Hopefulin2021

Thanks everyone I have a good feeling I’ll hear within a week or two, I am so ready for this!

So my doctor sent in my paperwork on the 22nd I believe or the 23rd and I haven’t heard back yet. I kind of figured I wouldn’t hear back until after Christmas and the weekend so I am really hoping to have an answer next week. The surgeon said if approved I would have the surgery in February. How long did it take once your paperwork was submitted to get a date? I have BCBSNJ by the way.

Congrats to you! I am hoping to have a date very soon. My doctor sent in my paperwork on the 23rd so hopefully within the next week or so. I’m just really hoping I get that authorization. My surgeon said I had a good chance of getting a quick response so please please please let me get a date!

29 minutes ago, ChubRub said:

It will be pretty quick, even with the holiday. You will be on that surgery schedule in no time!!!! Woot woot!!!

Oh I hope so! Thank you for the encouragement I hope to have some news soon!

54 minutes ago, bufbills said:

Less than a week. BCBSIL

That’s awesome I have BCBSNJ, I am so hoping I’ll get an approval soon’

3 minutes ago, bufbills said:

I had surgery two weeks after I was approved. Less actually. I started my preop diet on a Monday and was approved on that Wednesday. They got me in a week and a half later. They were excellent.

How long did it take to get your approval after all your requirements were met?

Hello I had a short meeting with my surgeon today basically I had to go in for a weigh in and just making sire I still wanted the surgery. She said they will submit my paperwork to BCBS and it can take anywhere from 2 days to up until 3 weeks for authorization. She is wanting to do the surgery in February so I am hoping I hear something by the end of next week. How long did it take for you guys and gals to get a date?

I know what you mean

Thanks everyone I am feeling a lot better about the doctor’s decision! Tomorrow I go meet with the surgeon to sign consents and discuss next steps. I am so ready to get this done!

8 hours ago, Chantrella said:

They seemed like they were on it! My patient advocate was MIA October- the second week of December and she’s asking me if I did stuff. Well if she would’ve returned my calls and been on getting my records from the people they sent me to she would know all my stuff is done.

Omg I know you were so annoyed!! I would have been pissed but luckily it all worked out!

8 hours ago, RickM said:

As noted, the difference in weight loss performance between the VSG and RNY is minimal - there is more variation between individuals than there is between the procedures themselves. If one wants/needs something demonstrably better than the VSG/RNY, then there is the DS available; if ones needs are less than that provided by the VSG/RNY, then there are the balloons and lapbands available.

The bypass will be somewhat fussier than the sleeve when it comes to supplements and some medications (some time release meds may not work well with it, and some meds that are known to possibly be ulcer prone are more restricted or forbidden.} Diet may be a little more restricted, but there isn't a great difference.

What I would be concerned about is whether the finding of this benign tumor makes you any more susceptible to something more malignant that should be monitored? One of the drawbacks or the RNY is the loss of the ability to easily scope the remnant stomach post-op, as that is left in a blind loop along with the duodenum and associated bile and pancreatic ducts. I assume that the tumor was found somewhere in the lower part of the stomach near the pyloric valve, and that is why they are interested in doing a bypass instead of a sleeve as that would naturally remove the tumor and surrounding tissue (if it were found in the central fundus, that would naturally be removed as part of the VSG). If this is a concern to them, the RNY can be performed without leaving a remnant stomach behind (it's basically what's done in many cased of stomach cancer); I have run into a few who have had WLS/RNY performed that way for various reasons and while there are some tradeoffs to doing it that way, they are not real big ones - most don't know the difference other than it removes the theoretical reversibility of the bypass.

In short, the difference in making the switch is not great, but my biggest concern would be what the tumor finding means to you long term and how do you mitigate whatever tendencies there might be (for instance, I am subject to stomach polyps, which like those in the colon are considered to be pre-cancerous, so that is something that we monitor with periodic endoscopies.)

Great comment and you have definitely given me some food for thought. They did advise it was a GIST tumor. As per my google search is:

Thanks everyone this really helps! Don you lose more weight with bypass or is it the same?

12 hours ago, merraculous said:

Hi All!!! News update, I am feeling good! A little bit of discomfort in my stomach, but on a scale of 1 to 10 it’s like a 8 without painkillers, but as soon as it starts to kick in, you barely feel anything. For the ladies... it’s comparable to period cramps.

Everything went great! Good luck to you all

Wow I am happy to hear that! Did you have the sleeve or bypass?

Hi when I initially started this journey I was set up for a sleeve. After undergoing two endoscopies it was found that I have a small benign tumor in the lining of my stomach which will have to be removed during surgery but now I have to have a bypass. I am still going through with it but I am a little more nervous because bypass is more invasive or maybe it isn’t, any ideas about this ?

On 11/17/2020 at 1:41 PM, Cherie04 said:

I have BCBSMS. I would think that they would cover the sleeve since they would only be approving that 1. They also have a 90-day bariatric program. 4 meetings with the nutritionist and 4 with the surgeon. I just signed my final clearance papers with the surgeon yesterday and am just waiting to hear from their office on a date. Good luck to you.

Hi did you ever get your date and how long did it take after you signed your surgical consents?

9 hours ago, Chantrella said:

Have you done your EGD? I’m currently waiting on that. Seem that it will be after New Years.

Yes I’ve done everything. They were scheduling everything back to back. I have a meeting with my surgeon on Tuesday then they’ll submit everything for approval. Really hoping for a February surgery.

Wow my psych eval was done right in the same hospital along with all of my other tests. You had to go somewhere outside of the hospital? I have a meeting with my surgeon next Tuesday I guess it’s to sign consents abs stuff and then they’ll send everything to my insurance company

3 minutes ago, AZhiker said:

Don't be afraid to call and ask questions about anything. That is what they are there for, but you must stand up for yourself and be proactive. They are also looking after hundreds of other patients and you must take the initiative for your own care. Offices have been known to lose documents, reports, and sometimes just don't keep on top of the progress for every patient like they should. Keep copies of all your reports, and CALL them if you have questions or don't understand something. This is a great opportunity to learn how to be a bit more assertive and less passive. The decision for WLS is one of the biggest of your life, and you will be the one to call the shots afterward - who to tell, how to work your plan, how and when to exercise, etc. You will need to call the nutritionist when you have questions, and call your team if you are worried about any problems. Jump in with both feet! Go for it! Be a pain-in-the-"you know what" if you need to be, but stand up for yourself and your new life!!!

That is great advice and I will definitely stay on top of things. I am very lucky because my hospital is very good about keeping my updated and they took care of everything form the beginning to now, I have no issues. Doesn’t mean I’ll get lazy and expect them to do everything, I am very assertive already so they definitely don’t want me to become a pain in the a$!. Lol

38 minutes ago, GradyCat said:

Call your surgeon's office and get the scheduler and get it on the books. Congrats!

Yes definitely, thank you!

12 minutes ago, ChubRub said:

When I had my meeting w/ the surgeon, they gave me my surgery date at that time. Hope the same is true for you. Good luck!!

Oh I hope so keeping my fingers crossed!

I actually called and they said I had to meet with my surgeon first so they scheduled that for next Tuesday. I am assuming I need to sign consent forms and go over the procedure again.

2 minutes ago, mcfluffington said:

Go for it!

I will, thank you!

Thank you. My last class was yesterday, should I give it a day or two or just go for it?

On 12/10/2020 at 6:31 PM, Chantrella said:

I will call the office tomorrow to see if they received all of my required documents. Thank you, im trying to get the show on the road.

Hi did you ever get in contact with anyone? I’m kinda where you are now, I finished everything and I just want to know what happens next.

Hi I just finished my last nutritional class and have completed all the requirements. Do I wait to hear from the hospital or should I call? I’m not sure what to do at this point. Any advice would be great, I have BCBS NJ by the way.