angierue

I have Anthem BC/BS and was amazed that my approval came back within like 2 days. My patient advocate at the docs office called me yesterday then I got a call from my RN assigned to me from Anthem. I thought that was pretty cool. The clinic I picked is, unfortunately, out of network so I have to pay my surgeons fees upfront ($3700) and my co-pay to the hospital ($2400'ish). But, after they file, whatever insurance pays, I keep. I expect to be out around $2500 after it's all said and done. And it's totally going to be worth it!

Dr Walton is my doctor. I love my patient advocate, Tori. I've emailed her just about daily and she's been so supportive. Definitely feel like I made the right choice in clinic and Dr!

This is what I was talking about. I love the flavor!

I'm still pre-op but I found this amazing drink called Cocotein. It's Protein coconut Water. 100 calories, 20 grams of protein and only 5 carbs. If you like the flavor of coconut, you might want to check it out. I believe it uses Isopure protein. Hopefully my tastes don't change for it because I think it'll be my lifesaver during the clear stage! Lol

I am officially on the books for 11/4! I have my pre-op visit on 10/27. I need to be down 18lbs by then so I'm basically doing a liquid diet (since Monday). I'm having 3 shakes, a Cocotein and then a can of tuna with Melba crackers for dinner. Plus getting in my 30 minutes of walking. I got insurance approval today so that felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. This actually feels real now and I cannot wait!

Insurance was approved today! I'm officially on the schedule for 11/4!!! Woah! I can't believe how quickly it is approaching. I have my pre-op appt on 10/27 and the only thing that will stop me is if I don't make my weight loss goal (18lbs to go). I'm going hard core (3 shakes, a Cocotein and one lean protein meal). I think I'll make it!

I'm tentatively on the schedule for 11/4 but because I'm still trying to finalize everything (insurance approval, wear the C-pap for 2 weeks, and lose the rest of my pre-op goal), it might not happen until January. I'm giving it everything I've got, though!

Yay you!!! That's an awesome victory.

The cash pay price at my clinic is $9995. It's Weight Wise Bariatric Center. It includes your hospital stay up to 2 nights and a years worth of monthly follow up visit plus meetings with the dietitian and the sports physiologist. Personally, I feel more comfortable going to someone I can actually see whenever I need anything. Not to mention the amazing staff that I can communicate with whenever I have a question (my dietitian was emailing me earlier and she's not even at work this afternoon). The clinic here has a lot of things they do pre-op that I think are important to successful, safer surgeries. Even as frustrated and impatient as I am, I fully understand my surgeons reasons for requiring a specific amount of weight loss, support group meetings and the psych eval (all things even the cash pay customers do). It's a personal choice and I know people not just on here who've gone to Mexico and done great. However, I'm more comfortable with using a facility that I can be at in a matter of hours if something were to go wrong.

It's a separate app where you can track your food and exercise.

I'm sitting in the airport waiting on my flight to Vegas and one of the Frontier workers comes up and asks to speak to me. She proceeded to tell me that if a customer complains about sitting next me, I might have buy another ticket or make other arrangements for my flight. I'm literally sitting here about to burst into tears. This has never happened before. And it's meeting me dread my return flights home and even worry about being able to stay on this flight! I flew from Oklahoma to Denver with no problems so this just hit me like a ton of bricks.

Same as on here: angierue I can't seem to add anyone but will accept all requests so feel free to add me!

Same as here, angierue. :-)

I can't seem to figure out how to add anyone so please feel free to add me if you'd like! I'll accept all invites.

Well... It wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Came home from Vegas 3.5lbs heavier. But, I honestly think some of that is travel bloat. My eyes were even puffy this morning. I've had about 4 liters of water and only doing shakes and P3 protein packs (just one). I had a quest bar right before the gym so I'd burn those carbs up fast. Here's hoping for a decent drop tomorrow!

Feel free to add me as well! I'm angierue on there as well.

I've honestly been reeeeeeeealy good with my food. I've had to modify dang near every dish I've ordered but I've stuck to it. Food wise at least... Vodka and club soda are the root of all evil! Ugh... I'm gonna face the music Wednesday morning but I'm scared to step on that scale. Lol Good thing is I've walked all over the place to I'm burning off a heck of lot more calories than normal so fingers crossed it's not too bad!

Thanks for all the support. The crappy part was I just for out of OKC on the same airline with no issues. Same seat assignment even (I always select a window so I'm only crowding one person). And this happened in the terminal, before we even boarded the plane! It wasn't the stewardess, it was one of the ticket attendants at the gate. She literally walked over to me, asked what flight I was on then asked if I could come with her. I'm writing a complaint letter. I could understand if the person seated by me complained, they didn't by the way. But this was before I'd even gotten on the plane.

I'm not sleeved yet but currently sitting on a plane headed to Vegas... I need to lose 21lbs before 10/15. It's gonna be hard not to go crazy these next three days!!!

I work for Verizon as well and have Anthem. I was feeling pretty good until my patient advocate emailed me saying the insurance company wanted examples of doctor supervised weight loss attempts within the last three years. Thankfully, I went to a doctor two years ago and was put on phentermine so there's a record of that. Hopefully that is all they need. My clinic requires a sleep test, which I'm having 10/2 and that I lose 10% of my initial weight before they'll schedule. I'm shooting for 11/4 and need to be at the goal weight by 10/15 (my next appt). I've got 20.7lbs to go! If I don't get everything completed by then, I'll have to wait until January (I'm an assistant manager in a retail store and can't be out during the holidays). Good luck to y'all!

I'm still pre-op and have been on my pre-op diet a little over a month (doc is requiring I lose 38lbs before surgery). The first month, I wasn't super strict and only lost 9lbs. Since Tuesday, I've been in turbo mode and have lost almost 10lbs thanks to the plan my dietician put me on. It's super low calorie (1200 or less), high Protein (50%), low carb (20%), low fat (30%). The last two days, I have been extremely emotional/weepy! Yesterday, I broke down crying in the office at work with a coworker because my parents aren't coming over today for my birthday (it's Monday). It's not like that is a huge deal. My parents are super supportive and I see them fairly often. They just had something come up and can't make the 2 hour drive today. Today, I just sobbed uncontrollably over a video about a soldier and his therapy dog. It was a positive story but I couldn't stop crying. Lol! I'm not suffering from PMS (I'm fairly regular and still 2 weeks away from that) but this feels like the worst case of PMS ever. Had anyone else ever had this experience while losing weight?

My clinic wouldn't have been so aggressive if it wasn't my choice. Because of my work, I have a very limited window in which I can have the surgery this year. The absolute latest I can be scheduled is November 11th, but that is pushing it so I'm shooting for the 4th. Which means I have to make that goal of 10% down (38lbs) by October 15th (my next appt). I don't consider this a crash diet at all. This is pretty much how I'll be eating for the rest of my life so I'm getting a head start. Will I have bad days? Sure. We all do. But for the next 19 days, I'm doing what my dietician worked for me because her goal is to her me to mine. If I can't stick to this for 19 more days then what does that day about my future success? Just because I have a tiny stomach to put the food doesn't mean I'll get to eat cheeseburgers and fries, just smaller amounts. She didn't limit my amounts of Protein or veggies I've been full and my cravings are going away all while staying under my calorie goal. Ketosis rocks!

A Protein shake for Breakfast (it's got 30g protein and only 7 carbs), no mid-morning snack because I usually have lunch 2-3 hours after breakfast, a lean protein and veggies for lunch (no fruit, bread, rice, Pasta, or potatoes), another shake or other high protein/low carb snack (I've been having turkey and cheese roll ups), and another lean protein and veggies for dinner. No evening snack. It's soooooo not easy but I drink lots of Water in between and chew sugar free gum to help with the urge to snack. I honestly haven't been that hungry and my meals have been real simple. I eat a lot of frozen green Beans as my veggie (I live alone, no kids) and chicken breast or tuna with only 1 tablespoon of mayo (can add mustard if you need it wetter). I use my crock pot to make the chicken a lot. Throw two breasts in with a half a jar of salsa (mango pineapple habanero is amazeballs) then eat one for dinner and the other for lunch the next day. I also bought a bag of salad and some amazing sugar free raspberry vinaigrette that I eat with a little cheese and some precooked frozen grilled chicken breast chunks. I keep it easy and simple!

Adding: My dietician put me on a really strict plan that should have me losing a pound a day. As of this morning, I've lost 10 pounds since Tuesday! I have followed it to the letter. I'm trying to make my required goal by the 15th of October so they'll schedule my surgery for the 4th of November. I have 20.7 pounds to go!

I'm also a 10%'er! My clinic didn't require it to show you can do it, it's for health reasons. It shrinks your liver and lowers your risk of complications during and after surgery. I get that it's hard. I've been on mine since August 25th and wasn't as vigilant I should have been so I'm going hard core now. Just remember that there's a reason other than just proving you can do it that your surgeon asks for it. I leave for Vegas in the morning. If I can survive three days of a girls trip (my birthday/friends bachelorette party) then I know I'm ready for this lifelong change! Good luck to everyone and remember that no matter how hard it seems, it'll all be worth it in the end!