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I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles. I hope Tiff was able to give you some comfort and advice. I hope you continue to heal and get some rest. Thinking of you!

That is great news! Congrats! I'm being sleeved on Fri. using UHC insurance but I had to do a lot of hoop jumping to get here. I'm sure others will be very interested in what sorts of things you used to sway them in your favor!

Does anyone mind sharing their tales of acid reducers, or PPI's, etc. I guess my biggest question is does EVERYONE who gets sleeved need them in some form? I have never had acid or heartburn or reflux, so all of that stuff is a complete mystery to me. Do some of you take them temporarily after surgery and then find that you don't need them. I know some of you have mentioned it is simply part of your daily routine. I'm curious about anyone else who never had trouble with this type of thing prior to surgery and then find that they need them after surgery. I go for my pre-op appointment tomorrow and I will ask the surgeon his opinion, thoughts etc. But just wanted to ask around here too. Thanks!

That is an excellent attitude! LOVE THAT!!!

Congrats on your success! :happy: Halfway to goal is pretty exciting!!!

It is frustrating "shopping" for medical procedures isn't it? My husband and I are both having the sleeve (my turn this week, his *hopefully* in Dec.) and we have a High Deductible Plan, that is ever-so-confusing! We have a family of 4 on his plan and we need to pay $5K out of our Health Savings Account to hit our "deductible", then apparently our insurance (we have UHC) will kick in and pay 90% (we pay 10%) of every bill submitted AFTER we reach our deductible. To be perfectly honest I don't actually know what the negotiated rate will be for each of our surgeries. I know the self-pay price for my surgeon is $20K. I'm hoping that the insurance has negotiated a lower rate, but I really don't know what that exact cost will be. Then you factor in that I have done all my pre-op stuff already, and I'm sure that self-pay price of $20K includes all the pre-op, but since we've already paid for all of that, the cost would naturally be lower. Sorry I doubt this is helpful. Just wanted to say that I know how frustrating it can be trying to figure out the nickles and dimes when it comes to insurance.

Thinking of you, praying all goes well!

It is exciting isn't it? Scary, yet exciting!!! I'm being sleeved on Friday (THIS FRIDAY!) and I can hardly believe my time is almost here. We can be sleeve buddies, with our dates so close. This week I was planning on doing lots of last minute organizing, and whatnot, but I have a sick kiddo at home. I took my 9 year old to the dr. today and had them run a strep test, (it was neg) but now she is sleeping, running a fever and generally not feeling better (so I'm praying that the 2 day doesn't end up as Positive!). My 8 year old daughter has the cough and the runny nose and I'm just praying that I escape this week without getting any sickie germs. UGH! It dawned on me today that I probably need to pack a bag for the hositpal (hoping for only 1 night in the hospital) but I haven't put anything together and I need to do that. Anyway, didn't mean to hijack your post, just wanted to say I'm right there with you. I'll be following you on your journey!

That is GREAT news! I would ask if they could send you something in writing. Just something saying bariatric surgery is allowable under your plan. Fingers definitely crossed for you! One time we had an unusual FSA that allowed actual purchases to be made up until March 15, of the following calendar year (I think this was in 2008 and so our specific plan allowed for us to use that money through March 15, 2009). When I found it I printed out the information, and then later when I wanted to confirm that it was true, I could not find that information ANYWHERE. I called to ask if they could find it and they couldn't find it either, but assured me that it was true. I kept that printout just in case they ever came back to me with a problem.

Congrats! You sound like you are doing great...keep up the good work.

Good luck, I'm right behind you, my surgery is Fri. I hope everything goes perfectly for you!

I would call your FSA provider. Most FSA have a very explicit list of things that CAN and CANNOT be purchased with your account. And since this is a lot of money you are talking about, you need to make sure that there won't be a problem down the road. FSA accounts are reported to the IRS, hence you needing an itemized bill to substantiate your claim. IF they deem that an expense was outside of the allowable limits, you may be asked to refund that money. I wouldn't trust that your test of $10 going through the credit machine in Mexico means that you can charge the max. for your surgery, because they can always come back and say NO, that claim isn't allowable. When you call your FSA provider, write down the person's name (first and last) and have them look at your specific coverage. Ask for any implied coverage in WRITING!!! Do not trust that the provider (the place in Mexico) will know the limitations of YOUR plan. That being said, I hope that you CAN use your FSA, because that is the whole idea of an FSA is to pay for items NOT covered under your medical plan. I hope it works out for you.

This is an excellent idea! My husband was VERY supportive of me in this process, and I wanted him to do it too. He kept saying, "no, you go ahead, you have a ton of motivation, etc, you will do great at this" THEN he went to the seminar with me and about 2 weeks later went "I need to do this too." I was so happy that he is taking the steps to be healthy as well. Plus in a few months (He is 2 months behind me) we can split a meal when we eat out!!!

Congrats to you!!! I am being sleeved on Fri. and it is sooooo nice to hear uplifting stories. I know it isn't going to be easy, but it WILL be worth it, I have no doubt!

Wow, that is a huge difference! That is only 20lbs??? Well done and Happy Birthday!

I have UHC and had to do 6 months of required weight monitoring, BEFORE anything could be submitted or approved. Once submitted, UHC gives themselves 15 days to approve or deny a benefit. You might call and find out how much time they allot themselves.

Welcome and congrats on your weight loss so far and your committment to improving your health! My story is similar ...even what you weighed in HS, was about what I weighed back then (and thought I was huge!) lol. Now my dr. wants me to weigh 150!! Anyway, I'm a 38 year old married mom of 2 girls and I started this journey back in Apr. of this year researching my insurance and then started the 'hoop jumping' process to actually have surgery. In the 6+ months that I have been working on this, I did lots of research and decided that the band was not for me. Also, my husband went to the seminar with me and decided he wanted to do this too. It was at his insistance that I do more sleeve research and we both felt much better doing the sleeve vs. the band. (He is hoping for a Dec. date too.) Good luck with everything and I don't mind admitting that I have spent countless hours reading and absorbing tons of info from this site. It has truly been a lifesaver to find all of these people and all of the information here.

Best of luck with everything! I'll be right behind you...my date is Fri. Oct. 22nd. My pre-op is on your surgery date. We can be surgery buddies...and stay in touch!

Congratulations!!! I was just approved on Wed. after 6 months of insurance-required weight monitoring. I guess I must be lucky b/c my surgeon doesn't require a liquid diet, except for 24 pre-op. Of course liquids AFTER surgery, but nothing really before. I thought I would be eating crazy and trying to eat everything I love before next week, but so far today I've had 1 egg on a 100 calorie toaster thin bread, 1/2 of a chesse & ground beef quesedilla (from leftovers and the tortilla was a life balance low-carb one), a protien bar and about 3 cups of popcorn. dinner will probably be a salad and some protien. Sorry, I just realized I put food items listed in my post on a post where you are struggling with a liquid diet. I hope you keep up with the plan they have you on, I know it is difficult!!! (I did an all liquid diet for 7 months one time about 13 years ago...Medifast...ugh!) Anyway, hang in there and keep posting!

1. To be a 'healthy' weight...and have my healthy brain & insides match my exterior body. 2. To avoid Diabetes & Hypertension (it runs in my family). 3. To change my relationship with food. 4. To play with my kids, BE THERE for my kids, and be a good example for my kids. 5. To be able to "participate" in life. Want to go swimming...sure! Hope on a boat or go waterskiing...sure! Race you to the corner...sure! 6. To have a clear conscious at the end of the day instead of 'beating' myself up over eating food. 7. To shop wherever I want and not be "limited" by the "plus" size selection. 8. To be a sexy wife to my awesome hubby. 9. To ride a rollercoaster, airplane, or any other type of device that is limiting to larger people. 10. Because I can do this! And I get to be in charge of my fate, instead of obesity-related issues ruling my current life, and my future.

I was just approved today by UHC. I called back in April and was assigned a bariatric case manager and a bariatric nurse manager both from UHC. They have helped through this whole process. My BMI is 44 and I have no co-morbidities. The information I have from them lists surgery will be approved on the following basis: Class III obese (BMI > 40) Class II obese (BMI 35 - 39.9) in the presence of one or more of the following: - Type 2 diabetes - Cardivascular disease (e.g. stroke, myocardial infarction, stable or unstable angina, pectoris, hypertension or coronary artery bypass) - Life-threatening cardiopulmonary problems (e.g. severve sleep apnea, Pickwickian snyndrome, obesity-related cardiomyopathy) So I imagine that if your BMI is between 35 and 39.9 without at least one co-morbidity listed then it will be denied. Sorry. I'm surprised that they didn't give you at least a case manager to walk through this with you and give you advice, etc.

I FINALLY have a date. 6 months into the process, I finally have a date I can plan around, and it is a good date for me! I'm so happy! Oct. 22, 2010 Now I have to scroll back through this list and see if anyone else is going to be sleeved on that same day. :teeth_smile:

I agree that it can be un-nerving to hear that type of thing. My surgeon is extremely well-known and highly respected, and when I asked how many sleeves he has done, the answer came back at around 15. I have full confidence in him though, as he stated the sleeve is much easier to do than the over 2,000 bypasses he has done. He also does bands as well, so I know he is well-rounded. He is the creator of the Full-Bar (which he insists is not an answer for morbidly obese people) but rather a product for those who have less to loose, to help them curb their hunger. I think most of my surgeon's materials, support, guides, etc. are set up for band or bypass, as the sleeve is "relatively" new as a stand-alone WLS. The are working on having more inclusion of the sleeve as it is becoming much more popular. In the end, you have to do your research and do what is best for you. Always listen to that inner voice!

I am sitting here completely floored. I was told that my nurse would not even get to my file until after Oct. 18th, and SHE CALLED TO APPROVE THIS AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder if her vacation plans changed or she brought her work with her??? I didn't get to talk to her, she just left a message while I was dropping the girls at school to say I've been approved! So I actually have a date...Oct. 22nd. I'm SO HAPPY! Thanks for those of you who gave me encouragement. It is an incredibly frustrating wait

Congrats! That is DEFINITELY worth celebrating!!!