penman53

I went to a support group meeting that was at a center that does nothing but bariatric surgeries. They have many satified patients. My doctor is at a major hospital in the Oklahoma City area. His diet is very different than the one that the patients at the other hospital use. After making a fool of myself after trying to convince the other patients about bariatric diets, I found out real soon that I needed to shut my mouth and listen to them and let them do the program that their doctor has them use. I will use the one my doctor is giving me. I have some real reservations about getting bariatric surgery in a foreign country and then flying home and trying to get another bariatric surgeon to give you the kind of support that your really need. I just makes me feel a little uneasy and I'm not even doingit. Good luck and get your diet instructions straight before you go under the knife please for your sake.

All I can say is wow!

You look fantastic!!!!!

I am a type 2 insulin requiring diabetic. Have been for over 20 years. Has anyone been on a pump and got off it after bariatric surgery? I would love to just use an insulin pen and spare the cost of expensive insulin pump supplies. Thanks Mark

July 24th for me to. I go to my Pre Op nutrition class at 1:00 and see the doc at 3:30. I cant beilieve that it is finally going to happen!!! I am so ready for this. I have been doing nothing but reading, studying and thinking about my sleeve since February. I know in my heart that this is the right thing and I really hope that I will be able to help my wife around the house and make live alot easier on her. I want her quality of life to improve also.

I put my flax seed into my nutribullet and use the milling blade. It grinds it into a nice powder and it is easily digestible and dissapears in food.

I to like cottage cheese. Regular cottage cheese has too much sodium but the 1 percent only has about 400 mg per serving. I tried the non fat and it was horrible. It was from Wal Mart maybe that was part of the problem. I agree that it tastes great alone or with tomoatoes, fruit anything. You should really try it.

you really should try to get your protein every day. Without it you will feel hungry and terrible. Not to mention if you don't get your protein in, you can start having problems like hair loss etc

Call the hospital and find out what time they put you on the schedule. What a rotten deal for them not to call you back. I think medical people are becoming so bad about practicing patient care. It is long gone

I did and found out that my appeal was approved, I got a call from my doctors office yesterday and I am having my sleeve on the 24th of July. I go to my pre op nutrition class and my last doctors visit after the class. Looks like my surgery is finally a go thanks for the advise.

\ Great news, Got a call from the scheduler today, they recieved the approval letter from Blue Cross and my surgery is going to be the 24th of July. I have to go to my pro op nurition class and my last meeting with my doctor before surgery. I am so excited and I can't wait to get this show on the road and start improving my life.

My insurance carrier told me today that they sent out the letter to my surgeons office yesterday. My doctors office lied to me when they told me that they checked today and still didn't know about my acceptance. But the doctors office needs to know that Blue Cross keeps tract of every phone call concerning any members records. I just hope that my doctors offices nasty lying process doen't screw up my surgery date. Good news I got called from my doctors office yesterday. I am approved and they have scheduled me for the 24th of July for surgery, my pre op nut class will be next Monday! My wishes have finally came true and than you all for the support.

Heres an update. I called Blue Cross yesterday they told me that my surgery was approved and was in the system. I should be recieving the letter in a few days. I called my doctors office and they have me scheduled for the 22nd of July. I will start my 10 day preop diet next week. I am so excited and ready for this. I want to lose weight so bad and get back in shape so I can enjoy my retirement. Wish me luck

This time for sure, I call Blue Cross and they told me that my application was in the system I asked the lady what that meant and she said that your surgery is approved and you will recieve your letter in a couple of days. I called my patient advocate and she told me that the 22nd of July was still a good date and I can count on it. I hope that this time it is really true. I am so tired of waiting and waiting for insurance to finally pay for my procedure. I can't wait to get it over, lose weight and improve my life drastically. I can't wait to start my journey with you all. Mark, Edmond Oklahoma

I have been tentatively scheduled for 22 July pending approval of my appeal. I am getting really freaked out about how long it is going to take to get the approval back. Accoring to my doc. he was told to get just a few things fixed on my paperwork and it would fly through I really hope that they will get me in. Cross your fingers for me ok?

I was told by one member of Blue Cross that I was approved now my doctors office tells me that it is still being processed???? They told me I might have surgery on the 23rd of July (maybe). This sucks I have been jacked around since June!!!!!

I couldn't wait to find out by snail mail. I called BCBS since Friday and they told me that as soon as they got word that the docs were approved they could let me know without the paperwork. I should recieve the letter in a couple of days but for what its worth, it going to happen YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe that imatation crab meat is made out of Pollack fish. It is really good anyway you want to eat it. Cold or hot, you can make a great crab dip or make a seafood crepe. Any recipie for crab meat can use fake crab.

I will be using Dr. Hamilton Lee at Integris Hospital in OKC. They have a great program and I really like him. I should be having surgery in the next few weeks if all goes well.

Change your protein and try another brand. You must get your protein, you know that.

Thank you, I am really happy with my doc. He went above and beyond for me on this one. He is a wonderful doc.

My surgeon spoke with BCBS and specifically the official that denied my surgery because my stupid PCP completely screwed up my letter. After Dr. Le spoke with them, they told Dr Le what to change on my paperwork and told them to send it to the original reviewer directly. He said that there will be an approval forthcoming. Yeah (I hope)

I agree with you completely. That is all I use and I just hope I still like it after surgery

Yes they do and I will meet with my Dr. tomorrow to try to straighten this out.

After jumping through hoops for my bariatric surgeon, and putting up with constant screw ups on bills for me to get to file with my insurance (even though my doctor is a PPO) I finally got turned down last week why? My patient advocate failed to look over the PCP letter when it was sent to them, then when all of my required visits with the doctor and nutritionist, the phycologist and exercise physiologist, they (the office staff) failed to proof the letter from my PCP and it had glaring errors the immediately made me ineligable for surgery. My PCP, even though he never asked told Blue Cross that I never exercised or made any attemp to lose weight even though I had a back fusion and had been going through several years of excrutiating pain in standing and walking plus shoulder surgery and a knee that was bone on bone. Plus I had documented 13 visits with a nutritionist since 2010 which included weight loss programs to help me lose the weight on my own. I can't believe the incompetance of my doctors office staff. There were two times, when the letter arrived and later just before the paperwork was submitted to my insurance carrier. How could they let something like that slip? I am so devastated, I was ready to go on this surgery and fully expected a surgery date of early June and now it could be months later or possibly never. When I think of all the time, effort and not to mention all the butt time sitting in waiting rooms for the doctor and nutritionist and to have this outcome simply amazes me. I'm 59 years old, diabetic, BMI of 44, 350 pounds with sleep apnea, hight blood pressure, high chloresteral the works. Not to mention a heart condition. Looks like my goose is cooked. Please someone tell me what to do to fix this fiasco please???? Mark, Edmond Oklahoma