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I love the Oikos yogurt. Even before my preop diet. It has a luxuriously creamy texture and not overly sweet.

Everything happens for a reason. You've got a date now and a goal of 16 lbs before surgery. That will help the time pass quickly and keep you focussed. Plus the more you lose before surgery the less you have to lose after. You'll be there in no time. Good luck and congratulations on getting your date.

Tracey

WOOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!

I just got off the Phone with the surgery scheduler and I am set for September 17th.

Yeah, can't wait. 2 week liquid diet before hand and preop on Sept 2nd.

I am now waiting for the scheduler to call me back. Hoping for the Week of Sept 20th. Good luck everyone.

Tracey

Try planning your meals out the evening before. I try to do this and it really helps. And crock pots are great for slow cooking dinner all day. I have even resorted to packing small Snacks in zip lock bag, like grapes or hard boilled egg whites, that I can bring to work and snack on while driving home. By the time I get home I just make dinner for the kids and am not starving so I eat a little, like a quater of what I would normally eat, of whatever Protein and veggie I make for them. So far I have done better with this than the weight watchers. I did that for 6 months and even though I lost only a few pounds my insurance approved me in less than a week.

Hope this helps and I'm sure more will respond with other ideas.

That's the great thing about this site because what works for someone might not for someone else. I love the different varieties of answers people come up with.

Good luck.

Tracey

My Surgeon likes you to lose 10% of your body weight before surgery. But, he won't cancel if you don't lose all of it as long as you're making the effort. He will however cancel you if you gain weight before surgery.

They started me on Phase I of the preop diet and it is low fat Protein and fruit or vegetable at every meal. Plus 2-3 servings of dairy daily. 64 Oz Water. No Carbs at all from grains or processed foods. I'll be on this diet until I start my 2 weeks of liquids for phase II of the preop diet.

So far in 3 days I have lost more than I did on 6 months of weight watchers.

Good luck to you and Keep us posted.

I just read am article on ABC news about your surgeon using this technique. So it was really good to see someone who has had it. I'm sure mine will just be the regular lap procedure. But it's great to see the progress this surgery is making.

Good luck to you in your new journey and keep us posted.

Glad to hear surgery went ok. Hopefully you'll get beyond the gas pains quickly and be up and around again soon. Congratulations on this major like changing event. Keep up posted.

I have to agree. This site is a wealth of information. And it helped to pass the time while I've been doing my 6 months of diet and now waiting to schedule. Good Luck to you. I think I have a date of Sept 17. But not positive until tomorrow or Monday.

I'm in Central Florida. Having Surgery with Dr Keith Kim at Celebration Health. They have a great program here but in may be a bit of a trip from Sebastian. Good Luck on you Quest.< /p>

Yes very nice to know that part is done. Now I am waiting for the nurse to call to get me scheduled.

This is absolutely fantastic for one month's time. I can't wait to be in your shoes. Keep up the good work and Congratulations.

Tracey

I can sympathize. I got my approval call today. The girl who handles the insurance said the nurse will call in about 10 days to make my appointment for the nurse assessment and then they can schedule my appointment with the surgeon for 2 weeks before surgery. So I think I'll be in October sometime as well. But I'm still trying for September.

Good luck to you.

I got home from work last night to find a letter from Cigna insurance stating they needed more information. So when I called them to see what else they needed the lady tells me "oh, it's already been approved the office must have faxed it in already.":lol0:

Yay, the 6 month diet paid off.

I called the insurance coordinator today to see what my next step is, just waiting to hear back from her. I've already had a pulmonary clearance and I go for my Cardiac evaluation on Friday. Both required by my surgeon due to hypertension, Asthma and sleep apnea.

I know they make you see the nurse first. Then get all the clearances (I knew they would require these so I scheduled them early). Then I can schedule my date and get an appointment for preop.

Origionally trying for a november date but now thinking mid to late September if I can pull it off. Wish me luck.

Here is a copy of what I sent to the Surgeon. It is actually an outline given by their office at the information sessions.

August 4, 2010

To Whom It May Concern:

This Letter is a formal request for approval for Bariatric Sleeve Gastrectomy, for my patient _____________D.O.B______.

__________ is 5?5? and weighs 252 pounds. Her body mass index (BMI) is 41.9. She has been diagnosed with morbid obesity (CPT code: 278.01), since ____. She is having significant adverse symptoms as a result of her obesity. She is having difficulty standing and exercising due to the significant impact of the excess weight on her body. She has difficulty performing any daily activities and in participating with her friends and family in recreational activities.

She has been diagnosed with ____________________. The effects of these conditions are severe, and can be life threatening. Co-morbidities have proven to be expensive to treat and sometimes incurable. Research has shown that weight loss is not only cost effective for the insurers, but for the patients as well.

_________________ has made numerous weight loss attempts, including:

• South Beach Diet
  
• Weight Watchers
  
• Curves
  
• Transformations medical weight loss
  
• Michael Thurmond
  
• Certified nutritionist consultations
  

Based on ____________?s medical history, it is highly recommended she undergo bariatric surgery. In my professional opinion, it is the only way to improve her health conditions and significantly improve her lifestyle. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Sincerely,

MD

P.S. I was approved in less than a week.

Hope this helps,

Tracey

Thanks everyone.

I'm glad they made me jump throught the hoops though. When I started, Cigna didn't cover the sleeve,now they do. It's only going to cost me out of pocket about 10% of what it would have to go to Mexico. So the money I've saved I plan on putting towards my plastics.

Again, Thanks everyone on this board for the information.

Tracey

So, on my way home from work the office called to let me know they would be submitting tomorrow. Yeah. I'm so nervous that they'll deny it. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

:001_tongue:I just had my 6 month visit with the Dr for my supervised diet plan.

Got my pulmonary clearance, referral to the Bariatric surgeon (this was just an insurance requirement, he knew my intentions from the first visit),

letter of medical necessity, and 7 months of notes faxed to the Bariatric Surgeons office.

Now I wait to see how long it will take them to submit or if they need any other information.

The 6 months diet hasn't been too bad. The time actually flew by. Only lost 7 pounds but at least it was a loss.

So now I wait........

The last time I flew I was 245 and I'm 5'5" and I fit fine. It was a 5 hour flight from Orlando to San Fransisco. A little snug but no way would have needed a second seat. They also sometimes have seat belt extenders if needed on most airlines.

I have to agree. Definately better to be safe than sorry. Go to the Hospital.

Medicare starts their coverage changes usually in October. So hopefully by then there should be some new information coming out.

This is the response I received from the Cigna representative.

Hi Tracey

The requirement for the physician directed weight loss is six continuous months, with documentation done monthly by your doctor of the current weight, diet program and physical activity. Our authorizations department would look for approximately two years of weight history in order to make their determination.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to let me know. You can also review our coverage position on bariatric surgery at http://www.cigna.com/customer

Thank you Stephany48463.

That is what I suspected.

I think after my appt next week I will have my PCP send everything to the surgeons office and see if they'll submit with 6 visits. I also have all of my weight watchers note for the last 5 months too.

Thanks, I get the math, but to look at some peoples responses on other boards it's not actually clear if its 6 office visits or 26 actual weeks on a supervised diet. I actually saw the Doctor a week before I started the diet.

Good luck to you both and hope you have a speedy easy recovery.