AKessler731

I wasn't sure if I'd get approval or not but I did. Thank God! When should you take "before" pictures? The day of surgery? Before starting the 2 week diet?

Well that was new...I called UHC to check on the status of my paperwork and I was transfered to the bariatric resources department. I had to enroll in their program and set up an appointment for their nurse to call me next Monday at 1:00 to go over my paperwork. The surgery is approved on a case by case basis. Anyone else go through this?

Well thats good to hear. The lady who I talked to was kind of like "you'll have to talk to this lady to get approval" like it was something bad. She made me really nervous that I wouldn't get approved. She said they only approve revisions on a case by case basis and you have to show that its medically necessary. I meet all of the criteria so I hope it's fine. When I looked up the criteria it said to be medically necessary you have to have a BMI of over 40 or over 35 with co-morbitiies. My BMI is like a 40.1. lol But its over so that should be good enough. I'll just be happy when it's approved. I hate being in the waiting period.

What is your BMI? I'm just curious...what if you gained a little weight? Would you BMI be over 40 then?

Have any of you cruised since being sleeved? I'll be having my surgery sometime in the next 6 weeks and I have a cruise already booked for July 4th weekend. This will be out 3rd cruise and on the past two I ate, and ate, and ate some more. I know this time will be different because I wont be able to. What was your experience like cruising without all the food? lol I know that sounds like it may be a really silly questions but it seemed like a lot of the fun that was had was based on either eating or drinking. And I don't think I'll be drinking because I've heard weird things about drinking alcohol after being sleeved and I've also heard a lot of people can't tolerate anything sweet. So, I'm just curios what other people have thought about cruising after being sleeved. Thanks!

I may also be in the hospital on my birthday this year. Lol. Happy Birthday!

Hi! This is my first post so I'm sorry If I'm posting this in the wrong area but I didn't see anything like this in the insurance area. I just went to my surgeon today. I'm 5 years out with my lap band and have gain almost 50 of the 85 lbs I had lost from the band back. I'm very frustrated. My dr asked me if I'd thought about revising to the sleeve. It had crossed my mind but I just wasn't sure. They are supposed to be sending the information over the United Health Care to see what my requirements will be. But I am curious if any of you may know. Right now my BMI is 38. Will it need to be over 40 like it was when I had the lap band done? Or will they take into consideration that it was over 40 before? To be at 40 I would need to gain 8 lbs. I can do it if I need to, but thats kind of defeating the purpose. lol. I'm also curious if I'll have to do the psych visit, nutrional counseling and exercise class again. I'm fine with the two week liquid diet. It sucks, but I can do it. Thoughts?? Also I'm wondering if I will need to pay my whole deductible up front? I'm sure I wont be able to get it done before the end of the year so I know my deductible will start over. My individual deductible is $1500 I think. I know my family deductible is $2800 with $3000 max out of pocket per person, $6k max out of pocket for the family. Thank you for any insights!

I figured I'd follow up on my post. I got the call today that the revision is covered. The only things I need to do are the Nutritional Counseling, Psych Eval and get a letter of medical necessity and medical clearance from my PCP. I do still have to have a BMI of 35+ with a co-morbidity or just a BMI of 40. Which means I technically need to gain 8 lbs. But someone on another page recommended that I just wear some 10lb ankle weights to my weigh in appt. lol. I'm starting college on Monday so I'll be shooting for mid March, during my spring break from school, to get the surgery done. Just wanted to let ya'll know what happened with it.

Thats amazing Amanda! I'm so happy for you! I started in a 24 and today I am exactly 6 months PP and have lost right at 50 lbs and am in an 18, almost to 16's.. they are a little too tight still lol. I have a pair of size 10's from AE that a friend of mine and those are my "goal" jeans right now. SO I am extremely JEALOUS of you right now! lol

I have been doing great with my portions and what I pick...except for one thing. I have been to the movie theater twice this weekend and both times I got a bag of reese's pieces... They are so good but then I feel horrible about eating them after words. I guess the theater would be considered a "trigger" for me. Because I feel like I need to be eating something? Good thing I dont go much But other that those two boxes I have been eating completely low carb and am still losing weight. Anyone else have a weakness that I can relate with? I also need some butt kicking for eating them..lol

Yay! Congrats Amanda! Thats awesome!! I can't wait until I can get into my goal pants! A size 10 American Eagle jeans. lol But that is awesome! Good job!

LOL you are def. not alone girl! I got on the scale this morning and was up a lbs. I figured id gain a lbs or two because of them lol darn it. BUT, I'm back on my low carb track now. I'm done with reeses until I meet my next goal atleast!

I did. I ate all kinds of junk the first month that I shouldn't have. Today I am a month and 4 days post surgery and am finally the same weight as I was the day of surgery. After gaining and losing the same 9lbs. I think there is a point of panic after surgery that you eat things you probably shouldn't and then comes the realization that you put yourself through surgery to lose weight, so your not going to blow it on mindless eating. If you want to be healthy so much as to have surgery, i have faith in you that you will do whats right and make great food choices to get back on the band wagon. Good luck

Beergut, you are totally right..it should be "I love you" not "I hate you" lol And thank you for your reply. I agree, every once in a while shouldn't be totally off limits. And Honk, in your nephews defense, those previews last forever Thank you for your reply!

I gained 9lbs in my first two weeks post op. Dont ask me how.. I dont know lol.. But when I went back for my 1 month post op I had lost 5lbs of the 9 I gained and now 4 days after my 1 month post op, I am exactly the weight i was the day of surgery. So I have lost all the 9 lbs i gained. Don't loose faith, the weight will come off!

I'm getting my first fill today too! I'm curious to see what kind of replies you get!

Hi! I have PCOS too. With PCOS also come insulin resistance. I have noticed that if I eat low carb (no bread, rice, flour, pasta, potatoes or high sugar fruits) then I will lose dramatically. That's not always easy though. I basically lived off of eggs, cheese, meats and veggies for a few months before i had my daughter and I lost 40-50 lbs. I was banded 11/16 and I have gained 3.5 lbs since my surgery date. But I know its because I haven't been eating right. If I would just stick to that low carb, i'm sure the weight would fall off. Our bodies just dont work like everyone elses. We have to eat on a low carb/ low glycemic index diet. I go get my first fill tomorrow. I hope that helps speed up my weight loss. I guess I should say that two weeks ago at my two week post op i was actually up 9 lbs since surgery. So I have lost about 6 lbs since two weeks ago. I hope this helps!

Is it safe to say that those 12 lbs are water weight? How much water weight can you possible have! lol

Congrats! I know that is an awesome feeling! :frown:

Just call your dr's office and request to speak to the insurance coordinator (the one who works with the insurance to get your approval and submits the paperwork).

I started my 2 week pre-op diet today. Only protein shakes, broth, SF Jello and SF Popsicle... This is going to be the hardest thing I have EVER done! I pray for all of us to get through this and have a safe surgery! I can't believe that in two weeks I'll be banded and on my way to a healthier life style!

No supervised diet for me, once my paperwork was submitted I called UHC every day and it took 5 business days. I had the same thing, my deductible was met for the year and I wanted to get it done before Jan 1st. Have you expressed this to your insurance coordinator? You can call and ask to speak with them. Good luck!!

I'm Scheduled for Nov. 16th and I start my pre-op on Nov. 2nd. Anyone else having a little bit of anxiety over this? I think I'm having more anxiety about the pre-op diet than the actual surgery lol. A two week liquid diet might possibly be the hardest thing I've ever had to do...lol

Am I crazy? lol I am really trying to speed the process along as much as I can. I'm really wanting to get this done before the 1st of the year. I've already done my 2 support groups. I've talked to my ins and I'm not required to do any supervised diet. Just have a BMI of 40 or over and I do. I even went and got a referral from my PCP and then was told my insurance didn't even require that! I got all of my medical records, even though insurance doesn't require a 5 year history. I talked to the insurance coordinator this morning and she said she has seen patients come in, have all of their appointments finished before their consultations and have surgery two weeks later. OH I HOPE THAT COULD BE ME!! lol I doubt it though, I know they have to get my insurance approval and all. I have United Health Care which I heard was pretty easy. The only thing I KNOW i have left to do is the Pre-Operative class. Any advise on anything else I can do to speed up the process? I have the consultation 9/23 at 8:30, the psych eval at 11:00 and the nutritional counseling at 2:30. lol wish me luck :thumbup:

Not all UHC requires a 6 month diet, mine did not. I think it depends on your coverage and what your employer selected. When I went to the seminar they gave me a packet of what all they require you to do. In the packet they gave me the name of the psychiatrist. I called the front desk lady at the surgeons office and told her that i was hoping to get it done before the first of the year and asked her if there was anything I could do to speed up the process and she went ahead and booked me to see the nutritionist on the same day as my dr's visit. And it worked, I have my approval from UHC and my surgery is scheduled for Nov. 16th! :sneaky: