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Morning all So I'm having an issue with my psychology clearance. I met with the shrink for all of 12 minutes and paid my $50 copay. No big deal, it had to happen. He told me there would be a small fee for him preparing the report. At the time I thought that was odd, but hey, a small fee I was thinking like $10 so whatever. However, his office just called me to tell me that he had prepared the report for my surgeon over the weekend and they wouldn't fax it to then until I had paid the $60 fee for him preparing the report. This doesn't seem right. He has to prepare that report to put in my chart anyway, so basically they want me to pay $60 additional dollars for them to fax it? Does this seem reasonable? I have a copy in my hand.. I'm thinking about calling and stopping payment on the report. Did you guys encounter anything like this?

So, Thursday night I went to one of the support groups required by my doctor and my insurance. It was nice to be around other people going through the same thing and actually had fun there. My cousin went with me and everyone loved that we were cousins and doing this together. She is have gastric bypass because that is all her insurance will cover and I am planning on the sleeve. I'm starting to be a little concerned though. Out of the group of people that was there it seemed like the really big losers were the people who had gastric bypass. (A surgery I'm REALLY not interested in.) There were people there who had been sleeved, but none who had been sleeved longer then 6 months I'd say, and she had lost 70 lbs. (AMAZING!) To be a healthy BMI I need loose around 160 pounds. (Can't believe I'm sharing that number.) I've been lurking on this boards and asking questions for a few weeks now, but I don't think I've really seen anything where people had that much weight to loose. I'm sort of setting a goal that would put me in the "overweight" category because I want a realistic goal. If I go beyond that, wonderful! I don't want to set myself up for something that could be considered a "failure." To me, losing 100 pounds would be wonderful, and I do not doubt for a moment I can do that with the sleeve! How much have you lost? Do you think it is realistic to reach a healthy BMI with sleeve? Has anyone here had sleeve long enough to know that wouldn't mind answering these questions? Thanks, D

They are checking your blood for carboxy hemoglobin (sp?). Basically the carbon levels that are elevated by smoking. Since there is no carbon dioxide in chewing the gum, it shouldn't effect the results of the test. I work with a group of really respected respiratory therapists out of Sloan, Columbia Pres and Montefiore hospitals in NY and this is information they shared with me.

I feel your pain. I gave myself a week to completely quit, allowing myself to smoke one a day. After that week, I didn't smoke again. So, today makes it exactly 8 days since I've had a cigarette. Try the gum, it helped me a lot.

I was actually a little irritated by my eval. I paid my $50 copay and sat on a very uncomfortable couch for a whopping total of MAYBE 15 minutes. He asked about my family, asked me what my plans were for after surgery, asked me what i knew of the risks associated with the surgery. But hey, I'd have paid $100 if it is what I had to do to move forward! You will be fine!

Good morning you lovely ladies! Today's annoying Danielle question of the day is...... What did you do for birth control around your surgery? I've been instructed to discontinue forms of birth control like the pill, patch or ring one month prior to surgery. (My surgery target is December.) I really do not feel like having to deal with a period around this time and originally was just going to use the ring and not do the week out thing to insure I didn't get one. (I've done this before and my PCP says it's fine to do once in awhile.) However, now that I am unable to do that I'm considering doing one round of depo as the nutritionist said that would be fine. (I will clear it with the surgeon prior to getting it.) My question is what did you guys do? Deal with the period or try to get it to go away for a month? Thanks and I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Hey guys, tomorrow is my first appointment of three with the nutritionist. I'm not nervous about it, but I'm just wondering if you guys think there are any questions you think I should ask? Anything that you forgot to ask when you went, or something you wish you had known ahead of time?? Thanks, Danielle

Hey all, Hope you are enjoying your weekends! Sure does seem that they just fly by faster and faster. But I like it because I spend so much time on these boards and I've learned SO much! Today's question is about the Psych Evaluation. Mine is tomorrow and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what to expect? What sort of questions? The point is to make sure mentally I am able to handle the changes that will be required and will result from WLS. I'm not looking for someone to ask me about my childhood and stuff. I should be okay, right?

How the heck did you guys quit? I'm on day 3 of no smoking and I swear my coworkers are tip toeing around me and my sister seriously had to remind me that my car insurance doesn't cover nicotine withdrawal when I almost moved the car that was blocking the path with my car. I'm trying to stay as quiet and by myself as possible because I feel my mood is so out of control. And HELLO hot flashes!! I have the gum to help, but honestly that just feels like someone is pouring pepper on my tongue. Has anyone tried an e cigarette? I'm dying!! But I want my surgery so bad!!

Good morning all! I'm so happy it is finally the middle of the week! I'm hoping the next two months move this quickly! My question this morning is, how long did you wait to drive? Due to job responsibilities and finances I'm only planning to take a week off of work for recovery. Do you guys think I will be okay to drive by then? My sister and I (we live together) work at the same place but have different hours, but I need to know if I should make plans to do some shifting of times if I will need a ride. Of course, I'm going to ask my doctor the next time I see him. He is going to see me pull out my combination notebook of questions and roll his eyes I swear! lol Thanks all and have a great day!

Thank you for sharing your blog. I greatly enjoyed it and it has inspired me to start my own. Thank you!

It is very hard to see this happening with my mother. I did ask my surgeon and right now his opinion is she is too heavy to safely operate on, she would need to loose a lot of weight prior to him being comfortable operating on her. Not to say that another doctor wouldn't but I only had him to ask. I didn't mean to suggest that my family isn't or won't be supportive. I know they will be 100%, I guess I was more asking how to help them support me through this time from those who have been there done that. Good luck to you!

I am very close with my parents and my sisters and am planning to rely heavily on their support through this whole process. My sisters are excited for me and one even a bit envious, as she has no insurance at all. My parents have mixed feelings. They are encouraging me to become healthy and want to see me happy. However, my mother is concerned about the surgery. My mother is one of those people you see on television that are so big they do not leave the house. It is very hard when speaking with her about my VSG decision to keep from saying "Part of why I'm doing this is because I'm petrified of becoming you!" What advice have you guys found to be helpful to family members of someone doing VSG? I'm so happy and excited and educating myself on this topic and process and I would really like for them to be more involved with the process. Are there any books geared more towards the families of WLS patients?

When did your doctor go over your pre-op diet? I've had my consultation and schedule my first nutritionist appointment for the end of the month. A two week liquid diet seems very daunting!!

Hi guys. I'm wondering what you all had to do to get Aetna do approve your surgery? My surgeon has told me I will need to complete the following; -2 year diet history -3 consecutive monthly appointments with the nutritionist -Pulmonary clearance -Cardiology clearance -Psych clearance -Letter of medical necessity from PCP -2 Support group meetings -Pre op class The surgeons office did not mention having to see my PCP monthly. Also, they said Aetna does not have a requirement to lose a certain amount of weight before surgery, just that I can't gain any. For those of you with Aetna, does this all sound right or should I be questioning the surgeons office? When I called Aetna they said that the Dr. had to review the requirements with me. Also, if you have Aetna and had VSG, once you had all of your documentation how long did authorization take? My last nutritionist appointment is 11/28 and I'm hoping to have surgery before 2012, think it is do-able?