PinknFlawless

Hi everyone, I’m 32 and this is my second time going through this pre-approval process. I originally started in 2017, and between my best friend passing and an unreachable advocate, I gave up. So, I restarted the process in November and while waiting for my initial referral to go through, I began my weightloss attempts only to find out my insurance no longer requires them. I’ve just got to have my PCP write up my recommendation letter and my advocate should be submitting it Monday March 23rd. I have HighMark BCBS insurance and was wondering if anyone else has it and if you could provide me a timeframe of the insurance approval, to pre-op consultation, liquid-diet, and a set surgery date. My advocate told me on 3/3/20 that my insurance may take two weeks for approval, then another two for the pre-op and surgery dates, which would put me around late April- beginning of May. I’m just sort of twitching at this point because I feel like it won’t happen anytime soon with this COVID-19 spreading, and I am literally so close I can feel the anesthesia working lol!!! I’m just really anxious because I’ve been fighting a while now to get this done and I fear it may be postponed, which I know is going to be a huge blow. So any advice or updates would greatly be appreciated.

Best decision I’ve ever made regarding my health. The scale is your worst enemy, but clothing and the measuring tape are something serious! I LOVE my new look and confidence. I feel more energetic and just love life!

It was wonderful. He and his staff are AMAZING. I’m happier than I’ve probably ever been!

I know this is an old thread, but I’m so happy to have found it and be able to see I’m not alone. I’ve been spotting every two weeks for the last two months. I had bypass on May 15th and had to stop taking bc. I started back up two months later and was regular, then all of a sudden I started getting the cramps and cravings with little to no spotting. But now it’s like a full blown slaughter going on. Will this regulate?

Have you been on the RealSelf site or app? I’m only 2 1/2 weeks out after having gastric bypass, but a mommy makeover is on my list of to-do’s and I’m obsessed with that app.

Hey twinnie!!! I messaged you my number! I hope you get it before going in. Best of luck and can’t wait to get this journey going with you!

I’m ready I guess, but super nervous. This will be my 2nd time under anesthesia, the first for dental surgery that lasted about 45 minutes or so. What about you? Do you want to exchange numbers and text/call sometime?

Omggggggg!!! I had one Monday. I cried out and the nurse asked me not to scream because they would think she was hurting me. The whole time I’m cursing her out in my head and wanting to kick her over the little counter! I thought flu swabs were bad, I’d rather have another baby unmedicated before I take another Covid test!

I was originally scheduled for 4/27, rescheduled to 5/15. I go in at 5am tomorrow morning. I’m super nervous, excited, anxious, giddy, and everything else. I’m totally starving as well. Jello, broth, and water/juice only go so far!😂

I’m going in this Friday, the 15th for gastric bypass. I’m super nervous and struggling with this liver shrink diet. Initially scheduled for April 27th, the quarantine made me crave everything ever eaten by man, so it made it harder after I started the liver shrink then got rescheduled. Congratulations to all those with dates, and those without, I’m sure they’ll be getting you in before too long. Our hospitals sent out emails acknowledging that whether it’s elective or not, these surgeries are needed and our health is at risk the longer that they’re put off, so hopefully everyone looks at it that way and gets everyone in. Best of luck!

I’m getting nervous as the date nears. I’m right outside if Memphis, TN! What about you?

Yay! I have a date of May 15th, so looks like we’ll be Bariatric buddies!

I completely understand your frustration. However, I can tell you from personal experience that this is real and the area you were in, may not have Covid-19 patients. My best friend is a nurse and we talk daily about this pandemic and how scary it is. Now I can say, the hospital where I’m scheduled for my bypass was quiet and dead at my last appointment a few weeks ago. But when my husband severed his finger about three weeks ago, there were constant Covid-19 patients arriving at the ER. It was unreal. But again, I understand. My surgery would’ve been this past Monday, April 27th and now I’m still scheduled for May 15th, but I’m in TN where they’ve decided to reopen the economy, and our numbers are shooting up as more testing becomes available. I just want to have this surgery and be happy. I’m two, almost three years into my journey due to insurance changes, and the practice switching over where I lost my advocate. Just stick in there and keep your fingers crossed. And feel free to contact me directly if you just want to vent. I’m really struggling right now not to eat everything in sight, and I’m supposed to start the liver shrink diet AGAIN, tomorrow. Don’t give up, just keep checking in and hopefully people will continue to social distance long enough for us to make our surgery dates!

I’ve been rescheduled to May 15th. Not sure if that date will stick, but I’m more hopeful this time.

Hey where are you located? I’m still scheduled to undergo gastric bypass on April 27th, but I’m in TN where things haven’t gotten really bad yet. Congratulations on your surgery, I’m so anxious and worried about being postponed, especially after starting the dreaded liver shrink diet.

Mine is scheduled for April 27th. I was just scheduled on Wednesday and not really getting my hopes up due to Covid-19 spreading everywhere. Where are you located, if you don’t mind my asking. I’m scheduled in Memphis, Tn.

So my Doctor’s office called me yesterday morning to set up my pre-op appointment. I went today at 8am and I’m scheduled to proceed with Gastric Bypass on 4/27 at 6am. Originally, things were postponed, but yesterday they called and told me my insurance approved my surgery and asked me what date I was looking at. I told them asap and they got me scheduled. We were asked to wear a mask and everyone in the office wore them as well. Only about 5 people were allowed in and they had the waiting room spaced out for social distancing. We were also screened for high temperature and any Covid-19 symptoms before we were allowed into the office. I’m excited, yet trying not to get my hopes too high in case I get rescheduled in the next 19 days.

Hi, I’m Davida (Duh-vee-duh) and I’m new as well. I met with my new PCP back and November and got the ball rolling. My insurance used to require six consecutive months of weightloss attempts, so I wanted get a head start before seeing my surgeon. I was later informed however, that I no longer had that requirement, so I really got the ball rolling. I’ve literally completed everything including bloodwork, upper GI test, ekg, psyche eval, and seeing a hematologist due to a PE back in 2016. At this point, I’m just waiting for the final recommendation from my PCP so that we can submit to the insurance company. I have Highmark BCBS which is out of state through my husband’s job. I’m hoping I get a quick approval and can still aim for an early May date. I’m even tempted to start the liver cleanse diet now, to see if that’d push my date up. Worse case scenario is it doesn’t or everything is postponed due to the state of the world currently.

I haven’t been given a date as of yet, but my advocate assured me to that they were still booking appointments and it was business as usual. If everything goes accordingly, I’ll be scheduled for early May or sooner. Hopefully this pandemic has subsided and we all can proceed.

Thanks for the response. Do you remember how long it took from the initial submission to the insurance company, until you received the first letter?

Yes, I’m seeing Dr. Richard Wegner in Memphis, TN. I’m on the opposite end from you. We can be TN bariatric pals lol. I’ve completed everything recommended and now just have to submit my paperwork to the insurance. I’m about to email my advocate and see if there are any potential updates. Thanks for the responses!

That’s what I was thinking. I’m in Tennessee and we have a few cases but nowhere near as many as the northern areas that have been hit hard. I’m really hoping I get a date soon as this is my second time, and I swear that sludge they have you drink for your upper GI test has been punishment enough. I’ve now taken that test TWICE ewwww. Hopefully I’ll know a bit more about my particular case, hospital, and surgeon. I’m really hoping it can still happen before summer.

Where are you all located with cancelled dates? I haven’t been given a date as of yet, but was told possibly late April, early May. I’m going to my last weigh-in on Monday and my advocate will be submitting my paperwork then. Anyone else in preapproval stage?