txdogmom

I can't believe it happened so fast. Paperwork was submitted on Monday (9/21) and Aetna called my doctor to tell them I was approved first thing this morning. I was told it would take 2-6 weeks for approval.
I've got a EGD scheduled for Oct. 7th and my surgery is bright and early on Oct. 20th. Just about 3 weeks away. WOW!
And as an extra bonus, I've already spent my deductible so everything else is free to me (as long as everyone is in network).
This whole experience has been unexpected. I was laid off on April 15th. (I know - perfect day for that!) and then got a job a week later. I knew the benefits were way better than I've had before but I didn't expect WLS to be approved. This company is very pro-employee wellness. The job is 1/10th the stress I had before. I never thought that being laid off would be a good thing, but for once it was.

I can't believe it happened so fast. Paperwork was submitted on Monday (9/21) and Aetna called my doctor to tell them I was approved first thing this morning. I was told it would take 2-6 weeks for approval.
I've got a EGD scheduled for Oct. 7th and my surgery is bright and early on Oct. 20th. Just about 3 weeks away. WOW!
And as an extra bonus, I've already spent my deductible so everything else is free to me (as long as everyone is in network).
This whole experience has been unexpected. I was laid off on April 15th. (I know - perfect day for that!) and then got a job a week later. I knew the benefits were way better than I've had before but I didn't expect WLS to be approved. This company is very pro-employee wellness. The job is 1/10th the stress I had before. I never thought that being laid off would be a good thing, but for once it was.

I am not any kind of expert but I liked the reasoning my doctor had to the bypass vs. sleeve discussion. His take is that he sleeve has far fewer complications - both for the surgeon and the patient. A sleeve can later be converted to a bypass if needed. (In fact, many doctors do a sleeve for the super big folks because it will help them lose weight and make the bypass operation less of a risk.) The fewer things that have to change (rerouting your insides) makes recovery faster and more likely to have a positive outcome. In his experiance, his sleeve patients have as good or better results than the bypass ones.
I also agree with everyone else. You need to do what is comfortable for you. I'm in engineering and we are an anal lot. I research stuff to death before I make decisions - especially big ones like WLS.

What a small world! Today was my 1st surgeon visit too. I really like him. He spent an hour and half with me and I never felt rushed. It was like talking to an old friend. I felt so comfortable. We talked about why so many folks are getting obese. What our bodies are hard wired to do and how this surgery will help overcome some of that. He almost exclusively does the sleeve because his experience with lap band, by pass, roux-en-y are not as positive as with the sleeve. He wants me to be checked for sleep apnea even though I've not had any problems. So I guess a sleep study is in my future.



I had to watch a sleeve surgery and while part of it was interesting, there was a lot of Ewww too. I know what the surgery entails and I'm pretty sure I could have gone my whole life not seeing that video. It's like finding out how beef goes from Mooo to my plate. There are just some things I really don't want to know.



I've got my psych visit done. Nut is schedule for the 26th. I have about 2 months left on my 90 day supervised diet. I feel so much better after finally meeting him.

I have an appointment to see Dr. Frank Veninga on August 14th. Heard lots of good stuff about him. Both Dr. Veninga and Baylor Medical Center at Carrollton are in network for me. ( I have Aetna HMO). As long as I stay "in network", my insurance will pay for the surgery 100%. (if I have to stay overnight in hospital; if it is outpatient, I'd have to pay $40).
i've wanted to do this for a long time but never could afford it. Then I was laid off from my job. Through a friend, I got a referral about a job opening. A week after I was laid off, I had a new job. This new job has this wonderful insurance.

CDADAMS: Yes, I'm in the DFW area. In Flower Mound, to be specific.