Khy

Aetna is very busy this time of year. Slip ups do occur. My Dr.'s office filed June 21st. Aetna claims they didn't receive it until the 23rd. July 1st and I was still not in the system. Yes they received it but no they haven't done anything with it. I told them I was getting worried about that so they sent my call to another office. This lady lectured me on the fact that I could not file my own precert. Sigh... I told her she was correct. My Dr.'s office filed it for me. OH... well we do have 48 hours to get you into the system... I told her when it had been filed. Again she replied she had 48 hours to get it into the system. I pointed out that it had been longer than 48 hours since the 21st. Oh.. well I guess I could put you into the system now. After that she was very helpful and got me in the system and sent my precert for review. Lesson... be proactive with your insurance company. They are very busy and humans make errors. Be there to help them correct the errors. Khy

We are all thinking of you. Let us know how you are doing as soon as you can. Khy

The thing that has been bothering me for awhile... I know once I have the sleeve counting carbs is very important. What scares me is everytime I have tried Atkins, South Beach or any of the very low carb diets... I feel awful! I get headaches, feel dizzzy, feel faint, sweat, and feel like the air is made of molasses. I initially lose weight and then start gaining. I know this isn't true for most people because I have been told by numerous people that "it works for me so you just don't want to do the diet." And it is true, I have seen people lose alot of weight fast on those types of diets. Just doesn't seem to work for me. I can't imagine living like that for a year or however long it takes me to lose weight. So at this point I am trying to accept that I will experience slow weight loss. The calorie restriction that is possible with the sleeve and exercise will help me lose some weight. It will just take a bit longer than most people. Khy

Please post some wedding pics. You are lovely. That style of dress really compliments you! Khy

LOL That was funny! Yes it kinda sounds like my hystectomy exp. except I didn't get the morphine. Buzz the nurse... Could I have something for pain? Sure. 45 minutes later I get a pill. Half an hour to 45 minutes later it takes effect. Sleep for awhile. Compression booties or whatever they are were to small and making my ankles swell... disconnect them... nurse rushes in.. I hate these things.. ok leave them off until right before the doc comes and then we will put them back on.. On the other hand... My gall bladder surgery was a piece of cake. Khy

I also have nickel allergies... I have one pair of earrings that don't bother me and they are about all I wear. However I do have other piercings and they are medical grade titanium. I have not had any problems with them. I wonder if the staples are the same grade or what? Think I will go research this a bit. Khy

I went to http://www.nashuanutrition.com/store/clearance/ and they have expired protein bullets at about half price. I think I will buy some and judge from there. I am not real comfortable buying expired food. Kinda hate to take the chance on losing money but hate to pass savings if they are still good. Is this a powder? I would think a powder would not go bad very fast but a liquid might. Khy

My Aetna (DOD) covers vsg. It remains to be seen if they will cover me... Aetna is known to be very picky. Khy

WoW What and inspiration... Everytime I wanna eat something I am gonna go back and look at ur before & after pics! Khy

I called the Dr.'s office today to check on some lab results. I started asking about a pre-op diet. They said Dr. Terracina was not particular about that. He would do the surgery either way. However, they did notice that those who chose to do it did better after surgery. Told me I could drink protien shakes for Breakfast and lunch and just eat dinner. Looks like I am not going to get much help on this. Can someone post daily limits on Protein, carbs and fat for a pre-op diet? Thanks for any help thrown my way! Khy

Well my doc asked me if i had "a number " picked out. I remember struggling to keep my weight between 120 and 125. Yes I looked good at that weight. But that was really struggling. .. Piece of dry toast for Breakfast. Piece of fruit for lunch. meat, starch, vegetable an may a small desert for dinner. So even though I looked good... I decided to cut myself some slack and said 135. Doc told me most people don't lose that much weight and I would probably end up around 150. Well even 150 is better than it is now. Khy

For those of you who are post menopausal and not on any kind of estrogen therapy... I had trouble with incontinence and LOTS of UTIs.. My doc prescribed a femring... it is an estrogen delivery system that fits in the vagina. I cannot feel it there. Some docs like this because not much estrogen goes systemic as I understand it. After I started using it most of the incontinence stopped and the UTIs are down to about 1 a year instead of 6or7. Khy

Go for it! I am terrified of the wrinkles... I know they are coming my way. Someone here said compression garments help with the ab skin as you are losing weight. Gonna have those things on as soon as I can. Can't hurt and maybe it will help...Wishing I could afford to have face lift and body lift.. LOL Wish they had those for your face... Khy

I keep reading here... Oh I fit into a size 2 or a size 6. Have sizes changed since I was skinny? WWAAYY back when I weighed 110 lbs I was in a size 10. Granted I was never one that had a very flat stomach. I was always more rounded ... round hips and at least a D cup... The thought of fitting into a size 6 makes me giggle with delight (even though it is probably the old 10) Khy

I love the flavored "seltzer waters" too. Problem is... I LOVE the bubbles. I know this sounds crazy but that is going to be the hardest thing for me to give up. I have even been know to drink plain seltzer water... Khy

Of course... I too am sooo ready to get this done. I don't like all this time to second guess myself. I don't like the... what if insurance doesn't approve... Husband said we could look into self pay but now he is backing off of that... I don't deal with uncertainy very well.. I feel like a cat standing on firecrackers... Khy

I have Aetna and mine was sent in 6/21. I have called and they told me I wasn't even in the system yet. They have received it but nothing has been done with it. They told me it could take up to 30 days. The wait is horrible... My surgeons office did say to call and bug them... Khy

Gratz! to all. I have a penciled in date but... I am still waiting on Aetna. Every time I call they say... We just received your precert. You aren't even in the system yet. They told me it might take up to 30 days. That will put me right before the penciled in date... Khy

While in the researching stage, I mentioned I was thinking about it to a few of my friends.. 1 as heavy as I am and one skinny. They both acted like I had lost my mind. They both told me oh u will lose the weight real fast and then you will gain it back real fast. They told me it happens that way every time. Well the research I have looked at says it that isn't necessarily true. So now... my immdiate family knows and just 1 close friend. Khy

Well I am going to ask them to file it with tricare standard ( that is what I have) as a secondary insurance. If they pay some of it ... good ... if they don't... I didn't lose anything trying. Khy

Aetna is my primary insurance and tricare standard is my secondary insurance. Will tricare pay anything since they are secondary? I know they paid part of my hysterectomy but I am thinking maybe this is different since they have taken a hard line against approving vsg outside of a mtf? Anyone have any experience in this area? Khy

LOL I wish someone would order a sleep apnea sleep study on me... It might get aetna to approve me. I asked my PCP but she told me she knows I don't have it even though I snore... but she was against me having WLS anyway. Khy

If you are using a tread mill... I LOVE audio books. Your library probably has a great selection. I HATE doing my housework on the days I have off work but plug in a book with a good story and off I go... everything gets dusted, laundry and and folded... Another idea... find a dance class. Most any kind of dance will get you moving. As heavy as I am I have taken belly dance classes for the last 2 years. Most belly dance studios are very accepting of all sizes of women. They will get you gluts and abs in shape! Khy

Would your Dr. be willing to sit in on this conference with you? He would not be doing the surgery if he didn't think you needed it. I am just trying to think of a way to get you more power when you talk to the insurance company. Get all your documentation lined up. Anything you haven't checked out? Any possible co-moribdities? Line up your guns before you talk to them. Khy