Tammy310

At my last visit with the surgeon he told me "well, no more appointments; finish up with the psych eval and then we'll submit to the insurance and get you a date." So, I went to the psych (as previously posted). I hand delivered my psych eval to the office and the scheduler told me, "we'll submit everything and call you when the insurance gets back to us." I called the insurance co at the end of that week and they had already approved me!! (doc didn't tell me...I had to tell them). So, lo and behold, they gave me an appointment!!!! What? well, I had to go in to talk to the scheduler and get my date. Another $30. My upper endoscopy will be 10/18, pre admission testing 10/19, meet with the surgeon to go over all of the testing 10/25 (another $30 what happened to no more visits?) and surgery 10/29!!! yay! In that time I also have to see my PCP ($20) and pulmonologist ($30) for clearance. Then my 2 week liquid diet. It seems like there's so much more to do. oh AND there's a pre-op surgery class that meets at 1:30pm on a Thursday, lasts for hours and requires you to read an 80 page notebook so that you can take a test! (Another day off work just to be tortured). With all these appointments and time off work, I'm gonna end up in the poor house. So much for new skinny clothes. I won't be able to afford them. LOL

I've been very vague with everyone and most of my family doesn't know yet. It is nice to come onto the forum and see that there's so much support for us. It is all I think about and the closer I get the more I worry. Not that I'll die (I'm not afraid of that) but that I won't be able to lose even after the sleeve. That's why I haven't told anyone that I'm doing it. Not to mention, the people that I have told all look at me funny and say: "you're not even big enough to need surgery. You should just excercise~eat better~eat different~etc." Then when I tell them that I exercise, eat well, etc. they act like I'm lying. Why bother to share?

41, married~ same man 22yrs, work in healthcare, many ailments besides obesity: celiac disease, sleep apnea, asthma, fibromyalgia, herniated discs, hypoglycemia, it's a long list. I have 4 children, the last of which is a set of twin girls who will be 21 this month. The day I came home from having them I weighed 128lbs. I tried to get a tubal ligation and was told I was too young (20) so they gave me a birth control implant. It's been downhill ever since. I gained 70lbs in 9 months so I had the implant removed, but my weight just keeps going up. I'm now +100lbs from my post baby weight, or I was. I've been struggling for at least 18yrs and I'm tired of doing it; so, here I am. PS: I have 2 grandchildren so I'd like to be able to keep up with them. What about you?

Welcome! First, you can't fail a sleep study. It is done to see if you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (stop breathing during sleep). If you have it, they may or may not decide to prescribe you a CPap or BiPap machine to sleep with. I've heard that most docs don't bother because supposedly the surgery will cure the apnea, ie: weight loss fixes it. For the insurance question... I'm not sure if it is physician preference but my doc made me do the requirements and THEN he sends to insurance. Once the surgery is approved I can get a date and start to do any Pre-op testing that may be required. (chest xray, ekg, medical clearance, etc.) Best of luck to you.

Send her to my house would ya? and good luck to you as well. Let us know when you get a date.

I have QualCare and I guess my situation is about the same. I started the process in May: 4 WLS education meetings (1 per month), 3 Dietician meetings(1per month), psych eval. I already had a sleep study years ago and have a BiPap machine at home; so, at least I got to skip that. I assume these requirements were for the insurance. Now the surgeon submits all documentation to the company for authorization. Then the other appointments are per the surgeon's office for medical clearance (re: asthma etc.) I'm probably looking at at least your 4-6 weeks. But then we know who we're going in with right?

My doc submitted my paperwork today too. But, they told me approx 2 weeks for an approval . Not to mention the fact that I thought it was ...Approval, pre-op diet, surgery. Apparently, with his office it is not. It's approval, appointment to get surgery date, appointment with next doc for surgical clearance then another appt with surgeon to go over test results before surgery. I was excited, right up until i made that last phone call. Oh well, I've waited this long another month won't kill me I guess.

I haven't had surgery yet so I'm no expert by far. However, my surgeon wouldn't even have me eating food at 4 weeks. I'm confused. I know I've posted this before at how we all seem to be getting different information on the same procedure. But, maybe try his plan: week 1 CLEAR liquid only. week 2 FULL liquid. week 3 puree. week 4 soft foods. week 5 (if you can tolerate it) regular diet in 2oz portions 5-6 per day. Also, 80grams protein daily with 64oz water. Good luck to you.

Today I finally went for the psych eval. Everyone I've spoken to said they went to a psych who said, more or less, "do you know what you're getting into?" and then handed them their letter. MY psych, on the other hand, gave me 4papers to fill out with my info, asked me all about my entire life (which has been sub-par to say the least), and finished with 3 different "quizzes." At the end she told me I have a mild mood disorder and she will recommend that I continue to follow up with my current counselor! WTH?! Basically the questions were like... do you enjoy things less than before (well yeah, I'm fat), are you tired/fatigued more than before? (well, yeah, I'm FAT), do you feel that you have less self worth (did ya miss the part where I told you I'm fat?) How in the #&{{ does that mean I have a mood disorder? It means that I'm always sick(asthma), I have insomnia with Sleep Apnea, and I'm tired of being sick and tired. I have to pick up the letter at 4p today and bring it to the surgeon's office to submit to the insurance. Does this mean no surgery??? God I hope not.

That's what happens for me from my work computer because I cannot upgrade my brower here. from home...try to download the most recent browser and you should be able to get in. When I go in from home all I see are posts that people have made going in but they aren't really there. The counter always shows ZERO people.

That's awesome!! Hopefully those people get more than a slap on the wrist. But congrats to you, sounds like you deserve something good.

wow... Congratulations!!

So excited for you! LUCK!!!

I think that size isn't such a great way to judge success. When I was younger I weighed between 108-125 and wore a 3/4 forever..128 and a size 7...135-145 a 9. Now I'm at around 220 and I can go between a 14 & an 18 depending on my celiac bloating. I'm 5'5" but if you look at my sizes they don't much match up with some of the above posts. Go by how you FEEL in your clothes...in your own skin...If you want to pursue an 8, go for it! If it's meant to be, you may find that you end up in an even lower size. However, if you end up in a 10 and you look and feel great...embrace your 10. You sound like you've already succeeded and your picture proves you look amazing. CONGRATULATIONS!

If they take payment for something that was not done, that's insurance fraud on their end. Your insurance company can just retract payment, even after the fact. I would be sure to take it up with the insurance. And then, perhaps an attorney. By the time you're done you can get uppers & lowers FREE. Good luck to you on this and your sleeve. Prayers ~ well wishes ~ postive vibes.