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Another grocery store idea is nuts or trail mix. If your grocery store has a bulk aisle you can make your own trail mix. Or buy a big bag of trail mix and divide it up into small snack-size ziploc bags. Stick one in your purse on your way out in the morning!

It most likely is an insurance thing for the OP... I have Aetna and Forest Park is out-of-network. Dr. Kim's staff told me they prefer to schedule Aetna patients at Baylor Trophy Club - which is probably where I will be going. However, after reviewing my remaining coinsurance for the year, the in-network and out-of-network amounts are pretty much neck and neck. (Had to do 2 sleep studies and the facility was out-of-network) So, I may actually end up at Forest Park after all.

I'm a pre-op patient of Dr. Kim's and had the same concerns you do. I am well aware of his dry personality and also know that after meeting him once during initial consult I will probably not see him again until the day of surgery. After some consideration, I decided this really doesn't bother me because, as you said, his staff is very competent. They're the ones you will be dealing with during all your pre-op visits. Ultimately, they are the ones who most heavily influence the insurance approval - and how quickly you get that approval - once your insurance requirements are out of the way. Dr. Kim is in high demand for a reason - he's the best WLS in our area and with a complication rate of .01%, there really was no other choice for me. Just my 2 cents! Best of luck with your decision!

Thanks KZBen... I now have Bette Midler's voice in my head singing the "Otto Titsling" song... LOL!!!!

Just finished my 90-day requirements for Aetna yesterday so I'm also waiting right there with ya I'm in Dallas too, btw! Good luck!!

Wow - congratulations!!!

Having had gallstones myself and suffering with them for years, I can tell you the pain will only get worse. The last attack I had I was curled up in a ball of abject misery on the bathroom floor for 2 hours waiting for it to pass. As soon as I could get up off the floor I called the surgeon I had seen 6 months prior when I was considering having the cholecystectomy. I went in the next day and we scheduled the surgery for 2 weeks later. FYI - I haven't had my sleeve surgery yet, but can tell you that I did have the exact same pain symptoms you are describing when I had gallstone attacks.

Way to go - congratulations!!

Yep, that's what my stomach looks like after the cardiac clearance test I took yesterday... They use sandpaper on your skin before putting the electrodes on, apparently. I have super-sensitive skin so it looks really horrid this morning. Ahhhwell, I would do it again in a heartbeat in order to get this surgery done!!!

Three months will fly by and will be here before you know it!!! i just finished my very last NUT class today. I have Aetna as well. Now I get to wait for an approval! Good luck!

That will be me next week! I also have Aetna!

Nope, they don't schedule until insurance approves!

I finished my third and last NUT class this morning and took the cardiac/pulmonary tests afterwards. Surgeon's office will submit everything to insurance on Monday so now it's time to wait and twiddle my thumbs... I thought it would be hard waiting 3 mo's to do all the NUT classes but that flew by. I think waiting on insurance approval is going to be the loooooongest wait.

CareCredit is the most popular but it has to be accepted by the surgeon's office. It's not like a traditional loan where the money is deposited in your account and then you pay the surgeon. So, check with your surgeon's office and see what they accept. Oh, and congrats

One more thing to note with a 401k loan is if you leave employment the remaining balance of the loan has to be repaid within 30-60 days, depending on the plan regulations set by your employer. If not repaid then the loan is considered a withdrawal by the IRS and you'll be subject to tax on it AND if you're under 59 1/2, a penalty as well... Sooo if you're not too secure in your job (and who is in this economy?!), this is something to consider before taking a loan...

I agree with what 'thebean said!! Sounds like it's time for a "Dear John" letter to your current surgeon's team! There are too many success stories on this board that contradict what they are telling you. Of course there are risks and complications too, just as there are with any surgery. Ultimately you have to make the decision that will work for you and what you feel comfortable with! I would not want to have a surgery that I felt forced in to! Good luck!!!

Paying deductibles and/or coinsurance isn't required to get approved. But you usually have to pay the surgeon and any other surgical staff (PA's, anesthesiologists, etc.) any outstanding deductible and/or coinsurance before they will perform the surgery!

Ashley - you look GREAT!!!! And soooo glad that you are on the road to recovery after all the difficulties you had!!

Hi TinaD, Who is your surgeon? I hope to have my surgery at Baylor Trophy Club in November with Dr. Kim. My last NUT visit is next Thursday, 9/27 and then we submit to insurance. Best of luck with your surgery and let us know how everything goes!!!

Just wanted to share my experience with elevated WBC counts... I continually have high WBC counts whenever I have routine blood work done and my doctor has chalked it up to stress because I also have vasovagal syncope. Basically I have an extreme fear of needles and having blood drawn, to the point that I have fainted and/or had severe nausea and vomiting. So, in my case the high WBC count is stress-induced as I have no other indicators of infection and or disease. Hopefully your results will prove nothing to be concerned about!

We are neighbors I'm in the same neighborhood!

I like to do leg lifts while seated. Stretches are easy to do as well! This article has some good suggestions: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/exercise-at-your-desk

Unsweetened almond milk here! My fav nectar flavor is the strawberry mousse! I like to blend it with real strawberries, almond milk and a few ice cubes - mmmmm!!

Also, as it was explained to me and it's outlined in Aetna's clinical policy bulletin (CPB), psych visits are NOT required unless you have a history of mental illness. Here's the c&p from the CPB: Requirement for Psychological Evaluation: Candidates for obesity surgery who have a history of severe psychiatric disturbance (schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, suicidal ideation, severe depression) or who are currently under the care of a psychologist/psychiatrist or who are on psychotropic medications should undergo a comprehensive evaluation by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist to assess the patient’s suitability for surgery, the absence of significant psychopathology that can limit an individual’s understanding of the procedure or ability to comply with life-long follow-up (e.g., defined noncompliance with previous medical care, active substance abuse, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, uncontrolled depression).

I have Aetna and the insurance coordinator at my surgeon's office said Aetna is VERY particular about when your nutritionist appointments are scheduled. When I had my first consultation with the surgeon back in June the coordinator sat down with me and scheduled the 3 nutritionist visits (one each in July, August and September). They scheduled the first NUT visit 30 days after my initial consultation because they said Aetna has denied people for not doing that! Also, each of the 3 nutritionist visits have to be at least 30 days apart and if you miss one you have to start the process over! I have my last NUT appointment next week and then after doing the cardiac clearance tests (immediately following the visit) they will submit to insurance! Good luck with your journey!!!