ElginChris

Have BCBS IL as well. They are great. Good luck to you and your hubby!! Where in Il are you having your procedure?

Gratz PJ

Congrats as well. I am in the same boat, verbal approval, no surgery date.

Sassy mine was approved in a little over 3 biz days

Grats!!!

Going to Dr. Hart tomorrow...

same as you Diesel!!!

Me too!!! grats to us both!!

Got some good news yesterday, I was approved by my insurance for the surgery!!!

I was excited but something also hit home... this is going to happen and happen soon(ish). My surgery date won't be set till I get cleared by pulmonary, that appointment is this week, I am shooting for November 1st.

For those wondering I have BCBS Illinois. It was submitted 9/17 and approved 9/23. There was no 6 month diet required. But my understanding is my plan supported surgery for BMI's over 40 or 35-40 with 2 or more co-morbidities.

Size has nothing to do with knowledge or skill level or professionalism. Just cuz a Nut is skinny, doesnt mean they know jack.

I want any of my doctors or advisors to have experience and expertise and compassion , I dont care what they look like...

Fit,

I friend if mine had this saying, "how do you eat an elephant?.... One bite at a time!!" He meant that to look at a task that is really large you complete it one step at a time. Celebrate the intirim goals, that will give you victories and help keep motivated!! Plus its nice to have wins!!!

In our cases if we have 100 pounds to lose, and set 10-10# wieght loss minigoals and we only lose 90 pounds, thats is still damn good!! Do we meet our ultimate goal, no, but we reached 9 minigoals, have 9 victories and still lost 90pounds!!! Plus we probably had a few NSV's along the way!!! Thats awesome and pretty good!! We would all be that much healthier and skinnier and better off!!!

Every large task I have undetaking since, i have looked at the same way.

I think it is very important to have goals in mind. Some NSV's, some scale/BMI. You need to have big overall goals, But you also need to have some that are very realistic and attainable.

It really helps if you take a big weight loss or BMI number and break it into quarters or eighths or tenths. That way, if you have trouble along the way, you have smaller victories to motivate you.

I continue to be amazed at how little we need to eat to survive. How are we not completely malnourished?!

I think it just proves how excessive the American diet has become. I was talking to my Nut and she and I were talking about portion sizes. The average meal is something like 40% larger than it was 40 years ago. 40 bleeping %!!!

No wonder obesity is on the rise!! I hope we can save our children from this horrible path we gave been on and get it corrected!!!

Sassy, it is peobably Caffeine related but it could be stored toxins being released. It is a common side effect and should subside in a few days. Drink lots of Water, that should help!!

My "moment" actually came when I realized how many things I either miss out on or just plain can not do because of my weight, especially things that have happened in the last couple of years.

It amazed me how much I adapted my life to fit my obesity. I always need to plan where/how I can sit, my mobility is starting to suffer, and I find it more difficult to find clothes because I am at the larger end if the size range at all of the "Fat Man" stores.

I have (or had been) a pretty functional obese person but that has changed. I feel very positive about upgoming surgery and I know it will be assist me in living a better, healthier life.

Good luck on your journey Mary!! We are on a similar time line in terms of dates!!!

Skinny, I also have BCBS if Il and didnt have to do the 6 month diet part just a psych eval and saw a Nut once and was submitted on Tuesday 9/17. I still have a ton to do pre surgery for the surgeon but I will be at least approved by insurance.

Good luck to all having their procedures today!!!

My insurance was submitted Tuesday so fingers are crossed... I heard bcbs il is pretty good about turn around times but i will expect it to take the 2 week maximum and hope for better . Luck to all the others waiting.

My top Q's..

How many VSG's have you done?

If you have specific obstacles i.e. very high BMI, etc., have you done them before?

What is my pre and post operative support?

What are you surgery requirements for a patient? I.e. wait times, dietary, etc. etc.

Hope these help.

The reason that you need to chew your food a lot us 2 fold.

First, right after surgery your stomach is irritated and chewed food makes it easier to digest. Second reason is that chewing food takes time and makes you feel fuller on less food. Helping you eat less but also feel full.

Chewing also helps your body absorb all the Protein and nutrients better.

I am being very open about my surgery. I do respect peoples wishes to keep it private.

I have encountered very little negativity so fat but any I do encounter will help motivate me to become healthier!!!

I am doing this for my health, if you are supportive if my choice, thank you. If you are not, thats cool too. I am not doing this for what anyone else thinks of me, but how I feel about myself, my health and my future life.

Gratz!!

My paperwork was submitted yesterday for insurance approval!!!

I have been fortunate that my coordinator has been on top of things so much and actually sent in my info a few days before she said she would be able to!!

Now on to some pre surgery testing and at least 2 weeks if liquid only diet!! Hoping for last week in October/first week in November date!!

Good Luck!!

If everything works out do I still need to feel guilty about laughing??

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It helps to realize how funny/absurd/crazy life can be, even in serious moments.

Good luck on your journey!!!