Rena's got this

I'm still 5+ months away from my surgery, but I've managed to give up sodas by substituting it with a big mug of ice with a little water in it. I chew on the ice all day and sip on the water as it melts. I didn't have any headaches and my soda cravings have totally vanished. I was a diet coke addict, and switched to diet Mountain Dew, and then to the water. I'm trying to start getting in a bit more exercise, but at my size....it is very difficult and joint pain is horrible.

I would think that the 6 month diet would seem to pass quickly once you have finished it. At the beginning, or during the 6 months, time seems to be taking forever! At least for me anyway. I'm just starting my 2nd month of the 6 months.

I have BCBS of Alabama too, but they don't have an exclusion for weight loss surgery under certain conditions, such as being morbidly obese. I'm going for it. If they deny, I'll just appeal, and keep appealing until they do a peer review. If the peer review denies it, I'll head to Mexico, but I'd rather do it here in the states. I'm getting desperate...I feel my health going downhill. My legs hurt. I'm going to try to exercise in the local health fitness pool, and I went to get a swimsuit today. Ugh...so incredibly depressing... couldn't find one that fit that didn't look like crap.

OMG....how creative you are! Your director should realize what a great employee they have and give you an appropriate pay raise for saving your organization lots of money from having to take and respond to those annoying calls!

I know what you mean. My father was gone most of the time, and when he was home, he was mean tempered. We always had to walk on eggshells around him. Now that he is old, he complains that his kids don't call or visit him. Heck, anytime I do visit him, he nags me about my weight. He'll get a card from me, but probably not a visit...at least not at my current weight! I just don't want to subject myself to him right now. My ex-hubby has the kids this weekend, so I'll probably relax at home, mow my yard, maybe tackle the laundry...good times! (Yeah! Nothing wrong with a good pity party every now and then! ...lol)

Dang! I wanna come to YOUR house!

Very nice job Lynda! I can't wait until I can be where you are!

Yes, it would be difficult to replace that lost kidney, thank goodness we come with two! I spent some time in the military, leaving it after only 12 years in 1995. I could kick myself for not staying 8 more years to get a retirement, but hey, hindsight is 20 20. My brother retired from the Navy, and his wife was able to get a bypass with very little waiting last month. I'm green with envy! Well.... not really, I'd rather have the sleeve than the bypass!

Welcome.... I've been considering having the sleeve done since last fall, but I only got serious about it this spring. I'm in my 6 month weight loss program, and have just been to my first month's meeting, so I have 5 months to go on it. I'm hoping by November or December to be able to schedule the surgery. I had the Psych eval done, and my insurance wouldn't cover most of it because I wasn't accepted yet for the weight loss surgery. Well, heck! I can't even apply for that until after this 6 months! Soooo....if I were you, you may want to hold off on that part of the requirement (if your insurance requires that), until real close to the end of your 6 month diet requirement. Yep, I'm bummed....I'm rather poor and that $300.00 was not in my budget! Anyway.... what I meant to say before I got sidetracked... was welcome!

You are lucky. I'm 56 also, haven't yet had the surgery, but I can feel my health going down quickly. I'm almost diabetic, and my hip, knee, and ankle pain are extremely annoying, making exercising next to impossible. I've got Sleep Apnea, high cholesterol, Gerd.....I can't wait until I get the sleeve! Looks like it won't happen until November of December of this year though.

I've been complaining a bit about having the 6 month diet to complete, but after reading this thread, I'm going to try and not be so impatient. I've realized that my insurance WILL eventually pay, and I won't have to pay for it myself or go to Mexico, so I'm going to make myself be content with the wait.

I'm so envious! What state are you in?

I'm just starting....still....*sigh*. I meet with my 6 month diet dietitian next week. I hope she won't tell me to lose a certain amount, but we'll see. In the meantime, my PCP put me on Metformin because my last test showed that I was almost into the diabetic range. That medicine was a bit rough for me, and I've lost 6 pounds in two weeks without trying. The first day, I had to go home sick from work because it made me nauseous. I'm still not up to the amount she wants me to take, but I can only do what my body will tolerate, so I'm starting out with only taking the prescribed amount on the weekends, and halving the pills during the week so I can work without getting sick. I wonder if anyone else has had this happen.

All but the final Nutritionist appointment. The surgeon's office said to wait until I was halfway through my 6 month diet requirement. I think there may be some more lab work I need to complete as well just before the surgery.

Lordy you were lucky. I'm just starting my 6 month diet and despairing because that seems like such a long time. Maybe that will happen to me!

I sure wish I could get sleeved in 2 weeks, even if it is in Mexico! I have 6 months left before I can even think about applying through my insurance. I'm envious of you!!!

I love the Premier Protein Drinks, and I still have 6 months to go before I get sleeved.

If you are denied, appeal. I've heard that a lot of people who were initially denied were approved when they appealed....especially if it was a peer review appeal.

I had the test done. I didn't fall asleep until between 3:30 and 4:00am. The sleep tech told me that they did get enough sleep for a diagnosis and I did have moderate sleep apnea. He also said he wondered if I was EVER going to fall asleep. When I went in for the titration study he told me to bring a sleeping pill. I did, and I had no problems sleeping that time. Unfortunately I guess....I didn't have severe sleep apnea, just moderate, so I don't think it will count as a co-morbidity.

I have bad knees and was wondering what I could do also. I do a bit of yard work like mowing the yard, and after I'm done my knees ache something terrible. I don't have access to a pool. Any suggestions?

I know what you mean. I have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, and my doc put me on Metformin. I have a heavy family history of diabetes, with 3 grandparents, mom, and 2 siblings with it. My A1C is 5.9, which is just short of being a full blown diabetic at 6.0 from what I understand. Pre-diabetes however, is not considered a co-morbidity with my insurance. If I have to take diabetes medication, why not just say I have diabetes!

I think it was because for the past 2 or 3 years they had asked him repeatedly to drop 100+ pounds before they could help him. When they checked back on them, he had not been able to lose any. So when they asked for him to lose the 100+ pounds again this time, she already knew what the likelihood of that would be, and she was ready to just wash her hands of the doctors and her husband too.

How did they fix your sleeve? I thought once it was done that it is not reversible.

Well, if you are denied, just appeal, and keep appealing. Get your doc involved too, which seems to help in the appeal. I haven't submitted to my insurance yet, but I'm prepared to go through as many appeals as it takes if I'm denied.

I know....it will help me to prepare. I've already been preparing for nearly a year though. I've totally weaned myself off of any carbonated drinks, when I used to be addicted to diet cokes. I don't drink alcohol....except maybe once every six months or so. I don't really like the way it makes me feel. I only drink water now, but every now and then I'll have lemonade, and rarely, tea. I have found some protein drinks that I like, and I swap them for meals every now and then. The Premier Protein chocolate drinks are exceptionally good. I think my main problem right now is getting in any exercise. I had knee surgery in December, and my knees still bother me to the point where it is difficult to walk, much less walk any length of time. Swimming pools are not an option. I could join a local gym, but the motivation to go just isn't present. THAT is what I need to work on.