Terri70

I am in my 4th month of my 12 month health education program through my insurance. I have 8 more months to go. UGH! It's went fast so far, but when I look at the time that still needs to go by I get depressed. 12 months is a long wait! I'm hoping for an April or May surgery date. I've already done my stress test, and I have to get a breathing test done for my pulmonologist to see if I have COPD on Sept. 12th. Then I have to do my sleep study on Sept. 19th. On Sept. 21st, I have 3 appts at the surgeons office. First with the Psychologist, then the NUT, then the NP for the clinic/program. I'm not too sure what is supposed to happen after that. I guess I'll find out on the 21st. BTW, I am 5'6", HW 280 CW 270 GW maybe 145 or so (we'll see).

I am in my 4th month of my 12 month health education program through my insurance. I have 8 more months to go. UGH! It's went fast so far, but when I look at the time that still needs to go by I get depressed. 12 months is a long wait! I'm hoping for a April or May surgery date. I've already done my stress test, and I have to get a breathing test done for my pulmonologist to see if I have COPD on Sept. 12th. Then I have to do my sleep study on Sept. 19th. On Sept. 21st, I have 3 appts at the surgeons office. First with the Psychologist, then the NUT, then the PA for the clinic/program. I'm not too sure what is supposed to happen after that. I guess I'll find out on the 21st. BTW, I am 5'6", HW 280 CW 270 GW maybe 145 or so (we'll see).

I was turned off by any "sparkling" water due to trying Lacruex (or however you spell it) water. Bleh OMG it was the nastiest stuff I've ever tried. BUT I just went to Kroger and they had the ICE water on sale for 10/$10 so $1 each. I got several different flavors to try. I have to say I really like the Cherry Limeade that I just tried. I'm in the beginning stages of my journey and am having a HUGE problem with my soda habit. But I think this will help me greatly getting off the Coke. I'm excited!

Do any of your pre-surgery people use appetite suppressants? I finally decided on Saxenda to help me. My RNY won't be until May or so of 2017. My copay for this $1200 med is $45, so I'm getting a 3 month supply for $135. The pharmacy had to order it but I should get it and start it on Monday. Way excited!

Was just talking to the one co-worker that knows I'm working on getting the RNY. I told her about get prescribed the Saxenda and all she could ask/say was "If your getting the surgery, why do you need that?" Grrrrrrr

I signed up for Aflac yesterday. For accident and hospitalization. I know there is a 12 month time frame prior to a claim that anything can be considered "prior" illness or whatever but I'm hoping I can sneak a few in. lol Do any of you use Aflac? How helpful is it?

UGh. Ok. Thanks.

But I'm also getting Hospitalization?

So do you think if my Policy start date is Oct. 1st 2016 and I have my RNY in say May 2017 that they might pay me? And what if the surgeon gets in there to do the RNY and decides to do a hernia repair or remove my gallbladder at the same time. Will they pay then? Thanks for the help in understanding. I really appreciate it.

So I went for my Pulmonologist appt and he seems to think I have COPD (from smoking). Since my insurance is so hard to approve a sleep study in center he said that if I do have COPD then it would be a gateway for getting the approval for the sleep study. I go Sept. 12 for the PFT (breathing test for COPD) and then if all goes well then I'll do the sleep study on Sept. 19th. Ugh! More waiting!

Let me know what you find out, cause I can't find much info on him. lol

I'm in Christiansburg (work in Blacksburg). Would love to find more people locally. Terri

Yes. He just started in the last year there, but he has 10 years experience. I'm way excited but it's gonna be a long wait. Instead of a supervised diet, I have to do 12 (in my 4th) months of a health education program. It's basically a 30 minute phone call with a nurse through my insurance. Sucks.

Hi mallymaven! I'm going to have my surgery at Roanoke Carilion with Dr. Salzberg, What about you?

So the other night I was going back over my notebook I received from my surgeons office. Something I should've done way sooner. The very first page is my checklist of things I have to do before surgery. I don't know why but before I totally missed the part that says "12 mos medically supervised diet by primary care physician"!!! When I looked at it back in April when I got it, I thought they meant my 12 mos of health education program through my insurance!!!!! OMG!!!!! I've missed 3 months if this is the case! I have BCBS CoVA (Virginia). Their only requirement is a 12 month Health Education Program that is done monthly on a phone call with a Nurse through them for 30 minutes. It's not the insurance that is the problem, it's the clinic. I put in 2 calls yesterday and one today. They're just not answering their calls! gRRRRRR SHOOOOOOOT!!!! Man! I totally may have messed up! I feel so stupid!

Got clarification this morning. It's for sure that I only have to do the 12 mos through my insurance and not the 12 mos supervised diet! Shew! What a relief. Thanks for all the words of advice!

I have another 9 months to go on my insurance required health education program. The reason I'm so afraid to lose much is because the clinic says I can not gain any. I'm afraid to get back on Nutrisystem, lose a bunch, get off NS, then gain some back and the clinic resetting me because of it. I want so much to lose weight. I know (from past experience) that if I'm on NS 100% I lose, but the moment I get off NS, I gain it all back plus some. I've been on and off NS since 2004. I have so many discounts on my NS account that I get the most expensive program and I only have to pay $203 a month. I just don't know what to do. What would you do?

I was 274.7 at my first WI in April. I'm currently 276.6. My next appt isn't until Sept 21st, so I'm hoping I can lose the 2.1 or more before then. I'm starting out slow and cut my Coke intake down a ton and only allow myself one small can once a day. I'm planning on cutting them out completly next week. The next goal will be to start drinking a shake in the morning. This is HUGE because I'm not a morning eater. I have 9 more months (3 months into insurance required 12 month health education program) to lose the clinic's required 5 to 10 lbs. I CAN DO THIS!!!!! The OP's post has been a HUGE help with all the responses. Thanks for posting this!

Yep.

Thanks. Pretty much everyone has been supportive. My sister is the only one that brought up the fact that so many people regain, but all in all she's supportive. Right now, I'm concentrating on getting off Coke. I've had 3 glasses (about 12 oz) in the last week. Sooooo much better than the 2-3 Big Gulps I WAS drinking every day. lol So hard to do though.

I told my FB people about my decision. Here is what I said. (What do you all think?) Well here it is! You can like it, love it or leave it. Totally up to you, but this is such a HUGE life changer that I really will need and want as many of you on my team as possible. Just know that nothing is going to change my mind, though….. That being said….. With much thought, time, attempts, blood, sweat and tears and a ton of research- I’ve decided that in May of 2017 I will be having surgery for Gastric Bypass. I’ve already started the process with an informational session and my consult with the Bariatric Center that is in Roanoke, VA. My surgeon is young and bright (and VERY good looking! Wooohoooo Lol). I won’t tell you (yet) how much I weigh but just know that I am considered Morbidly Obese. This along with several co-morbidities, I qualify for my insurance to pay for it- Luckily! I have to do 12 months of a Health Education Program through the insurance (the only requirement they have), but have a ton of requirements to do for the surgeon. (ie, stress echo, sleep study, clearance by a pulmonologist and a lung specialist, ton of bloodwork, quit smoking, lose 5-10 lbs, psych eval, meetings with a Nutritionist, attend support group meetings, and a few more minor things. I won’t start the actual visits to the bariatric center until Sept. 21st of this year, but will be able to get a few of the requirements done while waiting. The closer it gets to the surgery, the busier I’ll be with appts. Now you can tell me how you feel if you want. Lol Like it or not, I still love you all to pieces!