LumpySpacePrincess

I am in the same boat. I have Horizon BCBS NJ and its been almost a week, when I was told it would only be a day or two. Maybe its just a busy time of year and they haven't gotten to our files yet. I'm going to try to call again today.

Hooray!!! So happy for you! Let us know when you get a surgery date!

Starting my 3rd week on the pre-op diet. It was a breeze before, but now that PMS has come around I am absolutely STARVING! Any suggestions for getting through? My pre-op diet looks like this: 3 Protein shakes per day (I use EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control) 1 solid meal consisting of: 4-6 ounces very lean protein 1 non-packed cup salad greens with fat free, oil free dressing 1 cup steamed non-starchy veg I don't want to go off my plan, just wondering how I can dress all this up to make it more filling.

OK, so a week. That means three more days. Wondering what to do until then becuase right now every minute is dragging on like I'm being slowly mauled by a bear.

Pretty 1960's style mod dresses! I'd also like to learn to do my hair, nails, etc, finally because growing up as a fat girl no one really thought it was worth it to teach me those things (and my mom isn't really into girly things), so I feel like I missed out on Girly 101!

I know I'm an impatient woman with this and will drive people crazy until I get what I need. But the reality is I live across the country from my family and my dad is really sick right now (B-cell Lymphoma and Follicular Lymphoma) and he really wants me to come out around Xmas time to visit in case he starts getting worse, so I was hoping to have had this done already. I had a ton of delays with doctors, etc like I'm sure everyone else did. I just don't want to make flight plans until I know when my surgery date is.

Thanks, Sonya. I called again today and they said it wasn't showing up on the system yet, but that it could have been approved, she just didn't know. You are one strong woman not going crazy after three whole weeks of waiting!

I haven't been sleeved (yet) but as someone who is trying to lose the required 10% body weight before surgery I can give you tips to get you through the stalls mentally. 1. Don't weigh yourself every day! As long as you are staying as close to your nutritionist's plan as possible, know that you are doing everything right and count each day on plan as a victory. 2. The body is constantly trying to keep itself in homeostasis, that is trying to maintain a relatively stable and consistent environment between your organs, hormones, brain, muscles, fat, etc. When we lose weight, the body needs time to readjust to the new standard of homeostasis, and may put fat-burning on hold for a little bit. Your body needs to learn how to function and run at your new weight before it can let go of more. 3. Because of #2, the body will often hold onto Water weight within the fat cells to keep weight stable until it reaches homeostasis again. Once the body is in balance, the water weight will drop away revealing that loss. 4. You are only a few weeks out of surgery and your body is still healing. Although we get this surgery for weight loss, sometimes the body may hold onto fat while it is healing in case it needs extra energy to fuel the healing process. Honestly, #1 is the most important to remember, but I hope this little post helps. A positive mindset will also go a very long way in helping to break stalls, because stress releases hormones that make us store fat. Here's to hoping your stall breaks soon!!

Did you find the information you need? It should actually be outlined in the coverage book they sent you when you signed up for the insurance. Mine does cover it (I have HBCBSNJ Direct Access) and I'm paying about $900 per month. As far as I know from what I've read on their application, you must have a BMI over 40, have tried a monitored conservative weight loss attempt at some point in the last year, and be over the age of 18. I hope you get approved! I'm waiting on my approval now!

Crossing my fingers I get a (good) call today about it! I also keep checking my online services area under authorizations but nothing yet. I've lost almost 20 pounds on my pre-op diet, which is just 10 under what they were hoping I would lose so I'm pretty much ready! I'd walk into the OR today if I could! haha

Called and they told me they couldn't give me an answer over the phone and that "it may take up to 30 calendar days to process this request." I don't think it will take that long, but the waiting is excruciating!

No, I'll probably wait until tomorrow afternoon to call since everything was just sent in at 9am this morning. I know the squeaky wheel gets the grease but I'm almost afraid if I call they'll deny me for being annoying. haha

The waiting kills me. I keep checking my Horizon online account every few hours to see if anything has come in! lol Going to be a long weekend if I don't hear anything by tomorrow!

No surgery date yet. Waiting on the insurance approval, and the packet went out this morning! I love Meredith! Such an easy going nutritionist; her plan is so easy to follow! Thanks for the info on the hospital! Sounds really fantastic and I'm happy I chose Valley!!

Thank you, Jersey! That's interesting because I am also going through Valley (Dr. Bagloo)! What did you think of the actual procedure with them? How was the hospital itself? I know at Holy Name Hospital they have individual monitors where you can go online and watch tv to be "entertained" while you wait or to distract yourself. Anything like that at Valley? I know I probably won't care when I'm all doped up, but these things cross my mind! Please share your Valley experience!!

The insurance coordinator at my surgeon's office recommended Horizon BCBS NJ as the easiest to get approved for surgery with. I want the sleeve, but the problem is I can't get the company to tell me if they cover the sleeve without buying a policy first. I really don't want to waste thousands of dollars for a plan for a few months just for them to tell me the sleeve isn't a covered surgery. Does anyone have any experience with this? It says that bariatric surgery is covered under several of their individual self-pay plans, but it doesn't tell me if there are exclusions to that. Thanks!