Search the Community

It’s cool to see how other Bariatric Surgeons work. I’m having the Sleeve. I have 2 weeks pre-op liquids. Then only a few days post op liquids. Then like soft foods for a few weeks and then normal foods again. My doctor says it all depends on how your body can handle things. Everyone is different. Congrats on the upcoming scheduling!

I have BCBS of Michigan. Got all my requirements done November 3rd....my bariatric office submitted everything and requested a surgery date of December 5th. BCBS of Michigan gave them the go ahead and had an approval letter in my hands within three weeks. I was extremely happy with my experience with my group...who did all the paperwork and communicating with my insurance....the insurance company paid the claims promptly after my surgery...and the hospital treated me very well and continued to follow up and check on me even after I went home. Just a great experience all the way around. PS...I did have to do 6 months of dietitian visits, but my BMI was lower. I didn't mind at all.

Totally experiencing the same thing! Feels like the scale will barely budge. I know it'll keep moving and that everyone else who ever lost weight before us hit these hurdles too. I read a helpful article today that might help you too: https://www.obesitycoverage.com/4-ways-to-beat-a-weight-loss-stall-after-bariatric-surgery/

Hi elle!! I literally just got back from Mexico yesterday from my band removal and sleeve conversion. I was fine since my removal of the port and tubing in May of 2016..my band was filled. I didn't manage to lose the weight during that time. I managed to stay at a steady weight, so that band WAS doing its job of keeping off what was already lost, but not helpful in getting off the extra 50 I had gained after the complete unfill. Can't totally blame the band as I did not always watch my diet and had a lot going on as well. So fast forward to last month. I was sick most of the month with a bad flu..worst I ever had..by week 3 was diagnosed with strep, had a yeast infection, ear infection and then developed some pain in my abdomen under the incision site from the port removal 2 years ago..had no idea what was going on. Went to ER and had a CT scan and a local bariatric surgeon was consulted and he didn't really see anything but suggested we just remove the band sight unseen. I was not really thrilled with him at all. But I had to decide between totally free removal and eventually a revision with insurance here OR go back to my surgeon in Mexico and pay out of pocket for both. The problem here with insurance is that they would never allow the removal and revision at same time. I would have to do removal and then go through same process as a brand new surgical patient..psychological counseling, dietary evaluation, etc etc. So stupid for someone banded for 16 years. So I decided to take a chance and go back to Mexico and see if he could do both at same time. We didn't know if band was eroded or not until time of surgery. He performed an endoscopy and found the band was fine. It turned out from what I understand what was left of the tubing got infected somehow and that what was causing the pain..so he successfully removed and did the sleeve revision at same time. I was thrilled I made the decision to take a chance and go to Mexico. So I really don't know where this journey goes from here. I am just 4 days post op dealing with clear liquids for a few more days. I am hoping I can get this 50lbs off and back to where I was. Was not really prepared for all this at last minute so really don't know success rates for band revision patients vs someone starting brand new. We shall see! And as for boyfriend...funny you ask..he decided a month ago to leave me but was not leaving right away..which I guess was good given the unexpected surgery..he stayed to take care of the animals and left the day after I returned from surgery. Bad timing, but like the band going away..I am sure it is all for the best once I get past all this!! Such is life.

Actually, that's not true at all. It's not that insurance companies don't want to pay for procedures, it's that they don't want to waste money on unnecessary procedures or on members who will not follow up properly. With bariatric surgery, insurance companies know that paying for this surgery is less expensive than paying to treat all of the complications that will arise if obesity goes untreated, so it's really a win/win situation. The reason there are so many obstacles leading up to the surgery (particularly the pre-op diet and psychological exam) is to ensure that the person is a good candidate for the surgery and will stick to the proper regimen for weight loss then be able to lead a healthy lifestyle afterward. They do not want to pay if the person is just seeking a shortcut for weight loss and does not plan to change their lifestyle. I've been in healthcare for 32 years, 12 of them at health plans, so I'm quite familiar with their operations. At a previous job I used to help scour data for signs that members might be pre-diabetic, so that the plan could reach out to them and see if there's anything they could do to help, whether it's recommending a nutritionist, sending them videos or literature, whatever it took to get the members to improve their lifestyle before they developed full diabetes. It's certainly better for the plan's members to learn how to take care of themselves, and it's much cheaper for the health plan to not have to treat the member's diabetes. So again, a win/win.

I’ve been banded since 2007. I had my band completely unfilled 5+ years ago. I just found out today that I have Gastroparesis. I’ve read that it can be caused by the band My insurance no longer covers any bariatric procedures. I would like to have my band removed and I was wondering if anyone has had luck getting insurance to cover removal for something like Gastroparesis?

My former verdompt bariatric center routinely booked out 6 weeks to the Day of prerequirements being completed. The new one since I'm comng in with the different consults already done, 3 weeks? I want the absolute soonest they will give me. Have that 2 hour appointment with the in-house and I hope decent Psychologist Dr Kramer April 25th, after that the ball is in their court as long as they play nicely. If not I'll play The Band Perry's song "Done." If you don't know the lyrics, one of my favorite lines Mama said I should always play nice But she didn't know you when she gave that advice. I'm through with you lah dee dah! I get a whole lot braver (and maybe foolhardy) when I am pissed, which I am at the bait-and- switch or hurry -up-and- wait tactics with all these bariatric personages. Give me some satisfaction, I've worked hard enough to get it![emoji13][emoji50][emoji13] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Congrats on your loss! That's a lovely BMI! Honestly? If you haven't changed a thing--not any food changes, or exercises/activity changes you MUST go see your surgeon/bariatric team about this. Cuz the possibilities are so endless and they will want to do testing!!! ((hugs))

Oh, and Cigna does have weird requirements like getting a letter of approval from someone other than your bariatric surgeon, the psychiatrist and the endoscopy. Age: 37 Height: 5’6 BMI: 37 VSG scheduled for 4/16/18 GW: 160 MFP: Fit4LifeAR

I have Cigna and I started with one bariatric clinic and ended up choosing another. The first told me that Cigna is very strict and to not gain a pound or I would be denied. They also had a chart to fill out that had a box for diet and exercise, and that if both were not filled out, it wouldn’t be approved. The second clinic did not mention a thing to me and even allowed a visit with my primary care doctor to be counted as my first month. We talked about dieting and obesity, but not like I do with the weight loss clinic. I am not sure what was in the notes but I can’t imagine it was much. Cigna approved my claim in 48 hours due to being 37 and already having a knee replacement. Age: 37 Height: 5’6 BMI: 37 VSG scheduled for 4/16/18 GW: 160 MFP: Fit4LifeAR

I have my last class before getting all my paperwork submitted to insurance and I am freaking out and over thinking things way too much. I have my psych eval coming up but other than that everything is ready to be faxed to my case manager. I read over the bariatric rider every day making sure I qualify but even then the uncertainty of getting denied after all this time and money dedicated to getting this surgery is too much. Any recommendations on how to disconnect and relax over this entire thing? thank you.

Macpower you can always talk to me. Don't feel you can't join in, I have been on BP maybe 4.5-5 months, in all that time I have met up with only 1 person who resented my insertion into conversations. She, I'm sorry to say, was a real piece of work, oh I'm nice enough to wish her well but our virtual paths have not intersected again. She spoke of me in what I felt a disparaging manner, she may live her life as she wishes, but I hope our paths do not touch. Most people are very kind on here, if they sense you are a. Newbie that will try to help if they can. We all come in with different life experiences, some problems I found answers for in the outside world, to help someone I tap into those as well as what I've learned here on Bariatric Pal. I usually admit,if I've got a wrong slant on things but I tend to be usually right. Most people will not resent you, if they do it's their problem,not yours. If I misspell,it's not so much a lack of education as 2 other things, 1 my smartphone is too smart, it enjoys auto correcting and 60% it skews things so they make no sense 2 I think faster than i text, my mind is always bouncing forward while my fingers lag behind. Makes for strange reading at times. Hey stay easy ,stay breezy and don't sweat the small stuff.[emoji6] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

It wouldn't hurt to call around to bariatric Drs near you and ask if they would do follow up care. I know a person that had hers done in Mexico and did find a group that was willing to provide follow up care for her here in the US You will need specific blood work done at regular intervals and bariatric surgeons are most familiar with what needs to be checked

So I joined this Bariatric Pals Community thinking that it would be awesome to talk and fellow people that are going through the same thing as me. But for some reason I find it hard to join in on the conversations. I feel like I’m butting in on other peoples conversations. Like who’s this newbie trying to talk to us? Does anyone else feel that way? Or is it just me? Because Im definitely not that way in person. I’m always talking to everyone around me no matter who it is. But for some reason I feel differently on this.

I have an upper endoscopy to see if in fact I have GERD. The same Bariatric surgeon is doing the endoscopy. That’s tomorrow morning... [emoji991] Instagram: milaalmodovar [emoji317] SC: almodovarmila

Hi, well my surgery was March 13th[emoji1] and was really wondering since caffeine isn't in my diet anymore, is there any pre work out drink that are bariatric friendly. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I only take protonix for reflux since surgery. I called my surgeons office today and they gave me conflicting information.. I asked if I had any deficiencies that I was not told about in my blood work 3 weeks ago and everything was good with the exception of vitamin d, she said it wasn’t low to where I needed to supplement, but taking one every other day or so won’t hurt.. she told me to come in to be seen because most Bariatric patients don’t experience hair loss until 6-9 months post-op (which is where I felt conflicted since a lot of people on this forum have experienced hair loss around 3 months post-op). I have been using Ultrax Labs Hair Surge for 2 days now and taking silica supplements for 2 days as well. I didn’t have “as much” hair in the drain and my brush this morning as I did Friday/Saturday. I am hoping this is over quickly. I am going to my stylist Friday to cut 8” off my hair. Going from my butt to my shoulders I was hoping to go back blonde for summer too, but with as much as my hair is falling out, I’m terrified!

If bariatric surgery is done in Mexico, will anyone take care of any complications in the US?

Only suggestion your wise old Bariatric Good -mother has, flood yourself with fluid afterwards to lessen chances of UTI, be slow, gentle and loving with each other, let him be on top so your cervix is awash with little wigglers at the right time and pray real hard for the baby blessing![emoji67][emoji64][emoji68] [emoji173] and hugs! Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Edema of the lower legs is one of the prompts that had one of doctor "friends" recommend bariatric surgery. I have had swelling in my legs for years. I first received treatment for swelling in my lower legs after being diagnosed with venous reflux. The treatment had a rather painful recovery, but much of the swelling went away. I still have mild swelling in the ankles, and my doctor friend told me that surgery may be the fix to fix everything that ails me, including the edema. Hopefully after your surgery, you will see vast improvements...

And I hope to be joining you there! By the end of April[emoji414],I hope to know when, can't be too soon for me. My weight loss story started in August 2015, many hairpin turns[emoji420], an attempted derailment by the sons of Seabiscuit the [emoji237] at previous bariatric program, a Center of Excellence no less (gagging sound) but I am now in better program where I should have first gone and my hopes are tree-top high[emoji267]this time! I can and shall succeed and receive the RnY I have been seeking for so long. I am a 72 year old stubborn redhead,[emoji35] and I should not be thwarted, World-[emoji290]- be ye warned!!![emoji95][emoji12] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Sounds like you need to evaluate another program. Make sure it is a center of excellence (search on bariatric surgery center of excellence on google). I personally wouldn’t be comfortable getting surgery done by someone who is uncomfortable dealing with a super common hernia.

I am in the last month of my weight loss classes to meet medical necessity and my bariatric rider states that I need to have one comorbidity on top of having a BMI over 40. I got diagnosed with GERD in December and was wondering if that would help me meet that criteria? Although I do understand that some docs dont want you getting the surgery if you do have GERD. What do you all think?

Ran across this when i was looking for things about my nose running. From a Bariatric web site. Have seen many people mention one of the things mentioned here. Never made the connection DOES YOUR NOSE RUN WHEN YOU EAT? I HICCUP AFTER I’VE BEEN EATING FOR A BIT, DOES THAT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE? WHEN I AM ALMOST FINISHED WITH MY MEAL, I SNEEZE. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME! IS SOMETHING WRONG? Runny nose, hiccups, sneezing … it’s your NEW alarm! You are not alone, it is very common, post weight loss surgery, to have one of these things happen while you are eating. After surgery the Vagus Nerve, an important sensor that runs from your brain to your gut, is easily stimulated due to our altered anatomy. This nerve regulates digestion, detoxification, our “fight or flight” response, various aspects of heart rate and blood pressure and more. When it is stimulated you may have repetitive or single hiccups, sneezing, and or a runny nose. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY as this is your new warning system telling you that you are getting really close to being full! Pay close attention to not over eat past this point. This action is NOT a cue for you to take a break and then go back and finish. It means you are done. I personally make a single hiccup when I am right about to be too full. It’s my signal to stop. This has happened at supper every night for sixteen years! What is your sign?

Good point , she claim she see a lot of bariatric clients for evaluations. But gosh she is very opinionated and she telling me what she think I should do and discourages WLS. I was under the impression I was going for evaluation and not judgement. WW is too much charting and counting points for me and I know few ppl that gain double afterwards. Thank you so much for your support