StephC

Hey Kat - sorry I missed your post. Well I waited one week the first time I called. From Monday to Monday - they said they hadnt' received anything from the dr. so then I called the dr and they said they had just sent everything over on Thursday and the ins. just may not have opened it yet. So I waited until Friday and called the ins. co, they said they had gotten everything and that it would be up to 7 days, so then I waited until the following Tuesday and they said I was approved. I called the dr and they said I was in the pile to be scheduled. The next day they called and said there was a problem with the insurance codes - that was yesterday - what a freaking roller coaster! Today they called and said ALL was approved and the dr wants to see me before we schedule to talk about additional weight loss. BS! I told dh I'm going to tell him I'll do a pre-op diet if he wants but I'm 15 lbs from goal, this isnt' going to hold me up. My dh is happy with me the way I am and I am too, I just want this flap of skin gone, if it takes me 3 years to lose 15 lbs so be it. I guess you didnt' ask for all that.

Geesh Julie I'm sorry to hear the insurance won't pay. I went to one consult a few months ago at a very nice facility and they wanted $10,000 that included everything. My sister had hers done in Mpls and they charged her $6,000 so I thought that he was a bit high.

Karey so sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. Usually hot tea does the trick for me. I have no suggestions but I hope you're feeling better soon. As for your friend issue - I think you did the right thing sending the card. She may have just been having a bad day - or week, you did the right thing.

yes it is stressful - I'll keep ya posted

I had a bad call today on my answering machine. The dr's office was calling to set up a date when they realized the ins. co put the wrong code down so now they have a call in to the ins. and I'm on hold until they hear from them. She said it would be a day or 2 but Lord knows I have no patience at this point. I was so excited and now I'm scared something isn't gonna happen. :tongue2: Pray for me! btw - thanks VA - I'm glad the guy was around, sounds like you had missed him. :drool: I'm still praying for your job.

I guess I'll take advantage of it since ins is covering it. But I don't have alot of responsiblity at home and no little ones to tend to so I'd just as soon be home laying around... I think :confused2: I got a call from the dr's office today.. they have me worried now. They said they were calling to set a date but then they noticed something wrong in the billing codes, of course I wasn't home so this is all on my answering machine. She said she'd be calling me in a day or two ... so now I sit here and sweat it out, I'm hoping the ins co just put in something stupid like knee surgery and just need to correct a number ... could I be so lucky? Keep praying for me, I'm not out of the woods yet.

thanks LJM! I thought 3 days sounded extreme but maybe it'll be a good thing. How are you feeling? I read that you are back to work half days this week. Is that working for you or is it over doing it?

Ok I just looked at your pic and I bet you'll qualify too. Have you ever gotten a rash under the flap? (a little dawn dish soap will do the trick) then you have to document it, either take a pic or go to the dr. When you find the ps you want to go with just tell him you get rashes that you need to use athletes feet cream to get rid off, tell him it feels like the skin is tearing when you roll over at night and that its hard to jog bc the skin slaps. Let them send it in to the insurance and see what happens. I'll be praying for you. I totally believe my approval was an answer to prayer. Since I can't sleep I'll tell you all the story. A few weeks ago the pastor preached about God answering prayer and he had us write down some things we needed answers to. So I wrote down my youngest dd and her relationship (long story but I don't like him) and my oldest dd for her break-up and then I felt as if God said what about you? You are important too. I told dh that I felt kind of selfish asking God to make a way for this tt but I also said God if you say no and the insurance says no I'll accept it and know if wasn't your will. But I kept praying and believing that God gives us the desires of our heart. So this tt is really a miracle in itself. I think I told you all the same thing happened with the band approval. My dh's insurance wouldn't cover any wls so I picked up the insurance on my job and I prayed about it, for the whole 6 months I was doing the pre-op consults. Everything worked out with the band so when I started praying about the tt I knew that God could do this for me. Hey Claudia - I saw you on last night, I was hoping you'd post. How's chicago? The man? We miss you hon, check in and let us know whats going on with you. Are you home sick, how's momma and dad with their babygirl leaving? Fill us in!

I posted a couple before pictures on yahoo - ugh!

I didn't mean to sound negative but you look so good to me, I would never have thought you had the extra skin aka apron. I hope you qualify, its the best feeling I've had since I qualified for the band.. kinda gives me hope. :smile:

I'll say a prayer for you Bman - do you even have an apron? You look so fit.

Julie - is your mom afraid of what could happen? Why not just say "what do you think about me getting my boobs done" and then feel her out, see where she goes from there. You may be suprised, she might think its great for you.

thanks LJM! I'm praying! Make33 - yep thats right behind my house. I actually walk around some of those roads. Its a killer walk with all the hills aka MOUNTAINS! Next time you're up this way you WILL stop and visit me.

Make33 - tell me where you ride quads at in Somerset County? Talk about a small world. Theres a HUGE quad park behind my house, Reels Corner is the crossroads of rt 160 and rt 30. They have these big quad fests there a few times a year. If thats where you went you had to have driven past my house.

I disagree with Kristen, when my sister had her tummy tuck I was JEALOUS!!! Green with envy! and yet I couldn't wait to see her (she live 1000 miles from me) and just because someone is jealous doesnt' mean they don't want the best for you. I think she probably is jealous but that doesn't mean she won't get over it. Just give her time.

Karey - I'm sorry to hear about the friend. I also have a friend who I love dearly, we've been best friends for 20 years too, but I didn't tell her about my band until afterwards and I haven't told her about the tummy tuck. With us its just that she's skinny, always has been and I've been the fat one so I'm very uncomfortable talking weight with her, although some of our best conversations are when we are out walking. I think you are justified in your feelings and I think you should leave things be about the shower. Its not you she's doing it for its for your daughter. I also know that when my bf and I have had our fights, over 20 years you know your bound to have disagreements, when we've fought about stupid things our best thing is to just take a breather from each other for a few weeks and then one of us will call to get together and its over. We just kind of agree to disagree about certain things.

Make33 - yes it is western pa - where are you from? I'm between Johnstown and Somerset and will be having my surgery in Windber.

Karen it sounds like you'll qualify. And between you and me I also could tolerate the rashes. I actually haven't gotten any for a while since I've been using deo under my apron, but they dont' need to know that. And I also us the spandex, I love the spanks, and wear them all the time to "trim" me up. :thumbup:

Boo - my sister had a tt a few years ago, she loves it except that she's gained weight again. She said the surgery itself wasn't bad at all but she went through a huge hormonal change, she was in the middle of menopause and our hormones are stored in our fat so when she had all that fat removed it threw her head first into the crazy part of menopause. She said her dr had never had anyone else ever go through that so I'm not worried about that. I was concerned about the drainage tubes but she told me they were no big deal and came out after a week. Which is also what my dr said. She said the first few days you get alot of fluid and then it slows up to just a little bit. She said she thinks I should be able to get back to work in the 2nd week since I sit at a desk. So now I just have to wait and see what kind of date they can give me. Jill - don't be doing any cartwheels now, take care of the babster. Whens your due date? My dil thinks hers is Nov 5.

I have UPMC. I had to show proof of a medical need. So when I went in I told the doctor that I get a rash thats like athletes foot, I use a cream for athletes foot on it. I told him that when I roll around in bed it feels as if I might tear the skin, and that I can't jog because the flap slaps as I run, someone else said to tell them you have lower back aches, which I do but forgot to tell them about that. So he took pictures and he was concerned that I still had 20 lbs to lose to be in the 'normal' bmi but I guess I was close enough that they decided I needed it done. I thought it would just be the pannectomy (apron removel) but the doctor said he will do a full tummy tuck. This was the 2nd doctor I saw, the first guy didn't even want to talk insurance, and his price was $10,000, he also wouldn't talk the apron removal, he insisted I needed the full tt. I will admit his facility was above standard, very classy. This doctor said we will get the insurance approval first, he would put in for a full tt and see what they would cover. He said he wanted them to at least cover the apron removal so that the hospital bill would be paid and most of his fee, but it doesnt' look as if we will need to worry about that. I think most insurances will cover ps if there is a medical need. Good luck! And good luck finding the right doctor who is willing to work with you.

I'm approved for the tummy tuck!!! I'm so freaking excited!!! I called the insurance company this morning and they said I am approved!!! I called the doctors office and they said they have me in their pile to call to set up dates - yes!!! Please please pray that I will get in this month so I can take a whole week to rest and then work a few weeks of just 1/2 days or here and there days. After mid April theres no way I can take a whole week off, I could probably get away with half days but by May 1st theres no taking time off. Did I say I'm so excited?! The empty house .. well I've been too busy to feel it. Olivia had her state boards yesterday so we went out Sunday night and spent the night, she had to be there early, then after her boards we went to lunch and shopped - today I'm at work so I guess I'll feel it later. I'm going to take some before pics - I'll post on yahoo, I'm so flipping excited! I can't even think of anything else right now. Nikki - whats your due date? Keep us posted. I agree about the new furniture will be nice to come home to when the babe is born. Bman - are you liking your new job? Va - did you hear anything else about your job yet? Boo - are you working and going to school both? Your ps is coming up soon too isn't it? How excited are you? Jackie - jump in whenever you want. I guess I'll go do some cartwheels :tongue::tt2:

Did you remember to turn your clocks ahead? :thumbup: Its been a nice weekend. We went to dinner with friends Friday night and they came over afterwards and stayed until after 1:00 - late night for this old lady! They have 4 little kids so they really needed a night away with adult conversation. Yesterday my dd (my baby) had a cheerleading competition. They didn't win but its fun to watch everyone. Then we came home and laid around watching movies, my son and dil came over for dinner so we ate lasagna and played cards. There had been tension in the house between the kids a couple years ago (I think I told you dil didn't have my 2 dd's in the wedding= hurt feelings), but now they've all patched things up and our house was filled with laughter again. My girls are so excited to be aunties, they were singing to the baby and rubbing her tummy. My son was dancing like Shikera - lol - so it was a very silly evening in this house. Today the house will be empty, dd#1 leaves to go back to college and dd#2 and I are driving out to Pittsburgh today and spending the night bc she takes her state boards for cosmo in the morning. Shes so nervous, its only about 1 1/2 hour drive so we could easily do it in the morning but she's afraid of traffic and so I figure just to ease her nerves we'll go today. Did I tell you I called the ins. co on Friday? They got everything and said I should know this week if I'm approved. I'm still hoping and praying I'll get in there before April. Bman we had the 'blizzard' last night, the wind gusts were terrible! But we didn't get much snow, its still just snowing real lightly this morning. I am soooooooo ready for spring!

Thanks LJM - that answered alot of my questions! Whew! I can totally do 1/2 days at just about anytime. I don't actually have a "boss" so as long as I get my work done no one cares how much I'm here. I guess I should fill you all in. I went to ps 2/25 - they submitted all the paper work to ins. co the 28th, I called my ins co this morning and they received everything on Monday 3/3 - they said normally they have an answer within 24 hrs but it could take up to a week. So I should know if I'm approved by next week. Then my fingers will be crossed as to when the doctor can do the surgery. I work at a golf course in PA so typically I go back to work full time April 1st (Nov - Mar I collect partial unemployment and work about 10 hrs a week so ideally it would have been great to have had it then). I feel like I need to get this done NOW otherwise I'll probably have to wait until Nov. to get the time off. Even if I get it done in April it shouldn't be too much of a problem taking one week and then 1/2 days, but by May theres no way I can do it, I'm the only office person and I am swamped during the season. Everyone say a prayer for me. I dont' know if I'm expecting too much out of the surgeon by hoping he could do it so soon. But I'm hoping he is excited about it since I'm his first lapbander, he is actually consulting with my dr about everything. I'm even the going to be the first in my support group to get it done, so maybe he is thinking I'll be good advertising. Oh another question for anyone who has had the tt - does it effect the port? I know its attached to the muscle and didn't know if it will protrude more or have to be revised. Thanks again!

If you have a rash use an anti-fungel cream, like what you'd use for athletes foot. To prevent rashes use deo - you'd be amazed at how well it works. I buy the spray, lift up the apron and spray it on. A little trick I learned on LBT.

YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAH for you VA! Isn't it feel wonderful to get into those sizes that seemed unattainable? I'm so proud of you and feel sure you'll get this job. Sending prayers your way! You are doing so good in all aspects, I'm so happy for you. I have been pouring over the ps threads trying to find how long I would be off work. I'm calling the ins co today - its driving me crazy not knowing. I'd rather know I didn't get approved then to have to sit here not knowing anything. Bman thats so funny that I ask about the marine and here he is! When are you getting together. Fill us in on all the 'yummy' details haha :crying: I picked dd up from the airport yesterday and we went to have lunch and did a little shopping. She was so much fun now that she broke up with bf - she was flirting with all the guys, it was cute to see her like that again. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jBOhYOB18U]YouTube - 24 down korean idols[/ame] If you have nothing better to do watch this video, its of my dd's friends from college. Its so funny!