bnicolexo

I had my first visit with the surgeon today. I'm pretty excited! Anyone else just beginning their journey as well? What are some of your requirements? Recently my insurance (BCBS NC) has changed the requirements to include a 12 month diet prior to seeking surgery , but the office I chose informed me they've submitted a patients info recently to the same insurance company without the actual diet but with a lot of documentation and it has been approved so I have my fingers crossed!! I have several co-morbidities and a lot of weight loss attempts Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congratulations!!! I honestly don't have much advice or tips. The whole time I was unusually calm, in my opinion anyway. I had a pretty smooth experience I can say that I did terrible on the pre op diet, so if you cheated on it don't beat yourself up The pain is intensive right after, I don't recall because I was out of it but I was told that I was complaining about pain and I recall hearing a few words as the nurses or whoever were talking about it. As far as when you get to the room I was okay. I even lifted my gown to check to see if it was done, OCD and who knows what else kicked it 😂 It's painful and uncomfortable getting in and out of bed but it gets easier day by day One thing I wasn't aware of is that more than likely you will have a jp drain, and you may have to go home with it. I had to go home with it. After it was removed the soreness was practically gone and I was moving around so much better. If you do have one ask that they remove it before you go home, it's not a sure thing but they will check for you

I'm not sure if you are just using Excel to organize everything or if you are printing it off. I asked my surgeons office about typing it but they really wanted it to be handwritten, I can't recall their reasons why but I strongly recommend writing it! Ask your office. They may recommend typed and written, or just one I think you are on top of it! I did not include weigh ins or any addition information example of my letter: jan 2016 - gym feb 2016 - gym mar 2016 - gym apr 2016 - gym and low carb diet may 2016 - swimming Every office will have different advice and opinions, my office just recommended some type of attempts whether it was something I did on my own like exercising, diet programs like Jenny Craig or even your own kind of diet, a program with a physician and so on When I said my letter was very simple I meant it! Lol. All the information you have is more than enough and will make for a great letter! More than likely your surgeon will read over it like mine did, if they had any concerns I'm sure they'd let you know!

Hey Lisa! My surgery was approved within 3-4 days and I had RNY March 6th My surgeons office had me handwrite a weight loss log for the last year of how I attempted to lose weight for the 12 month requirement BCBS states that they have, it was nothing fancy or detailed at all. I literally just listed 12 months and some sort of attempt for each one, of course some will/can be the same if you did things for longer than a month. Don't worry too much, if your surgeon feels confident to submit you should be okay! Good luck and let me know if you get approved!!

Hello! I officially have a date for surgery, it will be a few weeks from now on 3/16!!! What are some things you took with you, or things that you didn't bring but wish you would have brought?

Thanks for the feedback!

Thanks! Congratulations to you as well and good luck!!

My information was submitted to insurance Friday, I got word of approval today and my surgery is scheduled for March 16th

I am scheduled for surgery on my birthday, March 16

Hello! I am on my weight loss journey and I am in the pre-op testing/evaluation phase I had an initial consult, my gallbladder ultrasound with normal results and a sleep study where I possibly have sleep apnea, however they were unable to say until a doctor looks at my results and makes that decision Next week I have my EKG, psych eval and see the nutritionist I was curious about everyone else's experience in the pre-op testing phase, so far I have no complaints! If anyone has any words of advice or want to share their experience I'd love to hear it! Or if you're just starting this journey as well and are looking for someone to talk to for support I don't mind chatting Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have a high BMI. My BMI is 71! With my insurance I don't need to have any co morbidities due to it being over 40, however I have plenty co morbidities It really depends on your insurance, but when doing my research on weight loss surgery on a lot of bariatric websites I have seen what most have said here, BMI of 40 without co morbidities and between 35-39 with 1-2 co morbidities Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Same to you! I'm hoping to submit then also Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm hoping to submit to insurance on Feb 1! Good luck and hope you get a date soon! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My surgeon and case manager are taking care of everything bariatric related, my PCP doesn't have much experience in that area and said he will write up a referral for anything I need. I haven't needed him yet, but I'm glad he's with me on the surgery and willing to help! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Good luck! I have a few more things on my pre op testing list to do and I should be submitting on Feb 1 if all my results come back fine Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was able to do my information session online thankfully, way ahead of time waiting for my policy to take effect That's great you have the diet history and almost everything done, makes the process go a lot faster I'm so ready to get mine finished and submit to insurance I'm 24 and I've also been overweight my entire life.. not just by a little either! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have the same insurance. The policy has actually changed again. Now they are basically leaving it up to the surgical team. I go for my upper endoscopy thursday. Nervous but excited. It's my last "hoop" to jump through before sending info off to insurance. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App Seems to be constantly changing.. I can't keep up! Lol My endoscopy is last on the list, not sure when I will be doing that Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes, that's a good thing. I know many insurances require a weigh in monthly and some kind of expectations like diet and exercise discussed and documented then it should definitely count. Do you have to do a diet, and for how long? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Yes, I get weighed in twice a month for each visit. And yes my dietitian and I are currently working on a diet plan. Sent from my iPhone. That's good you've been doing it, all of it will count and make your process go by faster Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes, that's a good thing. I know many insurances require a weigh in monthly and some kind of expectations like diet and exercise discussed and documented then it should definitely count. Do you have to do a diet, and for how long? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That's good you only have 2 areas with loose skin, in my research phase I've seen people have it all over. I did hear working out really helps to tone, I enjoy working out for most part so hopefully that will help me a lot Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I did the same also and chose RNY, my surgeon agreed with me Insurance is difficult to deal with I heard, my case manager at the surgeons office has been wonderful and she's been on a roll preparing everything for me. Hopefully you get lucky and get a great one, they can be so helpful! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That's wonderful! The gas wouldn't bother either as long as I'm healthier. Have you had any issues with loose skin? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am also getting the RNY, I'm hoping we submit everything at my next appointment and I can get a tentative surgery date around the same time as well Goodness that's a lot! I have read some surgeons will work with you and let you pay, others want everything in full prior to surgery I'll reach my out of pocket maximum after an appointment I have tomorrow Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Good luck! I'm hoping my insurance will approve with documentation of all my attempts Which surgery are you interested in? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Goodness.. 6000$!?!? They have pretty much all my pre-op testing scheduled for this coming week, excited but nervous. I still need my EKG, I don't know when I'll have that Good luck to you too!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App