mysunflower621

Good luck, hope all went well!

WOW that is a wonderful benefit and a great opportunity that is give to folks having WLS and have that kind of coverage! I definitely will need to get a tummy tuck, lipo and something done with these arms of mine, but that will all be out of pocket and not covered so I'll probably have to wait a bit to get it all done after I reach goal. You are very lucky to have such a wonderful benefit! Your date is coming up soon, you must be very excited!

@minkywinks_esposa HOW did you get cosmetic surgery thrown in there too???

Hi! I'm in Central NJ too but I'm having my surgery on Nov 15th at Morristown Memorial by Dr. Nusbaum. Good luck! We can all support each other as we go through this journey so close together! Karen

I have had the same issues with Cigna. I was first going to get the lapband and they denied me 3x saying paperwork was missing and the 2nd denial they wanted info they never requested before and wasn't on their requirements. WIth the 3rd (and so called FINAL appeal) they have a 3rd party vendor look at the info and I was scheduled for a teleconference for the appeal. The day before, the 3rd party vendor told Cigna they were crazy to ever deny me because I've met all the criteria and approved me with out the appeal. NOW, my doctor and I decided the sleeve was a better option for me so they called CIGNA to change the code since the requirements are the same and what did they tell the doctor? That I have to go through a whole new approval process and they have to re-submit ALL the paperwork they already have with the new code! Now I mean come on, does that make a bit of sense? They have everything, the requirements are the same and I've been approved for band, what's the big deal switching the code to sleeve? That's CIGNA for you... I hate them! SO .. now, I wait.... again...I feel your pain in dealing with them! Good luck, hopefully it's something you can get fixed quickly!

OMG YES!!! I feel just the same way you do and I'm also scheduled for surgery in November... I run through all the "what if's" in my mind every single day, multiple times a day! I know I've tried EVERY single diet out there and it always comes back on and I'm not even a junk food or carb eater! It's the PCOS I have making it impossible to lose the weight. I too feel like this is my ONLY option to get healthy, but I fear it will stop working and the weight will pile back on. I have 3 kids, I go back and forth on what if something happens during surgery... but like everyone here has said.. nothing else has worked and I feel I've exhausted all other options, this is the only thing left to try. I will probably have second thoughts until the moment they put me out for the surgery. My brain never shuts off ever.. and I think and re-think and analyze and re-analyze until I make myself nuts! We are all in this together so I'm trusting that this is the best and only option for me... even with the second thoughts!

Hi! I work in HR and it is a Federal Requirement/Law that you have to be employed by that specific employer for 12 months and have worked 1250 hours to be eligible for the FMLA portion of a leave. SInce your company offers you 6 weeks of STD, normally, you should be job protected while on STD. If you moved to LTD then they can probably replace you if there was a business need. Additionally, if you reach your 1 year mark anytime during your STD, you then become eligible for FMLA. If you reached your 1 year mark 2 months after your surgery, you then become eligible and could take it if you were still having recovery needs and issues requiring you not to work. Good luck! I know the rules and red tape are such a PIA!

Better you know now what kind of person he is! You have a great support group here and you will get through this and get healthy. You will find Mr. Right who will love you and support you through all of the good and tough times.. you'll see, this was a blessing in disguise and now you won't have to deal with his antics while you are trying to recover. It's time for you to put you first!

I agree, you sound like a great friend to have and I can really relate with what you are saying and how you feel. What you wrote really spoke volumes to me. I haven't had the surgery yet, I have to wait until November but I am isolating myself now because I'm so embarrassed about how I look that I don't want to be seen. I keep apologizing to my husband for having to be seen with me. If it wasn't for the fact that I CANNOT isolate myself because I have to work and have 3 active kids, I probably would be sitting in my house alone. I'm sure you are going to do great and lose all that weight!!

Hi Everyone!! So glad to see some NJ sleevers! This is great to make friends with people who are going through the same thing and live close! I think I'm older than all of you, but maybe one day we can all meet up and chat. Gina, Actually, the next 2 months are crazy for me. I have a vacation to FLA with a friend of mine at the end of this month.. then we come back and the following week I go to San Fran for the Nike Women's Marathon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. I'm raising funds for cancer research and will be walking 13.1 miles in the marathon. I walk because I can...for other's who can't. Then right from there, I'm home half a day and have to travel to NC for a week for work. Back for 2 weeks then I go with my family to Disney the week before my surgery! Hence why I couldn't have the surgery any sooner! @dobrien I'd love to hear about your experiences so far, the pain, the anxiety leading up to it, how you are feeling so far! I think I'm most scared of the hair loss after wards. I have PCOS and extremely thin hair, it's horrible.. the thought of losing any I do have is devastating. Of course, I'm also anxious over going under.. I do have 3 kids, so that scares me! LOL but I know I need to do something.. nothing else has worked! Ashely, I'm glad we will be doing this journey together and experiencing everything at the same time. That will be a great support system I think for each other!! Funny that are dates are the same! Where in Middlesex county are you from? I grew up in Carteret. Small world! Karen

Hi! So you will be able to tell us about your experience before we head into the surgery! I will actually be on vacation the week before mine! It's going to come so fast! Where in NJ are you from? I'm in Hunterdon Cty. Karen

Hi! Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with Dr. Michael Nusbaum in Morristown/Livingston NJ? He is who I plan on using and so far his entire office staff and Dr. Nusbaum have been very nice, patient and accommodating. He hasn't rushed me out of his office to see someone else and they take the time to talk and answer your questions and concerns. Has anyone had their surgery done by Dr. Nusbaum? I'm looking to just gain some other insight and perspectives from folks who have had him perform their surgeries. Any problems before, during or after? Thanks! Karen

Hi Ashley! I too am schedule for November 15th and I'm in NJ. My doctor is Dr. Nusbaum and my surgery will be out of Morristown Memorial. I am waiting for my approvals to get switched as I was originally approved for the lap band, then had second thoughts and switched to the sleeve. My insurance company is a big PIA so they are making us resubmit everything even though the requirements are the same and have been met. I'd love to be a buddy with you as we go through this journey together with the same surgery date. Karen

I was originally going for the lapband and started in March... got denied in May, June and July.. each time Cigna saying they didn't have something or I was missing information. Finally, my doctor's office got so fed up they FED-Ex'd everything to them so that they couldn't say information was missing... then I had to go up for appeal and had a date scheduled for August 10th. On August 9th I got a call to say that the appealate group (3rd party from Ins co) told the INsurance company they were "crazy" that no appeal was necessary, I met all requirements and was approved. NOW of course... me being me.. I changed my mind during that long wait and want the sleeve. So my doctor's office called Cigna to change the medical code (as this is normal practice and the requirements are all the same) and what does Cigna tell the doctor's office? That everything has to be resubmitted for approvals! ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? Every single piece of paper is the same! I know what you are going through, hang in there and don't stop fighting for what is right. Make sure you stay on top of your physician's office and make sure that htey are submitting everything right and follow up with the ins. company too. The squeaky wheel ususally gets the oil! I'm now about to go through it all again myself!

Anyone in the central/northern NJ area? My doctor is Dr. Michael Nusbaum out of Livingston/Morristown

Thank you so much for all of your replies. NtvTXn your story is so inspiring and the information provided is very helpful! I'm in agreement wtih NCSleever63, it does relieve some of the anxiety that I'm feeling over it. I have to wait until November for my surgery strictly because of my travel schedule, but I want to learn as much as I possibly can! What is the liquid diet I'm hearing so much about before the surgery? My doctor said it's really only a day he requires a liquid diet. Could it be because I don't really need to lose anything before the surgery? Thanks everyone! It's sooo good to meet people who have had the surgery and know what I'm feeling prior to it. Karen

James, thank you so much for your response and the information you provided. Sounds like you are doing great! I hope that one day I will be able to say the same thing! Soha, good luck on Sunday! Please keep me posted on how you are doing!!

Hi! I'm new to this board and considering getting the sleeve. Was just approved for the band but realized along with my doctor that the band was ntot the best option for me and the sleeve would be better. Due to some travel, I can't have it done until November. Looking to meet new friends and gain support and information as I go through this journey. It's scary! Was wondering who everyone is using as their doctor and what your experiences have been! Karen

Hi Dawn & Stephanie, Thank you so much for responding and providing some information on how your first few days and time after that has gone! I hope that getting the sleeve in November will finally put me back on the right track! Something's gotta give and eventually work for me! I'm hoping this is it.. although it's scary! Karen

Carie, Thank you for sharing, it's important to know the good with the bad so that an educated decision can be made! did your doctor give you any reason for why you were feeling like that? I haven't heard of that side effect before but then again, as you said, everyone is different, so it's a possibility for anyone to have that kind of issue! Hope you are doing better now! Karen

Thank you for the warm welcome! I'm hoping to find the same, friends and support! Good luck with your surgery, please let me know how you're doing afterwards!

Hi Everyone, I just joined VST and I'm looking to gain some support, make some friends and also gain some input on your experiences with the sleeve! I'm 44 and I'm sick and tired of this weight up and down yo-yo I've been on for close to 30 yrs. I've been blessed with 3 beautiful children and a hubby who loves me just the way I am... problem is I don't love me just the way I am. I'm so upset with how I look its almost an embarrassment for me to be anywhere but home, but unfortunately, that isn't an option for me, so I'm just beyond self conscious. I was originally going to get the lap band and after fighting with the insurance company, I finally got approved 2 weeks ago, however after serious consideration, I decided that wasn't for me. I have PCOS, Insulin Resistance (and totaly inability to lose and maintain any weight loss as a result of the IR), high bp, high cholesterol and overall hatred for how I look. I've gone up and down since I was a teenager, but now it's become impossible to keep the weight off. After talking with my surgeon he introduced me to the sleeve and agreed lap band was not going to be as effective for me. Now of course, I have to get my approval changed to the sleeve, but that is ok, I have time. I'm traveling very heavily between now and Nov 10th both personal and work, so we decided it was best to wait as I can't really be traveling across the country and just have had this procedure done. Waiting is both good and bad for me. I want to lose the weight NOW... but I've fought it for 30 years, what is 3 more months in the grand scheme of things? I'd love to hear from folks who just had it done and your experience with it so far. I want to know everything you care to share with me! How was the pain after surgery? How long did it take? How long until you felt good and were up and mobile? What is the one thing you weren't prepared for or expected? Any complications?? I'm always a "needs to know" kind of person! I'm also scared of cutting 1/2 of my stomach off... doesn't seem natural, but I know it's the best thing to do if I want to lose this weight.... For those of you who are a few years out, how are you doing? How do you feel? Any regrets? Any long term effects or problems you are now experiencing? This is permanent, so I want to hear it all! I've spoken with a lot of people who wish they never had the band, so I wonder how folks feel about the sleeve. The band can be removed, the sleeve can't! I also know a close friend who had the by-pass and one who had the band. Those aren't for me. Anyone who has PCOS who has had the sleeve, please please share your expereinces as well and let me know if it's helped to maintain the weight loss and with the Insulin Resistance. Thank you so much for anything you are willing to share with me! I'm scared to death, but know I need to do this. Now the wait until Nov begins! Karen