KabinKitty

At Saturday's seminar my surgeon told me his idea to get BCBS to approve the sleeve (which is his first choice) instead of gastric bypass. I've had four open abdominal surgeries and the last one was to remove about a foot of my colon. His plan is to suggest that another surgery involving cutting my intestines would not be wise. :lol0: He has done 80 sleeves and see it as the best WLS for the future. He said he's had only one leak. I have an appointment for my consult. It is June 17th. He requires all patients to work with his nutritionist for 3 months and lose 5% of their body weight. Surgery won't be scheduled till then....:frown1:...so I'm probably not going to have surgery till September at the earliest. I'm willing to wait, cause I believe he is a very caring and careful surgeon. :drool5: I spent at least an hour on the phone yesterday with Anthem and the insurance gal at the surgeon's office. I finally got confirmation that the hospital and the surgeon are in my network. That means the surgery will be covered 100%. He even told us we can have tests done at our local hospital! :thumbup1:

On the national news I saw a report about this group of people (I don't know what their movement is called) who purposely eat VERY small portions of food. They were all extremely thin :thumbup: (even with the 10lbs a camera puts on ya). They were explaining all the data that proved that thinner people live longer. Of course they were eating extremely healthy food, but very little of it. My surgeon showed us a slide at the seminar with 2 groups of people. One group continued to live with their excess weight and comorbidities and the other had WLS. The group that had surgery as a whole lived much longer lives. COUNT ME IN THAT GROUP!! :001_cool:

Congrats! Sounds like BC/BS is finally coming around!! I also have Anthem BC/BS in Ohio. I just started through the hoops. The earliest I could have surgery is Sept. 2010. My surgeon (even if the ins. co. doesn't require it) has each patient go on a 3 month diet to lose at least 5% of their body weight. At the seminar yesterday the nutritionist said she will not okay us for surgery if we don't do this. :001_tongue: This weight loss center (at Wood County Hospital) has a stellar record and has performed bariatric sugery since 1978. :thumbup:

I work for my local school system and have BC/BS. The system is "self-pay". I found out that WLS for morbid obesity is covered. Yesterday I talked with 2 customer reps and the Finance Counselor for the weight loss surgery center I've chosen. I got the code for VSG surgery (43775). The ins. rep told me that VSG is mentioned along with all the other WLS (he named them all) and there was nothing that said VSG was investigational. I'm going to the Surgery Center's seminar for potential surgical candidates on May 17th. This is required to get a consulation appt with the surgeon. HOOP # 1. I am so determined to have this surgery and not to opt out for the lap band or RNY!! :tongue_smilie: Waiting to LIVE! :thumbup: Jeannie

My seminar was today May 15, not the 17th. I was very impressed with the surgeon. He stayed and answered everyone's questions after the seminar. I felt comfortable with all his answers. Guess what! He really prefers the sleeve to all the surgeries he offers! He told me so after the seminar. They have a 3 month supervised diet, where they expect you to lose 5% of your body weight to show that you are serious and willing to change your eating habits. He will not operate on anyone who is still smoking. They do a blood test to make sure you have no nicotine in your system. The soonest I could get through all the hoops and have surgery is 4 months...which means Sept. of 2010. I asked the insurance gal about my policy with BC/BS and she said as long as there is not an exclusion in the policy, she has been having no problem with them doing the sleeve!! I was OVERJOYED!

Tiffykins, that's awesome. When I was 19 years old I lost 75 lbs in a year and I felt like a different person. Looking at you in that picture reminded me of that feeling. "Eat it all up" girlie you deserve it! :thumbup: I'm so happy for you! Who needs food anyway! hahaha...just kidding!

I have only had heartburn about 5 or 6 times in my life, and it wasn't that bad. I've read some terrible stories of those who got horrible heartburn after surgery. Does having this surgery mean I will suffer with this the rest of my life? I was beginning to think that this surgery was the best choice for me, but now I'm wondering....

It's not accurate to say I "hate" my bi-pap machine. I do hate that I have to use it. I always slept so well...tucking my nose into the covers I would drift off to sleep. I miss that!!! :001_smile: It's harder to be cuddly with hubby when I know I must stay awake after the lovin' to put that machine on. I have only used the "nasal-air", which is like an oxygen canula only thicker tubing. I could NEVER use a hard plastic mask or a C-pap machine. I felt too constricted and the continuous air made me not able to breathe out. The Bi-pap has two pressures. The lesser pressure lets me breathe out....it's nice to breathe out once in a while! :biggrin2: It's great to hear that not everyone is consumed with heartburn after surgery!! The little bit I've had was terrible and I have a high pain tolerance. I've had some very big surgeries. I've been opened up from the belly button down 3 times. I had all 3 of my boys naturally without any epidurals. So I'm not a stranger to pain :thumbup: !

Thanks Tiffykins. I know no WLS is perfect. I've seen coworkers that have had RNY and DS surgeries and observed all the malabsorbtion issues. One ended up in ICU the other day, when the doc said he could have a stoke at any minute. I think is might have something to do with his lousy eating habits....:biggrin2: My sister got the band last year, but I've seen all the posts about band revisions and so why would I even try it...? I know the perfect way to lose weight is to eat right and exercise, but it's just not gonna happen for me that way. I'm so tired of being a recluse and missing out on life :svengo:. I'm not going to my high school reunion this summer because of my weight. I just started on a 3rd blood pressure medication last week, have had severe sleep apnea for about 6 years now. I hate my bi-pap machine, but it keeps me alive and breathing. Hubby is behind me 100% :thumbup:. I just want to make the best informed decision for my body. It's not like buying a car...if I don't end up happy with my choice, I can't ask for my stomach back. I go to the WLS center's seminar next Saturday, May 15th. I hope to get alot of questions answered. I have a feeling most of the people there are going to be asking about the RNY. Maybe I'll inspire some of them to consider VSG...:001_smile:

:scared0: Jack, I've had 4 open abdominal surgeries and one laproscopic and the pain can be close to the same for both, depending on the circumstances. I'm so glad they took care of your pain so quickly and you're feeling SO much better now! Take care my friend and heal quickly! :001_smile:

This is great news! I have Atnea bc/cs and the surgeon probably won't be sending them my precertification papers till June anyway. I found the site for the ASMBS it is just www.asmbs.org . The conference is in Los Vegas June 21-26. They are not reporting that Anthem bc/bs has jumped on board, but I doubt it won't be long. Jeannie Waiting to LIVE! :biggrin0:

I am a total newbie to this site, but thought I would jump in and share some experiences with you. I have tried protein diets and lost alot of weight on them, but when I go into Ketosis I get very sick and have to quit them. I have nausea and ALOT of pain in my kidneys. If you google, "ketosis, kidney, and damage" you'll learn ALOT! :thumbup: Ketones, Ketosis, and Ketogenic Diets, Weight Control, Weight Loss, Strategies for Weight Loss, Dieting, Holisticonline.com Jeannie

Anyone have a good way to check out a surgeon that you are considering? I'm interested in Dr. Peter Lalor in Bowling Green Ohio. :thumbup: