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the So Cal Kaiser options class is now 12 weeks, 3 months. i finished it back in early October. hadnt made up my mind to have surgery....until this year. I spoke to my bariatric Dr and asked her to schedule me to see the surgeon. He scheduled me for a month out! and ive been on 1200 cal diet since then. down 12 lbs. i'm 9 days away and trying liquids every other day til then.

Surgery yesterday, went great! I was very uncomfortable for the first 2 or so hours after, mostly due to morphine drip. Once they switched me to different pain med I started doing much better. Up and walking 4 times yesterday, first thing this morning, no trouble drinking, discharged at 9:00. Dr Hoehn and everyone at KC Bariatric and the surgery center were amazing!! Very attentive and kind. I would recommend them to anyone even close to that area!!

From Kansas City and hoping to use Dr. Hoehn at KC Bariatric in May.

Today is my birthday and it has just been the best birthday in a very long time! This time last year, I was beyond miserable. I did not like myself, I was sick and I was probably close to depressed. This year, I have lost 47 pounds since 1/14, I'm starting to fit into my "skinny" clothes, and I'm starting to feel like I'm actually in some kind of shape! I have no regrets. Part of me wishes that I would have started this process last year. By now I would be at my goal! But I realize that I had a journey to go through to come to this decision and if I would have done it too soon, I may have not been successful. In April & May, I worked out 18 hours and 17 hours, respectively. Assuming roughly 4 weeks in the month, that is over four hours a week. I'm feeling pretty good about that! Let's see if I can top both months in June! My favorite achievement so far is that I have made it out of the Morbidly Obese category! I'm now merely Super Obese. Regular Obese...here I come!!! :thumbup: At my current rate, I would be in spitting distance of Overweight! However, I will not be dissatisfied with any result as long as I'm doing the best I can and I'm going in the right direction. As I believe I have mentioned before, I plan to jog a 5K in September. My progress is not as I would hope. I did jog 1.25 miles on Thursday, but I was unable to do so either Saturday or Sunday. I just couldn't seem to go longer than 3 or 4 minutes. Hmmm... Tomorrow I'm getting a fill. I had hoped that I wouldn't need one but I get hungry after about 2-3 hours and I seem to want to eat quite a bit more than the prescribed amount. I feel sure I haven't stretched my pouch or anything, so I probably just need a tweak. I'm always cranky the day of my fill, so I decided to just take the day off. It will be a good day to go get my drivers license renewed. Nothing like being cranky at the DMV! Every 4th of July weekend, I visit my friend's family in Louisiana. Right now, I'm about 25 pounds lighter than I was last year. I would love to lose about 10 pounds in June so I would be about 35 pounds lighter. I think that is quite doable. A. I have my fill tomorrow which always jump starts my progress. B. The last 3 weeks in June I'm scheduled to Jazzercise twice and be with my trainer twice each week. C. After 5 months, I'm still motivated!! I feel quite sure that has never been the case for me. Next Monday it will be time for picture updates and that is always fun!! Hope you all have a great week!

I have UHC PPO plan. It covered 80%. I had an approval letter in my hand 8 days after my appointment with my surgeon. No other doctors were involved. I was amazed. Coverage depends on your specific plan is. Call them and ask specifically, "is bariatric surgery covered on MY plan?" I did that and they said yes, for my particular policy. I automatically thought it would NOT be covered when I reviewed the UHC web site. So glad I called them. Good luck! Pam banded 3/24 by Dr. Speigel down 15 pounds....

That's unusual for UHC, they are well known for approving bariatric surgeries. It's entirely possible however, that your employer requested this omission of coverage. It's not unusual of employers to do this to reduce their premiums. Check with your HR department or whoever it is that handles the insurance for your company. I am currently on Medicare myself, due to disability, and I purposefully chose UHC as my HMO because of their positive attitude towards all of the bariatric surgeries. Good luck, hope you can get things turned around in your favor. I wish you all the best. You may also want to check out the Insurance boards on here and see what other people have encountered with UHC and other insurance companies. Cindy

Hi, Busywoman: I have always had group insurance (through a company) where there are no underwriting guidelines. If you were to lose your job and could not find another before your group insurance expires (which is my case) then in order to have health insurance you would have to buy an individual plan since you were no longer part of a group and no longer had an employer. I am self employed and my husband has always worked for large companies IBM and Motorola. Both companies are self insured and pay the bills but use a network like Humana or CCN PPO to administer the plan and provide the network. My present situation is that my husband is no longer employed, our insurance is running out and I need insurance. COBRA is an option, but the premium is at 102% of the normal premium that the employer formerly paid for my group plan. It means I have to pay it myself. For my family of 4, the monthly premium is $1,400 dollars. The only folks that would want COBRA are people who cant get insurance because they are considered high risk. Having any kind of bariatric surgery within 10 years excludes me from most plans. That is why I am asking for help. Someone here who is self employed or pays for their own insurance may have the answer I am looking for.... Babs in TX

Sounds like a trip back to the doc is in order and for sure follow up with your bariatrics doc. No need to be in that much pain for that long. Even a really bad UTI should feel better after 3/4 days on meds. Good luck to you, hope you get some relief soon!

My surgeon did the first fill (he operates on Thursdays and Fridays) he has a bariatric clinic that does the rest of them, but they don't do them on Fridays either...only unfills if needed. I think most places are set up like this...the only thing you can do is ask for an exception to the rule...or like you said work around your husbands schedule. So sorry to hear about his health issue...I will keep him in my prayers okay...monkeysnana09!!! Take care!!!

I know one of the reasons people choose bypass over sleeve is acid reflux or GERD. From what I've read if you have reflux before surgery it gets much worse. It also seems that some folks with the lap band or sleeve eventually get a revision to the bypass, which is the gold standard in bariatric surgery...but many, many people are happy and successful with the sleeve. Sounds like something you may wanna sit down with your surgeon and together decide. I was set on the sleeve until my pre op GI tests came back and the lap band had damaged my esophagus. He told me I may have issues with the sleeve and suggested the bypass. Best of luck on your decision and your surgery!

You might want to check out this forum. http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1015-gastric-balloon-endolumenal-bariatric-procedures-forum-new/

I thought I better start writing about this journey now so I don't forget. I had lap band surgery November 3, 2007. I actually lost about 60 pounds with the lapband at one point but gained most of the weight back. For the first four years of the lap band I was in constant flux. I dieted more in that four years than in the rest of my life. In December 2011 I was back up to 255 pounds. At that point I realized the lap band had failed me and I needed to consider other options. Through a long drawn out process I was accepted by my insurance company to get a revision to the Sleeve. On December 27 I decided to make a radical change in my lifestyle and eating. After confirming with my bariatric surgeon that I qualified for the revision I decided to become a raw foodist for the next five months. It was a very positive experience and I learned a great deal about health and nutrition. I have to say I read everything I could get my hands on regarding raw foodism, veganism, and the like. I finally understood what it is to make a very real lifestyle change. Understanding that eating processed, boxed, bagged food was not the answer, it finally dawned on me that what I was missing was the live enzymes of fresh fruits and vegetables that no one seems to think are important, or simply don't know that they're absolutely necessary and needed in the body. I watched quite a few documentaries and I'd like to recommend that you also consider watching these few. Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead was the first documentary I watched; that became life-changing. Foodmatters, Food Inc., The Gerson Miracle, Burzynski, Forks over Knives, and The Beautiful Truth. Sorry more than I thought... Anyway I guess what I'm trying to elude to is that we've all had an eating problem to the point where we've had to have surgery once or twice and for some of us it is still escaping us as to how we can actually make a real change that will ultimately save us. So many times I have heard people say I could never give up sugar, coffee, meat, wheat, bacon, soda, etc... When I hear this I think then a lifestyle change for you is probably not something that is going to happen for you. How much do you truly want good health? Maybe it's time to start pushing yourself in new and different directions, maybe there is new and exciting information to be gleaned that will help you to a better and healthier you. For me being a 80-10-10 raw foodist wasn't for me. But I did adopt eating a high fresh fruit and raw vegetable diet into my new lifestyle. I have decided to include cold blooded sea creatures in my diet as well as cooked Beans and rice in moderation, but also to maintain a balanced healthful diet for me. Please understand I am writing this as much to myself for my own remembrance as I am sharing my experience with you. The day of surgery I weighed 204 lbs. Two days after surgery I weighed 213 lbs. that was disappointing but the Water weight gain from th IV was to be expected. Today is 7/1/2012 and I am at 202. So from December 27th 2011 to June 25th 2012 I lost 56 lbs. I am so excited about where I am going... God bless us and keep us! Mardee

Thanks I really appreciate your help! Gives me some things to consider and think about. I am working with a therapist and I did go to Overeaters Anonymous for a short period. I would like to know if there is a bariatric support group in my area after my surgery. Have you tried asking your surgeon's office about local support groups in the area? They may have a listing of local groups in your area you can reach out to for support pre and post surgery Sent from my SM-N910P using the BariatricPal App

Some patients simple suspect it. Others said something like "Ok, they maybe want us on liquids for two weeks but because the doubt our compliance they tell us 4 weeks so we're doing it for 2 week". Same thing with e. g. tumor surgery where most of the stomach has to be removed. They also need time to heal and yet they're on solid food much earlier (of course some patients need longer because they don't tolerate it) - but I bet there are different protocols regarding this out there as well. So from your response, I am getting that this is an impression or a guess and not fact? The reason I am asking is there are a lot of people new on this site and many times want to hear what they won't from their Bariatric team. If your surgeon puts you on liquids following surgery I am certain it is not to make your weight loss faster, it is to allow the time for it to heal given the limited amount of protein you can consume. I cannot speak for ulcer patients, but having researched post WLS diets for the last 3 years and speaking with multiple bariatricians and surgeons, and Bariatric nurses and Bariatric nutritionists. The first several weeks following are all about healing and NOT weight loss. Weight loss just happens because the change is so significant and the lack of food volume.

@@summerset WLS are not on liquids for so long to promote fast weight loss. In fact, most Bariatric surgeons prefer you lose at a consistent pace. It is safer and healthier. Did you hear that somewhere? I am just curious. The real deal is because our stomachs have been cut and stitched and require a long period of time to heal. That is also because we can only tolerate so much Protein which assists in healing and in the beginning weeks, you can barely get a whole Protein shake into your tiny swollen tummy. Those that lose that quickly and cannot get their protein in end up having more complications down the road. These are words my surgeon used with me. And it is also why when you have a patient that cannot tolerate anything for the first few months, they lose a a lot of weight but end up sick in the process.

@@JupiterinVirgo ... OK, I'll bite. What, specifically, is this "outdated bariatric gospel" we should be scorning? What, specifically, do you think we should be doing instead?

I had my surgery in Tijuana April 2nd by Dr. Fernando Garcia, he is with Tijuana Bariatric. He has done around 5000 of these surgery's. He has moved to a brand new hospital my care was excellent. On the hour every hour someone was checking my vitals. I am down 12Lbs in one week. I went to Mexico because my insurance would not pay even though I suffer from degenerative arthritis and a torn meniscus. If you have any questions let me know I am here to chat.

In my case, my insurance doesn't cover WLS so I was self pay. I researched all bariatric surgeons within 200 miles of me as well as several in Mexico for 6 months. I ended up going with the surgeon with the best credentials, most experience, and lowest complication rates. Just so happened to be Dr. Ariel Ortiz in Tijuana. He is has taught laparoscopic surgical technique both in the US and Mexico, he is a world renown bariatric surgeon, his facility is an an International Center of Excellence, he has performed more VSGs than the 4 US surgeons I looked at combined, and his complication rate is 1/100th that of the the U.S. average for WLS. And at under $7000 it was an easy choice.

I had my mini gastric bypass surgery yesterday August 18 and i just got home, i was loaded with pain killers at the hospital and now things are getting al little pet rough! Not many patients goes for this type of bariatric surgeries Looking for someone who had or will have this surgery to be pals in the next steps

I have no regrets on choosing the DS. However, I do count calories, carbs, and protein, and try to stick with low fat foods. That is my surgeons protocol. One of the reasons I chose it is the success it has had with reversing type 2 diabetes and because it keeps the pyloric spinchter intact, lessening the chance of dumping syndrome, though it can still happen. Research both surgeries, there is a lot of info out there, especially on bariatric surgeons sites. I had a hard time deciding, but the more reading I did, the more my choice became clear. Just make sure you use reliable sources. Just an FYI, the SADI/SIPS surgeries are not covered by all insurances because they are considered something different from the proven DS. My insurance would cover the DS for me, but not the modified procedures.

i was surprised to find out that this insurance covers bariatric procedures! it may end up costing me $2500 instead of 8-15k so i'm excited about that. does anyone else have experience with this insurance? do you know what their pre-op requirements are to get approved? i don't want to do this 6 months to a year of dieting. that seems ridiculous. i've been preparing all my life! shit in six months i could be under 35bmi and then i'm screwed and they won't do the surgery and i'll just gain it back like i always do! help!

If you're near any hospitals that do bariatric surgery, call and ask about support group schedules. It's unlikely that you'll be barred for having had surgery elsewhere if that's the case. If you really mean that you worry about everything, not only things related to surgery and losing weight, there's - ahem - help for that, too.

For those who haven't been following my story............... I was diagnosed with an eroded band in November of 2011 and had it removed in March of 2012. I had to wait for six months before revising to the gastric sleeve as my surgeon wanted to wait for me to heal completely and do medical tests before confirming that I would be a good candidate for the sleeve. I have complete those tests and he was satisfied that I could have the sleeve. We also found that I had developed another hiatal hernia (the first one was repaired when I had my lap band surgery). My predetermination request for the sleeve surgery was denied. They stated that I needed to complete a six month weight loss program in order for them to consider my request. I asked my surgeon's insurance coordinator to appeal based on the reasoning that this was a repeat surgery for a lap band that had medically failed me and that I shouldn't have to complete the six month medically supervised weight loss program. She filed an appeal but no where in the letter did it address the six month weight loss program so of course they denied me again stating that we still hadn't submitted the records they had requested. Frustrated beyond belief, I took the initiative to write my own appeal letter. I used language from the BCBS-AL bariatric policy regarding repeat surgeries and their rationale for requiring the six month weight loss program and explained how I had met that rationale just by having a lap band for four years and that my waiting for six months before revising to another surgery was not conducive to improving my health. I just got off the phone with BCBS-AL and they have approved my surgery!!!!!! I am actually shocked that I succeeded in my appeal. I fully expected them to deny me and had already started the medically supervised six month weight loss program in preparation for that denial (and have lost 10 lbs over a six week period which is nice). I'm excited, relieved and nervous! I've been through this before so I don't know why but I am. I was very successful with my lap band (losing 94 lbs). I remember how wonderful it felt to be thin and feel good about myself and how I looked and not to be in pain anymore from carrying around all this extra weight (yes I packed the pounds back on after my band was removed). I can't wait to be there again! Yeah me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have Aetna as well, and am nearing the end of my 90 day multidisciplinary program. I really freaked out about the 90 day thing, because I kind of wanted the 6 months to fully wrap my head around the whole thing and find some support-so far it's just me, a semi supportive husband, my kids, 2 friends who live across the country and the wonderful people here at bariatric pal. The program itself has been pretty easy. The first step was meeting with the NUT for our appts. We have them at 45 day intervals. I've done 2 already and my 3rd is just around the corner on the 29th. Usually we talk a lot about what's going on and what to do to train myself for life after surgery like dedicated exercise, eating balanced and Protein first, not drinking with meals, etc. I've also completed and shocking passed my psych eval which for me, was the single worst part about the whole process. I was so stressed, but it worked out just fine. So don't stress it. We should have all our papers and stuff together for submittable on Oct. 5th and praying and hoping I can get approved fairly quickly. My doctor runs a small private practice in addition to working for kaiser permanente, so he doesn't have a long waiting list after approval, so it could be as soon as 10days after approval for me. I'm definitely ready although, I just wish now it would hurry up and get here. I can't imagine electively choosing to wait the 6 months over the 90 day program. I don't think it would really net you anything at all. If you have the choice, just go the 90 days.

I was denied today because Cigna decided to tell my Bariatric center at the last minute that I had to have my surgery done at a hospital that was a "Center of Excellence". So they gave me the doctor and hospital I have to use. My bariatric office was so mad because they never once caught that when they reviewed my benefits at Cigna. They told me that I am pre-approved through Cigna. So I am hoping that when I get an appointment with this doctor.. The office said they will fax everything over. I did everything I needed to so I hope it gets approved quick. If anyone has been through something similar I would love some feedback.