kczar

Great job, Mari! I'm trying to do the same thing. Your NUT will probably cover it on your appointment, but if you're like me you should also start working on not drinking during meals. I knew this would probably be the toughest part for me so I've been working on that even though my surgery probably won't be until August or September. Keep going! It sounds like you've got the mental part down.

Congratulations on the loss! Anything you do pre op is a bonus. Sounds like you're doing great prep for the rest of your life. Keep it up!

Nabird, I hope to to get an August date but it will probably be September. I'm not sure if I have to see the NUT six times or seven to count as six months. I have an appointment Friday so I'm going to get clarification then. Plus she's pregnant so I hope they have someone else lined up to take over!

I haven't had the surgery yet but I just wanted to tell you you're not alone. Freaking out it natural; you're about to change your whole life. But you're changing it for the better. And you've found a forum that will give you the support you need. Hang in there and keep us posted!

Try this subforum: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/79-vitamins-supplements/. There are a bunch of really great threads there about different supplements, how to get samples, etc. Good luck on your journey!

Congratulations on your date! I'm starting the third month of my six month supervised diet before I can be approved. I was the most concerned about the no drinking during meals part of post op life. I'm the girl that gets three refills of her tea during a meal! So I started working on that and I'm pretty much not drinking at all during meals except if they're spicy and then it's only a few sips. Something to consider.

Good luck and prayers to all of you on your exciting day! Let us know how you're doing post op.

I'm glad the OP started this thread. I've been wondering how the cost of food/shakes/supplements post-op compares to what you were spending on food before surgery. I know that you can't put a price on getting healthy (well, you can...) but do you feel that you're spending more now as opposed to your old sinful ways? About how much would you say you spend on the various supplements and supplies a month?

Good luck, Rai! I'm sorry you've had bumps along the way but that seems to be the way it is with insurance and the medical profession. Remember if you get denied to appeal. I've seen a bunch of posts from people who were denied coverage and then got approved. Don't get discourage if that happens! Keep us posted.

Can't wait for this! I've gotten to the point where I don't even take baths because it's too difficult to hoist myself out of the tub.

I was wondering about that myself. It's a great deal, as long as it's actually drinkable!

63 lbs in a little over a month! You're doing fantastic. I hope to have the surgery in September after my six month monitored diet. Fingers crossed I do half as well as you are.

I haven't read the comments because I know what people are capable of saying about obese people and I really don't want to fill my mind with more of that junk. I would bet that a lot of them have weight problems themselves and attack this man to make themselves feel better. Just like former_vbg said, they're just relieved it isn't them. I hope he gets the help he needs. Maybe that doctor from My 600lb Life can perform WLS.

I had my gallbladder removed in February (I'm pre-VSG). My surgeon said it is the second most common surgery performed in the US. While I do think that doctors are quick to cut when dealing with the gallbladder, I also know that once you starting having problems, it's just a matter of time before you either have an attack serious enough to go to the ER or wind up with an infection because of a lodged stone. A_C, I'm glad you had the surgery and are recovering so quickly. If you're like me, you won't experience some of the side effects others have after surgery. Good luck on your next softball game!

Congratulations! Keep us posted on your progress.

LOL, I just had to do this for a colonoscopy and that's exactly how I described it! Mi, I would recommend getting some feminine wipes or those cleansing cloths. Things get a bit rough after you've made six or seven trips to the bathroom! Good luck.

That's great, Candice! Since you'll be getting the paperwork to them after the 15th, your coverage will probably start May 1st. They'll send you a letter that you can use as proof of insurance because it sometimes takes a while to actually get your ID card. They also offer a "health partner" feature where a nurse contacts you on a regular basis to help you set goals to improve your health. Pretty much everyone I have spoken to there has been very helpful. When I was looking for a WLS, their website only showed someone in Louisiana (I'm in Texas). But I called them and they were able to give the name of several surgeons that were in the network. Good luck!

Thanks so much for the input! Hopefully, I'll be able to schedule my surgery for the middle of the week and start back part time the following Monday/Tuesday. @traceyc, sitting at a desk all day is the hardest part for me, too. I wore sweatpants the first week back just because the pressure of the jeans caused a lot of discomfort. And they weren't even hitting any of my incisions!

I'm not sure if I should post this here or in the post-op thread, but here goes. I will hopefully have the surgery sometime in September after my six month insurance-mandated diet. I'm trying to figure out how much time I'll need to plan to take off. I just had gallbladder surgery and if other events had not happened (a relative passed away), I probably would have gone back to work part time after about 5-6 days. Has anyone has both surgeries (gallbladder and VSG)? Is the pain and recovery time comparable? Thanks!

After a lifetime of losing and gaining weight, I think I've made the decision go have the surgery. I'm 50 and was thin until the age of seven. I've yo-yo'd back and forth but have never been under 185 my entire adult life. At my biggest, I was around 305. I'm currently sitting at 283 and feeling more uncomfortable than ever. I finally got insurance at the beginning of the year, primarily because I needed to have my gallbladder removed. It turns out that the costs associated with the surgery will meet my maximum out of pocket expenses for the year. So...that means that I could have the VGS done for free! I started the supervised diet in February, as my insurance requires a six month program. I actually like that there is a delay because it gives me plenty of time to really think about if I want to do this. I'm really leaning toward doing it. I've read many posts here and seen the good and the bad. I truly think this is my best chance to increase my life span. I've been fortunate that the only real health issues I've encountered is sleep apnea. But I don't know how many years I can dodge the bullet before it catches up with me. Anyway, that's my story in a nutshell! I appreciate everyone show shares their experiences on this board. I can tell this will be a great source of support going forward.

The coverage varies from state to state (and not all states are included), but I went with the standard option. At the time, I wasn't really thinking about wsl. I needed it primarily because I hadn't had insurance in 10 years(!) and needed gallbladder surgery. I took the difference between the two premiums, multiplied it by 12 and then compared that amount to the maximum out of pocket. In my case, it made sense to go with the higher deductible. I just had my gallbladder removed and that should cover my out of pocket maximum for the year. If that's correct, the vsg surgery should be covered 100%. They do require six month's medically supervised diet and exercise program, but I think that's a good thing. It gives you time to mentally prepare yourself for this change in lifestyle. Anyway, good luck to all those that apply. It was an extremely easy process and I was covered within 45 days of sending off the paperwork. I don't regret it a bit! Just keep in mind that this plan is supposed to go away in 2014 when major health insurance laws go into effect. But we all know a lot can change in that time.

I've been reading this forum the past week and decided to register to give you some information. I've been without insurance for years and needed to to get my gallbladder removed. After doing some research, I found the pre-existing insurance plan. It's a government program available in certain states. Go to www.pcipplan.com and check it out. The only requirements are that you have been without insurance for at least six months and either have a pre-existing health condition or a letter showing you have been turned down for insurance (not hard to get - I got turned down strictly because of my BMI.) It's a PPO plan and I pay about $300 a month. They require a six month diet and exercise plan but otherwise it looks like they cover it. Good luck!