KMP85

Hey All I have not been on here in awhile I had all my clearances done this past summer and was ready for surgery. As you remember I was literally down to the wire with setting a surgery date only to be denied my by insurance because it was not in our contract. I was not giving up the weight loss battle this weight had to come off. Being 293 lbs isnt healthy. I am proud to say I am working with a weight loss doc and am now down -38lbs!

Dont get me started on Anthem BCBS. I am with them as well, good insurance but they do suck. All my pre op testing was covered, I am all set to set a surgical date and then I was then told it wasnt no longer in my contract. I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES!

So I was told a few weeks ago about my insurance company not covering the surgery. Well I am going to submit for bed funds wish me luck!

At least you know your insurance will cover it. Mine took it out of the contract...

I want to thank everyone for your support. I called my insurance company and the news is true. I just got my request for bed funds application from the hospital I am going to try and get funding cause I meet the income requirements and while I go through that process I am going too work with a doctor to do medifast and medical weight loss. As long as the weight comes off I will be happy. Also, if I get new insurance I will immediately get my surgery

Ok all I am angry! I am so upset over my insurance company. As of May 1, 2011 I was off my parents amazing insurance and onto my company insurance which was fine. I was on Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kentucky. As I was researching surgery I was told that it was covered and then this week I got a call from my surgeons office that it was taken out of the contract. I am so upset... I dont know what to do. Anyway my surgeon, PCP and Psychiatrist all recommended the same weight loss docotor. So I am going be doing medical weight loss.

Hi All, So I am ready to set a date for my surgery! I have had all my pre op testing, everything was covered and went through without any problem. So I got my letter of medical necessity from my PCP and she is all good luck. My company just changed insurance companies at the fist of the the year. So I signed up for the comapny policy and really had no questions regarding surgery since they thought it covered it. Well I got a call from my surgeons office this morning and my insurance won't cover my VSG. My surgical coordinator told me the doctor will do the surgery for free since I work with his Mother and thats not an issue but I would have to pay the hosptial. I am trying to look into a charity fund for my surgery. What we might have to do is give me a band for a few months and then when I get a new job revise and go to a sleeve. I know it stinks but I am determined to have this surgery no matter what! My altertnate plan is to work with the bariatric dietician or work with weight loss doctor since the economy is so bad and I can't leave my current job. I wish I was still on my old insurance because it was not an issue. I have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio they will pay for all my pre op tests, pay for all my post op care but won't pay for the surgery? What is that? I am willing to put the money up front or even ask a family member for a loan. This will happen but in the mean time I need support and encouraging words.

Thanks for reading this its so varied from person to person. This why I am having trouble deciding to take time off. I think two weeks is enough I am 26,healthy and have a 44 BMI. I work out three to four days a week and am lucky to have a small fridge in my office and an amazing boss. My boss has IBS so he understands what it is like to have to eat special diets. Also my job is physical so its low impact exercise and the walking is going to be good for me. It will cause faster weight loss. I am going to take two weeks. my surgeon said someone of my fitness level and age can probably go back after 7 to 10 days. He said it varies. I just had an enoscopy Monday and was fine after, It depends on the person!

So I had my endoscopy yesterday! I have always had this fear of going under anthesthesia well that was forgotten yesterday I did it! Looking like October I dont care what works says I WANT MY SLEEVE!

Hi All VSG'ers So I am half way through my pre op clearances I have my endo tomorrow for my upper GI actually really happy about it because I always have heart burn. So I was all set to set my VSG for October! I am so ready! Well after mulling over all my options ie vacation time and stuff with work I have to wait until January because by October I will only have a weeks worth of PTO and my doctor wants me out for two to three weeks since my job is very physical and he wants me healed before I do anything. So I sat down with my parents since they are going to be my primary care givers and they told me after Christmas was the best optton because my job is being a pain. I work in assisted living as an assistant activities director so my job is physical. I would like to maintain my weight where I am right now and either lose some weight I am talking about 10-15lbs and stay where I am. It sucks but I would rather have a longer time off without losing vacation etc.. Any words, tips or just keeping me upbeat I need it really bad

I am so sorry to hear that for you. I support you 100 percent! Good for you for ending this battle with obesity for once. People don't understand what is like unless you live it. Good Luck ! You will do great!

I have had no problems all my tests were covered!

I am having my surgery done at Greenwich Hospital by Dr. Bruce Molinelli hes awesome great surgical team!

Ok so I figured the title would be a fun one! I had my appointment today with the bartiatric dietician, this to me was the most important one because she literally spent an entire two hours with me going over different types of foods my eating habits etc.. Its so amazing not being judged by people and I can sit there and not feel fat. So she spent the entire going over everything with me. Looking forward to this surgery! They even provide you with a cute set of plates and silverwear after surgery! So this is the part that will suck for me, I have an amazing dog named Buttercup she is the love of my life! She is a six year old partially blind pure bread Yorkie who is the best! Well she weighs 11 pounds and for a month after surgery I cant pick her up thatt what stinks.

Wow thats not a lot of medication at all if it helps. I take Concerta and Lexapro their lifesaving medications I am ADHD with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Dont worry you PM if you want.

Hi All, When I was researching the types of WLS surgery to have I wanted the lapband for all the reasons: could be removed, adjustable and could be released if I got pregnant. Well I requested the information about it and then I decided to see what my potential surgeon said. Well I went to my surgeons office for the consult and he went over all the procedures with me. He said we have three types I like to do: gastric banding, Route en Y and the sleeve. He explained all the potential complications, results etc.. My Mother was there with me and she honestly asked the doctor which one he would recommend. He said hands down the sleeve since it mixes the best of both worlds. He then said he is doing more and more revisions of the lapband. I was so happy that I chose the sleeve! Surgery should be soon!

Oh my god your results are amazing!

Really? I take antidepressants and my shrink is so happy I doing this surgery. She told me my medication Lexapro comes in liquid form and I can also crush the pills and put them in apple sauce or something. But I am assuming I can take the pills normally because digestion isnt changed. Ugh so many different things best of luck. What depression meds do you take?

Thanks so much I know I will! My aunt had i she lost over 80lbs. Its such a healthier alternative to the route en y and lapband

Ever since I made this decision its all I can think about. I just got an exciting call yesterday from my surgeons office! My sleep lab results came back in and I don't sleep apena, I have "obesity relating snoring" which should go away with surgery! Monday I am meeting with my bariatric dietician ( that should be fun), she has cancelled on me twice because she went on vacation. I am so ready for the change, I am ready for this journey to start. As IndyMom said in one of my last posts " Get ready for the journey of your life". I am so ready I just want it to be here! According to my surgical coordinator I am moving up the file pile quickly! Please just keep me encouraged until they can cut me open! I want it done! I already saw a pair of cute jeans size 10 I want and I was like omg in a few months just a ffehs! Cant wait to have the body I know is underneath is fat suit.

YEAH!!! THANK YOU! If they werent covering my sleeve I was doing my lapband

BONNE CHANCE! ( Good Luck in French) you will do great!

I have been taking the birth control pill for years to treat PCOS and prevent pregnancy. I was at my psychiatrists office the other day and she said I would have to stop the BC pill one month prior to surgery which to me is insane? Because, if I stopped it I would have a horrible period and blood loss and I think thats more of a risk of clotting. I have no clotting risks I am in good shape ie well healthy BP 110/70 and my surgeon said BC would be no problem. What are your experiences?

Thanks for being realstic. I doubt that any of this will happen. I have short term disability from my employee and a personal policy. I should be back in no later than ten days. It might be worth waiting for FMLA i am waiting to see because all of my surgery clearnace stuff isnt done yet.

Ugh its so annoying, I work in health care and as well know health care is notorious and cheap with the vacation time off policies. I always find it amazing in health care how this is. Anyway I have PTO aka Paid Time Off which means all my time off is combined into sick, vacation and personal instead of seperate. Its actually a lot easier and it sucks because if you have a lengthy illness your **** if you wanna go to France. Anyway I cancelld my two week vacation for my surgery so far I am up to 40 hours of PTO by the time I have my surgery it should be about sixty. So yesterday I had to pop into work for something I left my cell charger and I ran into my amazing HR woman and she said that if I waited till December I could off unde FMLA. Which means three months off but its unpaid,. I am only going to be out the longest out of work about a week so there is no reason. What does everyone here advise what I do? Cause my job isnt that physical and honestly Ill just be walking around with a water bottle full of protein shakes no biggie. My aunt who had the vertical sleeve was back to work after ten days.