kkandrod

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear this! I don't know what pancreaitis is exactly but I pray you are getting better!!

Hey Carla. The lady that I called in the benefits dept at UHC is who told me that the 5 day thing was strictly for surgery, not for the consults and stuff. To go ahead with that. I thought that before when I callled they had said before I had any sort of services from a bariatric doctor so that's why I called that brs number and the dude told me that they did not service Shell's UHC policy for bariatric, to call the UHC number and talk directly with them. So, that's when I called the UHC number on my card back AGAIN, lol, and that's the last time when I was told everything. I did call the surgeons office today and asked if they would be verifying coverage and requirements before I came on next week and she said yes they would be doing that so I pray that they call me if they are told something different than I was before I drive the 100 miles up there for nothing that day. Thanks for the prayers! I'll be praying you hear very soon!! Keep in touch!

Hi cwalker. Your post is fine where it is. I tell you, it's amazing to me how different policies, even with the same name, can be. I just pray that what the last lady told me was correct. I'm assuming that even the requirements for approval for surgery vary from employer to employer since we both have uhc choice plus and were told two different things. I guess I'll find all that out soon enough. She assured me a few different times that I did not have to contact anyone until at least 5 days before actual surgery, a care coordinator I think is what it's called. And that if there was a 6 month requirement on diet that it would have been listed in the requirements for approval. I am so ready to go to the doc on the 24th so the insurance stuff can get started and I can find out for sure what's required. I'm praying it's exactly what she said and that everything goes smoothly. When will you find out if you are approved for surgery or not? What doc are you using?

Hey Lynda! So glad to see your starting to feel better! Isn't it nice to have sunny, almost warm weather down here in Texas and Louisiana? It's been a beautiful two days here in Louisiana for sure!! So, your doc said that the bile/blood incident yesterday morning was normal? What do they say about the new stomach spasm'ing so soon after surgery with dry heaves and/or vomiting? I guess that's just something that happens and the docs prepare the tummy itself for those kinds of things so nothing messes up when it happens?

I will be approved and have this surgery that I created a "Before" picture album!! LOL How 'bout them apples! Getting excited!! I talked to the surgeons office again today and she said that if everything goes like some of the other patients with UHC's approvals did, I should have surgery before summer!! WOOOHOOO!! I'm believing for May 1st!!

Mary, the way the UHC rep made it sound, it was just something that could be done beforehand if there was a strong case that needed to be made about having VSG versus any other surgery. And because my BMI is less than 40 and ,other than PCOS, I'm not officially diagnosed and on meds for any other co-morbidity so things will have to be explained in greater detail than just submitting for approval as usual. Basically, they can't submit for approval with a BMI above 40 or below but diagnosed with diabetes, HB or anything else and it get approved specifically for VSG for me so I think we may be heading off the long appeal process by basically doing an appeal from the get go with the pre-determination. I hope all that makes sense, I know in my head it does but I don't know if I'm getting out quite right, LOL I'm good at talking in circles and never getting it out in a short and sweet form, LOL I'm excited though. I'm not getting to see my pcp and ob/gyn tomorrow like I was supposed to though and I was excited about that because I was hoping to get my request for their letters in and them have plenty of time to have them done by the time I meet with the surgeon on the 24th. Now, I won't get to see them until the 22nd and I don't know that that gives them time. I sure was hoping for the pre-determination stuff to be done right after my meeting with the surgeon. I want to be past surgery and feeling good and normal by the time my little boy gets out of school at the end of May so we could enjoy the summer without me having to be on mushies and still figuring out how to eat and stuff, lol. I'm still praying for that to happen though!!

I was so excited to finally feel like I was officially beginning the process by going for my yearly check ups tomorrow with my pcp and ob/gyn. I know my pcp would have been on board and done some tests for some things I was a little worried about before wanting to go under the knife plus he would have been able to have time to write me a letter for a pre-determination for my insurance before I meet with the surgeon on the 24th for my first consult. Same thing for my ob/gyn, wanted a letter about my pcos, infertility and weight issues from him to be submitted with it too. Well, I get a call this morning from my pcp's office and they have to cancel my appt. for tomorrow and then tell me that I won't be able to get in until the 29th, 5 days AFTER my consult with my surgeon. So, I go off a little because I was so ready to get everything going and had this appt scheduled for weeks already. Ended up hanging up on them and basically showing my butt and then when I hung up I felt guilty, as I should have, and called back and asked them to please apologize to the girl for me, I couldn't remember her name. Told them why I was so upset about not getting to see him before the 24th and this lady said she'd see what she could do. I call back this afternoon and the soonest they can see me is the 22nd. But, that's ok because it's still before my surgeon consult, don't know if it's enough time to get a letter though. So, on top of that, my husband was supposed to come home from work today but they got fogged in and the helicopter that brings them from the ocean back to land can't fly in the fog. So, he's not coming home until tomorrow so even if the doc hadn't cancelled on me, I would have had to cancel on them. And, if the fog doesn't go away by tomorrow it'll be another day of waiting, but I'm praying that he's home with us by tomorrow afternoon! So, because of him not coming home today and being able to keep our little boy who is out on spring break, I had to call and cancel my ob/gyn appt. too! But, ended up getting them both rescheduled for the 22nd so all is not lost. I just have to wait 2 more stinking weeks before any balls are rolling and it aggravates the poo out of me!! LOL Sorry for the rambling vent. But, no one else understands why in the world I would be upset about having to put off a pcp and ob/gyn checkup, LOL And btw, even though I do wish my hubby had come home today instead of tomorrow I am thankful that the company he works for takes every precaution when it comes to the weather and their choppers flying. I would much rather him be safe and a day late than them to push it and something happen. God is in control and this was meant to happen. I just have to get a better attitude about it, lol. Ok, I'm done and feeling better. Have a blessed night everyone who got this far in my post Krystal

Wow, so you did come home on the same day huh? That's so wild. So glad you are feeling pretty good! Congratulations!!!

Well, this is just me, a not even pre-op gal yet, talking but if it were me, I'd be making my list of favorite foods and tearin' it UP, LOL But, again, that's just me and I don't know if that's the most mentally sound thing to do LOL, I don't even know that I'll be approved for surgery and I've already thought of places I want to go eat and things I want to cook before a pre-op diet or surgery.

Woohooooo!! Congratulations Carrie!! So excited for you!!! I'll keep you in my prayers!! Krystal

fatnomore, is he going to do your sleeve for you too? Feel free to PM me with your thoughts on him, good and bad. I was leaning toward Dr. Norwood but there's no way for me to get to any of his seminars and he won't see me without doing that first. So, that was aggravating and then I heard from my cousin who had him for her vertical band gastroplasty or whatever that thing is called that he had made a MAJOR mistake on her friends band she almost died. So, she mentioned Dr. Merriman and then Grateful Heart on here had him do her sleeve and really liked him. So, that's how I've ended up researching Dr. Merriman now.

Grateful Heart, that's my appt time too! LOL Too funny!! I don't know your real name but you know mine so you'll have to holler at me while we are in the waiting room so we can introduce ourselves to each other. I told them that someone on here had recommended him but I couldn't tell them who because I didnt know your real name, LOL. So, now we'll be able to give credit where credit is due Look forward to meetin' ya! Krystal

Thanks y'all! Who needs luck when my Father's got in His hands right? I'm believing for awesome things!! Thanks for the prayers!

Prayers for healing for your dad, peace for you and your family. Never doubt the miracles our Father can do.

We have UHC Choice Plus. I called that number that Mary posted on another thread and they said that they do not service my hubby's employer's policies so to call the regular UHC number. So I did. I was told that the number they said I had to call 5 days before receiving services referred only to the actual surgery, not the consults and testing. That those things would be covered under the regular policy stuff. Let's pray that's true because I want to meet with as many surgeons as I can. Anyway, according to the rep, there is no required 6 month diet plan. She said if that was a requirement it would have been listed right there with the bmi requirements and co-morbidity requirements. She also said that I should have the surgeon and all my other docs write letters as to why VSG over other surgeries should be what's approved and send those in for a Pre-Determination. Otherwise, if its all just submitted for approval as usual, VSG may not be the surgery they say they will approve. So, that's where I stand as of now with my UHC plan. I have my first consult with Dr. Merriman in Shreveport on the 24th and am hoping to get some more scheduled in between now and then. Here we go...... God Bless! Krystal

Now I have to wait 2 more stinking weeks!! LOL March 24th I'll go in to see Dr. Merriman in Shreveport. He's the first that will see me without going to a seminar. Hopefully, in between now and then I'll find a few more that will do the same. Finally got the insurance junk figured out, I THINK!! We'll see, if I get a bill for the consults then we'll know that it wasn't figured out, LOL. Anyway, kind of excited but scared. Wow, am I really going to go through with getting 85% of my stomach cut out???? Any other Louisiana docs that ppl think rock, please post their names ASAP so I can try and meet as many as possible. Thanks!!

Awesome! I'll be calling them today :-)

Oh that was too funny Mary!! I was like, "what the heck, now why would someone post a number like that instead of the real number to UHC?" Then, I re-read your post and hit re-dial on my phone and needless to say the two numbers didn't match, LOL Operator error

Yeah, this 6 month thing's bothering me though. It took me 2 years to decide to go for a WLS period. I don't want 6 months of dieting and losing weight and then not get to have the surgery after that. My BMI is around 35 or 36 now. What if it's down to a 30 by then or something? I can lose weight, I just can't keep it off cuz of my PCOS. So aggravated. Guess I shouldn't be though. Who knows what can happen, I've prayed for favor so the good Lord may make me not have to do all that mess. I dont mind all the testing and psych stuff, I just dont want to have to diet for 6 more stinking months! LOL

So, the contact ppl that I have to call 4 days before seeing a surgeon are the Bariatric Resources ppl? And, it's not a call and let them know that you are going to see a surgeon type thing, you have to wait until they decide to call you back? Which would mean that you couldn't set anything up until then? Second question, lookinup and Mary have both mentioned in posts that they have to go through a 6 month program before anything can happen. Does UHC make everyone do this and if it is standard for everyone, do you know if you are approved before you go through this 6 month thing or do you do it and there still be a chance that they won't approve the surgery? I'm kinda feeling like a "what came first, the chicken or the egg?" type thing here, LOL HELP!!

OHHHH LOL, do NOT accidentally dial 1-800 instead of 1-888 for that number Mary posted!! I got some kind of bondage sex number. First it said if you are under 18 you must hang up NOW so I was like well that's cuz they dont want to do surgery on someone under 18 and then this really sexy voice started talking and said something about the number one bondage blah blah blah number. Tooooo funny!!!

Hey lookinup! I have UHC too through my hubby's employer. They said I had to contact some number (assuming it's the same one Mary posted above) before I could see anyone for surgery. I don't know if I'm supposed to do that or if my PCP is supposed to or what. It's all so confusing to me and I'm scared to call too many times and it put a red flag or something on my policy, lol. Maybe I'll call that number myself and just see what they say and go from there. How long before you are supposed to find something out from UHC? Has all the info been submitted already? ETA: Ok, so I got excited and called the number that Mary posted and they were closed. Why can't they be open on the weekends and 24/7???? Don't they know that us fluffy peeps need info when we need it and don't want to wait til Monday??? LOL Just kidding, everyone deserves days off, I know that

Cajun, I JUST got my hubby's support last night for this whole thing after a couple of weeks of praying, LOL There's no way I could go back and say "ok darlin', if the insurance doesn't approve it I'm going to head on down to Mexicali to get it done, k?" LOL No seriously, we don't have the funds put away to be able to pay cash and I really don't want another bill by financing it. Right now I'm feeling that if it's part of the plan for my life it will all work out with the insurance. And if it doesn't and later I end up with $10-15k (trust me it's happened to us before cuz God's cool like that) then I'll know what to do with it I have read great things about a couple of the docs in Mexico from y'all on here. When I first saw ppl had went to Mexico for surgery I was kinda freaked, LOL But after reading y'alls posts it seems like for the most part they are pretty awesome. I'm sure there are some who aren't worth a flip and mess ppl up but that happens here too. So, it's all in the research I suppose. Have an awesome day!

I'm still researching, not because I don't know if I want it or not but because that's just what I do. It's the control freak in me that me and the Lord are working on together Anyway, I know I want this. I'm about to start the process of everything next week. But, it's like now that I've decided for sure this is what I want all these other things keep popping into my head. I posted on here before asking what happens if you get stomach cancer after already having most of your stomach removed. Tonight, I've been looking that up, lol. Not only have I found some studies on it, most saying there's not much more risk than the average bear of getting it within 20 years of surgery and the risk goes up every 10 years after and some saying there is no greater risk no matter how long out from surgery you are. Still haven't found anything on what in the world you would do, I'm assuming you'd probably have to have even more of your stomach cut out or a full gastrectomy, which does not sound fun. Then, searching for that stuff leads me to studies on the increased risks of esophogeal cancers and both of them being caused because of increased bile and/or acid because of the size and more production. Lovely. Now, these were studies done on partial gastrectomies that were performed on people because of gastric or duodenal ulcers or because of cancer. So, there were different parts of the stomach removed for each and I don't know that the part that we have, or will have, removed is the same as for those. Anyway, it's almost like I'm trying to find something that could happen down the road to keep me from doing this. This is when prayer is so important to me. Because seriously, right now, I don't know if these things to look up are popping in my head because the Lord wants me to see what could happen if I do this or if it truly is just my control freak self doing it and I need to chill, LOL Who knows. As of right now I am going forward. But, I am freaking out slightly too, lol. UGH!!!!