Mommie4

Hey all! I am updating my status on here. I went to see my surgeon today and the 5yr weight history is probably going to get me denied. I am 5'6 and 252lbs currently but the insurance wants to see that I was over weight BMi over 35 for the last 5yrs. well my bmi was 33.9 for about 2 of those years. Surgeon said he has seen it go both ways, get denied by some and approved by some. So basically is sit and wait now. He said it could take about a month..ugh...I don't wanna wait a month and Im hoping I don't have to. I have UHC and I hope they get on it and over look my weight history!! lol

Congrats and good luck!! I guess they test for a chemical that's in cigs, not necessarily nicotine. I think its a blood test too. lol probably gonna do it today I really don't know.

im worried because the patch is nicotine isn't it? The nurse said they will test me for it. Or do the patches not have the chemical that cigs do? I will try anything! I made an appointment with my doc, I was gonna try Chantix. But its probably costs a pretty penny! Thanks for the positive thoughts! I am def going to try something. I just hope I get approved for surgery, we go through enough crap to get approved and getting denied will very upsetting!

So excited! today is my appointment with the surgeon! I go in at 2:45, can not wait to hear what he has to say! I hope he has high hopes that I will be approved!! All my friends and family are very supportive. And they are all waiting to hear what the insurance says, just like I am! Still trying to quit smoking, haven't been real successful so far so I am going to see my doc. I am hoping my weight is where it needs to be today too! since I don't have comorbidities the nurse practitioner told me not to lose ANY weight, she said with my height that I am right on the boarder so I have actually tried to gain an few just to be safe, because my insurance wont approve me with a BMI under 40 and no comorbidities! ugh, its a long rough road but Im so glad that Im at the end of it!! I will keep you updated, for those who are interested.

Exciting! good luck! I don't seem to have as much to do as others for some reason, all I know is when I see surgeon the 17th, if he gives MORE appts to do Im gonna scream! I hope I just gotta see him, set up aurgery date and maybe do a liquid diet and be smoke free for 30 days and then get surgery if im approved.

yay!! so exciting!! Good luck and keep us posted!

That's what Im worried about is trying to quit smoking...I do want to be skinny a lot more than I want to smoke! the thing is I am a student so I sit home all day until 5pm when I leave for school. I am a heavy smoker close to two packs a day an d now I gotta quit and beb smoke free for 30 days...might sound easy for the non-smokers "oh just quit, what do u want more" lol I thought about Chantix the patch scares me because it is nicotine and I am so scared it will show in a test, I even thought of the E-cigs but also nicotine! I just know doing it cold turkey will be even harder!! I just wanna scream, I never should have started this bad happen to begin with ugh!

Just did the required pre-op education class and completed all my pre op stuff. The only thing I was stressing about was my letter of medical necessity which I requested a month ago! Luckily my contact at my dr's office said that it would most likely go through without it. Should get the green light within the next 8-10 days... Hoping for mid October surgery!

All my results were finally sent to the surgeons office! yay, so I set up an appointment to go and see him Sept. 17 @ 2:45!! So I am guessing that's when all my info will be sent to the insurance company...cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got done today and the surgeons office said to wait 5 days to make sure the psych eval is there (guess it could take them 5-7 days to send it in) ugh..more waiting, but im super excited to met with surgeon and see whats next and what my insurance says..im going to be so mad if I went through all this just for a denial!!!

All my results were finally sent to the surgeons office! yay, so I set up an appointment to go and see him Sept. 17 @ 2:45!! So I am guessing that's when all my info will be sent to the insurance company...cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!

hey all, I am so thrilled to have ALL my pre-op appointments over! I have been at this since February and now Im done. The psych eval was not as bad I thought at all! I am going with Dr. Eagon in St.Louis, Mo so every appointment I went to was there and I live in Illinois, so I drove an hour to get to them. ugh, last one should be to meet with Dr, Eagon and set up a date ( I hope) and just wait for approval!! I am sooooooooooooooooo excited! Anyone else in my shoes on here?? whats your story?

What do you have to come up with upfront? Why wont United cover it for you? Im scared they will deny me too!

I still don't know if my surgeons office requires any diets pre-op. but I guess I will find out soon.lol im all done with all appointments, just waiting for the results to be sent to surgeons office so I can go see them and see whats next

I am 8 months out and I have lost 80lbs!! I feel great and look even better! This is the best decision I have ever made. My sis in laws are having gastric surgery based on my success. I encourage everyone and I don't keep it a secret!

I have my date and I just have to do my preop appointment with the surgeon and the hospital. That will be sometime in the next 2 weeks. Then it is onward to surgery.

Hi Mommie4.. I am in St. Louis too, but I'm using Dr. Scott. Started in Feb and just finished my 6 month supervised in August. They sent my packet in on Aug 8th or 9th, so I am waiting waiting waiting.... crossing my fingers for approval soon!
Good luck to you as well!

I have to do a pulmonary evaluation then I should be done and paperwork submitted to insurance. I did not have to do any classes with the NUT, just a consultation, no 6mos diet or anything. Psych eval was quick and fairly painless. In fact, everything was going along smoothly until the hiccup of waiting for the pulmonary doctor. ( schedule issues) I saw my PCP today and he asked if I had a surgery date yet, so even he is anxious! LOL I told him no, but he better have all his paperwork submitted so not to hold me up...Once insurance approves me I will be given a surgery date. In the time between I have to have the EGD and on online education course. I am holding my breath and crossing my fingers hoping I can get an October surgery date.

I just got my approval and surgery date yesterday. I am 10/22. It took 2 full weeks for BCBS to give my approval. For no reason other than....they could take up to 15 business days.I went through everything quickly so I could be done by early Sept. They dragged their feet and now he is booked till then. Pretty disappointed, but ,I will get it done!

I have an appt with my surgeon to get the "go ahead" for surgery and then submit to insurance. I am hoping to schedule the surgery date then too, pending approval of course. I am fairly confident that I will be approved. I meet the requirements, but you just never know with health insurance! So I will keep my fingers crossed for all of us hopefuls! :-)

GOOD LUCK!! I just did my last preop appointment and now gotta make my first appointment with surgeon and wait and see what he and the insurance have to say...I need luck too! lol

Ive been at this since Feb also. I am 5'6 and 250lbs. Im right on the border and cant lose any weight since I have no comorbidities, that will dis qualify me from surgery so im trying NOT to lose and if possible gain at least 5lbs to be safe. I have one more appointment, psych eval and Im done...it is stressful, especially since I have to drive an hour to each appointment!!! I am sooooo glad that after Wednesday I am done with them. just met with surgeon and send everything to insurance and wait. It will go by quick, stressful but quick. But I know exactly what you mean!!

Thank you!!

YAY!!! I bet youre excited! I cant answer any questions since I still have one more appointment before everything gets sent to insurance. But I can only imagine the sleepless nights and anxiousness you must have...good luck and be safe!