Newbie from Minnesota looking for support.

[Leighanne Kaczor 0]

Hello not really sure how this site works but I will give it a try. So I have had my consult done and I guess I have everything else to do. So if there is anyone who wants to fill me in with what to expect or just be support that would be great.

[mdiehm 0]

Have you finished all of your prerequisites? After my consult my file was sent for approval. Once approved they scheduled me for preop. My surgery date May 20 was given to me at that first meeting. I was placed on Optifast for a month. I'm now on day 3...

[Leighanne Kaczor 0]

Hello I went to my consult on the 24th and then tomorrow I am supose to recive calls with appoitments for the sleep study test and the phys- eval. and then I guess my insurance offers o diatician from there company and they do it via phone.

[Purple Iris 14]

Congratulations on your decision to move forward with WLS. There are a lot of people on this site that can give you support at each phase of your journey.. Personally, I'm scheduled for surgery on May 5. I'm one week into my pre-op liquid diet and down 10.8 pounds. i feel great and am looking forward to everything that is to come.

My advice to you at this point, is to stay focused on your decision to have the surgery and don't pass us up an opportunity to learn as much as you can.

Good Luck to you and keep us posted.

[Baconville 578]

Hi,

I am from the Twin Cities and had RNY on June 25, 2013 at St. Joe's in St. Paul. I have had a wonderful, complication free experience. I just celebrated 10 months and am down 186 pounds (40 was lost pre-surgery), The lead up to surgery takes time and patience, but can be done. The life that is waiting for you on the other side of surgery is SO worth it! If you have questions, please feel free to ask. I am on this site frequently. I have recieved so much support for the people on this site and would love to pay it forward.

Congratulations on taking the first step!

Carol

[AMJ55319 2]

Hi! I also am from the Twin Cities and have all my boxes checked to qualify to speak w the surgeon (labs, dietician, lost pre-surgery weight, established care (bc I didn't have a PCP), psych eval, letter from therapist, etc!!) I had to wait two weeks for my appt w my surgeon bc of his office days and my conflicts. As I was obsessing abt this a friend said "it's the difference of a week." And duh! I've been trying to calm down since! So my process is meet w surgeon, insurance approval, pick surgery date, PreOp class w final weigh in then surgery!!! It feels like a long wait, but compared to getting to live the rest of my life in a healthier body, it's NOTHING!!!!

Good luck and I'll see you around here!!!!

amj

[Kari Anhorn 0]

I am also from the twin cities and go to health east bariatric care. Dr Schmidt is my to be surgeon... Any of you other mn ladies with the same clinic by chance?

[AMJ55319 2]

Nope, I'm at Fairview Southdale Hospital. Love it there.

Kari - you're not originally from the St. Cloud area are you? I had a teacher named Anhorn a looooong time ago.

[Baconville 578]

I am also from the twin cities and go to health east bariatric care. Dr Schmidt is my to be surgeon... Any of you other mn ladies with the same clinic by chance?

YES! I had my surgery with Health East Bariatric at St. Joe's Hospital. Dr. Koeplin was my surgeon - I LOVED him! I am normally at the support group meetings, so we may just meet up sometime. If you have questions, please feel free to look me up.

Carol

[Drummergirl505 7]

HI-

I am new to this website too! It is exciting to begin the WLS journey!! I have completed all of the tests and just got my surgery date. I am now waiting for my insurance to approve it. I really hopes that it will come through because my surgery is set for June 10th.

Someone gave me the advice to listen to the Surgeon's office and do what they say to do. The nurse has been advising me. They want the business and they know the local insurance companies inside and out. I have been doing this and it looks like it is working. I hope that it all works out for you. Feel free to ask me anything and if I know the answers I will be glad to help!!

[rome 156]

I started the process at the end of January. I have Healthpartners and had to do 5 phone call appointments with them 2 weeks apart (so that took 10 weeks total), I had the Psych eval, EKG, nutritionist appointments, sleep study. When all of those things were completed they submitted my file to the insurance company. I was approved within a week! Then I met with the surgeon, Dr. Jones (He's with Park Nicollet Methodist/Meadowbrooke) this past Monday and got my surgery date of May 20th! Wednesday, I met with the nutritionist again for the information on the pre-op liquid diet ( 10 days) and then what I can expect after surgery and what the plan is going forward. Pre-op physical is the last step which is next week.

I am ready to start the pre-op liquid diet on May 11th. I have called this my Wizard of Oz Journey in other posts. I'm on my way to Oz (sleeve), my "wizard" Dr. Jones is the best doctor in Mpls. St. Paul and has done many of these procedures, I'm keeping eye on those "flying monkeys" (ie. negative thoughts, tempations etc) and am reminded by the "good witch Glenda" (my nutritionist) that I can do this! All "Dorothy" (Me) needs to do is remember to click my heels and repeat, "There's nothing like health and thin, there's nothing like health and thin, there's nothing like health and thin!!" AKA....trust the process!

Excited for you! Keep in touch :-)

[hannysgrammy 42]

Hi,

I am from the Twin Cities and had RNY on June 25, 2013 at St. Joe's in St. Paul. I have had a wonderful, complication free experience. I just celebrated 10 months and am down 186 pounds (40 was lost pre-surgery), The lead up to surgery takes time and patience, but can be done. The life that is waiting for you on the other side of surgery is SO worth it! If you have questions, please feel free to ask. I am on this site frequently. I have recieved so much support for the people on this site and would love to pay it forward.

Congratulations on taking the first step!

Carol

I am getting ready for preop on May. 13. After that the wait till surgery shouldn't be long should it?

[sylvielicious 1]

I'm new here (first post!) and I'm also going to Fairview Southdale. Love it! I'm planning on having Luis Laguna as my surgeon. Friday I am hoping will be the appointment that my dietician will approve me to speak with the surgeon, then once I speak with him and am approved by him my file will be submitted for approval by insurance. It freaks me out that I could have surgery next month if all goes well, at the same time I'm anxious for it to come!

[rome 156]

Welcome! I have found this forum very beneficial and hope you will too!

No question is too weird, silly or stupid :-) Congrats on starting your journey! I live just across the river in Burnsville. Keep in touch on your progress!

Rome

[sylvielicious 1]

Welcome! I have found this forum very beneficial and hope you will too!

No question is too weird, silly or stupid :-) Congrats on starting your journey! I live just across the river in Burnsville. Keep in touch on your progress!

Rome

We are neighbors! I'm in Savage.