chrisdirects

Thanks, Ses, I really appreciate the input...and the hugs! Will keep you posted :-)

I'm a February 26th bandster, too! Let's keep in touch!! Christine

Holy Cow!!! I thought for sure I was going to be a March bandster, but due to a timely cancellation, and the fact that I've been on the preop regimen since late January, my surgery was moved up to THIS FRIDAY!!! Surgery date: 26 February State you live in: West Virginia; moving to Florida this fall Doctor/Surgery Center: Dr. Stephen McKenna/Frederick Memorial Hospital (Frederick, MD) Insurance or self-pay: Insurance. So far, I've had just a few $10 copays. Age/height: 50/5'6" Current weight/goal weight: 280/175 Deciding factor: Want to improve my health/quality of life. Looking forward to no more meds! Support by Family/Friends: Absolutely! Add on my co-workers, too- my company has been absolutely fantastic in their support! Concerns/questions: I've never had major surgery before, so I'm a little spooked about that. These forums have been a tremendous source of information and support. Looking forward to being a POST-OP poster!

My experience was not a problem, either. My surgeon has a psychologist on staff, and when I met with her, there was no "grilling", per se, or a long written test that some have to take. Rather, the conversation started with a simple question, "What led you to making this decision?", and went from there. Take heart in the fact that I've seen studies that suggest that patients who have successfully navigated difficult, stressful periods in their lives, such as divorce/remarriage, tend to have more successfull results, due to the fact that they know how adapt to drastic life changes. When asked, the psychologist told me that her main concern is to be sure that a prospective patient has a realistic outlook about what they are about to do, that they understand that 90% of their future success depends on them, and that having this surgery will not "fix" whatever other negative things are going on in their lives. I'm sure you'll sail through with flying colors- best of luck! Christine:thumbup:

My surgeon gives several options, one of which is Medifast 5+1, which is what I chose. It's required for at least 2 weeks pre-surgery...I've been on it since late January, and have lost about 20 pounds. It's so motivating to see the weight loss begin!! I've tried many of the Medifast products, and have not found one yet I didn't like. At least for some of them, I'll be able to use them post-surgery as well, some in the full liquids stage, others at puree/soft foods, so I haven't wasted any of my investment. I've also gotten a sample pack of the unjury, and I like those as well. There are lots of options!! I also found cookbooks specifically geared to weight loss surgery patients on Amazon, so I have good stuff to look forward to! Pre-op doesn't last forever, and believe me, being patient with it is definitely worth the wait! Best wishes, Chris

I just had to shout...after several weeks of going bananas waiting to hear back from the insurance company (not to mention coping with 30+ inches of snow!), I booked my surgery today...only a week from now, on the 26th!!!!:sad: I'm a little spooked about the procedure, but I'm not gonna let that stop me from starting my new life. Soon, I'll be posting on the Post-Op forum :w00t: Best, Chris

Hi, all, I have CareFirst BCBS- they do pay for the surgery, but put you through the 6 month nutritional program first. I did that through my surgeon's office. He requires a whole slew of preoperative testing (seems like I've met every specialist in my area, lol!)- the insurance has paid for everything except 2 or 3 $10 office visit copays. I'm now waiting for them to issue my final OK so we can book the surgery. My surgeon has a backlog (too many cancellations because of the bad weather here), so I'm expecting to have it done in mid-March. Every BCBS policy differs in their requirements, so it's worth a check...you might also want to consult with the HR folks where you work to help you. Best wishes on your journey!

Man, I am so glad that others are having this journey!! I have CareFirst BCBS...they pay for the procedure, but required a 6 month waiting period. That's OK, I figured with all of the preop studies my surgeon requires it would take me about that long to get it all done anyway So, now all of that is taken care of, and here I am cooling my heels, waiting to get the final authorization. I went on the preop Medifast diet recommended by the surgeon (must be on this for at least 2 weeks before the operation), thinking I'd be good to go for this coming week. I called the surgeon's office on Thursday, only to be told that 1) No, they haven't heard from the insurance company yet, and I was not to call, less I torque them off and make things even worse, and 2) they are SOOO backed up right now, since they've had to reschedule so many people due to the weather conditions here, that the best they could offer would be the 2nd week in MARCH. Yipes!!! :woot: I decided to stay on the Medifast, so that I could be ready for cancellations should one happen. In the meantime, I am going stark raving looney-toons. Patience was never my strong suit, that's for sure!

There are a couple of concepts that might help...1) that you're doing this for your health, not as a vanity issue, and 2) that choosing surgery is not a cop-out, or taking the easy path, but rather is a serious decision. Folks who go on Weight Watchers, etc., always have the option of not following through. This, however, is a lifetime decision for you. I just told my parents...my Dad is 94, and my mother 85. I waited until all my preop studies were complete, so that I didn't get them spun up for no reason. They had LOTS of questions, but I had done my research, and brought them literature. At the end of it all, Dad said that he admired me for having the courage to go through with the procedure. Hang in there- I'm sure that once your family sees that you are serious and committed to your decision, you'll gain at least some of them as a support system. Best to you in your journey! Hugs, Chris

My surgeon gave me 3 options for my preop diet, which he requires for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. I ended up choosing the Medifast option. Been doing that since 26 January, and have lost 13 pounds...that's just a side benefit to the real purpose of getting rid of the glycogen deposits in my liver, but it's nice to watch those numbers go down nonetheless! Waiting for insurance preauth in order to schedule my surgery. They have paid for EVERYTHING preop so far, except for 4 $10 office copays, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the rest of the path will be smooth.