Neri

While I don't have my date yet, it's looking like it should be in November!

Just wanted to give an update here in case anyone else is looking for the same information. My surgeon's office told me that once everything has been handed over, UPMC Health Plan returns with their decision in 48 to 72 hours.

Is there anyone who has UPMC Health Plan and has already gotten their approval? If so, how long did it take between your last check-in and when you got approval? I'm trying to get an idea of when my surgery might be so I can plan accordingly.

No, that's about two and a half hours from where I live. I'm actually from Shippenville, not Shippensburg. They're close enough in name to get confused though.

In my first attempt, I chose my surgeon because he was in the area, took my insurance, and did bariatric surgeries. Didn't really look up anything about him. It was a mistake. This new surgeon I found through my insurance again, but this time I did more research. He has much better reviews, focuses on obesity medicine, and is part of the program that initially brought bariatric surgery to western PA.

It's a shortened version of my usual username, Nerisyns. Nerisyns was the name of one of my favorite Dungeons and Dragons characters. It then became my handle on a couple MMORPGs, and eventually became my username for just about everything.

You sound like someone I'd love to be friends with too!

I'm a 26-year-old, weird, and awkward paginator who would rather stay home and play video games than go out. I'm quiet and shy, but get to know me and you'll find someone who loves to laugh and make people smile. I love to be creative too by writing, drawing, and crocheting, even though I feel like I'm not any good at them.

So my insurance wants 6 months of medically managed weight loss. Keyword there is "loss". Thursday I go in for my 4-month check-in, and the papers that get filled out each visit will continue to show a weight gain. It was only about 2 or 3 weeks ago that I was put on a dosage of Metformin that doesn't make me sick, and I've lost about 3 pounds since then. Yet my forms will still show a 17 pound gain from when I first started my journey (Started at 360, ballooned up to 380, then got on Metformin and now at 377). I know I still have 2 months still to lose weight, but I'm afraid insurance is going to deny me and all my work will have gone to waste again, all because I wasn't back on Metformin until now.

So just as an update, I did see my team today. They were concerned by the weight gain (even though I've been losing since Metformin), so they put me on a new medication saying they wanted me under my starting weight. Here's hoping that it works!

I actually have Insulin Resistance, not Type 2 Diabetes, but it's close enough that I was put on Metformin. I was talking with my doctor today and suggested Victoza, but they apparently don't prescribe it there. Go figure. But thank you for the suggestion!

Thank you. That certainly helps me feel better

Congrats!

Of course! I'm here for you!

I'm sure it's rough, but I know you can do it! I can tell you're an incredibly strong person. And if you ever need anyone to talk to, you can always talk to me.

You look amazing! Congrats!

Good luck!

I'm hoping to be able to get my sleeve in November. My last check-in with my surgeon will be at the end of October, so it'll all depend on how soon insurance will get back to me.

I never did say how old I was either, did I? I'm 26. But still, isn't it so nice to go into a facility that is so much more welcoming? It just feels safer. At least, to me it does anyway.

Thank you. I'm definitely going to be sticking around here, and staying with mental health services. Like you said, the mental part is instrumental to success!

If you want the bypass, push for the bypass. A good surgeon will want you to be informed on your choices, but then respect your decision.

I haven't had my surgery yet, but I've decided to go with the sleeve. For me personally, I like the removal of part of the stomach and reduced ghrelin. Also, I like the idea that if later down the line I want to switch to the bypass, I can.

Congrats! You'll do great, I just know it.

1. Longevity 2. Health 3. Family 4. Looks 5. Mobility The first three are really close together for me, so it was hard to choose the order. My main motivation for doing this was so I could live longer and healthier for my fiance. I feel like he deserves to have someone to live a long, healthy life with.

Ahhhh! Seeing all these sweet, beautiful babies makes me so jealous! I haven't had a dog in two years, and have been just itching to get one. Not sure if my kitty would like not being an only child though.