Anakin Jay

The alcohol is probably your problem. Whenever you drink alcohol your body will burn that for energy first before anything else... it's like pure energy.

No matter what diet I've ever been on, alcohol always causes a stall.

OMFG.

So, I call into my insurance, trying to be a responsible adult and wanting to make sure my new policy would cover my VSG surgery before I switched.

The response I got:

bcbs: "I'm sorry sir, we can't tell you any details about that policy because you're not enrolled in it"

me: " Then how am I supposed to know if I want to upgrade? "

bcbs: " You should have gotten a sheet of benefit highlights "

me: " I did... it says 'Surgeries' does that mean all surgeries are covered?"

bcbs: " No "

me: " Well then how am I supposed to know if my surgery is covered?"

*literaly 20-30 seconds of silence*

bcbs: " I'm sorry sir, we're not allowed to give out details of a policy you're not enrolled in."

me: " Ok, well if I enroll, is there like a 7 day period where I can change back to the old policy if I'm not happy with it or something? "

bcbs: "No"

me: *sigh*

I'm going to do it anyway. I'm on the cheaper plan now and I'm covered, if either of the plans had this excluded I assume it'd be the cheap one... just frustrating...

So, today is the last day of open enrollment for insurance at work. This is the time of the year when I can make changes to my plans.

Right now, I pay $50 / month and the insurance covers 80% "surgeries" (doesn't list anything specific). My VSG surgeon's office called my insurance and they said that yes that covers VSG.

Today... I can switch to pay $100 / month for insurance that covers 100% of "surgeries"... just worried if I do that something might go horribly wrong.

like... What if surgeries on the new plan doesn't cover VSG, or what if the act of switching makes me ineligible for some red tape reason...

anyone smarter than I am with insurance have any advice? I'm going to call today at lunch, but I don't even know how to word what I'm trying to ask... lol.

Susan...that was very encouraging and sweet. BOY..I need this community. Everyone here is so helpful. I feel a bond with everyone and I dont know anyone......I will be patient and not get overwhelmed with all that "will be". It "will be" and thats all that matters. I am very happy for you and thank you for your kind words. They came at the right time.

Sarah

What makes it easier for me is thinking about it like this...

I've spent 30 years being overweight and hating life. This time next year I'll be down 100 pounds and out kayaking or something. What's 1 year compared to 30?

Visualize the goal Start imaging what you're going to be doing a year from now. That helps me stay strong.

Hi! Have you seen the nutritionist and had phych eval yet?

I've had nutritionist, and EGD done.. Psych eval is 2 weeks away... Not looking forward to it, still haven't figured out how to convince him I'm not crazy.

I started my 6 month diet program yesterday. I am so excited but sad that I have to wait that long . I know time flies....but I'm so tired of being overweight and feeling ugly....Its such a big part of my life 24/7, feeling fat, feeling ugly, cant find anything to wear, hope no one sees me.......I want to have a new life....new me....happier me. I am thankful that this opportunity has become available, I just hate the waiting. I hope I meet some friends on here.....I need someone to talk to. Sarah

Hi Sarah!

my 6 months just started last week. Looks like we're in the same boat

Jan 2012 sleevers represent!

oooh! i went for my consultation for that yesterday! i should be having it done next week.

what was it like?

The worst part was getting the IV in my hand. After that, they walked me into the OR, I laid down, they strapped all kinds of stuff to me.. oxygen in my nose, some plastic thing in my mouth to prop it open.

And thats the last thing I remember before waking up in the hospital room. I don't remember anything at all about the actual EGD. Good drugs

They came and gave me some food... basic hospital stuff, milk, apple juice, Water, outmeal, and a little icecream. After I ate it and used the bathroom. (They were insistent I pee before leaving for some reason.) I was clear to go.

Whole thing took maybe 2 hours, counting paying for it and filling out paperwork.

In case they didn't tell you, you'll need someone to drive you home afterwards. The medicine keeps you loopy for a while.

wats an egd? lol

It's another kind of Upper GI basically... except instead of swallowing barium and taking an x-ray they stick a camera down your throat and look around at your stomach that way.

I just got back from my EGD.

The worst part was putting the IV into my hand... ick. Other than than, I went into the OR, they put a bunch of crap in my mouth and my nose, and told me to lay on my side... I remember looking up at the clock, then the next thing I remember is waking up in my room.

It was a cake walk.. one more down!

Six months is not as bad as it seems, but between scheduling things, making the dietary changes, and living life.... it can go kind of speedy. I joined the forum 5 months ago, and I kind of can't believe I am only 3 weeks from submitting to insurance already, but that is life. You will get through this. Welcome to the forum.

Thanks Wishes!

well i know after doing a lot of research that we might want to leave the stress eating out. thats something that surgery cant fix. from what i read, they ask u a billion of the same questions in a million different ways. lol. i know before i speak, im going to ask myself the question again. i know ill be so nervous. i guess their main focus is to make sure you are doing it for all the right reasons & that you are aware of what it is youre going to be going thru. lol. i think im terrified of being "judged" & not being approved because of something so minor. lol. im waiting for my psychiatrist to call me back for an appt but she hasnt. i may try calling her again & if no answer, im going to start searching for a new one. i want to get everything over & done with.

Yeah that's what's scary to me... what are the "right reasons" ? I just want to be healthier and less limited in life.

haha! i thought the same! i was just like, what if they dig up some hidden feelings? lol. goodness gracious! that day, i need to be sure i eat well & feel relaxed because if im agitated, i might uncover some things i managed to forget! >_<

may the lord be with us :x

I know right? ... plus... I don't know exactly what would disqualify us... I mean, we're obviously unhappy because of our weight.. we obviously have issues with stress eating or emotional eating, or something... Just now "Normal" do we have to be to pass this thing?

I finally told him about my WLS and he said he was glad I had it because he would not have written if I weighed 100 lbs more.

Boy do I have mixed feelings about that...

The "Growing up on disney movies" side of me wants to believe that people would love me no matter what I look like because I'm a great person.

The "Reality" side of me knows that's BS, and wonders how many amazing people I've missed out on getting to know in my life because of my weight. (And conversely, how many people have missed out on getting to know me.)

It's different for everyone's insurance. Typically it's 30-40 BMI with some serious health issues (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc..) or 40+ BMI regardless of the other issues.

I just had my initial consult 4 days before yours! We should start some kind of january 2012 sleeve club!

Scheduled my psych eval yesterday. They said it would be 1.5 hours... (holy crap!) What the hell am I going to talk about for 1.5 hours?? ( How am I supposed to pretend I'm not crazy for that long? )

To give you guys a male perspective on this, you shouldn't feel uncomfortable.

Yes, the way they're acting is a bit rude and disrespectful, but they're not judging you. It's not that your clothes are particularly slutty, or anything. An attractive woman could be dressed up in a carrot costume, and as long as we could still see enough of her to know we're attracted, our actions would probably be exactly the same.

Different guys handle the hormones differently, some get trapped starring like a dear in headlights, others get an adrenaline surge and feel the need to show off... thankfully MOST of us have enough self control to just think "Wow, she's really attractive" and let it go.

At any rate, it's a compliment. You're attractive enough to stimulate a subconscious release of hormones in males. That's a good thing, and something to be proud of, not ashamed.

Well, just got back from my first meeting... Turns out my insurance covers the sleeve, and they've had good luck using them in the past. They also think I'm a good candidate for the surgery. Feels like I have a giant pile of things I need to get scheduled and finished in the next 6 months, but it feels great being one step closer!

Hate to be a downer here but this is happening for a reason. Maybe this isn't your year for surgery. . . with all the problems you listed with hubbie down and out, house lost, etc maybe realistically this isn't the time for you to have this surgery. . . maybe you need to look into something else for now. . . start saving a little here and there and when everything has leveled out then you could try again and get it done. Just my suggestion

I kind of disagree... with so many things going wrong in life, this would be an easy time to start turning to food for comfort. What better time to limit the amount of food you can actually eat? *especially* if insurance will cover it.

Plus eating less = less money wasted on food. I know right now I can eat a whole large pizza for a meal, post-sleeve I expect to only be able to eat a single slice, making that same pizza last for days.

Whenever I went really low-carb, it'd go completely away, no matter how much greasy or spicy stuff I was eating... soon as I'd go back to having cereals, milk, pizza, Tomato sauce, and sugar, it'd be right back again.

Oh no! That describes me 100% !!

You girls think you have it rough, try being a fat GUY.

I realize this thread is old, but I wanted to chime in.

My experience is that there is a certain personality that comes with being a fat guy.. It's some kind of combination of self judgement, fear of being hurt, low self esteem, and a general all around negative attitude.

I think women naturally avoid fat guys because of those secondary side effects. No one wants to be around some judgmental negative downer.

Women are looking for strong confident leader type of guys with a positive outlook.... and I think it's hard for fat guys to act that way when they spend most of their time judging their looks, and focusing on feeling like an outcast.

waking up choking after inhaling stomach acid

I thought that was just a side effect of heart burn... is that a warning symptom of a hiatal hernia? cause that happens to me about once a week

I'm from morgantown, wv (go mountaineers!)

I have my first consultation next week!

Just turned 31 two weeks ago, and my initial consultation with the surgeon is next week.

I feel like I wasted my 20's being overweight, and limited.. looking forward to spending my 30s enjoying life instead

when I saw all that adipose tissue (fat) I wanted nothing more than to do something about it. I saw it and said "is that in me???" I was stunned. Not that it was there but the potential AMOUNT. I'm staring down at my stomach now in disbelief...

DUDE I did the same exact thing.... I was even thinking "Man, I wonder if I could ask the doctor to just get that out of me while hes in there." Seeing that, and thinking about it being inside of me right now is just disturbing... >< and only helps solidify that I'm doing the right thing.

Yes it's the same thing! As prepared as I was before surgery I forgot it all afterwards. LOL

Speaking of NUT(s), yours are bigger than mine...I wouldn't watch the surgery before because I was afraid if I really knew what they were going to do to me, I'd chicken out lol

Good luck on your journey!

haha thanks! It actually makes me feel better knowing exactly whats going to happen to me... if I hadn't watched it, I would have assumed it was SO much worse than it is.

It actually looks pretty easy to do... I find that very comforting!