ReduceReuseRecycle-Me!

My surgeon's office submitted our files the week of 11/30. Insurance (United Healthcare) called them on that Friday and said they were missing my 5 year weight history. So I scrambled and it was sent in. That was the last I heard. So today I decided to call the insurance myself and see what they said and it was approved on December 4! So why didn't the surgeon's office call me about that little tidbit? Anyway, I just put a call in to the their patient advocate to see what he has to say. I had to leave a voice mail. So waiting again for a surgery date. The insurance agent said the date they had was December 20, but I'm guessing that was just a shot in the dark date. That doesn't give us enough time to do the two week liquid diet the surgeon requires of his patients. But, yay, we were approved!

My surgery is next week, but I have heard from everyone, on hear and at the docs, that six months, 12 months and 18 months are the big slow downs, with occasional small ones in between. My docs advice...hang in there and stay strong. If you have more weight to lose, you will start again. It all slows down as you lose more and more.

I just returned from my informational postop class. That amount you are eating sounds right, BUT, you should be eating all protein at one month out. With my surgeon, I will just be graduating to smooth foods at one month. We all have varying regimens we have to follow.

Hey, Dana, I would love that. I'm the 20th.

Have you had your leak test yet, if they are doing it. Some doctors don't do one before leaving the hospital.

Tomorrow should be better than "ok".

Maybe you can do some frequent aerobic exercising, if you are able to. Those endorphins hold off the hunger pangs for a while.

Jimbo, your actual, first ever appointment with the surgeon?

I'm the 20th. Great surgeries and easy recoveries to us all!

We just came back from our preop class of postop information (4 hours in the doc's classroom). Then we met with our surgery scheduler and picked 12/20 (next Thursday...aaah!) for our surgery. My son and I are having it done together and hopefully we will share a room in hospital. Then I'll know what kind of patient my 22 year old son is. Now we have to pre-admit ourselves, get bloodwork, EKG, and chest x-ray before next Thursday and we are good to go. The informational class is great, but it is also, kind of, the time when they might lose patients to fear. This was when we were given the paperwork that we had to initial every paragraph and sign. It tells us every single thing that could go wrong. If anything, anywhere, happened and was reported, they tell you it could happen to you. It is daunting. It is never good to have surgery (I've had people argue this point; what I mean is, is that everytime a person is put under general anesthesia, it is not good) but I felt better with my other two major surgeries that the decision was not made by me. I absolutely had to have them. This one I am really choosing to have it done, even though it has been deemed medically necessary or insurance wouldn't have paid. I think of all the people who have had plastic surgery with the only reason being that they didn't like the crook of their nose or something, I can't decide if they are very brave, very vain, or very stupid. And don't say they are very unhappy, don't go there! That is purely mental and surgery will never fix that. Oh, well... I've ranted and raved and hopefully informed or amused or irritated. Knowledge is power... but it is sooo true that sometimes, ignorence is bliss. Good luck to us all!

Thank you, both, so much!!

Stacygrdnr, how you doing?

OMG, my husband just got home from work and I was telling him about your post about bariatric body bags, and here's me, duh, I said, "What would be the difference between bariatric body bags and regular patient body bags?" My husband, "Size."

Congrats! Next week for me, too. Here's to a speedy recovery!

Here's hoping the best for you.

Mio is really good, although a little high priced.

Probably just due to the drastic food change. Some bowels are quite sensitive.

Maybe they mean bariatric body parts! You know, stomaches, intestine pieces, etc.

Great news, Cathy and Monday, wow, that is quick! Congrats and best wishes.

When we went to our "steps" class, our initial weigh-in number was fixed in cement. We were told we could not gain any weight from that point on or our surgeon may decide not to do the surgery.

Cathy, we have United Healthcare and it went very smoothly. The office submitted it on 11/29; insurance called them back with missing info request on 11/30; approval was finished on 12/4. So, less than a week for them to approve it. It should be like that for everyone. Hopefully, you'll hear soon. Good luck.

Again, I'm very impressed, and you are so cute. All the best to you. Your boyfriend sounds like a keeper, hopefully, he's a "sticker" (sorry, goofy, )

We all have these tests, well, some of them. I personally did not have to do a stress test or bone marrow test (that is the first I've heard of that being done). The others yes, all done, and now tomorrow, I get to set the date (this month). Good luck with all the jumping.

That sucks! I hate more than anything having to fess up to something, but I think, if I were you, I would tuck my tail between my legs, swallow my shame, then go in and confess to lying. Maybe you'll be able to spin it a little in your favor. Really, it's his fault. He should never have asked you what the surgery is for. He overstepped the boundary. Good luck!

The only thing you may experience is a slight sore throat. Definitely get it over with. Merry Christmas!