BamaXpress78

Thanks Sleevie! I'm sure I'll have that moment of what the %^$ have I done to myself but I'm sure as soon as the scale starts moving in the right direction that will be my confirmation. Good luck on your journey as well.

Just some random thoughts going through my head before the big day... After jumping through all the hoops required to get to this point I finally have a surgery date for 11/6. I was kind of surprised they only want me to do liquid diet 8 days prior to surgery but I'm not complaining. I have struggled the past week with not eating well but hopefully today I'll get that under control. I really shouldn't complain too much about the hoop jumping because insurance-wise this has been a fairly easy process but I still have that thought in the back of my mind that something is going to happen and they'll say they aren't going to pay. I'm just going to put those thoughts to rest, be positive, and not worry until I have a reason to. It is encouraging that I have found several posters who have lost 200+ lbs. I don't care how you lose it but to accomplish that takes dedication and discipline and I am getting my mind ready for the challenge. This is an opportunity to change my life in the most positive way since I married my wife 5 1/2 years ago. She has been very supportive in my decision to have this done as well as the very few close family members that I've told. I have never so much as been admitted to a hospital, no outpatient surgeries, so I'm telling myself maybe this is a good thing because if it is a very bad experience at least I don't have to suffer through the weeks of dread going into it. Sometimes its good to be oblivious until after the fact. As of now I'm planning to take off 6 days, work 2 days, and then off another 4 days. I would like to keep those 2 extra days to take off around Christmas but I'll use them if I'm still struggling at that point. I work from home so I know I'll have an easier transition than most. I guess that's it for now, I just wanted to get these thoughts out and anyone is welcome to comment. I appreciate the opportunity this sites gives us to see what others have experienced, learned, and allow us to prepare ourselves for the journey ahead.

Another future sleever from Calera, AL here. I found out I was approved yesterday. All of my pre-reqs are complete except the nutrition class. Dr. Schmitt will be my surgeon. How are you all doing since the surgery? I've never spent the night in a hospital or even had outpatient surgery but so far I'm not nervous. I think mostly I'm just concerned with the change in eating habits with eating smaller, slower bites and not drinking with meals.

So I took a leap a faith a few weeks ago and went ahead with sleep study and all the other requirements just hoping insurance would not come back and say I had to have a 6 month diet or not cover me altogether. Seems things like this never go my way but I was excited to get the news that not only are there no other hoops to jump through but they have already approved and the approval letter is in the mail. I don't have a date yet but I can't wait, the sooner the better!

I have UHC ChoicePlus as well but after spending an hour on the phone earlier this week and being transferred to 7 different people in different departments I still don't know exactly what my requirements are. No one could tell me anything other than it is on my policy and what the coverage pays toward it. I finally gave up and just told the administrator at my surgeon's office that I'll wait for her to get that info back from my insurance. As far as the 5 year BMI, do you have any comorbidities? I would think that if you do then the BMI requirement may only be 35. Even if you don't know about any now I would do the sleep study because most overweight people suffer from sleep apnea whether they know it or not. Anyway, good luck with your situation I hope it all turns out in your favor.

So I had my initial consultation with surgeon yesterday and all went very well. The only catch was he requested I do a sleep study prior to surgery. I was a little surprised because I don't snore (according to my wife) and I have trouble with insomnia where I can't go to sleep but once I get to sleep I rarely wake up in the middle of the night. I researched my insurance and basically I have $1100 deductible with about $900 left this year so instead of that going toward my surgery, now I'm going to have to pay that toward sleep study plus the surgery copay which does make a difference. Also, based on what insurance told me I should not have to do the 6 month diet requirement. However, I've read enough horror stories on the forum to know that you don't always get the right information. The administrator at the surgeon's office said she would be in contact with my insurance and get the requirements in writing but I'm not sure how long that is going to take. So my fear is if I have the sleep study done now and for whatever reason I have to wait to meet requirements for insurance approval until next year then I'm out the deductible this year plus will have to pay the deductible next year. I have read several posts referring to some other surgeons in the area that do not require the sleep study but I REALLY like the one I have chosen and the hospital he is affiliated with so I hate to change at this point. Has anyone been through this type of scenario before and if so how did you handle it?

Thanks ravenjeh! I hope tomorrow goes well for you too. The good news is I called UHC and my policy does cover wls but at 80% after my deductible. My annual out of pocket maximum was $3200 so at least I know it won't be any more than that. They couldn't really tell me all the "hoops" my policy required but I figure worst case scenario if I have to start going to primary doctor next week for 6 months it may be that long before we could put back the money anyway. I don't think the surgeons and hospitals will work with you like they did in the past on payments but knowing that some people have to pay themselves I'm not going to complain. Good Luck!

Approximately 10 years ago I went to a weight loss surgery seminar and honestly it scared me to the point I decided I could do this on my own (at that time I weighed 330lbs). This past weekend I went back and now after hearing about the VSG procedure I know that it is time for me to get this done. I am meeting with my surgeon tomorrow afternoon and have filled out all the paperwork. My main concern is that I haven't really had a 6 month supervised diet with a primary physician. I've tried weight watchers, personal trainer, eating plans, gyms, weight loss clinics, etc and yes I can lose a few pounds quickly I just cannot sustain the weight loss more than a month or two. I am hoping and praying that I meet the requirements, insurance approves the procedure, and by some miracle we can find the money to pay all the copays that will be required. My wife just started nursing school so money is not exactly growing on trees around here at the moment. I would appreciate any feedback anyone has to offer on their experience with UHC insurance and also anyone that has lost A LOT of weight as a result of VSG. I have 200+ pounds to lose and I feel like this is my last chance to turn it around.