bubbz333

@SuaniyaI'm really excited now but I'm sure I will get nervous as the date approaches. I feel so relieved to finally have a date like it's all really happening now. I have Kaiser and they do things a little different. They don't have to send for approval. If I qualify with my BMI and make it into the program and then finish the program, I get the surgery. I feel bad that a lot of people go through the whole process and could possibly get denied by insurance. I can only imagine how frustrating that is. I'm thinking good thoughts for you and sending positive vibes your way that your insurance approves the surgery

I'm sure she could smell the fear on me this morning at my appointment but it actually went very well. It helps if you have done your homework (i.e. read and re-read the binder) and have really followed the program. She did ask if I had attended a support group and what I had for breakfast this morning and dinner last night. She will ask about birth control so be prepared with that answer. She was really pleasant and helpful. I wish I didn't have that fear and nervousness before the appointment because there was nothing to worry about. She's tough on the people that need it so as long as you're following the plan you should be just fine. Side note: My surgery date is April 10th!! So excited!

Dr. Mostaedi set my goal at 15 pounds, not sure if he does that for everyone. If so then you're almost there! I was so nervous for my appointment with him but he's really nice. I meet with Liz on Monday to get my surgery date. I'm terrified and excited all at once lol!

@@lisaBme I haven't had surgery yet but my BP is still normal as far as I know.

I was so nervous for my first appointment with my surgeon. I had to have my blood pressure taken again after my appointment because it was so high the first time they took it (it was normal the 2nd time). Make sure you write down any questions you have because I totally forgot everything I wanted to ask. It's normal to be nervous, you're not alone.

I purposely gained weight before my initial weight in to make sure that my BMI was at or over 40. I only had to gain about 5 or 6 pounds but I was feeling the exact same way after eating like garbage for weeks. Luckily my pre-op diet (not a liquid diet) started right after orientation and I was back to eating healthy and feeling better. My starting weight is what counts (insurance wise) so I'm not too worried about my BMI going below 40 before surgery. It sucks that some people actually have to do this in order to get the help we need. From what I've read on here some people have had luck qualifying for surgery with a BMI below 40 w/no other health issues but every insurance is different. Do what you think is best for you. If you can manage to not completely self-sabotage then go ahead and keep trying to gain. I would try a healthier approach to gaining weight like body builders do. I realized before it was too late that there are better ways to gain than eating junk 24/7.

To those of you that have already gotten approved for surgery, do they submit your starting weight or current weight to insurance? Sent from my LG-H918 using the BariatricPal App

I'm going to Kaiser Richmond too. My orientation was 2 weeks ago & I just had my first appointment this morning with Dr. Mostaedi. He is awesome! I have to wait till January 3rd to see Dr. Z (I'm a little nervous about that appointment). So far everyone there has been so nice to me. Even this morning when I was a nervous wreck before my appointment the woman that was taking my vitals and weight was doing her best to try and help me chill out. I'm hoping for surgery mid-february. I already met my goal weight so it's pretty much my choice on how long this whole process takes.

I just added everyone. Mine is lauraesandoval3@yahoo.com

I am on my pre-op diet and it's very specific as to what I can and cannot eat as well as how much I can eat. With the holidays coming up I'm not necessarily worried about straying from my diet I'm more worried about everyone offering me food or asking why I'm not eating as much. Thanksgiving I will be spending at my sisters and the people that will be there know that I'm on a specific diet given to me by my doctor but nothing more. Christmas on the other hand had me so stressed out that I just decided not to go. Christmas is usually a big thing with my mom's side of the family so there will be a lot of extended family members there that I don't plan on sharing my surgery with until I'm post-op. I feel bad that I'm not going but there's no way I can control how the food is prepared and I don't want to bring my own meals and have to explain myself to everyone there. Has anyone else run into this problem with deciding whether or not to go to a family function for the holidays? And if you do decide to go what is your plan for sticking to the diet? Have you thought of what you'd say if someone offered you food or asked why you aren't eating that much?

Yay! Congrats!

I'm in the very beginning stages of pre-op right now and I'm working on telling my immediate family, I might tell more people post-op but I'm not too sure yet. I worry that my dad and sister will be the most judgmental because they have always judged me for being overweight. I've decided that when I tell my dad and sister I plan on starting out with "Before I tell you I want you to know that I completely respect what ever your opinion may be about this but you will not change my mind."

I haven't made a IG account just for this journey, I'm not too sure I will. Maybe once everything with my surgery is approved I will but for now I've just been using my personal account and following A LOT of VSG accounts. I will follow yours too. :-) Mine is bubbz333

My work has open enrollment right now for FSA and I am thinking about signing up for it for my co-pays and medications during this process. My orientation class for surgery is next week so I'm not planning to make any decisions till after that. I do have a couple questions that I'm hoping some of you can answer from personal experiences. I'm curious if any of you have use FSA during your surgery process and if so how much did you set aside/use? My FSA policy says it will cover vitamins and supplements if I can get a letter from my doctor stating that it's a medical necessity. Have any of you done this or had a hard time getting this letter from your doctor? Thank you!

Thanks for the info @@SLH-A & @bunnybenson My max for the FSA is $2,500 and I just found out that I can get reimbursed for my mileage to and from doctor's appointments. Since I will have to drive 42 miles one way to my appointments this will really help out.

Thank you @@annie819 ! I was was trying to figure out a way to calculate how many appointments and tests I'll have. That will be a good question to ask at my orientation. Sent from my LG-H901 using the BariatricPal App

I will be going to my orientation on the 17th in Richmond. Those of you that live in Vacaville do you have to go to the Richmond Kaiser for everything or do they allow you to do some things at the Vacaville Kaiser (labs, xrays, etc.)? I hate driving on 80 and anything I can get done in town would be awesome.

Thank you @@shaylady08 I think I'm just over thinking things. That's the problem with having too much time to research lol

Has anyone on here had a hard time getting approved by your insurance? I looked up my coverages and it says that Bariatric surgery is covered under my plan but I've read so many horror stories of people going through this whole process only to get denied by insurance. I meet the BMI requirements for having no co morbidities. Having all this time before my orientation class is allowing me to do a lot of research but some of the things I'm finding are making me doubt that I'll get approved. Sent from my LG-H901 using the BariatricPal App

Congrats!!! Sent from my LG-H901 using the BariatricPal App

This thread has been so helpful! I have been trying to look for recent posts about Richmond and wasn't finding any until this one. My orientation date is November 17th, I'm so excited! I have considered WLS for years but never had the nerve to follow through with it. I feel most comfortable with getting the VSG but I will keep an open mind if the surgeon suggests something else. For those of you that have already gotten the surgery, how long were you off work recovering post-opp?