Alexandra39

Well, turns out Medicare has still not made final decision. I have to wait at least a couple of months to have it. All my paperwork is in, I'm ready to go but the wait is killing me!

Thank You.

Who else is in NY waiting on Medicare to presuthorize? I was all happy because I'd heard that Medicare eas approving in NY on a case by case basis. While I know I am a good candidate for this surgery and have.a goid chance of being approved the not knowing for sure if &when it will be pre-authorized has me feeling a bit frustrated. I will see the surgeon on Friday. I have all my paperwork in since last month. One document I needed is ready to hand in when I see her Friday. So in all it's been over a 7 month wait of this process. I'm so ready to have it done.

I'm still eaiting for Medicare to approve & pre-authorize payment for surgery I've been waiting about 7 months now. My Dr. is Ren at NYU. The waiting has got me a bit down, I was hoping to get surgery before Fall, but looks like that will not happen. I was keeping my Diary on Fitness Pal, and I have a fit bit (pedometer) to keep track of my activity. I have slacked off on both watching what I eat and walking. I feel like once I have a surgery date, I'll get back on track. I'm going through some issues with my ex, so that had made me more anxious and hungry. I hope they approve soon.

Hi and Thanks Well, that's good to hear....at least they are not thinking the wait will go beyond 3 months. I hope it goes through, I really do...Although from what I hear the last review here in NY wasn't so promising. I agree, Bummer that we still have to wait

During the past 6 months as I have been meeting with the doctor to fill out progress notes I also have been keeping a food diary which started through FitnessPal.com (a great site) and then Fitbit (a neat little device; pedometer being one of its features,) that I won through Dr. Oz. I have to say I think it was during the 2nd month of this process that I was able to lose 7 pounds in one month by just keeping the food diary with Fitness Pal. It's a great site, I input all my information, height, weight, activity level, water intake, etc, and I opted for a regimen that would allow me to lose a pound per week. For me, that was 1500 calories a day. I followed it pretty well. Rarely did I go past that number of calories and if I did, not by much. My doctor and I were really happy by this progress. When I received my Fitbit in the mail, I began using it and I must say that although I love the pedometer feature, and the fact that Fitness Pal syncs information with it...It is a little confusing sometimes. I think the caloric suggestions for each of these sites (Fitbit has a site too) is not the same. Fitbit is a newer site and the food database is not as extensive. I've had more cravings for sweets lately, especially ice cream or chocolate. I try to get the lowfat but I love, love Carvel ice cream and I've been eating it even to replace a meal sometimes. I know, I have to try to stop. I am just thinking that once I get surgery I will no longer be able to able to have this, so I am enjoying it while I still can. I ended up regaining from 217 to 219 in one month, then to 223 in another month, now I am 222.8. It's a bit discouraging but I am not giving up. This is a process and I am getting used to limting myself. I am not doing what I used to do and trying to change my eating habits drastically because of course that didn't work...it's anxiety provoking....for one. I did cut out soda a whole lot. I barely drink it anymore. I don't like diet so there goes that idea. My daughter told me that Pepsi Next is great tasting so I might try that. I am enjoying water though because since it is summer it is refreshing. Well, let me know if anyone is on Fitness Pal or Fitbit and maybe we can add each other for suppport.

So my long awaited surgeon's appointment was today. I have the Medicare; so I have all 6 months worth of progress notes completed, met with the nutritionist for the first time today, all documentation is ready to go (except for a letter I still need) I'm almost there and I was excited because I thought I would actually get a surgery day today. I've read the posts here about how Medicare coverage has been approved nationally on a case by case basis. I was told by my doctor's surgical/insurance coordinator that NY is still awaiting a decision. They had submitted paperwork for another patient and that's when they were told this news. So I am waiting another month until I meet with my surgeon again. I have a strong preference for the VSG, however, if it seems like it will be too long of a wait for Medicare to decide...then I'll go ahead and get the lap band. It's so difficult to wait when you're so mentally ready for this though. Let me know how it has gone with Medicare for all people in NYC. I have Medicare as my primary and Medicaid as my secondary. Good Luck everyone!

As I approach my 2nd meeting with my surgeon, I am getting more excited but anxious too. I will finally have all the paperwork ready when I meet her on the 27th. She will then submit it to Medicare and hopefully I'll get approved very soon. I really want to get this done already. I am concerned about a few things though. First, sagging skin I worry about it on my chin since I have a double chin now maybe even triple, lol,...I hate it and I hope it disappears with the weight loss. I'm very self conscious about it. Of course, my stomach, arms and thighs are also a concern for the loose skin. Besides walking and exercising how soon until that is resolved. I want to be able to wear a bathing suit without wanting to hide all the time. Anyway, second thing that I've been reading is that some of the people that have had this surgery feel blue/sad/depressed afetrward. Why is that? My concern is because I already have a history of depression so I am on meds and I am afraid of the mood swings or being more depressed because it will not help me when I am trying to help myself in the recovery process. My doctor told me that sometimes Gastrci Bypass patients need less medication after surgery and some even stop needing it. Also, how will I know when I am well enough to be active. I know I must walk even a little bit each day after surgery but when I can walk up a flight of stairs, when can I exercise on a treadmill or bike at the gym, when can I do exercise to strengthen my stomach muscles, light weight lifting, etc. When would I be able to be intimate with my partner again? That is something he really wants to know. He doesn't even agree with the idea of me having this surgery, but I do it for my health mainly. If anyone can tell me their experiences and what they've read from others, please give me some input. I would like to know and I would really really appreciate it. Thanks so much everyone. Hope you're all having a good summer. Mari

I hope I am covered but if not I'm still having the surgery because I agree I really need the weight off.

I guess I have been on a losing and gaining roller coaster for the past couple of years. I have sagging skin in my lower abdomen already and I haven't even had the VSG yet! I also have the horrible extra skin under my chin, I've had it for years and I'm only 38. I hope that when I lose weight it diminishes or disappears I hate it, I am very self conscious about it, it makes me feel old. Anyway, I know there will be a lot more loose skin in my lower abdomen after surgery, and I know it will be a problem for my back. Even now I have lower back pain when I walk too much...I don't get why insurance (Medicare and Medicaid) doesn't cover this excess skin removal since it basically completes the process of weight loss. Just having the weight loss surgery alone doesn't help if you're going to be left with a huge flap of sagging skin that is not only going to weigh you down, but also cause you pain and extra fatigue making it much more difficult to work out. This skin does not easily go away by working out only either. Not having enough money for skin removal and being stuck with this problem can also lower your morale; it defeats one of the purposes the surgery.

That's great! Congrats! Good Luck. Hope you don't need to wait too long for your answer.

I just called Medicare. So far they do not have anything updated on their system stating that Medicare did approve VSG. There are only still 3 approved surgeries on the list. The Gastric Bypass, The Pancreatic surgery (sorry I forget what it's called) and the Lap Band. I think I am just going to wait until I see the surgeon on the 6th to know for sure. One way or another, I'm getting surgery! I can't take the waiting anymore! I'm so mentally prepared for it and I don't want to lose my determination.

I am going to call. I am almost afraid to. Same feeling with my surgeon's Insurance coordinator. I feel like I am annoying her if I keep calling when she already told me it did not approved. This is really frustrating. Also, the fact that there is a lot of confusion because it is a state by state thing. I did make an appointment with the surgeon anyway for July 6th. So even if they don't know, I figure they'll be sure by then. I hate this waiting.

Just Breathe, pleas try to relax. Focus only on you right now and don't worry about anyone or anything else. Everything is going to be okay, you need to have faith. This surgery is life changing and it's a big deal. Your entire body is adjusting as we speak. I suffer from depression too. I am on three different meds for it. I have taken Wellbutrin before and I am not on that now so it must not have worked for me. I've been on so many (like a guinea pig, lol) that I really don't remember what effect it had on me. Maybe you need a different one now or a lower dose. You should definitely talk to your surgeon and let him/her know what is going on. Let the doctor know that you are talking painkillers much sooner than you should, make sure you tell the doctor all you think is not normal. Also, you may want to talk to the doctor who gave you the Wellbutrin about the way you have been mentally feeling. It's important for all these doctors to be on the same page and collaborate. Remember, this surgery took a part of the stomach which contains hormones that are linked to hunger and cravings. All these hormone level changes have a link to your brain (obviously) so all these changes you are feeling are not totally uncommon. Try to remain calm and seek the support from your doctors. Don't panic. If you need to go back to the hospital to be monitored until you are more stable then so be it. You'd be in good hands. If the doctors don't think it's necessary, then you just do the best you can at home. Try to stay calm though. One day at a time. God Bless.