HuneComz

My surgery is 11/29 and there are so many things I am looking forward to - and I keep reminding myself of them as my fears start to creep in. I can't wait to be able to stand up and immediately walk instead of having to pause because my feet (plantar fasciitis) and knees hurt when I first get up. I look forward to not having to shop in the Plus section anymore! I can't wait to wear shorts and feel comfortable in them. I can't wait to not have to ask for a seatbelt extender when I fly for business - that really just sucks the wind out of my sails when I start to feel important about traveling for work.

Have you tried Mio or Crystal Light Water enhancing drops? I LOVE them.

160+ pounds in one year after all those hurdles?! AMAZING!

I have luckily been greeted with almost all supportive responses. My sister-in-law was the only one with a negative response and it was to my husband in privacy, not to me. She made the comment that she couldn't support what I was doing. Now...she is also 100# soaking wet so I am sure she can't possibly understand. I know what she said came out of a place of concern, not menace, however it still hurt my feelings. I have gone through the entire process saying not another word about my journey to her or my brother (even though my brother was quite supportive). I wanted to be spiteful and have the surgery (scheduled for 11/29) and by the time I see them at Christmas, hopefully be feeling better and starting to see some loss and be like "surprise!" Now that I am closing in on surgery day, I have decided to tell them about it, if for nothing else, to have the extra prayers as I undergo the surgery and begin this new road on my journey. I feel that everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect that. I have NEVER lived my life based on what other people liked or thought, and I certainly am not going to start now. It took a lot of soul-searching for me to get to the place where I admitted I needed to do this because I can't lose the weight on my own and I am ready for my new & improved self. Good luck to you and remember - we are doing this for US and not for anyone else.

You have a great attitude and please don't give up! Sometimes I think it is random who they choose to give a hard time to. Like they can't just approve everyone without giving some people a hard time, even when it's unjustly. Good luck!

I decided to try to focus on the post-op requirements during the pre-op diet period. I tried (only succeeded some of the time) to eat only three meals a day and to attempt to get at least 20g of healthy Protein in with each meal because I knew these would be things I would need to focus on the most in the post-op long term.

Congratulations - you look fantastic!

I previously saw and wrote down the following (which I haven't seen in any of the posts so far): comfy front-clasping bra, extension cord for frequently mentioned chargers.

Good luck! Keep us posted!

Amazing! Congrats!

I just got the call from my surgeon's office - Aetna approved today by phone. It went over Friday. Possible surgery date 11/29!

I just got the call from my surgeon's office - Aetna approved by phone today. It went over Friday. Possible surgery date 11/29!

My husband loved me when we met and I was "skinny," and he is just as in love with me now that I am overweight. We gained this weight together and I hope my WLS will benefit him and our children and give everyone healthier eating habits. I want to lose weight for myself and my health and I want to be skinny and "hot" again for HIM. I am not worried about anyone else out there. I think he knows that, too. I have never given him a reason to be concerned, and I don't plan to post-op.

@@jones6189 The length of the process is dependent on insurance. My insurance required a three month physician and dietician supervised diet. Some insurances require six months, some...in between. You should be able to research your insurance and find this info. @@mrobles1027 So sorry! That stinks. I hope the appeal goes better for you.

I also have Aetna and I had my last appointment on 10/21 and was told it would go to insurance and take approx. 10 days. Today is two weeks/10 business days so I called my surgeon's office to check on status and they are only submitting today. So disappointed...I thought I was at the end of the waiting period and it is just beginning. Hopefully we both hear good news. Please let me know how it goes for you since we have the same insurer. I am having the sleeve and my only qualifier is my BMI of 44.

I called my surgeon's office today to see if they have heard anything since today is two weeks since my last appointment and they said it typically takes 10 days... It hasn't even gone to insurance yet! I was told it will go over today and they will call soon to set up a tentative date for surgery, but what a bubble buster. I thought I was at the end of waiting for an answer and instead it is just beginning.

Well I am still pre-op, but I know my surgeons goal for everyone is 20g of protein per meal. It is what keeps you feeling full. I am not sure how that will breakdown in the early phase yet but it sounds like the source of your hunger.

How much Protein are you consuming in one meal?

@@Cocoon2Butterfly I am sorry...that totally sucks. I keep trying too prepare myself to be disappointed...but I don't want to be.

No news for me yet. I have Aetna.

I am currently awaiting insurance approval, but I have been rather open about it. A lot of folks know how much I have struggled with weight loss over the years so I was happy to share this important decision and luckily, I have been greeted with a lot of encouragement. My sister-in-law, who is naturally about 100# soaking wet, made a comment that she can't support me or give her blessing, but guess what? I wasn't asking for it. I believe that her opinion actually comes from a place of concern and religious beliefs, but it was slightly hurtful nonetheless. I figured anyone that I haven't told will figure it out when I rapidly begin to lose weight, and it doesn't matter, I am not ashamed of my decision. I am choosing to take my life back and live a better and healthier life.

Wow - so many of you having surgery tomorrow - good luck to you all! I am awaiting insurance approval, and I am already scared and nervous because I know I am a big baby, but I will tell you what a dear friend told me that had the surgery: It will be tough in the beginning, but what is [insert time period here] in comparison to the rest of your life?! At one of my pre-op meetings, the office coordinator suggesting writing a letter to yourself. I scoffed at the idea at first, but I do see genuine value in it. They said A LOT of people, regardless of how successful you might be post-op have some regret at some point - maybe even to think 'Did I NEED surgery? Could I have done this on my own?' So the suggestion was to write yourself a letter (mine is more so a list of bullet points) of WHY you want the surgery, how you feel, how did you come to this conclusion, etc. I think it will be easy to forgot just how hard certain aspects of our lives are overweight once we are on the other side. Maybe this will help some of you to make the minutes tick by a little faster and give you something to look back on in a year!

This is my fear. My BMI is the only thing that qualifies me for the surgery. I have no co-morbidities. My surgeon and his team are far more optimistic than I am. They said the insurance companies have requirements and you meet them or you don't. They can't and shouldn't deny based on anything other than their requirements. But that doesn't make sense because we see it all the time!

Good thoughts coming your way. Mine was also sent to insurance on Friday but I was told it normally takes 10 days. So I wait...

Best of luck!