scaredoftheunknown

I think the fear of dying while surgery is very normal. I myself have had second thoughts about having the surgery for the same reason but I also know that not having the surgery is a greater risk of death. But if you get all the testing done, do your research and comply with doctors orders you will be fine. I am sure that you will enjoy your son and husband even more after your surgery. Not only will you not be in pain but you will have way more energy to play with him without getting upset at your self. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor all your concerns. The best of luck to you.
Have you started the process yet?

*hug* it will be ok. You won't die and you will lose weight after getting the VSG. This is the best decision you've probably made in a long time for yourself and your child. Chin up !

This fear is what has kept me from getting surgery when I first considered it at age 22. I'm (almost) 32 now and have only ballooned even bigger in the last 10 years!! I look back now and WISH I was the same weight I was at age 22 - and I thought I was at my max BACK THEN.
Also, I have worked in health insurance for the last 10 years as well - In claims, pre-authorizations, AND in underwriting, so I've seen the good, bad, ugly and UGLIEST of things people have gone through with these surgeries. I feel like I've seen it all!! But on the flip side, I could also be one of those unfortunate people that strokes out or has a heart attack in their 30s simply because they're too fat. Would I rather give up cake for the rest of my life or be paralyzed? Uh, I'll pass on that cake...
What really made me open my eyes and say this is the better choice is that I was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure. Despite lifelong obesity, I've remained relatively healthy. The only major medical problem I've had is gall stones and I had my gall bladder removed right away with zero complications. Other than that, good blood work, good bp (until recently), good everything else except being big.
I just know that without this tool, I'm going to fail at losing weight as I have been doing for my whole life. Weight gain and/or complications are just bridges I'll have to cross when/if I get to them. In the meantime, the best thing we can do for our health is to THINK POSITIVELY! Whatever weight loss plan you ultimately choose, surgery or not, it's gonna require patience and commitment - and plenty of setbacks. That is what makes our journey our own. Good luck! You can do this!

Wonderful. I can't wait for the day I can go out and not worry if people are staring at my big BUM or if they are saying in their heads " she's so pretty if only she'd lose a few pounds"... if I had a dollar for everytime I heard that i'd be rich !!!
Congrats on your first 10 Post Op pounds... I'm due on Monday to go in. hope mine is as uneventful as many of the one's i've heard of so far.
Take care and have a great day.
Lisa

I've worked in insurance 10+ years and can tell you from my experience, we don't sit on paperwork. We have print outs and spreadsheets tracking everything we do. Any correspondence is time stamped and every company has turn-around-time goals. If something gets "old" we're going to be asked what the hold up is. When it comes to pre-approvals, on our end the hold up is with OUR medical staff.
Why is that? IDK. Doctors run on their own time, I think.
And as far as your doctors office not getting back to you, I'd ask if there's an office manager and speak to that person. If they can't help, then tell your surgeon that their staff is irresponsible with returning phone calls. That's not a responsible way to run a practice, and the MD should be aware if an office manager is unable to resolve the issue. I would normally err on the side of patience as well, but when you're lied to (i.e. them saying they didn't get the letter/it's still in nurse review) that's the end of being patient! Did you offer to fax a copy of yours to them? It should have most of the same info...
In any case, try to keep your cool, but don't lay off hounding them to get their jobs done.
good luck!