Margie122

I would also suggest that you don't drink with meals. I haven't had surgery yet but I don't drink anything 1/2 hour before or after a meal and I find it help keeps me fuller. I also drink a lot of water in between.

I have told very few people I am going to have surgery. A total of 8 people know I'm having surgery and one is my mother. I'm sure more people will realize something is different after surgery, but I just don't feel the need to tell many people my personal business. I've learned a lot of good ways of dealing with negative and positive people who ask about how much weight you've lost here on the boards. I'm just going to say "a lot" and leave it at that.

Good luck to everyone who has had their case submitted to insurance. Mine should be submitted in a few weeks after my office visit with the surgeon. I am excited and nervous and HATE TO WAIT!

Congratulations!!!!! ☺️

Glad to hear it went well. ????. Good luck on your journey.

I am hoping for July but it will depend on insurance approval and my surgeons schedule. I just found out I have severe sleep apnea. I also have high blood pressure. My starting BMI was 40 so I'm hoping that the BMI and co-morbidities will get me through the insurance hurdle. I see the psych doc next week and my surgeon on June 16th. I am so excited to start this journey. Wishing all the new sleevers well ????

Congratulations on your weight loss ... I think you are doing great.

45 days is a ridiculously long time! It realistically shouldn't take them more than two weeks!

Ok....only part of the email I cut and pasted is showing up...very strange because I saw the whole thing in their, Anyway I will type it out... They said.... "Coverage for bariatric surgery for members age 18 and over is provided when authorized in advance by Tufts Health Plan Pre-Certification Department. coverage is for medically necessary surgery to treat morbid obesity when the member meets the medical necessity guidelines submitted by the members primary care physician or bariatric surgeon. Coverage is subject to the in- network deductibles and any applicable co-insurance." I looked at the guidelines they attached - there were only two that I could see...must be over 18 and have surgery done at a center of excellence. My surgeon is at one of those centers I picked off their list. Hope this post makes more sense now!

I wrote to my health plan to ask what the specific requirements were for bariatric surgery. This is the response I got. Hello Thank you for your email inquiry. Coverage for Bariatric Surgery for members age 18 and older is provided when authorized in advance by the Tufts Health Plan Pre-Certification Department. Coverage is for medically necessary surgery to treat morbid obesity when the member meets the Medical Necessity Guidelines submitted by the member's primary care physician or bariatric surgeon. Coverage is subject to the in-network deductible and any applicable co-insurance. I am PUMPED!!!! I know that I meet the medical necessity guidelines. I know the surgery must be at a "Center of Excellence" and my hospital is on their Center of Excellence list. I feel so much better knowing this now.

Good luck on your journey. I hope your husband and mother-in-law come around.

There is a long time between my starting the pre op diet and the appt where they will see if I have lost enough and submit the paperwork to insurance for approval. Is it possible for insurance to say "she lost more than the 15 lbs you asked her to so she could do this on her own"????? I'm not saying it's going to happen but the thought scares me.

My nutritionist was ok with Unjury and it is way less $$$ than the other one I was using. I like the taste. After hearing the reviews about the chicken broth I'm going to have to try it.

Good luck!!!!!

Heard some things that I knew but I also heard I have a problem with carbs. I knew it and I was ready to hear it but giving up carbs is going to be a b*tch. I CAN do it but I must admit it's depressing. Instead of focusing on the negative I'm going to think about all the positives that will come with losing the excess weight. I want to go zip lining when I lose 100lbs. I could go now but I'm so close to the max weight I don't feel comfortable. I have only TWO more things to do before they out in my paperwork....meet with the psych doc for clearance and lose 8 more pounds. Next visit is on June 16th. I'm also giving up caffeine. Fingers crossed on this journey.

I've met with the surgeon's assistants, had blood work done, and the sleep study. Next week I have the EKG, barium swallow, and I meet with the nutritionist. I have my psych evaluation at the end of May and I see the surgeon the beginning of June. I have to lose 15 pounds before they will submit my paperwork to the insurance company and ask for authorization for the surgery. I have been trying to NOT drink anything at meals and it has been hard. I figure I should do it now and be prepared. My BMI is 40.4 and I have high blood pressure (for about 8 years). I should qualify for the surgery but I am afraid that my insurance is going to say no. I have Tufts HMO now. Years ago I was scheduled for lap band and my insurance carrier denied me the day before my surgery. The carrier at that time was United Healthcare. I checked the policy wih Tufts. I should qualify...but.....I am worried that they (like United) will find some arbitrary reason to say no.

I had United years ago and I was missing one year of weights. They denied me, I appealed and lost. THEY SUCK. I now have different insurance. I swear they make it so hard just to deny on a technicality.

Good luck ????

If anything it might be a comorbidity and it could help you get surgery.

I will try Less of Jess. I have appointments with nutritionist and ekg on 5/6 and I meet with the surgeon on 5/26. Prior to that I have to schedule psych evaluation and sleep test. It's exciting. I need to keep a food journal.....it will be rough but I have to do it.

Thank you elode. Honestly I am a bit scared to go through the process again, do all the testing, and get my hopes up. I'm afraid my insurance will deny me again. I have new insurance since the last time I tried and they seem better but you never know.

swimsuits4all.com had a great variety and all sorts of sizes and options. And they weren't overly pricey.

Awesome job! I hope to have stats like you soon

I had my first appointment with the bariatric team today. Filled out paperwork, got weighed and had my blood pressure taken. Met with the two NP's and talked about surgical options. They feel (as I do) that the vertical sleeve is for me. Gastric bypass may have been difficult after my gallbladder surgery - something about scar tissue. The sleeve was what I wanted. I had about ten vials of blood drawn. Next step is meeting with the nutritionist, psych evaluation, barium swallow, EKG, ultrasound and Echo, and a sleep study. I have to lose 15 pounds on my own before hey will send in the paperwork to request surgery. Post op diet is a regular diet - not liquids. They said they don't do full liquids pre-surgery because it makes patients miserable and we have to learn how to eat less. I'm going to have a hard time with no drinking right before and after meals but I know I can do it. Feeling good about making the first step.

esskay77 thank you for your input. I appreciate it. I am 99% positive that Tufts dropped the mandatory 6 month diet program they made everyone go in before approving the surgery. I'm just hopeful that I won't get screwed again like I did in 2007 by UHC because I didn't have a 5 year weight history. I'm so ready to be a lower weight, not because I will look better but because I will feel better and have more energy. I don't care if I am ever a single digit size, a 12 or a 14 would be wonderful. Just to be able to go into a "regular" store and shop off the rack would be delightful. I can handle 3-4 months. If I could pick, I would like to have the surgery mid Sept or early Oct. That is when I will have sufficient vacation time logged at work and it would just be easier for everyone.