Sockmonkee38

It took me 3 months to get in to Emory Bariatric for an appointment with the nutritionist, which would be the beginning of my 6 month diet and exercise program. I knew before I went that if I wasn't a BMI of 50 BCBS wouldn't approve the surgery. I purposely gained weight before going over the last 3 months and weighed in at 49.9!!!

The account manager that submits the insurance paperwork told me that even if Id been right at 50 they wont approve you unless you lose weight and show you can follow the program for the 6 month requirements, so I wouldn't be approved either way unless BCBS drops the BMI requirement. They only require 40 for Bypass and Band, but I dont want either of those. I left the appointment, after all that time and anticipation, deeply disappointed. Im still going to go through the 6 month process though i hopes that some time in the next 2 years they might change their policy. Im just so upset about the whole thing.

Guess this means no more wine with dinner!

Thanks! Appreciate the info.

Im still in the approval phase, but wondering about the acid after surgery issue. Seems like most, if not all, sleeved people are taking antacids like Prilosec or something 2 times a day. I take it now (once a day) and have for years but I never have any heartburn issues, i guess due to that. I was hoping weight loss would make it so i could stop taking it, but sounds like the surgery causes more acid than normal? Does it ever stop? Does anyone know why the acid occurs?

Thanks,

Sockmonkee

Hey,

Im in the same shoes. Ive been searching for a program for a few months now, and am still getting in the "start" phase of the 6 month qualifying period. I have BCBS Highmark and they wont cover my VSG unless I have a BMI of 50!!!Can you believe that, 50!!!! Ive actually put on 10 lbs in the last month to try to get closer to that number but I really need to be 10 MORE lbs heavier to qualify. Plus I have to go on a diet for 6 months? How will I ever qualify? Ive been doing this crap for 35 years. First diet was at 5 years old. You cant tell me Im NOT qualified!!

Im equally frustrated. Hope we BOTH find a solution.

I'm going through alot of emotions right now because this surgery thing isnt looking so definite for me. According to my doc, I'm 100 pounds overweight, but according to the BMI calculator and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (EPO), I'm not big enough to qualify for VSG. I dont quite meet the 40 requirement and because I have no co-morbidities (blood tests show that I'm "pre-diabetic", I'm not a viable candidate, unless i'm slowly dying in my sleep. So now in addition to world peace, I have to pray that my sleep apnea study will be so horrible that I'll qualify for surgery. I'm pissed off because the whole point of losing this weight is to get more healthy, but yet the insurance co isnt willing to let me have access to this tool that has proven to be the best method for someone like me to get the weight off and possibly keep it off for a long time.

So now after 2 years of retraining my fat brain to make healthier choices (which helped me to lose a little weight, but nothing significant) I have to go back to eating junk and lots of crap so that in six months time I can have a 40+ BMI and therefore qualify for surgery. I dont go for my apnea consult until July 5th; they will then schedule the actual study which I hope will be sometime soon after. I've only been on this Quest for WLS for about a six weeks, but already Im tired and getting increasingly discouraged. Anyone have any advice? Apnea tips/tricks that'll help qualify me (lol)? Suggestions?

1. To get back on a horse

2. to run

3. to not worry about going to a strange bathroom or conference room for fear of what size the chairs / stalls will be

4. to not have to wear the extremely uncomfortable full body undergarment I wear EVERY DAY to hold the guts in.

5. to wear shorts in public

6. to wear a bathing suit , of any kind, in public

7. to have sex with the lights on...well...maybe at least dim... for the first time

8. to be able to eat in public without feeling like people are staring at me

9. to not be afraid to do things for fear of rejection

Actually Im curious about the pre- and post op high Protein / low carb diet in general. Ive tried hundreds of times to stick to that type of eating throughout my life and fail every time. I just cant get past a few days before I feel sick, get frustrated, (and down right pissy) and break down.

Im curious as to how, if the sleeve really only works if you can stick to a low carb diet (like Atkins), am I doomed to fail if I get this procedure if i cant stick to a low carb diet forever?

I dont mean to say I wouldn't modify what I eat, I just mean does it have to be THAT strict, because truthfully, I just dont think I can do it. If I could, I would be doing it now and not have to have the surgery, right?

Actually Im curious about the pre- and post op high Protein / low carb diet in general. Ive tried hundreds of times to stick to that type of eating throughout my life and fail every time. I just cant get past a few days before I feel sick, get frustrated, (and down right pissy) and break down.

Im curious as to how, if the sleeve really only works if you can stick to a low carb diet (like Atkins), am I doomed to fail if I get this procedure if i cant stick to a low carb diet forever?

I dont mean to say I wouldn't modify what I eat, I just mean does it have to be THAT strict, because truthfully, I just dont think I can do it. If I could, I would be doing it now and not have to have the surgery, right?

ATLGirl,

Im curious who your surgeon was? Im just starting out in the approval phase and am going with Dr. Smith at Kennestone Hospital in GA. i saw your name "ATL" and thought you might be located in Atlanta too.

If you did use Dr Smith, can you give me some info on how it went? if not, who sis you use for the sleeve? As far as I know hes the only surgeon in the area that does them.

SOCKMONKEE38

You can try very low carbs, high Protein to put the body in ketoisis. I was able to eat all the Protein, fresh veggies, and sugar free drinks until about 3 days before. Then mainly liquids with 1 protein.

Sorry, I'm being lazy so I'm just copy/pasting this reply from another post:

1. What is a daily meal like?

This answer has changed based on how far out I am, and what my goals were. During losing, I ate Protein, Protein, protein, protein and more protein. Pretty much Atkins diet, no more than 30-40gr of carbs until I hit goal, and was getting into maintenance. At almost 2 years out, I eat fairly normal. Last night for dinner, my almost 13 yr old son, and I shared a fajita for one dinner at a local Mexican place. I ate 6 tortilla chips with salsa, 1 small flour tortilla with about 1Tbsp of refried Beans, a smear of sour cream, 3 strips of fajita steak meat, and about 6 jalapenos. I tear off the rounded part of the tortilla once I folded it over, and I was perfectly content with my intake. I can eat 1 slice of medium thin crust pizza with toppings and cheese. Rice, bread, Pasta are now all slider foods for me so I do watch that intake, but there are not any foods that I can not eat. Pork settles heavy in my sleeve so I don't eat it. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything at all. Saturday night my husband and I went to a local steakhouse for dinner. I ordered a 6oz sirloin (teriyaki marinade and dipping sauce) a loaded sweet potato (marshmallows and caramel topping), and mac-n-cheese. I ate 1/4 of a dinner roll before my meal arrived. Proceeded to eat 1/2 of the steak with extra dipping sauce (food lube Condiments makes meat easier to consume), half of the inside of the sweet potato, and 3 bites of mac-n-cheese. This meal experience lasted 1.5hours allowing me to eat a bit more without being "stuffed".

2. Is there anything you can't eat? Nopers

3. How much can you eat? It totally varies on the consistency of the food, the time I allow myself to eat. There are ways to cheat every weight loss surgery, and I know every single one of them. But, just because I know them doesn't mean I use them all the time. It's typically in social settings when I use those cheating skills. Grazing, eating super slow, stretching out my meal, sipping in between bites, allows me to eat a bit more, and not draw attention to myself. I attend A LOT of social functions, and no one ever questions my eating or lack thereof.

4. Can you drink diet soda? I've drank regular soda since being around 6.5-7 months out without issue. No change in my sleeve capacity, and without any effect on my weight. It's all about moderation for me.

As for alcohol consumption, it's wasted calories and I didn't indulge until I was at goal. The first glass of wine hit me hard and fast. I was drunk, numb lips, tingly face, and then sobered up about 20-30 minutes later. I am a major social drinker (well before pregnancy), and I drink all types of mixed drinks and wine. Not a beer drinker, but I indulge when I can. The only time it had any effect on my weight was last holiday season. From Halloween to New Years, we partied a few times a month. I drank and ate without care, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Over those 3 months or so, I gained 7lbs. Went back to my normal eating, and drinking , dropped those 7lbs in a little over a week. My alcohol tolerance is just like it was pre-op.

Thanks. I hesitated to ask the alcohol question as it seems to be a big no-no post surgery, and while Im not a boozer, I do enjoy my social drinking and would hate to give it up forever.

I am still in the approval process so Im a long way off from being pre-op, but I am trying to find out as much information as I can so Im prepared.

I know that in the first few months after getting the sleeve you have the liquid then soft food phases, but does it ever go back to really average things, just in small sizes? What about drinking alcohol?