KimB7811

Just starting my journey. Had my first apt on the first with my surgeon, having my endoscopy on the 22nd, my nutritionist apt the 9th. .l also have been on a dr supervised weight loss program for close to 2 years now which she is currently writing up a paper to submit stating why she feels I’m a good candidate as well. My paperwork is coming together... but however, I’m just really thinking this is going to all be for nothing because insurance will deny me. I think it states I have to be with a BMI of 35+ for at least a year and I think I was at a BMI of 34 around nov before it started to go up.... not sure if that’s where they might snag me if they ask for records first? I’m barely squeaking by with BMI even though I have severe hypertension and need a knee replacement. I have my insurance requirements printed out and I’m trying to make sure I line all my ducks in a row but I can’t shake this feeling they’ll snag me somewhere... anyone have an issue getting approved when they were on the lower BMI side?

Hi Paradokx! I’m still waiting to hear from insurance! I was hoping to know if I was denied or approved before the holiday weekend but that wasn’t the case. I am on my first day of the liquid diet because I’m scheduled for surgery on the 25th. I hope I will know for sure my fate on Monday....it will also be a bummer if I had to do this pre-op liquid diet for nothing! And on Easter to boot! How are you doing?

I’m glad you are going! Now more than ever is the time to keep up the gym through the stall. Your body sometimes retains water the more you workout or it’s in the process of building muscle. You will see the scale move but it just might take a week or 2 to catch up! Don’t give up!

Ok... haven’t kept up with this thread for a bit but I will catch you up to where I am at on this journey. Had my last surgeon visit last Friday and they set my surgery date for April 25th! I couldn’t believe it would be this soon but I took that date and ran! So off I went with my pre op lab slips and EKG that I needed to get done on a rush. That’s all done and everything came back great! Also got my surgery clearance from me primary Dr today. Everything is alllll set and I’m slowly stocking up on the stuff for pre/post op liquid diet. I have to do 5 days pre-op so I will start Saturday. Chicken broth and protein drinks for Easter!! However..... one small issue still. STILL waiting on insurance approval! This is insane! I’m so nervous it won’t be approved or approved in time for next Thursday! My surgeons office seem so confident it will be... even the surgeon himself checked in with my insurance on the status (fed BCBS) I called today and it’s still in review with the nurses they said. I just refuse to get really excited until I hear APPROVED!!! Say some prayers for me!!!

I’m having sleeve. I have one but haven’t been on that for awhile. I’ll look you up!!

Yes!! So glad you finally heard the big “approved” word!!! You’re in the home stretch now! I feel like I’m doing everything backwards since I haven’t heard the approved word yet but since my surgery is less then 2 weeks away they need me to get everything else done. So tomorrow is the last of the tests I need to do which is the EKG and bloodwork. Keep us posted on your date!!

That’s awesome!!! Congrats and good luck to you!

Got a surgery date for April 25th. Waiting to hear from the Drs office to tell me they (hopefully) got the preauthorization. Ugh so nerve wracking!

I used to have this fear years ago about Being the “chubby out-of-shape” one at the gym... but in my years so far, every gym or class I’ve taken I’ve never felt like I aaa being judged or didn’t fit in. I did Jazzercise for a few years and there were so many women there all different ages and sizes. You just learn to modify the moves to what you can do. Then I joined the local Y and took all the fitness classes there. Great thing about them is they have classes ranging from advanced/ moderate exercise to chair yoga. Never felt judgement or felt I couldn’t keep up. Plus, if they are good instructors they will never make you feel singled out and will show you modifications. If anything, I’ve always found a group of women just like me that have become friends. As far as the machines... just grab your headphones and put blinders on. I know you will feel like everyone is staring at you... but they aren’t at all. Just get in there! You will be amazed how good you mind, body and soul will feel after. Everyone started at some point!

So sorry to hear about how hard the after surgery complications have been for you... but just have faith this was worth it and better for your health in the end. It’s good you are getting the help you need in the hospital even though I know how much you want to get home. Hang in there! I will pray you get to go home tomorrow.

Yay! Congrats and we’ll have to check in!

That was truly perfectly said and actually made me tear up. Ty for describing it and saying what I know is my biggest fear as well. Praying this will be what works for GOOD! I know it’s a tool/gift we will have to use wisely for the rest of our lives... but just maybe it will make our brains and stomach be on the same page a little easier! Congrats to you and your continuing weight loss journey!

April 25th here if insurance approves! Waiting to hear....good luck everyone!

I can’t believe I can possibly be having my surgery in less then 2 weeks!! Saw my surgeon today. He went over everything again and explained my pre-op liquid diet that I have to do for 5 days. Signed the paperwork needed for insurance and they will submit it on Monday. (They would’ve submitted it today but they just need my notes faxed over from the weight loss Dr and their office is unfortunately closed on Fridays.) just praying now that I get the approval and I get it in time. Looks like I’ll be having a nice clear broth and protein shake for Easter dinner this year! Lol

Congrats on your surgery date as well!! We can be surgery twins! I’m dreading the pre-op... but at least you get some more solid food options! The only thing I’m allowed is a cup of steamed or raw vegs a day and 3 protein drinks. The rest is clear liquids or broth and sugar free popsicals. But we have to keep our eye on the prize!!! It will be worth it in the end! Good luck!

Ugh yea.. Christmas would be worse!!!!

Mine is in Newton , NJ

Just wondering if anyone who’s already gone through the step of signing all the papers for consent for insurance before submitting can tell me if they also need the lab work done prior to this in order to submit? My appointment is on Friday and if they are going to request me to get blood work done I might just hold out and fast that morning so I can run after and get them done.

So that was after they submitted it and you got your approval?

Awesome! Congratulations and Good luck!!!

They definitely make us work for it!!!! Lol

I’m there with you too! It’s killing me! Should hopefully have everything submitted next week or the following Monday. I just want to know if it’s approved or not! Fingers crossed you’ll hear good news soon!

No. You can still have the sleeve. I just had the endoscopy done a few weeks ago and they also discovered I had GERD and an ulcer as well and both the GI doctor and the Bariatric DR told me that if anything, the sleeve surgery might help the GERD go away after I lose weight. I just hear that the reflux can be a little worse right after surgery in some people, but that’s temporary.

Ok, not going to lie but the past couple of days have been terrible for me! This is completely consuming my every thought and the fact that all I can do is just wait and wait....is pure agony. The not knowing if this is or isn’t going to happen is a head trip. I want to get so excited and really prepare but then tell myself to not get that far ahead of myself until I know for sure. But I am in limbo as well with my weight.... I can’t lose any because I can’t fall below 35 BMI right now but can’t gain anything either and I feel like crap. I refuse to buy new clothes to fit me better because I want to fit into my old clothes.. will I end up fitting back into my summer clothes with the help from surgery or is it back to the good ol’ fashioned way for the billionth time. I have gone over my insurance requirements with a fine tooth comb 100 times. I even ran to the weight loss dr I’ve been seeing for the past 2 years just to squeeze in a last weigh in/visit for April so it would show a “recent” 3 month consecutive visit for insurance even though my drs office told me anything consecutive for 2018 would do. I called Tuesday to speak with the insurance coordinator at my surgeons office, who by the way is the nicest person and is so extremely understanding. She had the sleeve done 2 years ago so it was good to know she understood first hand the nerves I was feeling. She told me to just breath and that she has barely seen denials come through. They work really hard on making sure they submit what’s needed and that Dr. Padnani writes his letter well. But the wait for next Friday....the 12th is agony! Just knowing that’s the day I meet with him again to go over the surgery again and I guess the next step and I get my “tentative” surgery date. And I meet with Kathy, the insurance coordinator to sign all the consent papers so she can send it over for pre authorization. Ughhhhh. Please tell me I’m not the only one who has felt this way? Meanwhile... I went to the Bariatric support group meeting on Tuesday my nutritionist suggested. It was about a group of 12. Most had already had it done except for myself and 2 others who were pre-surgery. The only thing I keep thinking about is the one young girl that had it done because her whole family had it done....and kept saying she didn’t even really want it done at the time....?????? All I could do was shake my head. I swear if I don’t get approved...lol

Wishing you a safe surgery and congratulations!!