MeFirst

I went with Dr Uchal at St Vincents because he was recommended to me when I was having problems with my lapband. He actually removed my lapband 2 years ago. And I LOVE him. He performs a lot of revisions and difficult cases. I truly feel very comfortable with him. So it was only natural to chose him for my VSG surgery. The staff at St vincents Weightloss was very helpful. My surgery coordinator set up all my appointments, and everything ran very smoothly. In fact, my paperwork was submitted to insurance the day after my last nutritional class. They are really in the ball. I recommend going to a couple of seminars and see who you are comfortable with. I'm confident all the surgeons in these practices are great! Good Luck!!!

Whose doing your surgery? I'm doing mine at Riverside March 14 with dr UchalEdited: I remember your post from earlier....duh!! Good luck with Dr H. March 9 is so close

I'm a lapband revision. BCBS Fed approved my lapband in 2/2011, port replacement in 3/2013, and lapband removal 11/2013. I just got approved to have the sleeve (surgery scheduled for March 14!!). However, I did have to go through the 3 month supervised diet, psych eval, and all pre-op tests again.

Really sorry about your polyps. I'm March 14 also.....2 weeks to go. Woohooo!!

I have not started the whole Vitamin routine. I have a paper outlining everything they want me to take....it looks like SO much. I think my surgeon told me to start in Vitamins on post-op day 3, what about yours?? Also, I have to stop taking all vitamins and supplements 5 days before surgery. Good for you quitting smoking. That's gotta be tough!

Woooohoooooo!!! Gotta love BCBS Fed!! Congrats.

I had to pay a $300 program fee $40 co-pay twice $100 co-pay for EGD, X-ray, EKG $200 surgeon fee And I believe $100 hospital fee So about $780 total

Awesome. Thank you for the clarification. I just requested to join. My name is JenniferHey Jennifer - there is also March Sleevers 2016 - March Forth. It is also a closed/secret group. I am a member of both. Great people. Can I join that group? I can't find it on FB, maybe because it's secret.

It took exactly 1 week. So you might be close!! Did you call BCBS Fed to confirm they got everything? I would if you haven't.

Yes. Thank you Loving it so far. Glad that it's private. It's great to have somewhere to go ask questions from people who are going through the same thing without judgment from others who are not

Awesome. Thank you for the clarification. I just requested to join. My name is Jennifer

I just got my surgery date!! March 14. . Any news, NewLife?

Thank you!!! Found it!!!! Is it a secret/closed group? I'm keeping my surgery fairly private. I would want to be able to participate in the group, but not have any of my FB people know.

You make 3 I've seen here so far (4 including me) who are all on for the 14th!!!Make that 5. I'm getting my on the 14th. So excited. I start my pre-op diet on March 1, but decided to go ahead and replace my lunch with a Protein shake. I still eat breakfast and dinner, but that way I wont go from 3 meals to 1 a day. Tiptoeing into the pool.Just got my date too. March 14!!!I'm freaking out a bit . So excited though. March 14

Me too!! In Jax...actually the orange park area

I found out for sure tomorrow, but looks like I'll be a March Sleever also!! Was there a private/secret FB grp for March? I was following the thread, but can't find it

Thank you so much for the reply. I'm SO happy that you were able to have the surgery and are losing weight!! Yay!!!! I'm just going to take deep breathes, relax, and leave it in my surgeons hands. What will be, will be. Thank you for the positive story. It does give me hope

Any update? I'm worried about the exact same thing. My surgery will be in a couple weeks and he won't know until he goes in. I made him promise to really try [emoji16]. I'm so consumed by worry. One of my worst fears is waking up without the sleeve

I'm from Jacksonville FL and am having surgery with Dr Uchal at St Vincents. I have an appt with him tomorrow to finalize everything and to schedule my surgery date. My surgery coordinator has taken care of all my pre-op appointments and everyone I have dealt with had been extremely nice and helpful. I don't understand how people in the medical field can be so rude. . Sorry you're dealing with that

I'm from Jacksonville FL Your lack of gall bladder and kidney stones shouldn't stop you from getting the sleeve. Lots of people on these boards have had their gall bladders removed. It's so exciting. Good luck!!!

Also, all of the appointments for everything were scheduled through my coordinator at the bariatric center. I pretty much only had to show up

The psych eval was pretty straight forward. I had to fill out a questionnaire prior to the meeting. Then sat and chatted with the psychologist. Pretty basic. Nothing to worry about. I needed a chest X-ray, EGD, EKG, an abdominal ultrasound to check gall bladder liver kidneys etc, and blood work.

Following....I work as a bartender 1 day a week. Lots of lifting, twisting, standing, and walking. I was hoping not to have to take 6 weeks off. But if that's the way it has to be, so be it

Thank you What insurance do you have? I haveBCBS Fed. I had a 3 month supervised diet---which was 3 monthly group meeting with a NUT, a psych eval, a few medical tests, and that's it. The time went by super fast

I can only help you with the first question. It took me 1 week from date of submission to call from my surgery center saying I was approved. I have my last appt with my surgeon Tuesday to get my surgery date .