Total Newbie- Looking for fellow newbies!

[BeckaLou67 0]

Hi Everyone, this is my very firsti posting. I've hit a roadblock with scheduling my surgery. I've been approved! yeah!! Now, I'm faced with the issue of being diagnosed with Moderate sleep Apnea and now beng told that I can't have the surgery date until I have "logged in" 200 hours using the A-PAP machine that I'm getting. I'm hoping to get it soon and try to get used to it. I really wanted to have this surgery before the holidays so I will have lost some weight when my relatives who haven't seen me in a year will be able to tell. Wish me luck on getting that machine quick. I can't imagine having that thing strapped to my face and try to sleep! Ugh!!

[Kathy812 794]

Hi beckalou! Welcome.

I did the home sleep study 1st and was told I have severe sleep apnea. So I go back next Tuesday for the overnight sleep study. Several people have told me that once you get the device you will notice a big difference (for the better) I'm told I will wake up more rested.

However, you've got me worried. I've done all my pre-op testing & I see my surgeon on Friday. I was hopeful he may give me my surgery date. now I'm concerned about my insurance requirements with the CPAP. Oh well.

[Lenny T 22]

New here too.Will meet surgeon tomorrow. I hope to be on fast trac to get surgery as i have high bmi.Good luck to all other new canidates.Hope to follow this forum through to a succesful end. Len

[fitdrea30 41]

I am 2 months in for my 6 months pre op and have a sleep study in a couple of weeks. My BMI on my 1st appointment was 39.? And yesterday it was 40. My NUT and surgeon told me not to gain any more weight and try to lose some as insurance companies are becoming more strict about this. I'm excited to make this change and connect with you all!

[AZCorey 5]

I'm a newbie too. I went to the Bariatric Seminar last month, met with the surgeon yesterday. My insurance requires I be monitored for 6 months prior to surgery. I meet with the nutritionist Sept 5th. The process is just beginning for me. I'm guessing I'll be sleeved in Feb 2015.

[Jana64 65]

I also just starting. I have upmc insurance and just sent in my forms for a bariatric consult.

Losing weight has been doable for me but I can't keep it off. I'm 280 @ 5'8" BMI of 42.7.

My insurance has a six month supervised diet requirement also. What happens if I lose below 41 bmi?

[Lexibelle 18]

Congrats to everyone just starting out. When I first started the process for WLS back in 2012, my insurance required the 6mo diet. I was really surprised this time when mine (Anthem BCBS) didn't. All of my paperwork was submitted a week ago, though it only got to the review person on Wednesday (long story - but tip - follow up with the insurance company about the paperwork!). They said it should be about 5 business days ... I'm planning to call later today to check in on it.

Really hoping I'll be scheduling surgery for sometime next month. I'd originally hoped for the beginning of the month, but I doubt that's going to happen without a scheduling miracle.

[fitdrea30 41]

Lexi I have anthem bcbs of GA (live in MI) that's exciting news. Maybe the rest of the anthems will follow as of now I have been told it's 6 months

[Lexibelle 18]

Lexi I have anthem bcbs of GA (live in MI) that's exciting news. Maybe the rest of the anthems will follow as of now I have been told it's 6 months

Hopefully! Mine is based out of CA, though I actually live in WA (it gets confusing). I was really surprised when I looked up the requirements and there was no mention of a diet. Just 1 nutritionist visit, visit with the psych and then surgeon evaluation of your past dieting attempts.

I keep waiting to hear back and be told I still have to wait 6 months ... think I'm preparing for the worst. LOL The last time we tried to do this, we had to stop just a month into the process so I'm kind of skittish.

[STWoodley 25]

Hi Everyone,

I am a newbie as well I have completed most of my pre-op testing I just have EDG Scope cardiac , and Doppler to complete.

I am hoping to have a date scheduled soon and hoping to find a sleeve buddy.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone

[Soc 2]

Hi everyone! I'm new here! I first began looking at WLS options in April of 2012, but my insurance didn't cover it at that time. Fast forward, and I'm now on an insurance plan that covers WLS!

The clinic I chose in Florida requires that we attend a seminar first, so I did that on Friday. It lasted about 2 hours. My first appointment with the surgeon I chose is 9/10! I'm so nervous but really excited.

The staff at the seminar let me know my insurance doesn't require all that much -- a TSH test, a letter of support from my PCP, 1 psych evaluation, and BMI requirements (which I meet). I have an appointment with my PCP tomorrow to get the TSH test out of the way, and hopefully she'll have no qualms about a letter of support.

My insurance does not require a supervised diet according to my clinic, and I'm certainly hoping that remains true. I know other people at the seminar did have to go with the supervised diet according to their insurance, so here's to keeping my fingers crossed that I really am avoiding that roadblock.

If everything goes the way it should, I think I'll be able to have my surgery in October! (November at the latest.)

Edited August 25, 2014 by Soc

[Jana64 65]

That's great that they don't make you jump through hoops!

[tnl1031 52]

For those of you who have started the process, are in process. Can you spell out what you've been asked to do so far?

For instance, did you need to get a referral from your family doc? What was the first meeting with the Bariatric Team like? What did they require you do before approving you for surgery? (I know each is different, I'm curious...)

I don't meet with the Bariatric docs here until August 26th. I'm curious to see what others have experienced and what they've been told the process is... THANK YOU!!!

I went to a seminar with the surgeon I picked on 4/30. My insurance does not require a specific program, but my hospital required a 3 month program as they are a Center of Excellence. I then had 3 group meetings, 2 with dieticians and 1 with an exercise physiologist. Three appointments with a NP at the Weight Loss Center. A one on one with a nutritionist and a behavioral specialist. An appointment with the surgeon to go over everything and decide which kind of surgery to have, I am having a sleeve done and one group support meeting.

I already know I have sleep apnea, so I don't have to do a sleep study, I have an endoscopy scheduled as well as a cardiac eval scheduled. Then the basic pre-op testing, bloodwork, chest x-ray, visit with the anesthesiologist.

I have a tentative surgery date for 9/23 and my case should have gone to my insurance company on Friday or today. I am very nervous, I just hope the approval comes through and I can move on. Hope this helps!

[ldg 17]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post and I am really excited about being here! My initial consultation with my surgeon was July 10. My next steps are meetings with a nutritionist and psychologist, which I have scheduled for Sept (2 appts each). My next appt. with the surgeon is Oct. 9, and I am hoping I can get a surgery date scheduled for mid-Dec. I have started a diet and exercise program on my own - even though it is not required, I want to be in the best shape possible for surgery and to get used to what I will need to do postoperatively to maintain weight loss. So far, about a month in, I have lost 11 lbs. I have attended 2 support groups for my surgeon's patients. In addition, I have read several books, including the "Big Book", and the Emotional First Aid Kit, both of which were very helpful. I'm just trying to be as prepared as possible! Best of luck to everyone here!

[KatieD6982 68]

Hi everyone, today is my first appointment! I am super nervous. I'm ready but the worry of approval is always on my mind. I'll check back in this afternoon!