Mz. NuNu

You'll be fine. Surgery is quick and then you'll be on the losers bench.????

I am sitting here waiting for someone to call me to the back so I can get ready for my surgery... My husband is here with me but my hands are still shaking... I pray all will go well for me and everyone else today...

Dec 22nd yeah!!

I was told it probably wouldn't happen in Dec also, but I have my date for the 30th and Ins co say approval will be by the end of today. I started my pre-surgery diet yesterday. They told me 2 weeks ahead or less if I got a date and didn't have that much time. So I went ahead and started, even though the ins approval hadn't happened yet, because there should be no reason for denial. I have my fingers and my toes crossed.

I got the call today- Surgery will be Dec 30th! I am so excited. I was told earlier in the month that it wouldn't happen in December because there were more important cases. I am so thankful and excited!!!! Bring on the liquid diet! I can do this!

There are two surgery centers in Mexico with the Center of Excellence accreditation. My daughters went with OCC (obesity Control Center). Carolyn is the coordinator. I can hook you up with her contact info if you are interested. The surgeon is Dr. Ariel Ortiz. He is the surgeon that has FACS credentials. Surgery for me in the US was $28000 and for Dr. Ortiz in Mexico is was a fraction the cost. Carolyn can give you the specifics. I can tell you it is even cheaper if you schedule with another patient and share the hotel room. That saved my another daughters $1K!
I am pleased with the work Dr. Ortiz did and with his follow up protocols so far. Both the girls are progressing nicely.
The other surgeon we considered was Dr. Pompa. Her surgery center is also a Center of Excellence. She is a bit higher, but again I believe well qualified. I researched many before I made the decision to go with Dr. Ariel Ortiz. My daughters are very precious to me and going to Mexico was like going into the "unknown" so to speak.
Whatever the insurance co decides, don't forgo this life saving procedure simply because they deny you coverage. I would not accept someone else making the decision for my daughters and you don't have to either. For around $6K and a plane ticket you can soon be on the losers bench too!
Feel free to PM me if you would like to discuss further. Be sure to research Dr. Ariel Ortiz. There are two Dr. Ortiz practicing in Mexico. The other is not FACS certified.

I hate that there are so many of us out there that have been denied by our insurance company. Soooooo frustrating! Keep working with your insurance but keep in mind that there is another option. Both my daughters had run through the games and jumped the hoops only to get one denial after the other. Final choice was to have the sleeve surgery in Mexico. They are both 7 days post op now and doing great. Surgeon was FACS certified and surgery center was Center of Excellance. Both were credentials that my surgeon and surgery center had here in the US so I was confident they were in good hands. Thanks to this other option both my daughters are now on the losers bench with me. "Lovin it!"

I'm hearing that 2 year crap too. In my external review right now, after 3 denials. I hired Lindstrom Advocacy (not affiliated) & they are very helpful. No cost for phone consult.

So I had the option to choose a 6 month supervised diet with my pcp or 3 months with a dietician.......... obviously I chose the dietician lol. I began on October 10th and my last appointment was on December 8th. I called on the 16th to see if my surgeon's office submitted the paperwork over like they said they would that day and it was submitted and she informed me that I was approved:-)
Yesterday the surgeon's office called (I missed the call) and wants me to call between 11-5 today! I'm excited!

Thanks everyone! Surgery was done and I was back to my room by lunchtime. I had very minimal abdominal or gas pain. Was discharged and home by 8pm last night. Once I got home my belly got really sore and I started having some gas pains. Nothing I can't handle though
Again, thanks for all the well wishes!!!!

I have a date......DECEMBER 29TH!!!! My last dr's apt for my 6 month required diet was Dec 10th, was approved by insurance on Dec. 15th. Thanks BCBS for the quick turn around.

Almost home. 2 hour car ride with the roads torn up and traffic sucks. I hurt more now then when I was just out of surgery. Hahaha. It will get better. Can't wait till I get my medicine. Hope everyone else is having a pain free or just about day!

This is my last week of food. Start my pre op liquids Mon for surgery on the 29. Only thing I am nervous about is waiting on ins approval (wondering how long it will take to hear back from BCBS) and then also pre op for 2 wks. Sooo ready for surgery and after bc you will HAVE to eat liquids, etc but this before stuff, with all the Christmas parties, ohhhh boyyyy. I GOT THIS! Yall send a prayer up for me that ins goes through and pre op diet won't be for nothing. Lol

Thanks everyone for the support! You all are like the family I never had....the family I need

Went through the exact same thing. I have swung from being ready to go right then, to thinking I'm crazy for thinking this is a good idea. But I'm through the worst part of worry and pretty much excited to get this done and get on with the next part of my life!
The worried part doesn't completely go away (it IS surgery after all) but you get to the point where the excited part outweighs the worry. And the more you read and research and ask questions, the better you'll feel about your decision. Knowledge is power!
Read the threads here, ask your questions - I think every single person on here has gone through this too.
BIG hugs and good luck with your preop diet and upcoming surgery!

Thanks @AhnaLucille:)

The same thing happened to me sweety -- I craved a burger sooooo bad. So i thought... "life's too short" and with this surgery I'm going to make a committment to make this a lifetime change sooooo, I ate a 1/2 burger lol! Nothing ever tasted soooooo good in my life. It was 2 days before surgery and thinking back, I'm glad I did it, it didn't cause any damage and I treated myself and then was focused from then on.... 7 months later, I am 71 lbs smaller and feeling AMAZING and happy! Good luck!

I am only on day 2! I am about to stave to death!!! I am kinda freaking out on how I am going to make it 2 weeks! You are almost there though! only 2 more days, you got this!!!

Ok. Here we go!!! About to check in to hospital for my OUT PATIENT procedure! ! I'm in Las Vegas NV!
Hope everything goes great!!!
See you guys on the flip side! !!

Why? The Sleeve is proving to be just as successful as the bypass, with fewer short and long term complications! You should rejoice in the fact that you are able to have WLS at all! So many who desperately want and need it can't have it Don't worry, be happy!

How exciting! Congratulations and wishing you a fast and easy recovery! Keep us updated!

Woke up at 4am, showered, fixed kids school lunches and fixing to head to the hospital within the next 30 minutes! I thought I'd be a lot more nervous than I am, but I'm fine lol (I'm sure it'll hit once I get to the hospital) . Anyhow, Good luck to everyone who's getting sleeved today. Will try and update whenever I get the chance

Congrats, my surgery is Dec. 18th, and I'm right there with ya. It's also not helping that everyone I speak with about it are being serious Debbie Downers with the stories of "oh, I new a lady who had a horrible time with that", and "oh, I have heard about people dying from that". I'm tired of defending my well researched decision. On top of that, I'm also a Nurse, so I have a very candid knowledge of all aspects of this surgery, and aftercare. The most crapy thing I have been told, is that "it's a really selfish decision" to do this. I really wasn't having any second thoughts until recently, but I think I just need to get these people out of my head....lol. The liquid diet is bad enough all on it's own, without dealing with doubters.

My surgery is in the morning too! Good luck!

My surgery is finally here. I am excited and scared all at the same time. I am so sick of being on the pre-op liquid diet that I am actually looking forward to the surgery. I know I still have 2 more weeks of liquid dieting...but hopefully I won't feel like my stomach is trying to eat me alive from the inside out! hehe!
I think I have read every post good and bad on here and I feel I am doing the right thing. I have lots of support from my family and friends. And I want to thank all my bariatricpals for helping me get thru the last few months. I will be posting as soon as I get home. Thanks all!