innerme

Congratulations!! It will be here before you know it!

I'm a couple of weeks out but was wondering when do you typically start getting to do other types of exercise besides just walking? I know I need to refer to my physician but would like an idea when things such as biking, swimming, dancing, etc can start being worked in.

Exactly why my MIL doesn't know anything about me having this done. I told my DH not to say anything to her because instead of being supportive I felt it would give her ammunition to find fault and this is too tough a battle to go thru to deal with this kind of stuff. I totally agree with you that it is totally a individual decision.

I know it's hard but don't get discouraged. Same thing happened to me as well with Cigna. I got a denial 3 days after submission saying I was missing physician's recommendation as well as 6 months of diet. They recvd both - in fact they recvd my entire patient file for each individual month and a letter was also enclosed my dr had written why I needed to have this done. My case worker was totally baffled but told me it happens more than it doesnt and that with the denial the next step wd be to appeal which they immediately did and had a peer to peer with Cigna's dr. They requested to have the information placed on one page instead of reviewing each months of weigh ins's and dr notes on 6 different pages. My Dr also had to write a one liner saying I was all clear for surgery. Once my case worker sent it back that way they approved 2 weeks later. I think this is probably one way that Cigna tries to allow themselves more time in reviewing the case because once they deny they automatically have additional time to work thru their process. If you have a case worker that works for your dr they should be handling all this for you.Also don't expect to get any information from Cigna that is correct once it's denied because the notes are not updated so customer service can see once it is being reviewed by Cigna's advocate who is assigned for the peer to peer. I learned this the hardway and with much frustration when I tried to get info after everything was resubmitted and kept being given inaccurate info. As this was happening I heard from my caseworker that I had been approved but they were waiting on the info in writing before they proceeded and had Known for a week but at the same time Cigna was telling me they were showing in their notes they were waiting on a peer to peer to be done with my dr.

Thanks everyone for the pep talk. I appreciate all the words of encouragement. I know I need to stop worrying about the scale. I didn't gain overnite and I know it's going to take time to lose it. But being Human I can't help from wanting that instant gratification. Here's to keeping my chin up!

I totally understand what you are going thru. I have Cigna as well and my experience sounds like wht you are going thru. when I called they wd tell me one thing then put me on hold and they wd xf me to another dept who doesnt update the files so the other dept has no idea what is going on except for old info. unfortunately it only gets worse because if you do get a rejection it is then in the hands of the cigna case worker who's information doesnt xf to customer service either and at that point you just have to depend on your case worker with your Dr office to communicate with you. I finally got a approval 25 days after it was submitted. I was ready to pull my hair out.

I got a upper GI pre surgery.

I had surgery june 18th. In jan wt 234. Dr appt 3 weeks before surgery wt 217. Day of Surgery Wt 211. tomorrow will be two weeks since surgery and as of yesterday Wt was 205. I'm pretty disappointed at this point as I have been on nothing but liquids since the surgery taking 3 shakes a day at 32 grams of protein each or 2 shakes and 4 oz of low sodium broth. I'm also getting in 64 oz's of water in a day. Taking in less than 500 calories a day I thought there would have been more than 6 lbs loss over 12 days. I'm on this forum constantly and see people are losing 5-6 lbs in the first few days after surgery but 12 days it seems my body has been hit by a train to only lose 6 lbs since surgery. What the heck am I doing wrong?

Had my surgery on June 18th and happy to say have not had any nausea at all!

I found this website last night and bookmarked a great number of their recipes. It looks as if it something I can make for my entire family to eat that will be healthy and be able to eat as well. I also think it's great that there are recipes based on all stages if you click on the carrot at the top right . http://www.advancedbariatricsurgery.com/forum/default.aspx?f=5

Thanks for all the replies! I have waited so long to have this done and don't want to screw up now. I am starting to feel better day by day and right now only experience "head hunger" not physical hunger which is a demon that I will just learn to overcome.

I had my sleeve done a week ago monday and still recuperating. I don't seem to have any problems getting my liquids down like I have heard so many express having problems with. I spend probably 30-45 minutes taking in my shakes which is about 6-8 oz. 2-3 x's a day plus my broth and sip on my crystal light all day and take in about 54 oz's thru out the day. I've heard so many people talk about how hard it was to get their liquids down and getting their protein in which has definantly not been a problem for me with the shakes I take. I don't know what is too much or if I am doing any harm to my new stomach. Will it be different once I start eating foods, will I get the full sensation? What was your experience?

The worst diagnosis that can be given is self diagnosis or those who aren't qualified. I recommend you call your surgeon or physician right away. This doesn't sound like something you should take lightly.

I'm at 209

I have to be at the hospital at 5:15 MONDAY morning and am scheduled for the 1st surgery of the day at 8:15. I have been so busy this week that I haven't had time to even think about it very much. All I can say is Wow! several times today I have thought to myself "hey girl don't you realize you are about to voluntarily remove 85% of your stomach, are you crazy? why aren't you nervous?" I am so at peace about this whole thing it's so totally unbelievable. My only thought I keep having is what if I do this and don't lose the weight I'm gonna feel like a complete failure! Non-sense aside I can't wait to get my life back!

My reasons I chose to go with the Sleeve was after much research. I personally did not want to have to contend with malabsorptin issues, dumping which can happen with the sleeve but much more so with the bypass nor did I care about having my insides redesigned. I also know there is a whole lot of less down time with the sleeve with the typical same results.

I attended the seminar in November, had my 1st appt with the surgeon the beginning of January and am scheduled for my Surgery on June 18th. For me I had to have 6 monthly appts with my primary physician to monitor a supervised diet for my insurance. That is what took so long for me. My 1st appt with my primary was in November and the last was in April. My surgeons insurance coordinator submitted everything the last week of April to the insurance company and I didn't get a approval until towards the end of May. During this time I did make some lifestyle changes that I knew I was going to have to make anyway and decided I rather do it before the surgery and make it easier for myself after the surgery, such as removing all my diet soda's from my diet. This was extremly tough for me as I was totally addicted and had severe headaches from the withdrawals for a couple of weeks. I also started walking to get myself exercising and started really watching my diet. I knew anything I lost prior to the surgery was going to make the surgery that much easier for me and for me personally once I decided this is what I was going to do I didn't see a need to wait until I had the surgery to start making changes.

Talk with your husband and explain why you need to have this done. I would suggest have him attend a seminar with you so he can hear from the physician explaining the process. My husband was not that keen on the idea at all until he attended the seminar and then he was onboard.

I started mine on Sunday, which is the protein shakes and a sensible dinner w no carbs such as rice, pasta, potatoes or bread. I'm a diabetic and two days out of the 5 so far ive switched it up and had my meal at lunch time instead of dinner time and had my protein drink at dinner time due to getting sick hungry. Most of the time I have been able to distract myself enough to make it thru the growling stomach and I know with me if I can distract myself with something for about 20 minutes I'm good to go unless I start getting sick. I figured in the evening when I am more likely to be idle and thinking about food I can just go to bed and sleep it off, lol

It sounds like something is incorrect on your statement. I wd def call your insurance. If you have a $2000 max annual then you should not have to pay no more than that period. I have a in network annual max out of pocket of $2000 and $4000 out of network. Even with your copay's and deductibles it should still be part of your max out of pocket amt. I have recvd similar statements in the past where it showed what was billed and showed the insurance did not pay anything and I start to freak out then see a tiny blurb on a different part of the statement reflecting the doctors office/ whoever is doing the billing did not get a preauthorization and therefore insurance nor I was responsible for the bill, it even went so far as saying I was not to pay that I did not owe the amt.

Went to the surgeon today and was set up with my surgery date for June 18th! The dr sd he usually required a liquid diet for two weeks but since I had done so well with my weight loss as long as I promised not to go crazy he wasn't going to require it of me! So exciting but at same time feels weird to be ecstatic about someone cutting into me and removing majority of my stomach.

Congratulations!

I finally got my approval!

Good luck! They told me the first time I talked that they tell people up to 30 days but they usually have a decision in 8-10 days.

Typically you wd pay your copays up front. As far as the remaining estimated due to the hospital and doctor that wd be up to them if they bill or require before surgery. I have to pay my copays and the Estimated due amt to the surgeon prior to my surgery, the remaining hospital, anesthesia, etc will be billed to m after the surgery.