhh! Thank you! I'll get there one way or another, I suppose! Perseverance..

Ah- I see. I keep forgetting that it's not a recent or current show. And to think about the Americans whose insurance doesn't even offer coverage. So so sad.

@@OutsideMatchInside that's exactly the point my surgeon made. I'm 27 and right at a BMI of 40.5. I asked if I was jumping too soon or too young to have RNY. Aside from my weight and prediabetes, I'm fairly healthy on paper. His immediate response was absolutely not! In his opinion, I'm the ideal candidate for surgery because of my lack of health issues. My chances for promising results and less complications is ideal and he'd rather get his hands on me now rather than when I'm 50 and have already had a heart attack or other issues from obesity present themselves. My daddy had 3 heart attacks, his final one requiring 5 bypasses. All of his siblings (6) have had heart attacks and then multiple family members on my mom's side have had them as well. Did they say what their reason was for denying his surgery? That is so incredibly sad and still breaks my heart for his Mom.

I have an email from Dari stating that. Do you think that will suffice?

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Friday's news was less than ideal, but I did leave out a HUGE piece of info that goes with my original post: After Dari had a conference call with UHC Friday morning, she emailed me later and said that after much discussion with the VP of HR and their UHC rep, they are going to waive the 6 month waiting period. So whenever I am actually approved, I'll be able to schedule my surgery almost immediately (have to allow 2 weeks for preop diet). I'm in much higher spirits today and have enjoyed some time away this weekend to get my mind off of things. Thanks again for everyone's support and kind words. My file SHOULD BE submitted this week....finally. So I will update whenever I hear something

I apologize in advance for what is about to become a novel. So, some of you may have seen on other posts where I am/was having issues with my insurance company and the uncertainty of when I could actually have my surgery due to odd verbiage in my policy. I called UHC tonight to get names and dates of when I called back in October for my HR rep who has been working with our UHC rep to find out the specifics. That was the ONLY purpose in my call tonight. While on the phone with Patricia, my new best friend, she told me that she wanted to call Clinical Services just to check on the status of my file that I thought SHOULD have been submitted this week. I waited for a few minutes for her to return to the line. When she came back, she made a statement and told me to write a Case # down, so I did as I was instructed. And paused. After a few seconds of silence, she asked if I was still there. Once my mind wrapped around what she said, I asked "Did you just tell me that I was approved for surgery? I am approved to have the Gastric Bypass? That case # you just read to me is my proof of approval?" To which she responded with "Yes!" Of course, this then prompted the flood gates to swing wide open and allow the tears to fall. A little back story to help you better understand where I am coming from- I would have to say that my life (27 years young) has been challenging. I don't want pity, because as tough as the trials have been, they truly have made me stronger. They have made me ME! And I'm grateful. My sister was killed in a car accident when I was 8. There was an 18 year gap between us as she was from my father's first marriage. But my mom was basically her mom and played a huge role in her growing up. I never viewed her as a half sibling. She was a single mom of a 3 year old at the time. So, we adopted her son the day she left this Earth and I went from being the baby and 1 of 2 girls out of 3 children, to the middle child and only girl. It was a huge adjustment that I struggled with. My grandfather passed that same year a long with my father having his first heart attack months after. Fast forward a few years, I became involved with a guy who was emotionally, mentally AND sexually (yes- it's possible even if you're in a relationship with the person) abusive. I was 14 and truly believed that the behavior I received from him was due to my own mistakes. I was brainwashed and blind to the severity of the situation. Throw in two more heart attacks for my daddy and open heart surgery for 5 bypasses during this time as well. Children are very impressionable at that age, and it has taken me 13 years to forgive myself for sticking with him for 2 1/2 years. From that relationship, I dove into another one with a guy who was great at first. And then the physical abuse presented. I loved him. I NEEDED him..or so I thought. After all, he was the one who helped me move past my previous relationship. Finally, after a year and a half of hell with him, things ended. These two relationships, all before I was 19 did a huge number on my self confidence and damaged me emotionally. And then I met my husband. My saving grace. We have been married for 8 years. Things have been tough. We have experienced every hardship imaginable with the exception of infidelity. The biggest challenge being our inability to conceive due to my PCOS. I have wanted to be a mommy for so long and this surgery is my last hope at becoming one. But the straw that broke the camel's back and contributed to my weight gain began back in 2011 when my daddy was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer. We quickly learned that his diagnosis and prognosis were not promising as the cancer had already metastasized to his bones and his spine/ribcage/shoulder blades were covered in cancer. I literally watched him wither away for an entire year before he passed. I helped Mama as we became his caretakers when he became too weak to care for himself. He passed away 10 days shy of his 1 year anniversary from being diagnosed. On January 18th 2012, I lost my safe haven. And a part of myself. I have ALWAYS been a daddy's girl and did not handle his death very well. So I tell you that all, to tell you this- I truly did not expect to receive approval. Not on the first attempt or without having to put up a fight first. I have had the cards stacked against me what seems like majority of my life, and believed this would be a similar situation. To hear Patricia confirm my approval....I am in utter shock. I have read a multitude of post on here where people are posting their approvals and surgery dates and while I have been so happy for them, a part of me felt envy. Because I didn't think I was ever going to be THAT person. THIS person. I am so stinkin excited that I don't even know what to do with myself!!

I believe that is my second favorite one! I still loved Daniel. He was so stinkin precious. Jean Marie definitely had a beautiful personality and challenged me to love myself more!!

Thank you! I really do appreciate it ????

I posted this in another forum before I realized there was an actual insurance & financing forum...go figure! Hi! I'm in the process of getting things ready to submit to insurance and just curious if anyone was denied on their first or second attempt. And if so- why? I hope for approval on the first attempt but am trying not to get my hopes up as I have seen plenty who were denied and had to appeal. I'm trying to be as prepared as possible, but with most insurances- you never know what to expect. Aside from my weight- I've been a semi-healthy person and never really had to go through the authorization process for anything before. So this is all new to me.

Haha! Yes- I have to be mindful of the surgery I WILL have. BTW- I have considered Mexico but a part of me is a bit nervous about that decision. So I'm leaving it as my last resort. Not to mention- my family isn't too keen on the idea :\