AKMama

I just got my surgery date, February 9th!!! O.K. now I'm really nervous but excited.

Thank you, I am so excited. It seems like forever that I've been going to the Dr. and getting all the paperwork in order. After awhile it feels like it's never going to happen. Now on to the next Chapter.....

OMG!!!! I just got the call that I've been approved for surgery, I'm crying as I type this. I can't believe it, it's really going to happen.

Thanks for all the positive feedback and you are all right. I know I am going to be so much healthier and feel better about myself. I need to concentrate on eating right and starting an exercise routine as soon as I can. Now if I only liked to exercise... My main area that I'm concerned about is my tummy and my arms. I already have a roll on my stomache so I just keep thinking the worst. I am going to try and quit thinking about and be positive about how good I'm going to feel once the weight starts coming off! So... Has anyone tried the compression garments? Do they help in getting rid of any excess skin or do they just hold everything in?

I agree it'll be nice to not feel like I have to avoid the camera. My daughter is just wanting her and I to be able to go for a bike ride together. I think my thing though will be to be able to walk up a flight of stairs and not have to stop to catch my breath or to be able to go on a walk with a friend an be able to carry on a conversation without sounding like I'm gonna pass out. If I start thinking about it there are so many things that I am looking foward to, I can't wait to have my surgery. ...but shopping that is gonna a blast!!!!

So I have completed about all of the required paperwork and actions that the insurance is asking for. So I have been told that if everything goes well I should have a Feb. surgery date, but now I keep thinking what if I do this and I lose all my weight but now I have all this extra skin. I know I have to exercise and I have started walking and trying to do somethings to get ready but I'm a big girl and need to lose at least 130 lbs. how do you firm up that much loose skin? Part of me is so excited to have the surgery and to have more energy and be able to see my feet without leaning forward and to be able to go on a bike ride with my daughter. Then the other part of me says your going to look funny with all the extra skin flopping about you might as well not worry about the surgery, has anyone else had these thoughts? I know it sounds petty but I have seen some great results and I have seen some were the person looked so much older and unhealthy after the surgery. I don't want to go from being embarressed about my weight to being embarressed about having a size 10 body with a size 20 shell.

My Dr. was kind of like that. I have a BMI of around 41 and decided that I was ready for the surgery. When I told her she was like oh well good luck with that. She was not supportive or helpful in how I should go about starting the process. So I switched Dr.'s and I am so glad I did, he is supportive and helpful. If I have any concerns he's there to answer any questions he can. I don't how long you have been with your Dr. but maybe it's time for a change. Really Phentermine and Vicodin how is that going to fix your problem it's just going to cover up the pain and as soon as you quit taking the phentermine you'll gain the weight back. pills are not the answer. lara

I have finally started the process of getting the Vertical Sleeve. I don't have a surgery date yet but I have already had my Lab and EKG work done and a consultation with the Nutritionalist and my Surgeon. I would love to hear from anyone in my area that has had the procedure done. I am going outside to Puget Sound to have the surgery done. So if there is anyone that has gone to that Clinic to have their procedure done I would love to talk to you too. First question - What do we do for clothes while we are losing at such a fast rate? Lara

Hope everything works out for you. I'm in the process of waiting to see if i will be approved. It's like being on a roller coaster everyday. L

I'm afraid to lose any weight before the surgery. I'm afraid if I do I want qualify for the surgery anymore. Lara

Well, I'm not to worried about it. I got a new Dr. he's wonderful and very helpful.

Who do you have for insurance? Where did you have your surgery done? That's impressive.

So I have been on this sight awhile reading all kinds of post and really getting alot of great information. I had decided to have the surgery awhile back but what I am having a hard time with is that don't know how to start. Do I pick out a Dr. first or contact the insurance company. When I spoke with my family Dr. about deciding that I wanted the surgery all she had to say was good luck with that. So now I'm sitting here going what do I do? If any one can help I'd be so grateful. Thank you, Lara

Best of luck to you!!! Lara

Well, this sounds promising. I will have to chewck it out. Thanks for the information!! Lara

Hi, I was so happy to here from someone in Washington. I was talking with I think her name was Karen at Puget Sound. I was quoted around 16 thousand for the sleeve. She called me though and told me that BCBS FED normally wouldn't approve the sleeve because it is still considered exploritory. I think this is bull. So I have just been in limbo now for a while because I can't afford to pay that out of pocket. I haven't ever heard of Virginia Mason, I will have to look them up. Right now I am trying to find a new Dr. up here to do my 6 month monitered diet with. When I told my regular Dr. that I had decided I wanted to look in to a WLS. She was like good luck with that. Not how can I help, I agree - disagree nothing. So I'm really trying not to just give up. It was so nice to hear from someone who understands what I'm going through. Congratulations on getting approved!!! TTYL - Lara Hi there. I'm in Washington and I started this whole journey at Puget Sound Surgical Center. I have BCBS FEP. After 9 months, a couple of appeals, and then having to complete the 2011 requirements, I was finally approved. Don't give up! I swear they finally gave in because they were sick of hearing from me. I am now considering going through Virginia Mason in Seattle as it might be cheaper for me if it's done on an inpatient basis. I'm still awaiting price quotes from both facilities, but I do know that 2 surgeons are present for surgery at PSSC and you will be billed as so. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions. :-)

Wow congradulations, only 3 days. I am wondering now if it will ever happen for me. Way to go Ashley!!! I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks for the information, I am in Alaska and no one up here even does the Sleeve procedure. So I am going down to Washington to Puget Sound Medical Center. I keep a BMI of around 40 to 41. I have sleep Apnea, bad knees, borderline high Blood Pressure and my feet look like sausages. So I'm hoping that they will accept me. So how do you get away with 3 months diet and not 6months? Do most get their Dr. first or get approved by the insurance? Thanks again, Lara

So why is that some BCBS Fed will cover the Sleeve and some will not. Lara

Were you approved for the Sleeve? I was just told that my insurance will not cover the Sleeve because it is considered to still be in the experimental stage. Lara

I know exactlly what you mean. Over the past 6 -7 months I have had a harder and harder time staying awake. It has finally gotton so bad that I cannot go to town (which is 110 miles away)anymore by myself because I will catch myself dozing off. I can't watch t.v. because I am sitting there the whole time with my head bobbing not able to stay awake. I hate it. I hope that whenever I eventually have the surgery it will help. Lara

Thank you, i feel like a kid waiting for Christmas.

I am just starting the process of getting sleeved (I hope if everything goes right) I have my Dr.s appointment the 19th, we'll see what she says. I was curious though does anyone have Blue Cross Blue Shied - Federal? and if so did it cover your surgery? I am just so excited at the thought of finally being able to lose some weight and feel better that I don't know what I'll do if my insurance doesn't cover it....

I have been trying to find a surgen in Alaska that will do the Vertical sleeve. So far the only thing I've come across is possible in Kenia I think that might do it. I am still waiting to hear if my insurance will cover it or not. There is a place in Seattle Washington that does it and that's where I would like to go. I was so excited last month when I had decided to have the surgery but now this month I feel like it will never happen and I am going to always be fat and out of shape. I keep telling myself to have patience because I know it can take a while to have everything approved. Anyway have you found any support there in Anchorage? How much was it to go to Mexico and have the surgery done? How are you doing? Any complications? Hope to talk to you again, Lara

So how are you doing? I am in Delta Junction and have just started the steps to have the procedure done. Now I just have to find a Dr. who can do it.