Any March Sleevers?

[PeacockMama 119]

Presher, I know how you feel. I have an 8 yr old, 2 year old, and 10 month old twins! I am a SAHM and I will have SOME help, but the reality is there wont be someone here 24 hours a day for the whole healing period. We gotta do what we gotta do! When you have babies, you don't have the option to rest and not pick up things etc. Kinda HAS to be done lol

[Faith41 118]

March 12 in mexico with dr.ortiz with alighterme im so exicted I've been fat since the age of 5 im 242 now after losing 12 pounds on my first week of pre diet 2 more weeks to go.

[erica hall 19]

I make up for it in chocolate!

I make up for it in chocolate!

Th

All: My date is March 13 but I have to share my horror story. I was scheduled to have my surgery on 12/19/2012. Right before, the hospital called me and said that my insurance company, United Health Care (UHC) denied the surgery and that it wasn't covered under my plan. I was so angry, hurt and depressed I didnt know what to do. On December 12, 2012, I received a claim denial letter and was given the following reasons: The services are not eligible expenses under the plan. This decision is based on the following plan language found in the Certificate of Coverage in the Section entitled Section 2: Exclusions and Limitations: Surgical and non-surgical treatment of obesity. THIS IS NOT A PLAN EXCLUSION. THIS IS IN MY PLAN. I immediately appealed the decision and sent in a whole file of supporting documentation along with doctors notes for medical necessity. On January 23, 2013, UHC wrote me saying that I won the appeal and that the procedure was covered. You would think it would be easy after being approved and appeal overturned. However, this is where my nightmare began. It took me until yesterday to get everyone (hospital, UHC) on the same page. The UHC system kept showing I was denied but I had a letter saying approved. I called both the hospital and UHC every day to complain about the inconsistencies and obvious blatant incompetence on someone's part. I also wrote the President and CEO of UHC three times to complain while also contacting the State of Maryland Office of the Attorney General to help me deal with this. I spent hours on the phone every day with various people from UHC only to end up with no resolution. There is conflicting and contradictory information in UHC’s system. I am being given conflicting accounts of the status of my claim: One system has the appeal noted and approved; another system has that the procedure has been denied. So everytime Washington Hospital Center calls for surgery approval, they are being told that the procedure has been denied. However, they have a copy of the approval letter from UHC dated January 23, 2013 and has also been told that the procedure has been approved. One day, it’s approved, the next day it’s denied. The inconsistency is horrible. I wrote in my letters that "I am in disbelief that this is happening to me. What did I do to deserve this?" I am beyond livid at the incompetence of UHC staff to settle something as simple as this. I am upset, disappointed, angry and depressed that this insurance company continues to play with my life. Every day there is a different issue or story being provided by UHC. Is this so much about business that you do not care about me as a person? Or is it that you want me to just die so that you don’t have to approve the surgery? Everyday I receive different information from UHC most of it conflicting and inaccurate. Why isn’t everyone on the same page? " I then asked that UHC please provide the following information related to your denial:

- Specific records reviewed

- Specific records required to approve this treatment

- Medical opinions justifying the denial

- All documents, records, health benefits plan provisions

- Internal rules

- Guidelines and protocols

So finally after two months of fighting and calling, I am finally scheduled for March 13th. This fight took so much out of me, I am tired. However, I woke up this morning thinking I need to concentrate on the process rather than the results. So I am back in the fight and will win this time with God and your help.

Update - Today I received my official notification so my date is March 13, 2013. I start my pre-op diet this Wednesday. This site has kept my spirits up when they were down. I just want to thank everyone and I will keep you all posted on my progress as we travel this journey together.

[erica hall 19]

Update - Today I received my official notification so my date is March 13, 2013. I start my pre-op diet this Wednesday. This site has kept my spirits up when they were down. I just want to thank everyone and I will keep you all posted on my progress as we travel this journey together.

[JennyBeth 127]

I'm March 20th!!!

[Rinamatie 13]

Just got a surgery date of March 18!! Wow! Much sooner than I had planned, but so excited! Good luck to all of the other March sleevers!

We have the same surgery day! I am so excited but also very nervous. Some of my family does not understand why I would do the sleeve and not the band. They think the sleeve is to invasive and I should opt for the band instead. From the first seminar I knew I wanted to have the sleeve. I am diabetic and take 4 insulin shots a day, I check my blood sugar 4 times a day as well. I also have COPD and Rheumatoid Arthritis and like others I am tired of being sick! I feel the sleeve is the best fit for me and my lifestyle. I am nervous, but I am so excited to have this done.

[erica hall 19]

I just ordered my Vitamins and other supplies from Unjury for post-op. Going to get my pre-op stuff today. I start diet on Wednesday.

[oknewme 8]

My surgery is scheduled March 6th 2013.

I am 5'6 and my beginning weight was 250 lbs.

I started my liquid diet on 2/20/13 and I am down 12 lbs. (Yay Me!)

My surgeon is Dr.Brandan Varnell @ Bailey Bariatrics.

[st2011 29]

We have the same surgery day! I am so excited but also very nervous. Some of my family does not understand why I would do the sleeve and not the band. They think the sleeve is to invasive and I should opt for the band instead. From the first seminar I knew I wanted to have the sleeve. I am diabetic and take 4 insulin shots a day' date=' I check my blood sugar 4 times a day as well. I also have COPD and Rheumatoid Arthritis and like others I am tired of being sick! I feel the sleeve is the best fit for me and my lifestyle. I am nervous, but I am so excited to have this done.[/quote']

Rinamatie- are you type 1 or 2? I'm type 1 and very nervous about my sugars during the surgery and healing time.

[aussie 11]

March 8th!!!!!!!!!!

Me to. Good luck with everything and positive thoughts are heading your way across the globe from Australia. )

[aussie 11]

Th

Update - Today I received my official notification so my date is March 13' date=' 2013. I start my pre-op diet this Wednesday. This site has kept my spirits up when they were down. I just want to thank everyone and I will keep you all posted on my progress as we travel this journey together.[/quote']

OH MY GOD. I can't believe how the US Health system is run by your insurance companies. You really need them to be investigated as they have too much say over your health. I'm so sorry to hear about yours and other people's disputes with your Insurers. I'm glad Australia has a great Health system, even though it does have its problems it is run by the Medical professionals & government and not the insurance companies.

[missmeow 156]

Mine is March 18th. I start my pre-op on the 4th. Thankfully, it is not 100% liquid so I should rock it. I am going to the NEW program with Dr. Braverman.

I alternate between chickening out and total kid on Christmas day excitement.

[BigDaddyJoe 246]

Updated from both March threads

1 SKgirl27, Kaleen, racoon_439, Sumsuz68, MzNikkiG, KanesMom, linzwalker30, deegoodlife, albertamom

2 Tryingtobringsexyback, TeriMoBeri

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4 Lmariewj, Leo815, Just1Girl, JeffNNJ, mattsbelly, dinky, Garlandfam, Joeseph Intravaia, Fifty&Hippy, shakur154, ItsmeTae, Readyforthisjourney-Jen, boom2longhorns, d mixon

5 MissFae, teetani, gelen's_change, sr910, AFinch, duckie913, AceMan8, pollyp, HWolff

6 bringiton, Presher87, dustdog77, simonetwentynine, pammie37, newat52, girlinthrmirrorme, Jennifer616, aeshortchick, oknewme

7 Mommielissa06, Jenniferg, ashley18, Misconduct, Bvl, krissj, MoniqueA97, jody73, purplemoonflower123, pnkhart, cresh78, Mini_Me_23, GAmom, HypnotizingHazel, lilstyler, carrie43

8 Courtney, toya3901, pacificpeach, BigDaddyJoe, st2011, alanah, Amanda626, EYE candy, aussie, Ladydawg2009

9

10

11 Caspinelli712, chrissyatthebeach, Liljulz202, ARenee99, jenah, ginamaria, LeesaDee, Pepper Paul, thatgirl

12 PeacockMama, onelessfatgirl, HollyMc63, brandy88, Malexa03, Faith41

13 SerendipityHappens, adoptmom2_3, PressOnward, erica hall, lotti, erica hall, my3kids4life, KateAnth

14 BigFatLoser, superstartover, Gwenny, traycrow83

15 futuresleever, Kodiesmom, dsdolls

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17

18 Canadagurl, AmandaRaeLeo, tdguill, Leleboo, Zen, Rinamatie, LifeBackNye, SherriRN, Michele1024, JustinNC, missmeow

19 aneke26, slimjim41, Healthybabs, Rick7714

20 BeBeSpArKLeS, Nicole2013, Kristy Giovanelli, busybeingme, maeg, ignats639, paper1875, rickster7753, jc4444, JennyBeth

21 Reneetrom, Newnay, chantelleyxo, Ginger/Toby

22 floridafd, LaserSkinGirl, mykidsinspireme, bebaeg

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24

25 Vsgbrandy77, youngtammy50, lookingforwardnotback, slidellsleever, turlinsen, CarrieP, tammy1970

26 Thistlegirl, thundathighsz, kyeta96

27 Oldnavee, tannak, sandy'ssleeve

28 Mlecompte, parker

29 stevie07, imdeborah, cindysc

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31 Albertagirl1009

[Leo815 60]

Wow,Bigdaddy this list has really grown,but I'm excited for all of us.My thoughts and prayers are with each and one of you.Good Luck Marchers......)))))))))

[busybeingme 112]

I just got scheduled for March 26th at noon.

I'm disappointed it is so far out' date=' but its scheduled.[/quote']

That is not that far out... Trust it come faster than you think!