Jadane_dm

I'm 5 weeks out and eat popcorn. It's one of the things that actually sits very well Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I remember seeing a previous post about this topic but could find it. So I'm asking the question again. My job requires us to apply for short term disability for being out of work due to medical reasons for more than 10 days. I originally put in a request for 15 days. That includes the day of my surger 9/06 through 9/20. After speaking to liberty mutual who handles the Leave of Absence and disability request they made me realize I may need more time. I was thinking about taking off until October 1st. My job requires standing for 8 hours and walking around, interacting with customers, and sometimes bending down. Sometimes I get so busy that I'm unable to sit or take a break. However I feel like 25 days out may be pushing it, but since I will receive pay during my time out I'm thinking about taking the time to make sure I've fully recuperated. I am worried about coming back to work after a month and having my co workers notice the difference in my weight and I'm not sure how to handle it. I've only confided in a few people about my surgery and I didn't want a lot of people knowing. So my questions are.... How long did you stay out of work? and How did you handle the reactions from your coworkers when you came back? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm also concerned about this. I also said jokingly to my sister that I wish they could show me my footage, just so I can see that my surgery was done. I know it was done of course. It's just that being a week out I feel like I'm not getting that sensation that I should with drinking and eating. In the first few days I didn't feel like I had an appetite and did feel like I had to stop drinking because my ouch couldn't handle anymore but now a full week out I feel like I have a tolerance for food and it's scary. For example yesterday I made healthy turkey chili and puréed it so I'd be able to eat it. I kept tasting it in small teaspoons, and probably had about 7 of those and a few hours later I ate 1/4 cup of it. I had that stuffed feeling but I was concerned that I never threw up or stopped eating. I know the goal isn't to throw up Everytime I eat but idk. I also was able to eat a small thing of applesauce after. I'm fearful that I stretched my pouch because of that and I'm going to fail. Everything up until that point went great. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Gas pain has definitely subsided, the incisions are hurting so much. I can't get comfortable. I don't really have an appetite either Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Sept 6th also Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

September 6th !!!! I finally have something real in my life that I can look forward to. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I called my Financial Coordinator this morning and she said because I don't have any outstanding bills with the hospital and because I'd be paying the majority of the CoPay before surgery that id be able to be on a payment plan for the rest. I'm so happy I don't have to have this stress on me anymore. Thanks everyone for your help and advice Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I know all hospitals are different, but I was wondering if anybody was able to write a post dated check for their Co Pay. I have a $2000 co pay and my surgery is on the 6th of September. I have a lot of bills and expenses so saving the money wasn't easy and a couple unseen expenses had me dipping into my surgery savings. I'll have $1600 of it on surgery day when it's due, but I get paid on the 9th so that's when I'll have the remaining $400. Was anyone else in a situation where they're hospital took a post dated check. I know I'm ultimately gonna have to call my hospitals billing department but they're closed on the weekend so I was just looking for some hindsight. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Has anyone ever ordered through Nutrition Direct, the site being advertised for Bariatric Vitamins through this forum. Since vitamins will be a permanent thing in my life after surgery I'm interested in a monthly subscription to get vitamins delivered to my home. Does anyone have any good recommendation of services like these. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm September 6th! I was hoping for a date in August but my hospital was super booked. I'll settle for September 6th though. It's the greatest feeling ever. It just hasn't hit me yet. My bariatric class, pre op testing, and last appointment with my surgeon is August 18th. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

A check dated for that day or post dated is still a check that has to be deposited. So the risk to me are the same. It could bounce either way. Not saying that mines will but just stating a fact. I should be able to get the money before but I'll just ask about the payment options Monday. Thanks everyone Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My insurance company received my paperwork for pre authorization on Wednesday 7/27 at 3:30pm and I received my approval today Friday 7/29 at about 4:00pm so about 48 hours. My last weigh in was Thursday 7/21 and my insurance coordinator faxed my paperwork over on 6 days later on 7/27. It actually took longer for my insurance coordinator to send my paperwork then get the approval. I was super nervous and stressed especially since I was 7 lbs short of the weight my surgeon wanted me to lose, but by the grace of god I was approved. Good luck to you. It will all work out! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yayyyyy I just got the news of my approval today too!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My final weigh in after my 6 month supervised diet was last Thursday July 21st. I made sure that I got done all my required testing and paperwork before that date so that on Thursday my claim can be sent to my insurance company for approval. My NUT said if my insurance coordinator sends my claim in on Thursday then I should hear something on The following Monday which was 2 days ago. I've been calling my insurance company everyday which is Highmark BCBS and they keep telling me they don't see anything. I've made several calls to my insurance coordinator basically blowing up her phone and she doesn't answer. I'm getting really frustrated because I already had to wait 6 months and I'm hoping to get in for surgery mid August and my NUT told me they only have spots for the end of August because all the teachers and students who want to get their surgery done before back to school. I'm a student too, but that's beside the point it's driving me crazy waiting because and I'm aggravated at my hospital because it seems to me like they have no urgency! Anybody else is or was stressed out waiting for an approval. Also the waiting game and stress really causes havoc on an emotional eater. Not having anymore scheduled visits and hearing my insurance company say an approval can be a 30 day process is making me cheat on my diet because I "have time". If anyone can relate to date. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yeah I seriously can't take it. I call the insurance company like 2-3 times a day. I really wish I could hear something back from them today and then from my insurance coordinator with a date. I'm still in the process of gathering my money for my $2000 deductible so I'd like to know when my date is so I can eliminate the stress of having the money in time. It's tortureee!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I wouldn't worry too much about it. You would probably benefit from talking to your insurance coordinator or who ever is in charge of your paperwork and ask them how far out are they scheduling surgeries. It being tentative means it's an unsure date the system could have just automatically set that date for you. I started my 6 months at the end of January and my last weigh in was July 21st and I'm looking at a date of about mid August. So about 3 months out is a little far out there typically people get scheduled within one month atleast that's the trend of the people on here. Your insurance company requires 6 months either way but if your hospital confirms that date of March you may want to look into other hospitals within your network that could get you a sooner surgery date. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I called my insurance company yesterday at 4:30pm and they finally said they had received my paperwork at 3:30pm the same day. My insurance coordinator left me a message saying she had just faxed my paperwork over yesterday at 3:00pm saying it was 55 pages of documents. I had called her yesterday morning and left a message. If I hadn't had kept calling her I'm sure it would have been a few more days if not a week or to before she faxed it, because I was under the impression that she faxed it last Thursday after my final weigh like she said she was going to but she did 5 business days later. Moral of the story everyone needs to check up on the pre authorization paperwork. We've all work to hard during pre op making sure we've got all these test done and required visits and waiting then was hard enough so we shouldn't have to go through anymore unnecessary waiting. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thankfully they scheduled for me to take my nicotine test at the end of month 2 out of my 6 months. I smoked month 3-5 but I stopped because I'm scared of being retested by my surgeon right before surgery. I don't have an addiction though so I could stop cold turkey if need be Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I haven't received my surgery date yet but I'm on track to have it mid August. I'm a little nervous about how my co workers will react to my dramatic weight loss. I asked my social worker what I should tell people who ask how I lost my weight so fast. She told me to just respond by saying I've made "Lifestyle Changes." I could say that but the 2 weeks off from work are gonna seem a little suspicious. I've told 3 of my close friends who also work for me and they've gone almost six months without saying anything. Ive been working at my job for over a year and my coworkers know me as the girl who's frequently dieting and working out. Ive lost 50 lbs all while working at the job, gained it back and then lost 20 so it wouldn't be that unusual for me to lose weight. Maybe I can just say a diet finally worked for me. I was also thinking of saying that I got another procedure with the side effects of weight loss like getting thyroids removed. I'm just not sure what to say. I really don't want people to know. I honestly just want to say "it's none of your business." Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey everyone! I'm in the pre op stages of RNY surgery and after speaking with the social worker today during my 5 month weigh in she suggested that I find other people who are around the same age as me who are also on the same journey and who would be able to offer their support and vice versa. I'm 23 so I'm looking for people preferably on the East Coast who are between the ages of 20-25. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That's really strange. Consults are normally free. You shouldn't have to pay because that's when you ask your questions and see if you even qualify for the surgery. I didn't even have to pay a co pay. However if you do have to end up paying and you have a deductible. That money will go towards it. Atleast that's how it is with Highmark Bluecross/Blueshield. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So my surgeon told me they basically require you to wait so they can pick out the weak basically the people who can't handle the process and be successful in the pre op weight loss and also so the insurance company can save money. I agree it isn't right. However at first I looked at the six months as a burden but it gave me time to contemplate if I was ready to make such a major life change, and it gave me time to make the lifestyle change. I'm just thinking of people who have their surgery within a few weeks of their first consult. It must be really hard to go from eating whatever you want, smoking, drinking and whatever else you do, to being completely restricted for the rest of your life. I'm happy that I got these 6 months to slowly decrease my alcohol intake, stop smoking hookah, and change my eating habits. It would be so hard to stop cold turkey. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My hospital in PA which is St Lukes has a bariatric weight loss management program. They coordinate everything that has to do with my pre op requirements. The only time I had to see my primary physician was to get my referral letter which basically states that she supports my decision to get the surgery. If you've just started the process I would look to see if a hospital in your area offers a good accredited weight management program with bariatric surgery. You should call your insurance company and give them the name of your surgeon and they will tell you if they will cover the surgery performed by that Doctor. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Although it may sound discouraging to have to wait so long before surgery. It really allows you to think about the life changing decision that your making, and helps you make the lifestyle changes needed to be successful after surgery. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It depends on your insurance. My insurance company requires a 6 Month pre op program including a supervised diet, 6 month weigh ins, blood work, cardiac clearance, psych clearance, and other test. My consult which was considered my first visit was 01/28/16 and it looks like I'm on track to have my surgery mid August. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App