starladustangel

I put a tiny amount of sugar free strawberry coffee syrup in a vanilla protein shake last weekend and it was delicious. I might have to buy the pumpkin pie flavor Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

My 9 year old we have talked about it. He wants me to run and play with him. My 2 year old doesn't understand yet Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I finally have a date on June 3rd. My insurance approved my surgery back on April 5th but the surgeon's office was crazy slow and didn't schedule me until today. HW 315 CW 292 I'm 38 and married with 2 children age 2 and 9. Started low carb last week and have lost 5 pounds. Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I wanted to see if anyone else has had similar issues with CHI Franciscan in Federal Way, WA. Google reviews indicate this might be a common issue. First everyone there has been incredibly nice and they were very helpful in getting my pre op requirements scheduled and completed. That part was a breeze. I completed everything March 15th. 4 weeks ago today. I was told they would submit as soon as they got the psych eval which was done 3/15. 3/20 which was the next Wednesday I was told they had everything and would submit to insurance 3/21 and that I should have an approval and a date in 2 weeks or a denial but I would know either way. They assured me they would call me. I have to date not gotten a single call from them. I've had to make calls. 3/27 I called my insurance and they hadn't gotten anything. I called back to the surgeon's office and they said they had sent it but since the insurance hadn't gotten it they would resubmit. 4/5 I found through my online portal for my insurance company that my insurance had approved my surgery. Last Friday I thought I would have a date by now. I hadn't heard anything by Wednesday 4/10. So I called my insurance. They told me they had both faxed and emailed my approval to the surgeon's office. I called the surgeon's office and the receptionist said I had to leave a message with the coordinator so I did. I gave her until today to return my call and she did not. I left her a voicemail early this morning and again late this afternoon. No return call. I understand they are busy but this is frustrating to not get a call back to let me know if they received it or not. I hear people getting dates pretty quickly after insurance approval so I feel like this is abnormal but I could be wrong. Their website says "We can usually schedule surgery immediately upon approval of insurance or after financial arrangements are made. When we obtain approval, we will contact you to determine if and when you are ready to schedule surgery. From that time, surgery can be within the next two months or at your convenience." I thought once my insurance approved it I would get a date fairly quickly not be stuck waiting for returned phone calls

I finally got a date today of June 3rd Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

3 weeks for insurance approval but only because the surgeon's office had to submit twice. However it's been 3 weeks since I was approved and I still don't have a date.

Nope I am just stuck in limbo right now Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

We are close to there in the Midland area. I am going through CHI Franciscan. My mom went through Multicare for her WLS and had a good experience though.

I am right outside Tacoma in Parkland. Still waiting on a date. It's taking forever. I have been done with pre OP requirements for almost 6 weeks and my insurance approved 3 weeks. Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I called yesterday and they told me he's been busy with surgeries so may not be able to review it until Wednesday.

I called this morning and again this afternoon. I probably sounded a little short on their machine as I said I need to know when this is moving forward as I have to arrange time off work through our short term disability and childcare for my two year old. I work for an insurance company and try to be nice when calling places but my patience is a little thin.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I called again Monday 4/15 and they finally returned my call. Only to say "we don't have your approval you need to call your insurance and have them fax it again." Called BCBS and they refaxed it saying the surgeon would have it by the end of the day. Didn't hear anything back. Called Tuesday 4/16 and left yet another voicemail. Finally got a call back at 5 pm saying they had gotten the fax and would have the surgeon sign off on it and call me back to schedule a date. It's now Friday and of course they haven't called me back. It's now been 2 weeks since my insurance approved my surgery and I still have no surgery date. I see people getting a surgery date relatively quickly after approval so this is ludicrous to me. I'm going to have to call back today yet again because I feel like if I don't call then nothing will happen.

I am the same way. I do have meds for my anxiety but I hate not being in control.

Nope. I am still waiting on a date. I called the surgeon's office 3 times last week and so far haven't heard back Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Insurance mainly. My insurance either covered CHI Franciscan which is about 12 miles from my house or Swedish Hospital which is 45 miles away. A lot of my coworkers have had WLS at CHI Franciscan since our health plan finally started covering it 2 years ago and had nothing but good experiences there and it was a more reasonable drive than Swedish. All the surgeons there are good from what I've heard so I just picked one and made an appointment after I'd done the seminar. I wasn't picky on which surgeon I saw and Dr. Anwar was able to get me in a week after my insurance approved the consult appointment. I'm pre op but my insurance just approved my surgery Friday.

My online portal for my insurance updated this afternoon to show approved finally. Now have to wait until after the weekend for them to get that prior authorization to my surgeon's office. I finished my pre OP requirements 3 weeks ago. It took a week for the office to submit and then 2 weeks for approval. Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

My husband yes. We have the same BMI but he wants to wait until after my surgery to think about doing it himself. My parents yes. My mom is a month post OP herself from vsg. My siblings are not obese. Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

My nutritionist said 50-80 carbs once on full food Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

It was my mom. She is having vsg next week and one of the things she said was she wanted to play with her grandkids. 2 of those grandkids are my kids and I can't play with them the way I would like. It hit me that if I didn't do something now at 38 I would still be yo yo dieting when I am her age. I knew my insurance would cover it because my coworkers had done it. I called my insurance and found out what I needed to do and signed up for a seminar Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

So I saw the surgeon today for the first time and he is going based off BCBSIL's requirements and expects me to have surgery in 2-3 months once I complete the nutritionist, psych and pre OP testing and everything is submitted to insurance for approval. No supervised diet required by my surgeon if insurance doesn't require it. Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have completed the seminar and turned in my paperwork to the surgeon's office. I have BCBS IL and spoke to them on the phone last week. While they no longer are requiring the supervised diet to approve, they did say that surgeons may require their own supervised diet plans so it seems they are leaving it up to the surgeon but they don't require it.