ItsMyTime1985

Hi all, I am just beginning my exploration into bariatric surgery, and am trying to figure out the insurance logistics of it all. The BCBS RI website isn't very helpful besides to say the surgery is covered after my deductible. Does anyone know if they have the 6 month nutrition requirement? I have seen people from other states say the requirement has been removed from their BCBS, but nothing for RI. Also, what about all the preliminary tests and appointments? Are copays due for all those visits? I plan to go through Miriam hospital if I decide to do it. My initial consultation isn't until November and I am trying to research as much as I can before then.

Hey! I just had my last nutritionist appointment last night and everything is ready to be submitted to insurance! Since I haven't had the sleep study or any of the other tests done yet, the nutritionist thinks I'm still 3-4 months out, which seems like a long time and is kind of a bummer but I think it will work out for the best. I am the maid of honor in a wedding at the end of May with a bachelorette weekend the first week in April and a shower to plan so if I didn't have the surgery by the end of February I was going to wait until June and based on the 3-4 month estimation it looks like it'll be June for me! If it were too close to the bachelorette it would be hard trying to eat puree every few hours while away for a weekend and don't want to risk jeopardizing my health or potentially not being there for her like I want to be. Plus I want to enjoy my oldest and best friends celebrations with her! Any advise on things I can do now to prepare myself mentally/physically? I've decided to cut out all carbonation now so I can get used to that not being an option and I'd appreciate any other little tips of things you did, or wish you'd done. Hope everyone is doing well!

Yay! Congrats!

Thanks for the breakdown, that seems to be the main differences I'd found so far too. I also want to look more into complications and recovery time differences. I asked people to weigh in on RNY vs sleeve on the Miriam success striders fb page too and am getting a lot of great feedback. People have negative and positives to say about both. There is no clear cut answer, I just need to figure out what is best for me. But even then you never know for sure how your body will react to things, so it's a guessing game to some extent. I thought deciding IF I wanted the surgery was a big decision, but now deciding WHAT surgery is another big one! Sigh... I did know that about the support groups, thanks! I went to one in September, but couldn't make October and will be away this month, so I'm shooting for December now!

Dr Siva V through University surgical associates and miriam hospital. Thanks for the info! I have plenty of time to look into it. But I do need to decide if I want sleeve of bipass. He told me he'd be ok with either for me unless tests found something we don't know about. Such big decisions!

Hooray!! That's super exciting! I just STARTED my journey today with the first consultation. I'm excited for you @Subaru! Side topic, do any of you RIers know if we're eligible for TDI after the surgery? My surgeon told me recovery time would be 4-6 weeks and at most I may have 3 weeks saved up by the time I have surgery.

I have Dr Siva V.

Hooray @Subaru!! That is super exciting! I have my first consult this Thursday! My only hope is that I don't break down crying like I do every other time I go to my Dr :/

Thank you so much for the info!! That's a long waiting period! I wonder if it would have helped to have my PCP submit a referral right away. Hmmm. My consultation is next Thursday so I guess I mine as well wait and see what he has to say before I do anything else. Best of luck to you! Keep me posted on how you're making out! Do you know the name of the Miriam bariatric facebook support group? I heard it mentioned at the support group I went to in September but I forgot the name and tossed the handouts. I joined another facebook group but there is a lot of negativity and it would be nice to connect with people closer to home.

I'll look into some fb groups, can you recommend any? My journey started with my PCP suggesting it to me, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. But I figured I should explore it and make the most informed decision possible. Let me know what you find out about the private room. I've never had any type of surgery so this is all new to me.

Yea, I have started with Miriam as well. I got assigned to Dr Siva Vithiananthan (glad I could find that name to copy and paste. I'm not even sure how to pronounce it! haha), my first appointment is November 16. I did go to the support group in September as I knew it was a requirement and I thought it might help me make a decision, but it didn't. They mostly just talked about moving more and eating healthy and wasn't much different then what I've heard at countless Weight Watchers meetings. I was kind of disappointed the surgery itself wasn't discussed much. Good luck to you too!

I see you're in RI, what hospital/surgeon are you using? I am still struggling to decide if surgery is the right option for me. It's a scary step, and I wish I could do it without surgery...but I am afraid I can not.