Mocha-NJ

Bella, I would think your surgeon's office might be able to help you figure out the appeal process & maybe how to word the letter. Even though they don't handle it themselves, they surely have had other patients who have to appeal an initial turndown & they may know what worked for those folks. I have Aetna also, but I was approved on the first request. I know Aetna has different plans, and I don't know what the differences are between them. Was there a reason listed for the denial? If they just said something general like "does not meet criteria" see if you can find out the specific issue(s) and go from there. Good luck!

I just saw this and wanted to share. My insurance paid all of mine, but wanted to help others! Good Luck!
www.wlsfa.org/looking-for-help/

I have this feeling in my chest that comes & goes ALL day. The doc says thats the top of ur stomach where the surgery was being done. Um I dont like that feeling. Anyway, besided that im doing pretty good...up fixin my own broths, tkin my showers alone, walkin around, im ok. Im ready 2 get out of this house & atleast jus RIDE lol How is everybody else doing?

I was sleeved June 3rd, the doctor said I did excellent... even tho all I had 2 do was lay there & sleep lol Anyway, I came out went 2 recovery, then 2 ICU for 2days. I was walking in about 5 hrs. Wait! I lost 13lbs on the liquid diet & 4lbs in ICU, so I am on the losers bench now & will REMAIN there happily. Thanks 4 ur thoughts & prayers smooches

Sleeved 4/01 down 40 lbs.. Stalling for about 3 weeks but Happy so far!

Today I'm registering for surgery and I get my date!

I know most people are looking forward to ONEderland but as of today I am under 300 pounds for the first time in 15 years and I had to share my joy!
Highest weight 353
Day of surgery 329
Today 298
YAY ME!!!!!!!!

I have cleaned my closet all the way from size 26 pants to size 6 and from a 3X women's top to a misses medium. It is the greatest feeling in the world! I LOVE cleaning my closet!

Hey Lady! I was sleeved on May 1st so far so good I don't have any complaints. At this point I have no regrets. I am a little sore around the bigger incision but that's the brunt of it. I think the worst of it all to me is the liquid diet.< /p>

I was wondering how things were going wit my sis and bros who have been sleeved the good the bad the ugly hair.loss loose skin and all that i am aa and praying my insurance approves me i have done most of my requirements i just have my psych eval and sleep study left and then the waiting game for approval and surg date. ..any responses would be great:))

First off, this is normal at your time. Second, it's not like you can go backwards. The great thing about the sleeve is that it can't be reverse.
I'm about 2.5 years out. I can eat about half a panini slowly now, even the bread. And save the rest for later. It takes time to learn how your sleeve works, but after just a few months, you won't really notice it.
And after a couple of years like me, your new eating arrangement will seem normal, and you won't be able to understand how regular folks eat such absurd portions and meals. This way is way better, it just takes some time.
Keep your head up!

5-18-13 & it had been exactly one year since I had my vertical sleeve gastrectomy. At my highest weight, I was 358, at the start of my pre-op diet, I was 338, on the day of surgery, I was 288. Today, I'm 193 pounds. (I'm 5'7) From a size 30 jeans, 30/32 tops to a MD top, & size 12 jeans. May 28th I will have my corset Trunkplasty to remove my excess stomach skin. My surgeon estimated 15-18 pounds of skin & from a 12 to an 8. Mentally, I struggle everyday because I feel like I should be smaller. But I've been exercising HARD since my 6 month pre-op diet, following my surgeons plan to a T. Not much else I could've done. I just have to love myself & where I am, but I'm going to keep on pushing towards my goal!
Kristie

It is 4 months today since..
I woke up before the sun, drove to the hospital full of apprehension, ready to flee the scene before someone sedates me, but putting up a brave front to keep my mom's nerves at ease.. got greated by some friendly nurses and a funny anesthesiologist, everyone wishing me an advanced happy birthday (it was 9 days from the surgery..) and got sleeved into a new life.
I cant believe it is 4 months already..! I remember everything from my surgery day (up until I was transfered to the operating table o'course) like it was yesterday...
Deciding to not run away from the hospital was probably the second best decision of my life..
Having said that.. It was not a easy ride.. the chewing, 30 minute no drinking rule, slimies, trying to get in enough fluids, Protein, countin calories, carbs, dirty looks from the waiters when I ask for a to-go box, hair loss, and oh yes.. the dreaded stalls! I seem to be in more stall weeks than in loss weeks in any given month.. but hey if thats how my body wants to roll..
Will I do this all over again..? I don't know.. will a surgeon be ok with removing 85% of my already 15% stomach?
Here are a few pictures of the journey.. please don't mind me not smiling.. I can't.. really... put a camera in front of me.. and I have no clue what to do!
In the last picture..it is my.. "I'm in a stall.. again! what do I do this time" face.. :ph34r: I don't see any difference in the 2.5 and 3.5 months pic.. but the clothes surely fit more loosely..

Hi Everyone, As the title suggests, I'm a newbie! I've been visiting the forum for the last 2 weeks reading everyones amazing stories. Other forums on the net seem to focus so much on the negatives, but I'm looking for support! Glad I found this place. I'm not far into my journey yet. I went to the seminar in April, had initial consultation with the surgeon on May 8th. And now the fun begins! I hope to meet lots of new people that are on a similar journey.
Be good to you!

No prob....I ate salad with fst free vinaigrette dressing and Protein. chicken, turkey etc. No carbs or sugar. No meals after seven. No carbs besides complex carbs in fruit. Water, water water. ....I put cucumbers in mine to help with flavor. My surgeon did not put on any liquid diet or anything of the sort. He simply said you need to lose x amt of weight or I will cancel surgery. I had surgery 10/16/2012 and have lost 85 pounds so far.

Nothing is a slider food for me as I eat very small amounts of ANYTHING and feel STUFFED! I was sleeved 1/11/13 -- I thought by now I'd have more room or tolerance, but I got nothing! No complaints I am only about 30lbs from goal

Slider foods, to weight loss surgery patients, are soft simple processed carbohydrates of little or no nutritional value that slide right through the stomach without providing nutrition or satiation. Crackers, chips, pretzels, Cookies, cakes, candy, etc

Thanks I will continue the process and see where it takes me. Frustrating as it is I'm gonna follow up with the sleep study stuff

A couple of things. Resistance bands are good and inexpensive and are a good way to get some flexibility and strength. Gallon milk jugs make great dumbells and is something that just about everybody has. Gallon cans of paint work good too. Throw the kids in a stroller or wagon and walk (don't have to run). Jump rope. Use the kids a dumbells or kettlebells (I've done this when mine where little). They have fun and you get exercise. Take them to the park, and you climb the monkey bars with them. Have fun!

Surgery was 12 hrs ago. Just got out of bed for 1st time - ow!!! Morphine is my friend tonight!

I've went back boxing after about a month. I have a before and after check it out

Today is my first day back to work since surgery, 3/29. I work 12 hour shifts in a ER...wish me luck!

I swear I posted to this thread... or maybe it was another on the same topic.
I KNOW the answer to your problem because i went to an ob/gyn
Obesity/extra fat creates extra estrogen which tends to create lots of vaginal moisture. So, I went through menopause with NO problems with dryness when I was obese. Then bam, i lose weight and suddenly have a huge problem. Well, I have less estrogen now!
Maybe you are not menopausal, but even women before menopause can start to experience symptoms (perimenopuase is like the "pre" state) and losing weight makes that estrogen drop.
My doc prescribed a hormone cream that i use very low dosage. Its purpose isn't to just lubricate but to actually restore the "tissue" of the vaginal lining because if you let it get too bad, you can start having big problems like break down of the tissue and even pain with urination. I luckily am not at that stage, but lemme tell you, spinning classes on the bike were getting not fun.