AndreaP

My insurance doesn't do prior authorizations, they only require that the surgeon certify I meet criteria on the day of surgery. Today I meet their criteria and got a surgery date...yeah! Then comes the BIG IF....the insurance company is changing the criteria and when they do, I won't qualify. The problem is that the doctor's office doesn't know if they are changing it December 1st or January 1st and the earliest surgery date I could get is December 5th. So...I am going to my last 2 pre-op appointments and starting the pre-op diet on November 21st, but they may cancel my surgery on December 1st or 2nd Anyone have any similar circumstances? I want so much to get excited but I don't want to have a huge let down. Right now I think one of the hardest pre-op things will be not having Thanksgiving dinner this year. I know it will be worth it in the end, but I still think it will be a hard day.

Thanks guys....not the answers I was hoping for but pretty much what I was thinking too.

Does anyone know if we can drink Alka-Seltzer? I am so sick, and the best medicine I have ever found is Alka-Seltzer Plus Nighttime Cold Medicine. I'm just not sure about drinking it. I really don't want to have an upset stomach on top of the headache and sore throat I already have!!!

I use My Fitness Pal on my computer and my iPhone. My favorite feature with the phone is being able to enter foods into my diary by scanning the bar code with the phone. It makes it so easy!!!

I had to see the sleep doc for a rash on my face related to my mask when I was about 6 weeks post-op. He sent me home with a belt to wear around my waist with an oxygen line going to my nose and a thing to measure pulse ox for my finger. I wore it overnight and took it back the next day. They read the data and it showed that I didn't have a single apnea during the night and my oxygen saturation never went too low so he discontinued my CPAP therapy. I have been fine without it every since!!! I was so glad I was able to do this "mini test" at home and didn't have the discomfort or expense of another sleep study.

Thanks so much for sharing your happiness!! I believe enthusiasum and joy are contagious :smile1:

I'm 8 weeks out and have lost 47 lbs. (including 15 lost the 2 weeks pre-op). Recovery went great! My post-op diet has been pretty strick but I've been able to add quite a few new things just this week. I still struggle to get all of my water but other than that things are good.

Thanks all for your comments and support...... Just a follow-up to let you know the insurance company didn't change their criteria and I had my surgery on December 5th.

Wow...all these replies might just make me hungry! I was sleeved on the 5th and am on clear fluids until the 21st, then full liquids for another 4 weeks, then purees and soft foods for 2 - 4 weeks more. Once in a while I get really hungry for a bite or two of something, but have resisted. For the most part I could care less. Mostly, I find it hard to believe that I am functioning as well as I am on only 300 calories a day. The differences in the pre and post-op diets I've seen different people have has been one of the most confusing things to me. There is such a wide range. What I'm doing, and would recommend to you, is to follow your surgeon's eating plan. I hope the ideas for different Vitamins work for you. I can't stand mine, they are from the Dr's office, but right now they are the only thing I've chewed for 9 days so I'll take them, but will be looking for chewable gummies soon!!!! Best of luck....

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. You will be so happy that you've had this surgery!!!

Welcome!!

I am on the 10th day of my pre-op diet. The first 3 to 4 days were the hardest (the 4th one being Thanksgiving). I also had a sinus infection and caffeine withdrawl headaches...but I can tell you it got better pretty quickly for me. I think it takes about 5 days to get the carbs and sugars out of your system. I was lucky though, that I tolerate the Protein well. Right now I'm at about 750 calories with 85 grams of protein a day and no caffeine. Other than about 1 or 2 hours in the afternoon I feel great. I'm even having a hard time eating as much as I am supposed to. One thing I would ask....are you drinking all of your other fluids and making sure at least half are Water? Being dehydrated will make you feel awful and give you terrible headaches!!! Hang in there....this is such a small part of the big picture :) I'm thought it would take forever and now I only have 4 days left. My surgery is Monday already.

I started my pre-op diet on Monday. It is high protein, not all liquid but all products purchased from the surgeons. Technically I'm not supposed to consume anything else. The dinner meals run around 200 calories with 15-20 protein and maybe 20-25 carbs. I did substitute with Thanksgiving dinner, but I only had 2 ozs of white meat turkey, 2 medium size bites of stuffing, 2 bites of cooked cauliflower and a spoonful of cranberry sauce. I can't imagine that was any worse than the packaged meal I would have had. And the coolest part....that was enough. I was completely satisfied!!! If that is how eating is after getting my sleeve, I would be so happy.

Good luck and wishes for a speedy recovery!

My surgery is scheduled for December 5th... There is a chance my insurance is going to change their criteria on December 1st and then I wouldn't qualify for at least 6 months, so I've been pretty anxious and nervous. I am trying to get excited and ready but I don't want to set myself up for too big of a letdown. Since there is a good chance I'm still on for the 5th, I will be starting my pre-op diet on the 21st.

*sells

Unjury see a sample pack that includes 2 packets each of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry sorbet, chicken soup and unflavored. I added 1/2 a scoop to a small carton of greek yogurt and couldn't even tell it was there.

Thank you all for the support and good wishes. I haven't heard anything else, but really don't expect to before Dec 1st. Cortknee98...I'm glad to hear you are getting your appts started just in case. Glad to hear there are others out there who know where Petoskey and Traverse City are :smile1: If anyone hears more about this insurance, please post. I'll keep checking and posting myself. Oh...and it's snowing!!!!

Longer-life, Sorry about that omission...I'm sure my first post was confusing. It is only a six month delay if it happens. It's just so frustrating because my insurance has been telling me there isn't a six month weight loss program requirement and now they are changing at the last minute. If I had known about it, I wouldn't have had everything else done such as my bloodwork and getting clearance from my pulmonologist, an endoscopy, etc. If I have to wait the six months, some of these will have to be repeated and I will have the expense all over again. Still not as expensive as self-pay though... Thanks again for your input....let us know how you make out with your surgery!!

Longer-life - Thanks for the post. I see you're only 8 days out....good luck to you and wishes for a speedy recovery. I wish it was as easy as finding a new surgeon. I'm in Northern Michigan and there are very few options!!! Now, or in six months, it will happen and I have to believe it will work out the way it is supposed to.

cortknee98, I am in Petoskey...not far from you!! Do you know if your BCBS is a PPO?? I have not gotten any letters from BCBS. I have called and talked to customer service a couple of times and everytime I do I get a different answer. I am freaking out too!!! If BCBS told you that you don't need the medically supervised weight loss program and now they are saying you do, it sounds like the same thing I'm dealing with. The rep told me no in Sept and yes the other day. Now according to the Dr's office it is going to change soon, but they don't know when. I went ahead and scheduled but I think it's going to be a long, stressful wait until Dec. 1st. I think exchanging prayers is a good idea!!! If you hear anything else will you please post to this thread? I will do the same!!

I am in Northern MI and have been waiting for a week to hear back from the surgeons office. I was told by my insurance rep that they don't need to prior if the surgeon says I meet criteria. Surgeon said I met criteria. Now I'm just waiting and wondering why it might be taking this long to hear back. Does anyone have any experience with this type BCBS?

Thank you for the replies. I appreciate hearing what others are experiencing and having to overcome. I think I was tired and anxious last night. Today I am able to remember 'what will be, will be'. I want the upcoming week to be a reflection of how I want to live the rest of my life. I think I'll spend the day planning menus, shopping list and exercise schedule rather than worrying anymore about the insurance. (May turn out to be easier said than done, lol!) BenisaMartim4 and 5DogMa....I am hoping for your fast approvals too!