Chicadee

It does go in the signature section however you should be using the BBCODE not the HTML code. Copy the other one and use that instead and it should be ok.

NSV is Non-Scale Victory. Sorry I can't help with the photo question, I am still at the before stages.

Armour is a natural Thyroid medication

Congrats =) I long for the day I don't need to use mine anymore.

I don't believe that BCBS of CT requires that procedure either but it is something my surgeon wants me to do. I have to call the Gastroenterology office tomorrow to schedule a consult. The PA at the doctors office says he makes all of his RNY patients get it so he is also making all VSG's get it now too.

I work in an Office but have the ability to work from home when needed. I plan to take two weeks out of the office. The first for recovery and the second working at home, maybe just half days if needed. The job is too busy for me to take too much time off at one time. I am hoping that is enough.

Hello Everyone, I am pretty new to these forums and only posted in a couple threads so far so I thought I would make a formal introduction. My name is Heather and I have been contemplating surgery for over 3 years now. I'm married, mother of 2 teens and work a pretty stressful, busy office job. Back in 2007, before I knew about the sleeve, I went through the process up to the point where I had a surgery date for the band and I chickened out. I vowed to fix it myself and through a variety of diets, a couple of books and free 3 month Y membership I am here today weighing about 50 lbs more than I did back then. I have a significant amount of weight to lose(200+). I heard about the sleeve from a person that my husband talks to online and I began research it several months ago. I like the idea of this SO much better than the other options. My aunt had a bypass years ago and while she did lose weight, her health has been compromised because of it. Between that, my family history of chrohn's disease and just generally not wanting anything rerouted, I definitely did not want to go with that procedure. I started the process again a few months ago knowing my insurance at the time did not accept the sleeve as a viable procedure. I received notice that my insurance now does accept the sleeve so I am feeling better about finishing up my appointments and getting it done this time. I had to have a 6 month nutrition history so that brings me to about April before I can have the surgery scheduled. All of my appointments are complete except for the gastroenterology visit my surgeon wants me to have before surgery. I look forward to speaking with the folks here and learning from everyone who has already been through this process.

I have completed all of my pre-op appointments, Nutrition, Psych, Cardiologist. I didn't have to have a sleep study because I already know I have sleep apnea. I have to give my primary Dr consent letter to my surgeon and then they can submit for approval to the insurance. I have no idea how long it is going to take them unfortunately. I may know more on Friday, I am going to the surgeons office to speak with the on staff nutritionist because they want me to lose weight before surgery.

I received a call from my surgeons office just last week that BCBS of CT is now considering the VSG an acceptable form of surgery. Previously it was not covered at all in CT with them. I'm so glad I don't have to consider having a band now instead. Not sure where you are located but perhaps they are accepting it in several other states as well.

Thanks for the comments. It is a big decision and I know I cannot continue on as I am. I need to call the Doctor's office back and schedule that next nutrition visit.

I keep going through this roller coaster. A couple years ago I went through the process and had a surgery date to get a band and I chickened out two weeks prior. I recently found out about the sleeve and started the process all over again. The sleeve was not covered by my insurance but my doctor was going to try to see if we could get approval anyway since bypass is not a good idea with my family history of chrohn's disease. I also have an aunt who had a botched up bypass years ago and she is skinny but miserable, in pain and can hardly eat. I've canceled my last two nutrition visits at his office because I haven't lost any weight. He wanted me drinking Protein shakes twice a day and I just keep sabotaging myself. The doctors office left me a message a couple days ago and said that my insurance now covers the sleeve. This is great news because I definitely don't want anything else but I am scared to death to go through with it. I need to lose about 250 pounds overall. if I was told I had to have the surgery I would do it no problem, but because it is elective, I am deathly afraid of doing it and causing myself more health issues than what I already have. Besides being morbidly obese, I have severe sleep apnea and hypothyroidism and a general ache in my body all the time, so as I get bigger my mobility is going out the window. I don't have diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease thank God. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions that has been through this? Perhaps someone else has felt the same way along their journey. I have lost about 15 years to obesity and I am not getting any younger. I used to be a very fit and active person at one time. Thanks for any insight you can give. HMW