DreamsOfSkinny

My husband I think is finally acknowledging that this is really happening now that I'm approved (just this past Thursday) and have surgery date of 1/29. It is rather quick now but I'm happy about it. He's asked some questions but I think overall is scared something is going to go wrong. I keep trying to reassure him I've researched the doctor so long and he is one of the leaders of the sleeve and top hospitals. He's scared I will loose too much weight and will look sickly or will regret it because I'll have lots of loose skin bc of the rapid loss. I told him my goal and the eating and exercise plan and how long it will take me to lose it. The next moment he says he knows this means a lot to me bc he sees my dedication to it. I just hope nothing goes wrong and all my research, positive energy, preparation, prayers, and patience pays off for the good! He says I don't need surgery, but he supports me if this is what I truly want.

How have you reassured your spouses of your decision for surgery?

Surgery date. 1/29. Approved 1/17.

They told me 90 days

Told me same thing

Looks like I'll be joining the Januaries! 1/29 - got my date today. Trying to do my shopping tomorrow and figure out what I need to be stocking up on for post op. Have to lose some more weight to ensure I can keep my date though.

I'm looking for patients who've had the sleeve to connect with to see how your experience was like with the Dr, CPMC, aftercare, etc.

Thanks!!

After feeling like I was basically lower than dirt on the bottom of a shoe for regaining all of the weight I lost with the band after it was removed. (Thanks so a not very sympathetic doctor). And then having to change insurance companies in the middle of the process and thus change doctors. I finally got to see a new surgeon yesterday. Dr. Jossart and his entire staff were absolutely great!! So positive and helpful with everything. Never made me feel like the band failure was my fault and made it sound like getting my sleeve is a real possiblilty!

They also coordinated everything so yesterday' date=' I was able to get my upper GI, meet with the surgeon, meet with the NUT and the Psych...all in one day!!! So now I guess it's up to my new insurance.

Fingers crossed and lots of prayers that I can sail thru insurance and get this scheduled. I can't wait!!![/quote']

Were you approved?

I took a week -- I have a desk job and I was fine' date='[/quote']

That would be amazing to be find in a week.

I told my doc I wanted 4weeks off. The first 2weeks is to heal and the other 2 to start a workout routine. Like they say' date=' it takes 21days to create a habit and I am determined in creating good ones. Is a lifestyle change so make sure you give yourself time.[/quote']

I wish I had it but good luck to you. My lifestyle is kind of changing all at once lol!! But in all hood ways.

I was out for 3 days.

WOW!! 3 days! I had my gallbladder out in June and that killed me. I had a baby naturally - vaginalky and was walking around right after but gallbladder took me 2 weeks to truly recover :-/ Go figure. Appendix out in 2006- 3rd day I was riding roller coasters.

I really have NO idea what to go by on how I'll heal but only hope it's not like gallbladder.

Went back after 2 weeks but I worked 6 hours days for a week.

I didn't think about this possibly being an option! That's a great idea if someone offers me a position--I can always ask to start off partial days (training, etc.) for the first week or start off on thursday and friday only.

Omg honey ...im practically in tears! Im so HAPPY FOR YOU! Sending you a virtual hug! Take that UHC...lol. Yes...where there's a will there's a way. Everything else will fall in line! CONGRATS!

The ins. Coordinator sounded like she wanted to cry tears of joy today when I called her too. She said she's never seen a patient put together such thorough and long appeal packages and just being consistent about every little thing. I'm still kind of in shock. Now it's your turn for UHC!

Yesss! I was approved on 1/15/12 received a call surgery is schedule on 2/19 last doc visit 2/7 blood work anesthia on 2/12 payment out of pocket 1250.00 God is awesome. Congrats that peer to peer works when your are denied.

Congrats to you!! My oop max left is like $1500. So with everything that would be my most (plus I still have other health things that are being processed). I already have it set aside waiting

I'm hoping to hear tomorrow for pre surgery appt and surgery date. I'm going tomorrow to do all of my blood work and tests. I'm hoping for 2/1 or 2/4 date. I have to still lose some weight though per doc so now that I have my approval I'm switch from low-fat/cal diet to probably liquid diet. I have 6 weeks left before my ins. Ends and so does my job! So this has to be done asap so I can heal and get another job.

I just finally got approved after a battle with insurance. I've seen several threads on here about this but I wanted to be more specific.

My job/ins. Benefits are ending in less than 6 weeks. I need to have surgery asap really but at the same time have to be interviewing for a new job. I'm in HR and have desk job. Some meetings and slight lifting and walking. But how long did you take off? Did you take off too long? If you had office job- was 2 weeks enough time to heal?

Thanks!!

Hi Dreamofskinny' date=' my info will be submitted next week to UHC and i will let you know how it goes![/quote']

Keep me posted. Wishing you the best and sending the most positive thoughts.

APPROVED 1/17/13!!!!!!!!!

I love your drive Dreamsofskinny! We are here to cheer you on girl!

Girl! I sent the insurance a packet that was 4 lbs! Anddddddd I just got approved today!!!!

Now bad news.... I only have 6 weeks left of my insurance. I'm out if town for the next week. And within these 6 weeks I have to find another job. (With 1 job pending final determination next week... Interviewed twice already). Can I heal in 2 weeks I wonder? Where there's a will, there's a way!! My employer got tired of hearing from me I think

There's many reasons I chose plication over sleeve. One of them is my mom nearly dying from the sleeve. She is seven months out and still not back to work. She has/ and will be going through several more surgeries to fix what happened. So for me the sleeve was not the right choice. I was going to get the lb initially' date=' but decided against it for my own reAsons. During my research I met wonderful people on the lb and sleeve site, that are still my friends and supportive today. So I go back and forth to all the forums. I love my plication, and the post op diets/ lifestyle changes are the same. I'm not sure what research you found on plication, but I have no staples anywhere in me lol. Wls is a personal choice for everyone, but I find the lifestyle change is shared by all. I'm not here to push plication, and there are no rules on who goes to what site for support. But I will give my opinion on plication If asked because I have it and am doing great. Good luck with your choice;)[/quote']

Did your mom have surgery in the US or MEX? I'm so sorry!! Scares me!!

2nd level appeal. UHC finally put end date for decision in system - 1/25. Hoping to find out before then though. I'll keep calling every couple of days.

Email this guy. He'll send you a free dvd. It's freezing here too and I have a toddler as well so I'm pulling mine out to see what it has in store for me http://www.nowloss.com/free/

Took like a week to get to me

UPDATE:::

I checked with ins. And they said they received it on 1/10. Logged it 1/11. And attached a faxed letter from my doctor today, 1/14. The 2nd faxed letter from dr was faxed today but more than likely not be attached until tomorrow. No word on whether they have accepted it as urgent. That 72 hr deadline is tomorrow but then again I didn't get them the final paper until today. Hoping to hear a final decision by Friday. Prayers! I'm out of state until the 30th anyway so can't have surgery until February. But if it comes to external appeal I want to send that out before I leave on the 22nd.

Lost a few of my necessary 10 lbs for surgery so that's good. Either way it goes.

Can you inbox me a copy of your letter?

Oh ok...i have united health care. And from talking to them and surgeons office' date=' doesnt look like i will have to do any type of diet before surgery either. Some people are having to do a 6mo diet plan before hand..ugh[/quote']

With united if you don't have to do diet, then you usually have to show a 5 year weight history of morbid obesity.

You have to meet your plan's #1 requirement for 5 years. #1 specifically tells you how your ins. Defines morbid obesity so I would call and ask what are all the co-morbidities accepted.

Hi Petra' date=' I decided on the sleeve after the seminar too. I am waiting to be approved. I am below a Bmi of 40 and have high blood pressure. I got denied in July because I didn't have the 5 year history of the weight. I have only had the high blood pressure a couple years at most. When I got denied, they only said it was because I didn't have the weight history. The way that I'm reading your policy doesn't sound like you have to have the comorbidity for 5 years! Best of luck to both of us! [/quote']

Did you ever get approved?

Looked up on medical board.

Wanted someone with none-little to none history of leaks or complications.

A pioneer of the sleeve surgery.

Someone who was primary bariatric surgeon and ha done over 500 surgeries.

Bed side manners and felt comfortable with to ask all my questions, etc.

Overall reputation of office and doctor results.