Heller2u

I've been looking for this roster and now I've found it! woo hoo! I'm on the 14th! Getting closer! Good luck to all!

I'm going alone and I might be as crazy as you but I'm perfectly ok with it! My mom offered to go with me (I'm 45) but I'd be more worried about her wandering around Mexico cause she's crazier than both of us! Honestly and no joking, I plan on using this time for myself, having the surgery and doing some emotional healing through this process. I feel safe from all of the stories I've heard from the wisdom of those who have gone before us. When is your date? I'll keep in touch.

I suppose we should be grateful for technology, digital cameras and the fact that we don't have to torture some poor clerk at the photo center by making anyone have to develop those before pictures! I too will be taking before shots and keeping them all to myself for progress updates. Good luck to everyone on their journey!

I haven't been approved for the surgery yet, however it is my understanding that it is only a tool, the success is a credit to you! Congratulations to you! You're very inspiring.

I'm going to appeal with everything I have. I can't change any documentation (or lack of) from my PCP, but I can offer them several weeks of food journals and plans supplied to me by my PCP. I feel like my insurance coordinator hasn't been very informative to me, I have tried to keep in touch with her during the 6 months and I asked her what exactly I was supposed to be doing during the time, she didn't tell me to make sure my PCP was documenting certain things. oh well, can't change the past, just going to fight with all my might to get the insurance company to see things my way.

Thanks for asking the question Ellie I'm wondering the same myself...my insurance company just issued their first denial even though I qualify in BMI (45), co-morbidities, etc. they claim they don't have enough documentation from the 6 mo PSWL, one way or another I WILL HAVE THE SLEEVE! Would love to know how all made the decision of Mexico & which physician.

How many appeals am I allowed to have?

Well, I just checked my mail and there it was, the news I had a feeling was coming. DENIED! The reason given appears that they don't have enough documentation of the 6 month PSWL. I'm trying not to panic and I think I can supply them with what they want (I have several weeks of food journals, the printed 1200 calories a day guidelines from my doctor, the exercise handout, but I think they're looking for it to be stated on the notes from the 6 visits and it's not there. Any help or words of wisdom?

Hi! I know what you mean about the 6 month PSWL, during that process, I couldn't quite figure out what I was supposed to do...was I supposed to succeed and be told by the insurance company that I didn't need surgery because I could in fact follow a weight loss program from my physician? or was I to fail at the 6 month of dieting to be told by my surgeon that I would fail at the after surgery diet if I couldn't succeed on the physician guided diet. It was very confusing and now I sit in limbo somewhere between the 6 month diet (which I completed on 8/25), and insurance approval (submitted on 8/30 ) and no word yet...still a little confused, do I bug the insurance approval office to the point that they deny me because I'm a pest or wait patiently and get denied because I didn't push hard enough...ARRRRRGGGGG!! Can't wait until I hear something because I'm going insane waiting to know. I feel different every day, up because no news isn't a denial, yet down because no news isn't an approval either, arrrg!

I'm just going to try to be as patient as I can during the waiting period. Meanwhile, I'm really happy that your date came through! Congrats & good luck.

Congratulations! You guys have the best topic timing!!! I'm feeling so defeated today. I've been through 6 months of PSWL, psyche eval, my PCP sent a letter of medical necessity that sounded more like an obituary, I submitted a letter of my weight struggles that sounded more like a suicide note, and gave all of that data to my surgeon's insurance clerk. She called me today and asked "don't you have a 5 year weight loss history?" I gave her all that I could come up with which was a 5 year gynecologist weight loss history for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 (also the PCP from March 2011) to me that shows that I have been consistently overweight since 2001 at least! She was looking for the last 5 consecutive years. she sounded as if I'm going to be denied because of that and said "Well I'll submit it and we'll have to just wait and see" hmpf! I'm telling you if I don't get approved at this stage, I'm going to be so so so disappointed. What do you guys think? I should mention that I don't have Aetna, I'm in Indiana and have a local network called Physician's Health Plan.

I have not had the surgery yet, I just finished my 6th appt with my PCP last week and I'm waiting on the surgeon's office to submit to insurance. I have told all of my immediate family (Mom, sisters, daughter, nieces & Aunts). I told 2 people in my office of 50 people and I was really struggling with telling my bosses (who are physicians and I didn't want their medical opinion) but I felt that I needed to tell them. Then it occurred to me that they have never asked me for details before when I took a vacation so they may not even notice until I begin to lose weight (well more weight, I've lost 14 #'s but none of them noticed yet, just my family). So I've decided not to tell them and hopefully I will only need one full week off of work, if I need more, then I may have to tell them to take off more sick leave. Otherwise, I'm sure none of them told me when they got a vasectomy or other personal surgeries, and I didn't ask, cause I really don't want to know. Good luck in your decision making and please keep us posted!

Good luck to you, this pre-op process is a lot of mental work and makes you analyze every stage of your life that lead you here and the emotions of changing everything post-op is very intimidating. On a lighter note, my sisters (we're all dieting) and I were riding in a car together with my daughter & nieces (3 adults, 3 pre-teen girls), we were sitting at a stop light and a Krispy Kreme delivery truck pulled up next to us, I quietly said "OMG, think can take him girls?" the car erupted with laughter.

I just had my final weigh in. During the entire 6 months, I only lost a total of 14 pounds. At my 4th visit I had gained 2 #'s back and what my physician told me was that it was good because that will show the insurance company one of the main reasons I can't do this without the sleeve...duh because I fail at diets!!! They're submitting my paperwork for approval next week! Good luck to you all.

I love the reality of your posts. Never TMI, just much appreciated honesty that we can all relate to at some point in our journey!

Monica you must be so anxious! I'm anxious and I haven't even submitted yet. Today is my final visit of the 6 mo physician supv weight loss. I'm going to personally deliver the letter of medical necessity and all other documents from my dr. to the surgeons Patient Insurance Coordinator immediately after (why wait another day for snail mail) if I could I'd deliver it from the surgeon to the insurance company...I'm so ready to get to the next steps and have a date assigned. Thanks for all of the advice from others. I'll be calling early next week for sure.

Good luck everyone! Can't wait to hear your updates.

You've conquered your fear and it's so good to hear another success story! Congratulations! So happy for you, can't wait to hear more.

Good luck everyone! We're with you in spirit!

You're going to do great! All of you Sleevers that have and will go before me, keep giving me the inspiration I need to keep my eye on the prize. I now know that being emotional the night before surgery is normal and I'll add that to my mental check list. I'm having my surgery here locally but like you, I didn't want to bother anyone so I've told all that I don't need anyone to go with me, just might need a ride to & home from the hospital. (I'll reconsider that now too) Tomorrow will go well and before you know it, I'll be smiling at my monitor hearing/reading your play by play of your experience, so please give us an update as soon as you're able to.

Hi Sarah, Congrats to you!!!! How did you get around the 6 month waiting period? Sooo jealous and wish I was approved too. I'm like Bakomom still waiting...my last of 6 visits is next Thursday. I hope my approval & surgery date comes quick. My goal is to have it by October as a birthday present to myself. Good luck to you & I'll be following your progress!

Yes, I agree, the time has been well spent. I've done a lot more homework about the sleeve and the changes that I need to make than I would have if I would've been approved right away. I'm just soooo ready now to have the surgery that I'll be really disappointed if they deny. Good luck to you with both of your surgeries!

I'm with you, jumping through the 6 months of supervised diet hoops. My last appointment is 8/25 then packet goes to insurance. I'm praying and crossing fingers, toes and eyes that we all get approved! PS...I agree with the "silly supervised diet" comment. It's just a game they're playing, yes losing weight is a plus but I would've lost a lot more if I had been sleeved 6 months ago!

Thanks for the update and so glad that you're doing well.

Congratulations Lisa! I'm hoping to be an October Sleever too, don't have my date yet but if I get denied by insurance I just might join you there.