DreamsOfSkinny

Well I've now requested all the 5 yr. documentation, comorbities (sp??), tests results the Dr. Wanted and hope to get everything by Monday.... One more thing down. I'm already thinking I'll have to do the 6 month diet but read on UHC that you can do 2 3 month weight records with Dr. Within last 2 yrs., which I should have. But I'll just take it step by step. I'm already off of work on leave until beginning of Feb. so I am really wanting to get surgery end of Nov/Dec. I'd hate it if I got denied bc wasn't 40 BMI for 5 yrs or no 6 month diet. I did tell my husband today, and he didn't really say much besides you know I'm not on you about your weight. Let me know how I can support you because since you researched this then it must be important.

Anyone who has been through it and passed... can you please tell me what to expect? I read somewhere that someone tried it years ago and was diagnosed with depression---does that mean you can't get the surgery? I also read that they give you a check off list to show how weight has affected you---what is this truly trying to get at? I know it's seeing are you emotionally/mentally ready for surgery, but I'm just scared I won't pass as I do see a Psychologist already for bi-polar (which is in my charts) which has a depressive side to it and currently on meds for that. :- / A little TMI, but I'd just like to know what I'm getting myself into here.

Well I found a Dr. that I really like that is in-network for UHC and doesn't charge any stupid program fee----thanks goodness people posted on here and another board about him. He seems much more patient friendly and is the Director over WLS/GI surgeries at a local hospital. I lucked up and they were able to fit in all my needed appts. this Friday since I'll be out of town for 2 weeks coming up---finally graduating (well at least walking across the stage) for Bachelors degree...I'm just starting my last 2 courses today--so I have my appt. with surgeon, RD, and Psych. I also will start getting all my medical history information collected tomorrow and hope to get most of it to coordinator by next Tuesday (the day before I leave the state). My goal would be to be able to get everything submitted and done so that she can send off to insurance ASAP. The coordinator over the phone didn't mention any real tests needed for surgery besides x-ray and blood work done day of. I've recently has colonoscopy, ultrasound on stomach, endoscopy, etc. -- wonder if that made a difference? What tests did your doctor run? I'm also a bit confused by my insurance. The coordinator said with United that there are 2 different plans she's come across... 1) that requires 6 month weight loss classes/Dr. and 2) one that only requires 5 yr. weight history and any health issues related to being morbidly obese---yes, that's what I'm considered now with a BMI of 40.??? How many of those with UHC didn't have to do 6month plan--what type of UHC plan did you have? (I have PPO called HRA Plus by my HR Dept.) I hope to find out more answers to my questions come Friday, but I definitely am excited to find a Dr. that got me in right away, seems much more willing to work with my insurance, has great bedside manners, is highly qualified, and doesn't charge extra thousands of dollars for things that will be covered by my insurance PPO plan. I only have $2,200 left OOP for my max until June 30, 2013 Can't beat that!! My husband suspected something tonight when I went to the information monthly meeting... I said it was at the hospital and by a Dr. and RD for weight loss. While I wasn't technically lying I feel really bad. Now I have to figure out how to explain needing to go to the Dr. for 4 hrs. on Friday..... :- / Any suggestions on explaining to a spouse that has never really been overweight? I'm scared to death to say anything until the insurance approves it because I feel like I don't want him to know unless it's really going to happen because I don't want to be judged. We've been together over 5 yrs., so he knows I've always struggled with losing weight and keeping it off and the health issues now arising because of my increased weight, but I still feel like he's going to respond with-- why in the world would you get surgery? Just eat right and go to the gym. Sorry so long -- thanks my new WL family.

Oh wow!! 1) i hope you feel better/heal from stitches but 2) get fluids down! Scary. Did ER Dic recommend anything?

You look great! What a big difference from pre op pics. Fantastic loss. When were you sleeved?

30 lbs is amazzzzing for 1 month out of surgery! Congrats. That's great that you had someone close to you that went through this prior so you and your husband knew what to expect and trust that Dr. too. Question for you--- you said your daughter had gallbladder issues...that's another concern of mine as I had gallbladder removed in June. 1) I want to find a Dr. that would (could) do keyhole on me so I don't have to have my stomach look like a complete battleground but 2) worried that I would have to wait longer to have sleeve as this surgery is still kind of new..... I also had appendectomy laproscopic as well in 2006.... so my belly button has top and bottom scars.

But look at your progress so far! He must be so excited to have you safe but more so healthier now

Thank you for this info! It's been quite hard to find any program fee information from patients on this site, so have been trying to research this myself. $600 is NOTHING compared to $5,600 good for you!

Thank you for this Rick! I'll look into Dr. Jossart as I see he accepts United Healthcare so hopefully he is in-network. I've heard some great things about him, and now that I've talked to several patients of Cirangle from here I understand that the program fee is not anything negotiable even if my insurance would cover it all. Too bad -- I need to cancel my consult I think now and try to find someone else. I would think that I could have most everything covered as the insurance told me over the phone by UHC and my MAX cost would be $2k as that is all I have left for OOP max until June 30th, 2013. Also I saw that on the Sutter Health website for Dr. Jossart that UHC doesn't require a 3 or 6 month diet period... greattttttt! I'm crossing my fingers on this as I meet the over 40 BMI so hope I could get this done quickly.

Hi OTR -- I see you went to Mexico for your surgery. How do you do follow up appointments?

Hi VST Addict -- that's who I'm seeing on Tues. for consult as I've heard he's the best but when I called coordinator told me it's a $5,600 program fee ontop of the cost of the surgery and what my OOP max is from ins. That made no sense to me and I hadn't heard anyone else on here saying they had program fee... as I have ins. that will cover tests, visits, follow ups, physch eval. What was your experience with his office?

I'd love to know that too beautyandbeyond.

Well another curious post I have... How did you tell your spouse of wanting to get sleeved? I have no idea how to go about this as we've been together for 5 yrs with me struggling with my weight the entire time and he is only slightly overweight and hasn't been his whole life like me. I feel like he can't fully relate to this.....I'm tired of losing and gaining and never feeling full and not being able to maintain on my own. I've never been within my healthy weight range since probably I was 5. I want my life! I want a life and don't want the weight to keep holding me back -- from getting my dream job, being confident, feeling sexy/better sex life with my hubby, exercise easier, feel better, wear the clothes I want, be looked at as normal and can hang out at a variety of events.

I heard about the Spider technique and really interested in that. I have United Healthcare and need an in-network provider and would like to find someone around where I live for follow up visits....although if there is someone around Sac or even SoCal I'd be willing to travel for the right person with great recommendations.

What pre- and post- op services did your insurance cover? What I understand so far is the list below of what needs to be done. Consultation 6-month diet Physh eval x-rays EKG Blood work Follow-up visit with Dr. Surgery Hospital stay, etc. Post-op visits possibly more blood work

You must be thrilled to be down so much!

onemanwolfpack--- love the name and picture lol gave me a laugh! I said I had insurance, but it seemed like it was more of a cost for self-payers or those that ins. didn't cover tests, etc. Mine does, so it will be one of my many questions for my Tues. consult. This doctor was listed as one of the best sleeve surgeons for San Francisco and the US so I am really wanting to go with him.

I'm from BR but now live in Cali. Thanks so much for mentioning this spider technique as I had not heard of it before! What a great thing!! I need to ask about that and wonder how I can go about locating a local doctor that performs this-- the spider website didn't provide any search engine.

Oh wow! This Dr. office made it seem like they had a supplement package that was crazy expensive so I need to pay $5,600 package fee for tests, supplements, etc. Looks like I need to research more doctors and charges. Thanks for the reply!

So for everyone with UHC, the 6 month diet, does it have to start AFTER you have your consult or can it count for any 6 month range within the last 2 yrs.? I read on the UHC website that you could even combine 2 - 3 month stints within the last 2 years as long as you were weighed each month by a doctor and some notes were written......

I had a doctor's office tell me today that they have a specific supplement package that is rather expensive that you take afterwards. I thought this odd as no one has mentioned anything like this on this board. I only see a list of either prescriptions or OTC items people buy and take.... Any thoughts?

Hi, I have UHC, but more importantly anyone have a Cali doctor? Do they have good recommendations? I'm in San Francisco but willing to travel around some.

Yeh, that's what I thought. It just seems like the doctor wants to sell another weight loss program afterwards for a weekly meeting and to see a nutritionist but when I looked at other Dr.s they either say follow ups are free or their post op meetings are free.... Tommyd, Did UHC cover your tests (xray, ekg) before hand and physch eval and seeing nutritionist? Did they cover follow ups and any supplements after?