Nancy Rivers

Congrats on the 33 pounds! That's awesome!

Good luck on Monday! You'll do fine!

Good luck. It can be a real pain dealing with insurance companies.

Thanks. It's good to hear what to expect. I'm meeting my ride at 7am and have to be at the hospital at 8am. So glad that it is a morning appointment!

I let my boss know as soon as I had a surgery date. It's always best to be in communication about the time off you need from the very beginning - that way in case things happen like people quitting or someone else putting in for vacation at the same time, your request was first so should be honored first.

Congrats on the approval and date!

Thanks for sharing your experience. It's helpful. I'm lucky in that mine is scheduled for 9:30am. I have to be at the hospital at 8am.

Congratulations on making it through the surgery. It sounds like everything has gone really well for you. Thank you for posting your story.

Wow! Awesome job! Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Welcome to the forums. You'll find a lot of information and support here. Congratulations on having a date and good luck with the surgery!

Congratulations! That is awesome progress!

Welcome to the forums and congratulations on having a date!

I voted in the poll. I'll be starting my 2 week diet on Tuesday. Pre-op teaching is Monday and that's when I will get the diet and supplies for it (they are making me buy the supply from them instead of online). I still have to do the EGD on Friday - hopefully that goes well.

Not yet. The PCP did the blood tests and doesn't really do anything about them until I return 3 months later. I plan to ask the surgeon when I see him Friday (he's doing my EGD).

Ok, thanks. I figured I was over-reacting, but it's nice to get an answer.

Congrats!! That's awesome!

According to their website - and reviews on amazon - it's not that reliable for biking. For walking or jogging yes - but not for biking. Not quite sure why though.

My blog is in my signature.

Welcome to the forums! Congratulations on starting your new weight loss journey! I attended the info seminar on April 6. It wasn't until May 1 that I actually got an appointment scheduled with the surgeon - and then only because I called and asked about it. At the seminar they told us they would check the insurance coverage and call us - usually within 2 weeks. I waited a little longer since I'm out of state, but when I didn't hear, I got anxious and called. Apparently they had some issues with about 5 of us and had just gotten the response back from the insurance a day or two before. I met with the surgeon the first time on May 18. I will be having surgery on July 12. I am self-pay as insurance won't cover anything weight related. However, if your insurance will cover it, it could be 6 months as you jump through their hoops. What I would do is call your insurance company to find out 1) do they cover it and 2) if they do, what are their requirements. They will let you know. Of course then it also depends on your surgeon's schedule....

Good luck today and I'm sure it will go fine. I can relate - I'm single with no kids and will be going through this alone. But, it really isn't bothering me as I am so used to doing things by myself. It stinks that I have to have people dropping me off and picking me up from the hospital for the EGD and then of course for the surgery. I hate depending on others for anything. But rules are rules, so I deal with it.

Congratulations! I'm glad you haven't had any issues.

I am not telling my family of it. The people I am living with in Cincinnati know of course since they can't help but notice I will be doing things differently - plus I need someone to take me to and from the hospital. Some of my students (I teach union workers how to use computers) know. My boss - I just told him yesterday that I am having a medical procedure done and when I will return to teaching. I'm sure if I told him what it was, he would be supportive as he always has been supportive of anything that I do. The funny thing is I haven't really had very many people give me grief over it. Mostly I just get "Do your research on it". Of course I have, otherwise I wouldn't be going forward with it. Most people know that I am a research freak anyway. I haven't had anyone flat out tell me not to. But then, if I had told my family about it, then I would have encountered that. I think that you should let people know if you are comfortable with them knowing. If you know they will not be supportive - then don't tell them. Just let them be surprised when they see how much weight you have lost and then just tell them that you made lifestyle changes (which is not lying!) when they ask how you did it.

For my EGD that is Friday, I had to put down a $200 deposit - which they will charge to my credit card on Friday. They told me that insurance will cover 80% and I have a 20% copay, but they required the deposit upfront. On Monday when I go for the pre-op teaching, I will have to pay for the surgery in full (I'm self-pay).