paisleypea

lablover - how does that work? if you drink coffee after you eat it helps stimulates digestion? Can we drink the coffee BEFORE we eat anything and be okay?

congrats! I just got approved too! i had to call my insurance company (cuz I just couldn't wait - had to know) and got the good news. I'm scheduled for June 15th. They told me they mailed the letter out on wed. may 20th - my birthday!

Just got my date today ---- june 15th. yippee! I'm in Colo Springs but having it done in Lone Tree, CO with Dr. Chae

Joyful Junies? Ju-Ju's? (you know - like on Grey's Anatomy, when Christina brought in coffee/latte's for good "ju-ju")

Hey there! I can finally join a group cuz I got my surgery date today! wahoo! I started this journey last september, started the dr. supervised 6-month diet, met with the surgeon and jumped thru his required stuff within 2 or 3 weeks (pre-op nutrition class and psych eval) and then had 3 more weeks of waiting waiting waiting ---- my dr. office didn't get my complete records faxed over, then I'd find out and call back and it happened again (do you think if it comes up with an ERROR that maybe they should call me?) so ---- I ended up getting pretty down and discouraged about the whole thing. I had to wait 2 more weeks for the surgeon to write the letter. But it was all submitted to my insurance BCBS TX last Friday (May 15). yay! the surgeon office told me it would be at least 15 business days to hear anything and it could be 30 business days. They told me not to contact them until at least June 8th. well ---- that's the message I got out of it anyway. LOL But - I called today, just to see. my birthday was Wed. May 20th. i'd heard BCBS TX is fast (from these boards) so I chanced it today. They told me on the phone that it was all set for me to schedule the surgery - and they had mailed a letter to me on Wed. may 20th! I got my birthday present! SO excited today. I am giddy! So glad to have this support group here. Like ya'll - only a few know. My surgery is set for Monday June 15th. I can't wait! I also found out that I don't have to do a liquid pre-op diet! yay! I stop all food and drink at midnight the night before surgery. Yay!

wow beaglemom - that is GREAT! I do have BCBS TX so I'm very interested in how this LiveChat thing works. Can you help me out? I've been VERY discouraged recently becuz the surgeon's staff is 1) extremely hard to get hold of 2) the staff don't call me back except one time (out of 8 calls) and 1 email response (to 6 emails). i had a hard time getting my dr. records to her ---- the fax didn't work ---- but no one told me! so it has taken since April 15th to play phone call tag to find out if my records made it, then go back to my dr. and figure out their end --- I did this 3 times! Finally picked them up ourselves and faxed them ourselves. That was on May 1st --- that all the required paperwork was at the surgeon's office. she told me he was to write the letter and send it in. Called back yesterday 5/8 and he'll write the letter THIS weekend. I feel like I'm the only one who really wants this to happen! so frustrating. also frustrating cuz on the 6-month dr supervised diet, he had me on phentermine, which required an EKG to check my heart. Just got a bill for the dr. visit in Feb. for $200 ---- cuz BCBS TX denied it cuz it was listed as obesity. ugh - didn't count on that at all! so ---- I'm hoping that my paperwork really does get submitted next week, but I've thought that for 3 weeks now. Plus I am afraid they'll deny me cuz I couldn't find 5 years of medical records of my highest weights where I could qualify as 5 years with BMI of over 35. I have been - but it's a roller coaster of gaining/losing the weight. I typed up a chart outlining dates and weights and which weight loss program I tried and the results (lost 20, lost 45 etc) hoping that will work. thanks for letting me vent, no one else seems to understand this but here on this board. well, my husband does and he is supportive, thankfully!

Wow! unbelievable. It's too bad that your wife has to work in that department, and that the Acct mgr is so selfish and self-centered. He probably only cares about his own employee becuz she complains and makes his life miserable. Good for you and her for sticking to it ---- and without emotions, but hard facts. I pray it all continues well and she doesn't take on the stress.

So what exactly does "show documentation" mean? I cannot find my highest weights in my records ---- but I KNOW I have hit my highs and when. Can you just tell the dr. what those were in your past and he put them in the record? does that count? really getting worried that all the work and hoops I've gone thru so far will end up not working for approval. :smile2:

So what exactly does "show documentation" mean? I cannot find my highest weights in my records ---- but I KNOW I have hit my highs and when. Can you just tell the dr. what those were in your past and he put them in the record? does that count? really getting worried that all the work and hoops I've gone thru so far will end up not working for approval. :smile2:

Hi! I am new, but have lurked for a month, and even posted a few times. I haven't got a date, but I hope to soon. I am 41 (42 in May) and have 2 kiddos ages 12 and 14. I have BCBS - TX, but live in Colorado. I have jumped thru all the hoops I think I need to: --- met with surgeon for a consult, met his criteria --- met with his dietician, filled out a day's food diary for her and she tallied it and says it goes to the insurance company. it fits in "perfect" in that I eat enough calories to sustain my body frame and am aware of what I eat each day --- went to the dietician's pre-op nutrition class last Sunday. [hey - is it normal to pay for this separately? does insurance reimburse for consulting her?] --- went to my family dr. and did the 6-month supervised diet --- he sent a report on it to the surgeon --- he stated I have a history going back to 2001 of BMI>/= 35 --- he stated my co-morbidities of high blood pressure and high cholesterol (dyslipidsemia??) --- had my psych eval yesterday, said I passed I am SO NERVOUS that I won't get approved becuz of the 5-year record thing. I have struggled with weight for 20 years, but do I have the highest weight of the year on my medical records? nope! did I keep all my Weight Watcher weigh-ins? nope. I've moved 3 times since then - and it got junked. who wants to look at an old record of losing 50 pounds when you are again 75 pounds overweight? any suggestions? any thoughts? any experience?

Chris - can I get a copy of that letter too? I am struggling with the "at least a five-year history of morbid obesity supported by medical record documentation". i got some of my old medical records of recent years and sure enough, not big enough on the records ---- cuz you think I want to go when I am my biggest? uh, no! plus I always "dieted" before the annual visit to the OB/GYN! ugh! I threw out all my WW materials, my time with a trainer, etc. etc. I did have a weight high enough from 2001 and my family doc wrote in the record, "history dating back to 2001 of BMI greater than or equal to 35" ---- any idea if that works for insurance? The other dr. records are slow to come in as they are "in storage" and must be dug out I guess. They have 30 days, but that seems like an eternity to me now. I am so mad that I am "obese" but not "obese enough". I've struggled with my weight my whole adult life. I've tried and tried and tried and lost and gained and lost and gained and you all know the drill. Seems so frustrating to get this approved!

I heard ibuprofen is a no-no and you should use Tylenol now but I don't think that is for swelling???

Great info Doxie. you know - I'm not sure what my issue is with the Colo Springs place ---- just hadn't heard a lot about them. I found it hard to deal with fran when I first called - and then called again. just very matter-of-fact and kind of cold. not mean at all, just not very encouraging/supportive. i think that if she is in surgery all the time, someone else should have that job of talking with new patients. anyway - it could be a whole bunch of things with them not taking BCBS. There are lots of people who don't --- but I don't know any Center of Excellence's that don't. Thanks for the info on what that designation means to us as patients. I'm glad things are good with you and the dr.

yes - do keep us posted! I am afraid of this happening to me too. I went to get my medical records from my most recent dr. and the records gal called me back to say that they don't have anything from a prior doc. i remember NOW having a frustrating time and requesting the records from her 3 or 4 times in 2006. Great - now I really need them for the 5 year history and.......when I called today it was a voice recorder. They are open "by appt only". good grief! that is why I left. no one else works in the office but she and her dr. husband. she is kind of a bully (and skinny too) and would make me come back week after week after week. I'd need "blood work done" so had to fast and come back, then come back for the results. seriously? my other docs always mailed them. that is why I left. but I am scared to deal with it over and over and over. i am CLOSE. it's my biggest hurdle, this 5 year history junk.

me too! actually frustrated cuz a dr. in town said I had to do the 6-month dr. supervised diet FIRST before I could come in for a consult. So I did it. They said they'd consider the pre-diet weight. good. well - 6 months later, they are losing the BCBS contract and maybe the Center of Excellence designation. Called a dr. referred to me and good write-ups here. they won't see me until I gain the 7 pounds. seriously? good grief! went to another surgeon last Friday ---- with a bag of BB's in my pocket and a bag of loose change with a cloth to keep the sound down in the other pocket (so I was even). Whew - I made the weight. Actually - i've always said I'm 5'8", which is stretching it just a half inch I think, but of course I want the 5'7" height cuz it is 11 pounds less to reach the BMI 35. sigh! how wrong is this that we must resort to gaining to lose? I'll do it though. I had a lot of salt and junk - and like you, I'd been eating so healthy (had lost 23 lbs) and it felt SO BAD and gross. Then Flo arrived and it's been a hard craving this month. oh - and in my BCBS TX policy ---- it says they look at the STARTING weight/BMI when you go on a 6-month diet. aaahhhh! My hard part is finding the 5 year proof in medical records now! i don't know that I have it recorded. I know I've hit that weight 4 or 5 times, but do you think THAT was when I wanted to go see the dr. and get weighed? um, NO! LOL

Dr Perlman has left Colo Springs and is now in practice with Dr. Snyder (I think) in Denver. I also heard from "Fran" the lady who coordinates all of Colo Springs bariatric surgery at Penrose, that as of April 18th, 2009 that the Colo Springs Surgical Assoc will not have a contract with BCBS (any of them) anymore. I did a consult with Dr. Chae (in Lone Tree) on Friday ---- he is on the board that certifies places as a Center of Excellence. Before I knew that though, I mentioned I was not comfortable with the Colo Springs group and now they are losing the contract and I fear they are losing the Center of Excellence rating. He said, "I've heard that too". so later when I figured out he did certifications, I figured he probably knew for sure. I'd check into it before I had it done there.

So how are you doing Froggin? I just found this place as I am back to researching WLS. I have enjoyed reading your posts along your journey - and am now wanting the update. LOL funny you mentioned the 6 month thing and Fran at Penrose. Yeah - I called her 6 months ago and was told I had to do that 6 month thing (my insurance is BCBS TX). I said I knew that, but my general dr. thought I did that with the bariatric program. She said NOPE - that I had to do it with him. So - here I am 6 months later and I lost 23 pounds (gotta love phentermine huh?) anyway - Dr. Perlman, who I was referred to, is gone up to Denver now. I got mixed reviews from 2 locals here who went elsewhere. I'm checking into Dr. Johnell in Greeley (highly recommended) and then Dr. Chae in Lone Tree - just cuz I've read about him. Johnell won't see me until my BMI is back up to 35. yeah - I lost TOO MUCH weight. good grief. now to gain back 7 lbs. Fran has yet to call me back when I left a message last week. Dr. Chae will see me the end of next week and I'm taking my DH with me. I'll be sure to eat lots of "water-retaining" food the night before. LOL