craftygal77

I have the Factor 5 clotting disorder, had a PE seven years ago. Off of thinners for 6 years. The first hematologist that was going to clear me put me on thinners for life and sent me to go get an IVC filter. My bariatric surgeon had me get a second opinion. The new hematologist said blood thinners until surgery and until I am completely mobile afterwards, no filter needed. After that I can take an aspirin daily.

I'm getting frustrated and I just need to vent. I haven't told many people outside my immediate family so I can't whine and complain to them I finished up all of my pre-op insurance requirements with my PCP almost three weeks ago. My doctor has yet to send them to my insurance coordinator. Part of it was my fault, I didn't tell them when I was there that they needed to send my chart to my surgeon. I kind of thought they knew that was the next step. After a week I called them to tell them, they transferred me to someone's voicemail and they never called me back. I called the surgeon's office to see if they heard anything. They hadn't, told me to give it a little more time. If I couldn't get through then they could try. So this past Monday I called the doctors office again, keep getting transferred to the person who could help me, and I wind up talking to her voicemail. She has yet to call me back. So today I called the surgeon's office again, hoping maybe they can help me. Go figure, I get their voicemail. I'm frustrated because I am not able to talk to a real person. I'm not sure how long this process takes, I also understand people are busy. The least they could do is call me and let me know that they received my message. Let me know if they have questions for me, tell me that this is a long process and to stop calling them? I'm just getting anxious I've spent the past 12 months doing weigh-ins and insurance requirements and now I feel like it's all at a stand still. I'm not a confrontational person at all and I'm getting nervous because I think I'm going to have to walk into the Dr.'s office and speak to someone...I get verbal diarrhea when I have to confront things (hoping I get some confidence after surgery!!) Thanks for listening!

Has anyone been denied by their insurance for a lack of showing effort during the pre-op phase? I am about a month away from being submitted for insurance approval. My doctor told me that although I have met the requirements for the weight loss (5%), losing only the 5% over the course of 10 months shows very little lifestyle change and it will probably be denied. I understand what he's saying, and I guess I did drop the ball on this one. But I've been waiting a year and I will be crushed if this is denied. If the insurance company wanted more of a loss, why don't they require it? I don't want to make excuses, this is entirely my fault. I didn't fix what causes me to eat. But I still want a chance at a life!!!

Any updates?? How are you? Did you get approved? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using the BariatricPal App Not sure I'm doing this quoting thing correctly or not... Paperwork still not submitted because this doctors office doesn't run very well. After numerous calls from both me and my insurance coordinator the office still has yet to send my stuff to my surgeon. I went to the office in person and they told me that they have someone who sends it out once a week and I will have to wait. Beyond frustrated!

My thoughts are Aaron. I hate to see anyone go, but I could recover quicker if it was Aaron as opposed to anyone else. You barely see him this whole season then all of a sudden he goes for the ride along. Just my theory, I still try to be an optimist with this show lol. I love Jeffery Dean Morgan, happy to see him on this show. On another note...I thought for sure Carol was going to be killed off. She is one of my favorites. And then Morgan killed someone! Ugh, I just love this show!

I've finished all my pre-ops, just waiting for my PCP to send my paperwork to the surgeon so they can submit. So much waiting and phone calls with no one calling back. Going on 3 weeks and counting..

And I figured getting the paperwork to the surgeon would be the easy part! lol My insurance coordinator said she would call my PCP and request my records for me, not sure how long I need to give that before I call and check. We should all be skinny from all the "running" around we have to do and all the hoops we have to "jump" through. Good luck guys! Keep us posted as to how you're coming along.

I just wanted to update my status here, I had my final weigh in this morning, down 9lbs this month, total weight lost 32 lbs. My PCP signed off on the paperwork so now I have a few more clearances to deal with and then it's time to submit my info!

I'm pre-op, hoping for surgery sometime in April. I had a DVT 9 years ago, and a PE 8 years ago. I do have Factor 5 Leiden and I was pregnant with those clots. I haven't had any issues since then with clotting. My surgeon wanted me to be cleared by a hematologist prior to surgery. The hematologist said he would like an IVC filter placed. This is new territory to me and it makes me nervous. I am higher risk for clots. I'm just confused and nervous. If anyone has any comments, advice, or insight on clots and/or filters, let me know! I'm especially curious about the filter procedure itself. How long does it take? Are you awake? Is it outpatient? Thank you!

I have actually know about 4 days...lol. When I had my clots the did a full work up and the doctor I had then told me I had a gene mutation called MTHFR, never mentioned the Factor 5 at all. So when they did another work up last week the new hematologist told me about the FFL. How about you? Let me know what your surgeon says about your situation. I saw on another post a few people refused the filter.

I have the Factor 5 also. I had to be on the shots throughout an entire pregnancy, 2x a day. I am still pre-op but the hematologist would like me to have an IVC filter put in before surgery. Kind of nervous about that, people always tell you about all the bad things they hear about them.

Thank you guys so much for the words of encouragement!!! Seriously, you have no idea what a relief to hear positive spins on this situation! I'm going to work my ass off this month, I will keep you posted!

Has anyone had to have clearance from a hematologist prior to surgery? I had a clot in my leg almost 9 years ago after a c-section. It was treated, and I became pregnant 8 months later. At that point I wound up with a "probable pulmonary embolism," the doctors think it may have been a residual piece from the clot in my leg. I was treated for that also, and since then I have had no clotting issues. Fast forward 8 years, my bariatric surgeon would like me to have clearance from a hematologist. I was just wondering if anyone knew what they do to clear you, is it blood work? Do they ever say no, surgery isn't good for you? Just curious about the experience! Thank you!!

Hi Christina!I'm in Warren. Going thru Royal Oak Beaumont/Dr. Krause. I'm in St. Clair Shores, going through Dr. Sabir at St. John. Two of my friends are going through Dr. Krause next month!

Thanks for responding! Do you have any clotting disorders that cause the clots? I had my hematology appointment yesterday, they are doing a blood work up and then he said we will take it from there. Hoping everything goes well. I do have a clotting mutation that contributed to the clot I had before.

Hello! My name is Christina, I'm 38 and I'm from the metro Detroit area. I've been overweight my whole life, always, always the chubby one. Well now I'm a lot more than just chubby. I work as a hair stylist and although I love what I do more than anything it's getting very hard to do the physical aspect of it. My knees hurt, my back hurts, I get the sweats...its just unpleasant. I'm married almost 10 years and have two awesome little girls. They are so much fun and I can't wait to be able to do more with them, instead of just watching them. I'm pre-op, hoping for an April or May surgery date!

I have uhc Medicaid from Michigan, I started out with a seminar, and made an appointment with the surgeon. They got pre-authorization from uhc and listed the requirements. I need a 12 month supervised diet plan, I need to lose 5% of my body weight, psych evaluation, ekg. I am almost 11 months through, after all this I'm hoping it gets approved. If you start your journey with a seminar they have insurance coordinators that can guide you.

I have uhc community plan and it is a covered benefit, I am required to do a 12 month supervised diet and other pre-op testing before being submitted to insurance. I have gotten better info talking to the surgeons office as opposed to calling UHC.

Community plan or through your employer?

I don't have McLaren, but I do have a different Michigan Medicaid insurance, I'm 9 months into a 12 month supervised program. Good luck!

I have UHC Michigan Medicaid. I started this journey with a consult with the surgeon and their insurance coordinator told me that I need to go through a one year medically supervised diet. I know it's a long time but it is helping me get ready, I'm about 8 months in. At one point I called UHC to check the requirements and they told me there is no required supervised wait time. I didn't understand what she was saying so I called the insurance coordinator at the surgeons and she reassured me that yes, there is a 1 year wait for me. I'm very nervous with anxiety about being denied when it's submitted. Did anyone have to lose any weight before surgery? Have you heard on anyone getting denied even with appealing it? Thank you, and good luck to you all!