stellaabbey

I'm only 2 weeks pre-op. My Doctor put me on Urso forte. This is supposed to help with preventing gall stones/gall bladder issues. Were you on this med? Just curious if I'm taking this for nothing. Hope you feel better soon.

I also have Aetna POSII, and I was denied with a bmi of 39.999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 I also have high blood pressure. My 2 year weight history was under 40 also, and that is why i was denied. I did the 3 month program and was still denied. I hope you have better results than I did. I ended up being self pay.

Welcome. Nice to see someone else from my area. I live in Delaware so we're neighbors. I can't answer the question about the fills. I had to self pay since Aetna denied me due to the fact that I did not have a bmi of over 40 for 2 years. From reading other posts, however, they are covered, probably with some sort of co pay. Check your insurance, they are the final answer. Good luck with your journey. Sometimes, it seems like it will never happen......But I'm now 2 weeks post op.

I actually had a few sips of wine, about 5 days after surgery. I have to say, it didn't taste that great to me. I'm 2 weeks, pre-op, and now I don't have the craving anymore. If you must, take a sip. It might just get you over your craving. I'll probably get ripped for making the suggestion, but I no longer have the need to drink any alcohol, for now. And no, i did not cheat on anything else. I haven't had food cravings. Maybe since i'm on the liquid diet still, I'm only have liquid cravings. Obviously, if you can wait, you should. The wine tasted like acid to me. I can't imagine, what it might have done to my healing. Thank goodness, I stopped at a few sips. Do you have any good books? Any DVD's?

Don't forget to ask Aetna for their weight requirements which is also specific to your plan. My BMI was 39.9999999999999 and I had high blood pressure. I was denied by Aetna POS 3 days before my surgery. My weight history, was not enough to qualify. I ended up paying for my surgery myself but I plan on appealing Aetna.

I had my surgery on 5/19 and also had a hernia repaired. I think I over did things over the weekend and today, my stomach feels like I've been punched, again......It's almost tender to the touch. I'm lucky, that I can work from home but I'm going to take it easy the next few days. Plenty of breaks to walk around and if I can sneak in a nap, I will. Your body is still healing, so if you can, try to take it easy.

I was also banded on May 19th and had a hernia repaired. I don't feel hungry, most of the time. I have been eating alot of tomato soup, cream of chicken soup(strained)and sugar free pudding with fat free whipped cream. Also, on my list of full liquids was the liquid yogurt, as long as there were no chunks of fruit. To get protein, I have a protein shake for Breakfast and usually, lunch. I'm still sore, I think I bent over, one to many times this weekend, so that's probably why. I can't tell if that's the hernia repair or the band.

It's normal to be nervous. This is surgery and a life changing event in your life. Good luck with your journey!!

Thanks for sharing your story. I hope everything works out this time. You are very brave to do this over again.

I purchased the Trader's Joe unflavored protein and it is nasty. I tried to add to decaf iced tea and it was so bad, I tossed it. I'm going to try in hot tea, maybe that will be better.

Loved your post also. What a great message. I needed a good laugh today, but boy do my incisions hurt now........

My insurance, also, did not do pre approvals. My doctor's office said I met all the necessary requirements, but 4 days before my surgery date, I was denied. Of course, you can appeal but that would take a minimum of 30 days. My BMI was right at 40, but my 2 year history, was below 40. Even though I had high blood pressure, it was controlled by drugs, so that is why I was denied. Of course, the doctor's office said they were not responsible, since the insurance is between me and them. Call the insurance company and go over with them, their requirements. It will save you grief, in the long run.

I'm not in CA, but on the east coast and had to self pay. The one thing that saved me $9000 was to not have an over night stay. I had already been approved for out patient by my surgeon so when I had to self pay, I decided to save myself $9000 and did it out patient. I'm now 4 days post op, and doing just fine. East coast price, as out patient, $14,000. In patient $23,000

Good for you. I actually had my surgery on May 19th. Unfortunately, I had a hernia repaired at the same time. The nurse told me I would have most of my pain from the hernia, not the band so I have been quite sore. I did work from home on Thursday and Friday, but I'm so glad for the long weekend!! Good luck to you!

My son is getting married on June 20, 4 1/2 weeks after my surgery. Everyone has said to me, oh, how sad, you won't be able to eat or drink at the wedding. And I think, and I'm the one with the weight problem??? It's about the celebration of their marriage, not a reason to eat. I am, however, concerned about being hungry, so I plan on packing my protein shakes, jello, pudding and enjoying the day. Fortunatly, my entire family knows about the surgery so they will understand and hopefully, help me, not to eat the "wedding food". If you haven't told people about your surgery, just tell them you had a hernia operation and have to watch what you eat. They'll understand, usually.....

Thanks everyone for letting me vent and thanks for the advice. I blame the office staff for not following through. I finally got through to them, that I was serious and that I was willing to shell out a lot of money for this. Anyway, good news, they finally scheduled me for next week!

My surgery was cancelled 3 days before my surgery date. My doctor's office assured me that I would be approved by my insurance company. I was doing all my pre-op, went to all my appts and all the tests the insurance company required. I would have stood on my head, had they asked me. Insurance denied(I haven't been heavy enough, for enough time), surgery canceled. I told the doctor's office that I would self pay. To save me $9000, they said I should consider out patient so they put me on a waiting list for an out patient. Then communication stopped from the doctor's office. I have called and called and begged for a return phone call from my doctor's office. When I do get the person who does the scheduling, he acts like I'm being a big pain. Why does the doctor's office act like it's not a big deal that the surgery was canceled? I had everything planned around this surgery. I don't take having surgery lightly, and they act like, oh well, it happens all the time. We just have to re-schedule. Maybe not a big deal to them, but it is to me. I had my surgery date since March and now I wait. My advice, check with your insurance company to make sure you meet the weight requirements. Don't depend on the doctor's office to know. Don't depend on the doctor's office to be sympathetic, should you be denied. You will only end up disappointed, as I am now.

My denial letter from Aetna, read the same as LISAC82. I DO have hypertension, but my weight was not high enough for the last 2 years. I thought about going for a sleep study, but that could take time. I was supposed to have surgery yesterday, but that was cancelled on Friday. My DR office is not much help either. I have left so many messages for them to call me, but they are not returning my phone calls. Very frustrating.

I have AETNA, PPO. BMI, right at 40. with high blood pressure, that is controlled with medication. Just found out on Friday, 5/8/09, insurance is not going to pay since my high blood pressure is "under control" and my bmi has not been 40 for more than 2 years. My surgery, which was scheduled for Monday 5/11, has been canceled. I'm going with self pay, but now I have to wait for an open spot. I wish I had done self pay from the beginning. I could be done with surgery by now.