hadouni

Congratulations on your great success! I'm set for surgery on 1/9/12 and 33lbs sounds like a great loss to me!

I can't wait to get back into my size large and 14 clothes!! I have some really nice clothes waiting for me. I hope to be near a size large by summer... Funny that I've save all those clothes but can't WAIT to get rid of my 20, 22 & 2X!! I'll be doing some closet arranging by size over the holidays for sure.

I have BCBS PPO and I just found out I was approved and it took less than a week. I went out on a limb and called the insurance line and found out that way. I called my surgeon and they didn't even know yet but the info was there when they looked for it. I have to go to the place they choose and there is only one place near me. I think this is also specific to my employer's plan because there are other places near me that are considered "Centers of Excellence" for BCBS that I can't use with my plan. I finally went through my employer's benefit office to get some confirmations of coverage since I was getting the run around early on. Good luck and don't give up!

Interesting.. I had a cesarion with my son and I didn't think it was bad at all. They had me on pain meds in the hospital (I think that's what they were giving me!) but I think I only took one if the pills they prescribed after I left the hospital. I drove us back to my follow up appointment a week later (hour drive). I didn't think it was bad at all. If having the sleeve is easier than my cesarion I'll be thrilled beyond belief! I've also had a major hip surgery that involved cutting and rearranging bones then screwing it all into place and this can't be as bad as that!

I can't wait to get the packet of info... should be huge! I ran a couple errands and bought the first surgery take-along: gas-x strips! I've seen a few people post that they're good to have. I actually got another gift- my insurance company finally caved and paid for my copay for the Dr. they sent me to and then said I couldn't use. It was only $28, but I took time off to go to another seminar and then first appointment only to find out I couldn't have surgery at that place! And my Christmas cards just came. I should buy a lottery ticket!

So far all of my visits have been covered by my insurance and I've paid my 20% copay. The first group I looked into had a nearly $1000 fee that was the patient's full responsibility. I think it was supplements or something. I didn't get the greatest vibe from that surgeon so I ended up with someone else anyway.

It's a VERY good day. Christmas came early for me, that's for sure!

Congrats! I just got my approval news this morning too! On our way to being healthier moms! I can't wait to swim with my son somewhere other than my aunt's pool!!

Way to go! You'll do great. I just got my approval so I'll be joining you soon!

I just called my insurance and found out I'm approved for the sleeve! I had to call the surgeon's office and tell them and they scheduled me right away: JANUARY 9, 2012 is my day! Now I'm a little scared but excited too. I have pre-op on Jan 5 and they're mailing me all the info today. I can't wait!

I'm in the boat with you! I've got fingers and toes crossed for us all!

Great! I've got my fingers crossed to get similar news soon too!

Good luck to you!

Congratulations!

This is too funny. When I was younger I considered my hair to be "long" if it covered my boobs. Sometime in my early 30s I realized my hair WAS long again... and it was my boobs that were lower. That was a big reality check! I'm not worried as much about loosing my boobs as I am about having natural geographic boobs!

I have BCBS too and my case is going out for pre-approval. I'm 40 or 41 BMI and I really hope they approve it. If I have to have GBS I will, but I'd so prefer to have a sleeve. My surgeon's office has never said they thought approval would be an issue on any of the procedures. Fingers crossed!

I'm in CA and have BCBS and they've been horrible - They have information posted on their website that is wrong and their customer service people quoted the wrong information to me too. I called to find out if the surgeon/hospital I wanted to use was covered and they told me no (person and website) and pointed me to three different hospitals as options (one of which doesn't do WLS any more). I went to one of the places they directed me to and was seen, only to find out that surgeon/hospital was NOT an option for me and that the ONLY local option for me was the place they originally told me I couldn't go! I called my employer's benefits office to get them to confirm things for me. I think things are back on track, or I hope!

I have a bunch of things on my "to do" list too. I keep thinking I need to start grouping my smaller clothes by their sizes so they are together as I can fit back into them. I've been to the lawyer to update a few things (I'm a single parent) and I'd thought to buy some baby food fruit & veggies for some of the soft food recovery period. I have a leg wax appointment scheduled. I'm taking at least two weeks away from work although I might work from home the second week. I'm so excited! I just hope I'm approved quickly.

Congratulations! I hope to have similar news soon too.

Wow! congratulations!

170 lbs in a year is incredible! Congratulations. It's so inspirational to hear someone's hard work paying off so big.

Got a call from the surgeon's office this morning and they're sending my case in to insurance for approval. I might get my surgery scheduled for the first of 2012 yet. My first real appointment with them was back in September and I've always expressed interest in the sleeve over GBS although I was open to the experts telling me GBS was a better option for me. Last week they sprang an additional test on me (esophageal manometry) but today the surgeon went ahead and waived it because no one had ever indicated to me anywhere along the way (since September) that it was something I needed to do. I wonder if his interest in having band and sleeve patients do this test is research oriented? That would explain (to me) why he's willing to let go of the test rather easily. I recall only one other sleeve person indicating they'd had this extra test. I feel one step closer anyway and thought I'd share. Wish me insurance luck!

Congratulations! I have a 3yr old son and he's a *huge* part of the reason I'm doing this. We went to DL last spring and I was able to do some things with him but my fondest hope for the next trip is to be able to do more and not to have to worry about "fitting" everywhere!

Hi All, I just talked to the nurse (I think) and she said this is just standard for their group. I asked if there were any medical indicators specific to me telling them this was necessary and she wasn't sure if the conditions they're looking for have medical indicators or not. They've made the referral so now I'll wait to hear from the hospital or maybe I'll call their billing unit to see if I can get some info on cost. They did tell me even if I have to wait to do this procedure until early January, I could still be up for surgery in January. A few week delay shouldn't be the end of the world! Thanks all!

I found out I have to do another test before my surgeon will schedule surgery. I'm going to see if I can talk to one of the Nurses or support Drs. to find out why this additional test as it's my surgeon's requirement, not an insurance requirement. Here is my dilemma: if I have to have this test its financially prudent for me to have the test first thing in 2012 and let the surgery push a little later into 2012, maybe as late as early February. I've so had my heart on doing this first thing in 2012 but if push comes to shove it's much better for me to accrue the expense for the new test in 2012. I've contacted my ins to see if they can give me a more accurate cost estimate on the procedure but if it's more than $100 to me, then I really think I'll be waiting... bummer.