sara_bear

I follow this girl on Instagram Marbear_vsg She started at 299 and has lost 140

Looking for my sleeve twin. This Thursday!!

I live in Seagoville!! Have surgery this Thursday.

Same day for me!!

Just got my date for may 17!!

Just found out that my surgery was approved!! So excited. I will find out a date on Wednesday. Hopefully will be late May. What is something that you wish someone would have told you? Or something you wish they hadn’t?

I’m in the middle of my insurance requirements for surgery and things are going well. However, I am extremely worried about being able to stay hydrated in my work environment when I go back after a couple weeks. I work in a lab, so everywhere is considered “dirty” and any kind of food/snacks/water etc is strictly forbidden. How often do you need to take a sip of water to stay adequately hydrated? I can go to the break room, but I’m just worried about getting in trouble for leaving so often. Anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance!

I haven’t seen anything that suggests they deny you if you gain weight, other than I think one other comment in some other thread. I’m just trying to err on the side of caution because I’m sure as an insurance company I wouldn’t put it past them to try to deny. I’ve read a lot of stories of denials turning into approvals though.

I’m in Texas also with the same insurance. I just started my nutrition visits a couple weeks ago, have already had my psych evaluation (no clue if I “passed”), and x rays and an ultrasound. I see the surgeon on February 5th so hopefully he knows. I’m nervous about being denied as well, but the above comments are comforting! Thank you for the advice. My coordinator told me that Cigna usually responds in less than 2 business days once they submit. I’m glad that you say Cigna goes off your starting weight. I’m always worried that my scale at home is different than the office, or clothes or water retention etc will make it seem like I gained! Currently in the process of finding some protein drinks I can stand in preparation for the pre-op diet in a few months.

My nutritionist recommended the premier protein and muscle milk, both of which have sucralose that gives me a terrible reaction. I’m trying out Vega One right now, the stevia is sitting with me a lot better. I’m planning to ask my NUT next visit if this is okay. It’s not whey protein but I haven’t found anything with that I can handle.

Hi everyone, I had my first nutritionist visit on Sunday, and part of my “homework” for next month was to get used to drinking protein drinks a few times a week and find flavours/kinda I like, so that when the pre-op diet comes along I might be able to handle it a bit easier. So yesterday I had my first drink. It was a powder one I mixed up. It contains sucralose (splenda) and within an hour of drinking it I had a massive headache, nausea for the rest of the night, and was extremely irritable. I know from the past that aspartame gives me awful headache’s, so I’m beginning to think that I just cannot tolerate artificial sweeteners. Am I the only one? Does anyone know of any brands that are artificial sweetener free? Do you think monk fruit or stevia would sit better? I’m really worried that this is going to be a huge hurdle, since basically their entire lists of allowed things are “sugar free ____”.

Hello all! I am just starting my journey and have decided to have the gastric sleeve surgery. I have been overweight all my life, BMI is currently about 47. I have Cigna Open Access Plus through my employer. My first visit with the surgeon is on Monday morning, so I am hoping they will have more details there and that they have worked with these insurance requirements before. Does anyone have any tips for me with getting approved with Cigna? How much weight did you lose on the 3 month supervised diet? I know that gaining is a no-no, but I am worried that if I happen to lose "too much" in their eyes, they will think I don't need the surgery. Was anyone approved on the first try? I see a lot of people being denied in the beginning. Any other advice would be much appreciated! I am so ready to get my health back on track and take this step to be able to enjoy the rest of my life.

I had my “psych evaluation” today, if you could call it that. Originally the person who scheduled me said to plan for a couple hours. I filled out some questions before I went in, asking about how I feel and eating habits etc. I spent maybe 10 minutes with the psychologist and she just browsed through some answers and asked me a few things. The rest of the time we “chatted” about stuff like health care etc. Then she was telling me good luck and to have a good weekend. I was expecting a LOT more than that. I know they will go over my answers to the questions and write some kind of report, so I’m hoping they will give it the go ahead.. just feeling like I have no clue what just happened lol!!

Thanks so much! It’s great to know other people had similar experiences. I had abdominal ultrasound and chest x-ray today, psych evaluation is tomorrow, my first nutritionist appointment is on Sunday, and then I see the surgeon on Monday!! Sure seems like a whirlwind, but it will be nice to pretty much only focus on the 3 month nutrition and exercise requirement and get all this other stuff out of the way.

So glad you got it all straightened out!! I can’t believe how much crap they throw at you, even after submitting to all their demands! Thanks for the info! Good for you for roughing it out and making this change for your health and happiness. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a great year ahead with the new you!

Do you mind me asking how much weight, if any, you lost in those 3 months?

That sounds awful! So glad you found a company that will cover. You’d think by now they would realize how much money they save by reducing obesity and not make things so difficult.

Thanks so much for your detailed response!! I spoke to my surgeon’s insurance guy (I forget his official title) and started the process. I have an abdominal ultrasound and some x days booked on Thursday I assume to just check out my anatomy, I also have an umbilical issue that might need to be cleared up surgically so that may be why also. Then I have my psych evaluation on Friday - which seems rather soon to me, but I guess better to get it out of the way?! Waiting on the dietician to call me to set up an appointment. I’m hoping that I won’t need to see a cardiologist, but will see. So much happening at once!