GonnaBHotMama

I havent had surgery yet, BUT I do have a goal that I thought sounded weird, but really isnt....I want to be able to have on a pair of jeans, a TUCKED in shirt with a belt and feel sexy in it! lol I have never felt comfortable in a tucked in shirt ever, so I want to be able to do that. To me, that will be a huge thing to look forward to, so whatever goal you have that you strive for, is completely worth it to have, if you are able to accomplish it. And, of course, you will so it's all about the future from here, baby!

Yup! Have surgery and all of the above! lol When the weight is down, I too would love to run a marathon! I currently just had trouble getting my jacket off cause my arms could barely move around my back to grab the sleeves. I am soooo ready to begin this journey and feel awesome with myself. Good Luck to you all!!

Hey yall! I am looking for a buddy in the area close to me. Also, I have been trying to join some groups and I havent been able to. Any idea why this isnt working? Said something about the security key not being valid??

Thank you!

I have enjoyed checking out your blog today! I am so jealous of your traveling!! lol I would love to be able to do that, so I am definitely going to make sure my retirement is set up when I get a job after college is done. You look fantastic and I know that, with all the hard work, you will succeed in your endeaver to not go back to what you once weighed. Think happy thoughts and rock on!

Ok, just got off the phone with the insurance company. She was really helpful. I have a few additional questions to find out, but didnt have the info with me, so I'll find out tomorrow at my appt. My surgeon IS covered! I am happy about that. The doctors that are doing the labs and all that are covered. I need to find out the facilities that they use to double check if those are covered. I found out the max that I will be charged, which is my deductible plus the max out of pocket. I double checked the sleeve requirements and this is what it said :

• "Sleeve gastrectomy (open or laparoscopic) may be considered medically necessary as a surgical treatment option for patients with morbid obesity who meet the eligibility criteria for surgery, including lack of response to the required conservative measures."
  
• I meet the requirements for the surgery as far as the BMI and the psych visit. Since the non medical proof I have is through different docs and programs, we will see how that goes. I also found out that it depends on how the doctors bill something on how it is exactly covered, so I will ask that as well. Now the only thing left is to get approved and find out what I need to pay upfront and what I get billed for or how all that works. Thanks so much guys! Now I feel better that I kinda get what goes on with the insurance. Helps out a ton!
  
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Great advice, yall! I am about to call my insurance company again now! lol I am gonna keep this thread open to make sure I ask these questions. I didn't think about whether or not the surgeon I was going to would be covered as in or out. While that would make a difference in the price I would have to pay, Im pretty much settled on having him as my surgeon, so crossing my fingers and toes that I get some good info when I call.

Thx again!

Congrats! Hearing the great things that come our way are just another reason to celebrate... Good Luck!!

Hey Y'all! I started the group because I noticed that there wasnt one for those in and around LA and I wanted a place for us to gather! Hope it picks up and gathers members. Anyone is welcome though regardless of location. Good luck yall and I look forward to us chatting!

Good luck to you too! Mine is at 3 in the afternoon...Im gonna be anxious all day. lol But I cant wait till its over too so I can move on to what's next! I'll be posting ASAP Wednesday and will look for your posts as well. The support is what makes all the difference.

I think it depends on the Doc, mine is 6 weeks before and after, of course, but if you were able to be off only a month before, it could be the same for after. Just call and check with the Doc to make sure. It's to help decrease the likelihood of blood clots, so better safe than sorry.

I'm looking forward to this one as well! Congrats!

Yup, happens to me sometimes. It is weird feeling, but figure "whatever" lol Ah the joys of womanhood!

man i hope my aunt flow doesnt come around the surgery date... or on it

Oh..good point! Mine isnt regular because Im on the pill and for some odd reason it makes my periods either not come or it's verrrry scant. We have to get off our BC pill for 6 weeks before surgery so hopefully I'll have mine before.

You know, this reminds me of after having a baby. lol Weird bleeding and I have to wait 6 weeks to start my pill back up, so that 6 weeks is like "healing time". Oh well....completely worth it.

I say "Ditto"! lol All the ladies are right...you are looking AWESOME! Before and After!

I'll have to call and ask about that! I too have to have the 6 months, a bmi of 40+ or 35 with 2 co morbidities, and the psych eval. That's for the insurance, but the doc office does the NUT and the blood work. I always think that I'm gonna get turned down cause of something, but we will see how it all goes. I have the 6 months on my own, not going to the NUT with the office. I am worried about that part of the submission. Hope your submission goes well! I was told that they would submit for insurance approval after my first consult visit on the 28th. Then we could go from there and do all the tests after approval. Crossing my fingers and toes for us!

I have to agree ladies! Sucky business that! Vibes that Aunt Flow returns home soon!

I was reading a few posts and noticed that BC/BS seems to be a toughie insurance company. I have BCBS-Texas and was curious how the experiences went with them.

Thx yall!

I can see a difference most definitely! I think you are doing awesome! That loser bench must feel preeeetty comfy! lol

@ Enerfina- lol on the stomach bit. I also have a goal weight of 135. I dont look like I weigh as much as I do, so I am not sure how it will work on weight, but, for right now, 135 sounds awesome to me! lol I always joke about my belly looking like Im preggers when I relax... I am looking forward to not having to worry about that! I am lucky in that my surgeon is very involved with the patients. He does a personal seminar where he gives advice and answers questions. It was great to get to know a bit about him before the first visit. Good Luck to you!!

@ Pookey-Very true on the information bit! My mother always tells me to get names and what was told when so you have a reference to look back to. It didnt occur to me to just record the visit. That would be better than writing it all down in a hurry and forgetting something! Also, the pre and post op supplies! I'll definitely have to look that one up when I get all the info. Great advice!

Thx y'all!

Good luck this week!! You wont regret your decision! :-)

Thank you! I do believe it will be one of the best decisions I have ever made!

@Lissa

Thank you so much! That helps out a lot! I'll definitely use the memo pad suggestion. I didn't think there'd be that many forms for pre consult, but you are right, they would be eye opening for sure. I have definitely had many of those, just while researching each procedure and the after surgery. I enjoyed the Doctor's seminar, so I think the consult will go great. I'll be looking forward to the post that says "I got approved". Thanks for the help!

Hey everyone! I have my first Doctor consult this Wednesday and I am reaaallly excited. I think that if I am this excited about the first office visit, I'll be impossible by the surgery date. lol My main question is just what to expect on this visit. Since Ive never had one, I find that the nervousness is from the not knowing. I'd love to hear how some of y'all's first consult visits went and what all happened. It would help out a ton for me. Also I just had to make a gripe lol. I went to a family doctor appt regarding my joint pain on Friday, the 23rd, and got my BMI according to the nurse. I am 5'5 and 242 pounds, which makes my "BMI" 40. But according to the nurse, eventhough I was wearing shoes, by inches, I am a little taller than 5'5 and my BMI is 39.96. I got a trip out of that...just saying. That .04 percent is much needed for my insurance to cover the procedure. A little worried now, that the .04 percent will keep me from getting the surgery. I dont think I have ever "wanted" to be juuuussst a little heavier. lol Thank goodness holiday eating was done before my first consult visit. lol Hope all is well with the sleevers! Good luck y'all!!

Hey Kuntry! You are indeed a strong woman and I thank you for your support! Know that I am here for you as well! We will definitely have some great things to look forward to this New Year!!

Thx ladies! It means a lot to get such a great welcome and the reasurrance is awesome!! I definitely needed that! I am enjoying browsing the site and reading the posts. I know by the time surgery comes around, I'll be plenty prepared! Have great holidays!!

This thread is great! Perfect for those of us that needed a place to start. Great idea and great suggestions! Thx y'all!

Hi there! My name is Tiffany and I am a 26 yr old mom of 2 from Louisiana. I have started on my sleeve journey this week! I have gotten the go ahead from my psych visit, I have my 6 months of non medical, and I have a bmi of 40. I am 5'5 with a weight of 241. I also have some weight bearing joint issues, but with the bmi, I do not need to document the co-morbidities. It is a blessing that my insurance will cover the surgery...we pay enough per month for it. lol I am a little nervous about the surgery and complications. I got a sheet today from the seminar that the morbidity percentage is at .39 percent, which is a little scary to think that around 1 in a few hundred ops, someone doesn't make it through the surgery. I would love to get some feedback about anything and everything in regards to the sleeve. I have had a great time looking at the success stories!! Congrats to all those that have had such amazing results and good luck to those that are at the beginning of your journey! I look forward to getting to know y'all!