OhSoNique

Hello everyone, My name is Dominique, I'm 29 years old and I'm from New York. I don't have any kids yet, I work as a banker and go to school for digital media. I have my own little business on the side, one of my besties and I do event planning on the side. I design party invitations and flyers and party favors and baby shower gifts and we decorate events. I have always struggled with my weight, I don't ever remember being small. I finally said enough is enough and start my journey last September. Last month I got submitted for the the lap band, but after reading and researching more I decided to go with the sleeve but never told the hospital about my change and got scheduled for surgery sept 30th, so had to call UHC to retract the submission. So I go back Oct 7th to meet with the surgeon to talk about and finalize the new Procedure. My goal and focus is "sexy at thirty". I got 9 months and I'm going to do it

Hey guys!!!! Hope everyone is doing good and things are going well with everyone's journey! I just got back from Costa Rica three days ago I had a blast!! I'm so happy I went before my surgery and was able to enjoy everything. Just knowing that I'm going to be having surgery soon helped me enjoy my vacation more. I didn't get depressed looking in the mirror and over thinking how I looked In a bathing suit. I just thought about my new goal "sexy at thirty" and the reality that my next vacation hopefully I will be much thinner. I will be thirty in June 2015 and that's my new focus. I have a busy October ahead. I go to do my psych evaluation again this Thursday and then oct 7th I meet with the Surgeon and hopefully get a date and they get new notes for the sleeve to resubmit to UHC and then oct 13 I go to the hematologist to get clearance. I'm so excited!! So looking for a November surgery. SN: I got my denial letter for the Lap Band in the mail when I got back from vacation and the surgery date was Sept 30th, so I do believe things happen for a reason. Imagine being in a resort on a all liquid diet lol. I couldn't do it.

I was trying to hold off on updating but was forced to tonight and so sad I updated I had to force close it every time I launched it. All it does is freeze my phone I'm just gonna use the web version. Any news on a new update to fix this?

I'm hoping for a November surgery too!! Find out next month

I want to go to the volcanos!! Idk if my sorority want to lol, yes I have plans to be in the pool and beach every day! Lol we actually got a good deal, booked thru bookit.com. They have a payment plan option. I leave on thurs so when I get back I'll fill u in!

High five!

Thank you guys!! <3

Good luck!

So last week when I called my insurance to check the status of my case that was still in review I found out that I got submitted for the Lap Band and not the sleeve. I changed my mind since the first dr appt in 9/13 and I thought that my final decision would be when I get approved and meet with the surgeon. So I didn't know they use the 1st set of notes from the first meet and submit for a specific surgery and not just for weight loss surgery overall. So the hospital called and tried to change the procedure but UHC said they need a new letter and notes. So I made a Oct 7th appointment to meet with Dr.Bagloo and talk and decide on the sleeve so they can open a new case. So the case manager calls me today and told me that I was denied JUST due to the fact I need a new letter stating I want the sleeve and also by time I go to my appointment my psych evaluation will be expired. I had it 10/7/13 and my appointment is 10/7/14 lol. The lady said I can just get an amendment to the first one but the Dr I first saw moved. So I need a new one. So when she told me that was the only thing stopping me from getting approved I was so happy!! lol ONE because I didn't want the wls that was first submitted and SECOND its a easy fix and after I get the new letters I will get approved! So got a new psychiatrist appointment 10/2/14. A week from today I will be in Costa Rica with a less worried mind!

Awww i know how u feel! I submitted my paper 8/15 to the hospital n then didn't submitted till 8/27 so I was counting down the 14 day since the 15th lol. I was all excited till I found that out and had to start again. But good thing I called my insurance on Thursday so see if they had a update cuz I found out my papers got submitted for the Lapband and not the sleeve. I changed my mind to the after after a few months with meeting with the hospital. I was thinking I would final tell my decision to the Surgeon after I get approved and get a date n meet with her. But nope they used the notes from the nurse I 1st met. So I called the insurance and ask to change to the sleeve but when they tried my insurance asked for a new letter and all the notes the hospital say lapband. I'm going out the country next week so the earliest appt is oct7th so now I'm pushed all the way back. I was hoping for a OCT day but I don't think so now But u will get ur answer soon!!! Might be a late sept or early October date, so by news years u will be tons of pounds lighter!! Good luck!!!

I use to work in the GI dept and had to send out the pre op instructions and talk to the patients and all that, so when I went for mines a few yrs at 24 I thought it would be easy breezy but omgosh I mixed the stuff in a bottle of gallon apple juice and me and the toilet was besties that whole day and night and they wanted me to do two fleets in the morning but I didn't cuz I was like what else is left in there?! Lol But people with crohens n other GI problems have to do this a lot But you will be fine!

Thanks ladies!! I was feeling better, just got off the phone with the lady from the hospital she said she called UHC to change the procedure to the sleeve and they said they need a new letter of necessity but they only had notes from talks about the lapband.... So now I have to wait till 10/4 for the appointment with the surgeon so we can talk about the sleeve so they will have notes to resubmit to the insurance when it rains it pours but I see a rainbow at the end. I have come this far so why give up now I'm going to enjoy my vacation thank you lol it's my celebration for my new journey lol. Melly I understand!! Lol I wanted to complain to her boss and ask if she lied too to just cover for her or if she really was told she mailed everything. But I didn't want to start anything and just took it as a lesson learned. If you want stuff done then do it yourself! Lol how are you feeling?

I feel so disappointed and lost in this whole process. I started this process in Sept 2013, met with the NP and nutritionist at the hospital that my insurance listed as one of their center of excellence. I did the blood work, went to the diet seminar. Got my instructions for pre and post op and all the paper work that is needed to be completed. I went to my doctor and gave in the paperwork to be filled in, did the psychiatrist evaluation in Oct, went to the hematologist dr n started back on my blood thinners bc I knew he won't clear me if I didn't cuz if a previous PE. I got a promotion in Nov and a new branch so I was so preoccupied with that that I kinda fell off with following up on the paper work at the dr office. I had to finish my six month diet anyways I started weight watchers June 2013 so I was almost done doing six months. Then in Jan my book with my stamps got wet and washed out (UGHHHH) so I emailed weight watchers and they sent me a email with all my weigh ins. My case manager nurse at United health care never returns calls so I got unenrolled in the program, I wanted my $1,000 incentives in my account to help with follow up apts. So I had to call and enroll again. Fast forward to July 14 I got my focus back to wls, call my dr office and asked about the paperwork and the office worker was like she is waiting on the dr etc etc n she is working on it. Months ago when I 1st started talking to my dr about wls he was like he would completely help me! So I know she was lying. So few days later after talking to my new nurse from UHC and got clarification about if they would accept the email with my weigh in dates n stuff, I call back my dr office and the girl is on vacation and her boss was like oh yes Mariza mailed the papers off last week. I was so happy!! So I call the hospital to check if they received anything and NOPE! So I waited and had to go by the office to pick up a prescription in Aug, I see Mariza and asked her about what they put on the diet form and she was like oh I still have the papers and was just going thru past months progress notes to help fill it out. My mouth dropped! All this time still Oct 13 she had the paper work n didn't do anything!!! I got mad but I'm the quiet sweet mad and just told her what my insurance said told her ill fax the papers myself and just give me the stuff. So I sat there while she typed of the letter n stuff but my dr was on vacation so had to wait a week for him to sign it. He got back on Aug 15 I called at 9am bright n early and had to keep in top of her to fax everything over. So August 15 I faxed over the paper work to both the insurance and hospital and was told 14 days so I had a countdown going was all excited! Called the hospital last week n they said they didn't submit yet cuz the nurse was still going over the psychology report. Ughhh lol. So I call UHC today cuz it's been "14" days and was told its under review and the case was just opened Aug 27th. So 14 days starts over again! Lol so I call my nurse from UHC to see if she has a answer but sadly no But I did find out the hospital submitted for the lapband n not the sleeve! Thank God I asked cuz I changed my mind since when I first talked to the hospital in 2013. But I thought u really decide when you meet with the surgeon themselves. So I had to call the hospital for them to resubmit for the sleeve! So they have to open another case n the countdown starts again. At 1st when I found out the hospital didn't submitted till last week I felt so disappointed that I was getting so excited n close to my "14" days n it was all for nothing. But I'm glad it happen because I would have gotten approved for the wrong procedure and would have to start again. So I called the hospital they going to call and change it and I have a appointment Oct 7th !! So hopefully I will get a date! So I'm just gonna focus on my upcoming trip to Costa Rica in 14 days instead. Sorry for the long post.. Just had to get it out!!

Awwww good luck!! I wish I could just meet with the surgeon n schedule my surgery lol. On week 3 waiting for insurance approval

what part? I'm from yonkers

Awww congrats on your engagement!! And ur new journey. You have some time till next nov so don't worry too much. What are ur insurance requirements? Mines was six months and I could go back up to 5 yrs using doctors progress notes about my weight loss attempts. So insurances only require 3 months on nut. visits. So call your insurance and find out before your oct appt. So if so you can have your first visit in sept. also talk to your primary doctor so they have a heads up in case u need clearance and a letter of necessity. So hopefully by summer of 2015 you would be sleeved n on ur way into your dream dress!!

DaisyBell I'm sorry u have to go thru that, that's not fair at all. You know how you call somewhere n one person tells u one thing n u call back back and the next person something else. I would ask for a supervisor, and ask for written document that says that when did it go into effect. Make sure u remember the dates you called or started the whole process. Also that's sucks about your friend, she already had wls just now a revision is needed. What insurance is that? Smh

Awwww that sucks. Hopefully u get that all cleared up. When you first started the process they didn't give u a written list of requirements? If so and that's not on there than they can't just spring it on you. I submitted my papers to both my insurance n the hospital August 15 n good thing I did bc I called my insurance company on Monday n they said they r waiting on the clinic and so after I called the clinic n they said the nurse is reviewing the psy eval n then they can submit to my insurance I was like ummm I'm one step ahead I already did they just waiting on you lol. So I wish u good luck!!!

Congrats n good luck!

I sent it again let me know when u get it. I'm thinking positive!! Lol been checking my mail daily so one week down so far. I found a website with bariatric food n shakes at good prices so wanna start trying them so I'll be ready lol

Congrats!!! Wishing you many more great things to come!!

I'm so happy for you!!!!!! Congrats!!!! Good luck!!!! Today is my day five Nothing from my insurance or surgeon office lol

Anybody from westchester area? Or the Bronx?

I think it's the gas from where the doctors fills you up with after. Reading other people's posts gas x and walking helps get rid of the gas. I also have IBS so I get gassy n campy n diarrhea after eating certain foods. It sucks