Hey! I'm new here

[rredrruby87 27]

Hey everyone one! Im new to this site. I am single, 26yrs old and I am now 210lbs and 5'3". I have high blood pressure, high cholestoral, herniated discs in my back, and diabetes and many heart conditions run in my family. Since last week I've decided I want to get the gastric sleeve, so I am in the very beginning of this process. Ive been yo-yo dieting for a couple years now and threw away a couple thousand with medifast. Which i was losing the weight and gained it all back once I ate real food. I have a 6 year old daughter whom I do not play enough with because I just dont have the energy or body parts hurt or Im too hot (because I only wear pants). If I can lose the weight I can give her a much better and more enjoyable life. I used to be very active and athletic and now not at all, I am not happy with this big body! I want to go outside in shorts and a tank top, I want to go swimming, I want to play sports and fit into boots that go over my calves!! lol I want to get down to 115-125lbs. I just started this process though and I am reading that it seems to take months until you can get scheduled for a surgery. I am at the point I just want this RIGHT NOW! I am going to a required informational seminar and support group this evening to get things started and then I will be able to schedule a consultation with the surgeon. Does anyone know how I can get this process moving a little faster? Or have any tips or advice to give? Oh and anyone who is similar in size/age to my starting weight I want to know how well your skin went back. It would be greatly appreciated!!

[mokee 588]

Depends on your insurance. Probably will not get done till next year. A lot of people try to get in before the end of yr because of deductibles etc. The surgeons are swamped. At least that is what happened to me last yr. and I read this with others also. So just be patient and do a lot of research and make sure this is for you. Take a list of questions to the seminar and you will learn quite a bit.

[sonya139 95]

Appreciate this time. I had to wait 3 months and it's the most valuable three months I could have spent. I have researched and researched and even was able to change my mind of wanting RNY to wanting The Sleeve. That wouldn't have happened had I not have this time to read, research and talk to people on the forums. Next thing I know I will be done with my 3 months next week. It flew by.

[lrs 33]

Where are you from? I had mine done at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis. From the first lecture to surgery was 3 months. The time went by fast. What I did before I was told my surgery date I was testing different Protein Shakes and I even started using them to get a jump start in getting in the habit of drinking them. Hang in there you'll be glad to had the surgery. I am 5 weeks out and down 29 1/2 pounds.

[makingadjustments 50]

I have BCBS and the process went very fast for me...My PCP did all of my labs and EKG which made the process faster. I had my first consult on Aug 27 and everything was complete and submitted with the approval from insurance company for surgery on Sept 23 but I found out I was approved yesterday. My surgeons office is a one stop shop they set up 4 appointments in one day for me with one co-pay and then two appointments in one day with another co pay. Every appointment took place at one location seeing different people, even the psych doctor came to the surgeon's office to do appointment. I find out my surgery date Friday and the case manager said I may start my pre-op diet next week. Good Luck although my nerves are everywhere I am excited about my journey and I wish you all the luck.

[makingadjustments 50]

BCBS-GA

[rredrruby87 27]

Where are you from? I had mine done at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis. From the first lecture to surgery was 3 months. The time went by fast. What I did before I was told my surgery date I was testing different Protein shakes and I even started using them to get a jump start in getting in the habit of drinking them. Hang in there you'll be glad to had the surgery. I am 5 weeks out and down 29 1/2 pounds.

Im from maryland and the seminar and support group were for a doctors group out of Upper Chesapeake Hopsital. And thats a great idea! I think I will buy some shakes and see how they taste so I can find the right ones and be prepared.

[rredrruby87 27]

Appreciate this time. I had to wait 3 months and it's the most valuable three months I could have spent. I have researched and researched and even was able to change my mind of wanting RNY to wanting The Sleeve. That wouldn't have happened had I not have this time to read, research and talk to people on the forums. Next thing I know I will be done with my 3 months next week. It flew by.

I hope so. I've feel like Ive literally become obsessed with researching the gastric sleeve, since Ive decided thats what I want. Im just worried that its going to take a lot of work to get the insurance company to cover it, even though I qualify I just dont want to delay the process. I want to begin my new healthy life!!

[rredrruby87 27]

I have BCBS and the process went very fast for me...My PCP did all of my labs and EKG which made the process faster. I had my first consult on Aug 27 and everything was complete and submitted with the approval from insurance company for surgery on Sept 23 but I found out I was approved yesterday. My surgeons office is a one stop shop they set up 4 appointments in one day for me with one co-pay and then two appointments in one day with another co pay. Every appointment took place at one location seeing different people, even the psych doctor came to the surgeon's office to do appointment. I find out my surgery date Friday and the case manager said I may start my pre-op diet next week. Good Luck although my nerves are everywhere I am excited about my journey and I wish you all the luck.

Ok that sounds like how my PCP is. And in fact a month ago my PCP did all those tests on me I wonder if those can be submitted to the insurance? Luckily my surgeon is a one stop shop as well. But congrats!! Please keep me posted on how things are going for you!

[gomekast 559]

I have BCBS of ma. All of my pre op stuff took a month. Submitted to ins last week and got approval yesterday.

I see the surgeon next Thursday and am looking at an end of October surgery date.

My surgeons office said I was the fastest they'd ever seen get approval. Your ins company will dictate how fast you speed threw the process.

Welcome and sending you luck and patience!

[sonya139 95]

I hope so. I've feel like Ive literally become obsessed with researching the gastric sleeve, since Ive decided thats what I want. Im just worried that its going to take a lot of work to get the insurance company to cover it, even though I qualify I just dont want to delay the process. I want to begin my new healthy life!!

I know exactly how you feel!

[kiwi17 54]

I had to go through 6 month supervised weight loss which was an insurance requirement for the surgery. I did so much research in that time and had a lot of great preparation for the surgery by my surgeon, dietitian, psych and exercise coach. I thought I was 100% ready. When I got home from surgery, I felt so lost...like I didn't remember anything! I struggled for the first 2 weeks and had a lot of regrets. I did have a complication of a splenic infarction, but the symptoms resolved after a 2 day admission and I have no ill effects now.

The 6 months I had to prepare were very valuable. I can't imagine how much more lost I would have been with only a months notice. Time will fly while going through the process. I still can't believe I'm 5 months post-op already.

[symoned29 27]

Hi everyone so I am scheduled for oct 1st and my first appt was aug 9th I was not required to do any weigh ins for 6 months I switched to metro plus to avoid all of that so at my initial appt I was givin a list of things required for approval pych eval blood work EKgs 2 seminars and a letter of support from my doctor and ultra sound and X-ray I got all of that done took it back sept 6 and was given the date oct 1st and 3 days later received the phone call that metro plus had submitted my approval I am in NYC and having my sugery at St.lukes Rooselvelt

[Tbird49 66]

Keep researching so your ready the time will fly by I was a self pay but I still waited 5 months until I was mentally and physically ready ... It will happen when the time is right