Bubbaloo10

After a month and a half of jumping through hoops, my surgeon's office finally submitted the paperwork to BCBS today. This, to me, is a major milestone. I'm hoping for a quck approval so I can get the surgery and the two week followup done by May 1. More to come later.....

My first sleep study was about 3 weeks ago and after two hours, the tech came in and told me I 'met the criteria". He put a CPAP mask on me and I slept well for the rest of the night. He was not allowed to say how severe it was, but I thought that was the last of it. Imagine my surprise when I got a call wanting me to schedule another sleep study. Didn't do so well on this one, as I slept well on my side with the mask, but he needed more data as I slept on me back. I couldn't get back to sleep for the rest of the night. He told me as he unhooked me in the morning that the Dr. may want a third study, as he would not put me on the table if I had a chance to stop breathing, so that terrified me. Turns out, they're going to intubate me, as they do everyone else on the table, so this is not a concern any more. I got a call from my PCP today telling me that someone would be contacting me soon to schedule an appointment to fit me with a mask. Crisis over. The mask didn't bother me as bad as getting woke up no less than 4 times during the 2nd sleep study. I think I'll be able to get used to it.

I had the exact same problem with my PCP. The solution was to go into see them last Tuesday and again today. They finally sent the paperwork to my surgeon today. The solution is to stay on their butts like a dirty diaper until they get sick of seeing you. Good luck.....

Kathy, As one who suffers from chronic depression since my own divorce 17 years ago, I can recognize Bill's symptoms as I was just like him. I've been taking an antidepressant since 1995 and will have to all my life. Believe me, I'm a nice guy now, but without them I'm a real jerk. It's brain chemistry. Get him to a psychiatrist who will put him on antidepressants. You will both see and feel a marked improvement in a matter of a couple weeks (took me 7 days exactly and it was like someone turned a light on.) He may resist going to a psychiatrist, thinking that's for crazy people. Assure him that's not the case. He needs medication. He wouldn't be resistant to taking insulin if he needed it would he? Besides (tongue in cheek) if people think you're crazy they won't mess with you......Kudos to you for taking a stand against divorce. Marriage is grand, but divorce is 100 grand...Good luck

Missy, I am not that far ahead of you in the program. I just finished jumping through all the hoops with the various tests and now I'm waiting for the results of the last few tests to make it to the surgeon's office. My wife and I have Anthem BC/BS that began in California, but since we now live in Arizona, it has transferred to here. She is retired from CA State service with 30 years, and, without her medical insurance, I would not have a chance at getting this surgery, so I'm grateful for that. I was told by my surgeon's insurance girl that Anthem BC/BS is one of the easiest companies to get clearance from, so I'm very hopeful that I'll get approval and a surgery date soon. Hope this gives you some confidence that all will go well. I've only been on this road for a month and patience is not my strong suit, but I've decided I'm going to do whatever I have to do to get the surgery. Stay in touch......John

I've been lurking here for a couple weeks because I was still going thru the tests prior to submittal to the insurance company. Thought I was done except for the psych eval, but hit my first roadblock today. I went to see my PCP yesterday and what I thought might happen, did happen. The people who did my tests did not forward the results to him, only to my surgeon. So, after waiting in his office for over an hour, they finally came in and I gave the nurse everything she needed to know to get the records from my surgeon. They sent the records over pretty quickly, and today I get a call from the sleep lab. They told me my PCP had ordered another sleep study, this time with CPAP applied. Don’t like this one bit, as it means another $453 copay and over $3000 billed to my medical insurance. Guess I’ll endure it. I’m scheduled for the second sleep study Tuesday, March 6. Hopefully will get the approval shortly after that. I’m guessing that I’ll be getting a CPAP too. More to come later…..:Psych eval tomorrow.

What is involved in the leak test? How is it done and what is the criteria for a good outcome (besides the obvious, no leaks)? I haven't seen this address elsewhere so thought I would ask.

My bariatric surgeon ordered a sleep study for me based on the questions I answered truthfully, though I didn't think I had sleep apnea. Ten years ago I had a tonsillectomy and pharyngectomy, in which they cut away a large part of my soft palate. I have a ton of room back there, so I was the most surprised person in the world when the tech woke me up 2 hours into the study and told me I "met the criteria" for sleep apnea. He put a CPAP on me and I slept well the rest of the night and woke up refreshed for the first time in a long time. I haven't yet returned to my PCP but I'm seeing him on the 29th and expect he will probably prescribe a CPAP machine for me. I know I've been getting unnaturally tired and sleepy during the day. The study was a piece of cake, though, so keep an open mind and roll with it. Good luck.

I also pondered whether to go with the RNY or sleeve. I kinda thought a malabsorbtive procedure would be better, but my doctor talked me into the sleeve. His reasoning was this: I have a BMI of 43 but have no other health issues other than sleep apnea. He said if I had other issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc, he would recommend the RNY but didn't feel I needed a malabsorbtive procedure at this time.

I have researched this entire forum and have not found the answer to this question. I am having a laparoscopic sleeve procedure. I understand the holes they punch in me will be very small. So how does the surgeon remove the excised portion of the stomach through these small holes?