AliciaA122

oh yes, I definitely know! We're about the same starting weight. I would have a very hard time getting down to 285.

Bandita, did you have to lose a certain percentage of your body weight during pre-op as well?

Oh man, now I'm a little jealous! If I wasn't so far along at St Mary's I may consider switching. My information has been submitted to insurance AGAIN and will be denied AGAIN because they didn't have or send the medical clearance letter.

Yay! that's great news. Who's your surgeon? Let us know when you get a date.

I might have an idea of the one person you're referring to. I'm going to send you a message! Have you heard anymore about your approval? And I totally understand. That's what I was feeling yesterday. If it wasn't for his reputation and strength of the group I'd be calling VCU I guess. Well, that and the fact that I really don't want to start all over a third time.

You look super Indi! Great job.

So, Dr. Bautista's office staff are very rude. I'm not liking this at all. I'm already so frustrated with everything that's happened (Dr. Elliott quitting, insurance debacle, etc.) and then to be talked to like a child? Ugh. His nurse was lovely, however.

So, I think I'm the only one posting in here. Met with Dr. Bautista yesterday. Definitely all business, but I don't care. I want a good surgeon! I'm going to call their insurance coordinator tomorrow and see what else I may need. Hopefully nothing since I've already been through this once.

This is very helpful! I'll be travelling to Scotland for Christmas and will probably be pretty newly sleeved, no idea when my surgery will be. Just as long as Tesco or Asda has some Protein options I'll be fine! But it's not a bad idea to maybe ship some of my favorites on ahead of us to be there for me.

Ugh, that stinks.

Congrats! I've been denied once by Cigna, so I understand the frustration. Now I've had to switch surgeons as my first one quit unexpectedly, so everything has to be filed ALL over again. Hopefully I'll get an approval this time.

So, for those of you who have seen Dr. Bautista, or a doctor at St. Mary's... how long after approval was your surgery scheduled?

Question for Dr. Brengmann or Dr Bautista patients (or any patients with the Bon Secours group at St Mary's.) What is the pre-op diet like? I'm assuming it's the same or similar to the one at Dr. Elliott's practice: 2 Protein shakes a day and a small dinner.

Hope today goes/went well. Be sure to update us! I'm so anxious. Got my denial letter in the mail from Cigna. Turns out Dr. Elliott's group had not submitted everything. They didn't send the second medical clearance information, even though they were asked for it. So, maybe it's a blessing that I'm moving to another group.

Thank you!

Thanks! Good to know.

I was denied. The reason being that they need/ want another doctor (in addition to my surgeon) to clear me for surgery. Seems unfair to me since that's not one of the requirements per their policy. Also seems they should request that and then deny if it's not received instead of just denying. No matter. My new surgeon's office has to file everything all over again anyways. Guess I'll see if my PCP can write something theyll accept as the second clearance. Hopefully thus denial won't addict that next submission. The insurance rep I spoke to this evening said it wouldn't.

I wonder why some go on to the medical director and others do not?

Mine is with the medical director too. I'm hopeful. But, I'll have to have mine submitted again no matter what because my surgeon quit his group on Friday and I've had to find a new one. Lovely.

So, I'll be switching to Dr. Bautista at Bon Secours General Surgery. My appointment with him is August 14th. They have to resubmit all of my information to insurance of course. So, who knows when I'll finally be approved. Hoping this doesn't invalidate my nutritionist meeting, which was February 14th. Insurance says it has to be within 6 months. Guess if worst comes to worst I'll just go again. Fingers crossed this goes smoothly and quickly. I feel like I was running a race and could see the finish line and then someone moved it a mile down the road. And, I'm fat and running is hard.

Did you find out anything? We were submitted around the same time. Of course, my surgeon's office left out information so mine has been delayed.

I have Cigna and was told mine is in nurse review as well. Of course, it's in review and I should know something this week. Meanwhile, my surgeon up and quit on Friday so I have to find a new surgeon. Mine will probably get messy!

I'm sorry. So, they make everyone prove they can lose weight before surgery? I don't like that. If I could lose 30 pounds, oh man.

No idea. She didn't say. I do know that 4 years ago he was with Dominion Surgical/Commonwealth Surgeons... whatever they're now called. He was with Dr. Brengmann at that group. I went to a seminar with them. Then when I looked him up at the beginning of this year he was with Henrico Surgical. Maybe he'll go back with that group? That woudl be nice. Though, honestly, I don't really have any doctor-loyalty. I'd only seen him a couple times. I just want my surgery!

Already placed a call to Dr. Brengmann's group. It just stinks to be SOOOO close and then have a roadblock like this be thrown in the way. Thanks! Might also call MCV.