wildflowergirl

My stomach holds the same amount of food right now at 13 months out that it did at my 8 month gallbladder removal. My surgeon believes my stomach is at full capacity. There is not enough tissue left to stretch, and the part that remains is not as stretchy as the fundus that is removed.

The actual staple line:



Inside of the sleeve looking down from the bottom of the esophagus(imagine looking down into a cylinder).


Hope these help ! ! !

Just got the call today APPROVED ???? Surgery November 23rd. Wooooohooooo!!!!!!!!????????????

just to update I have finished the 6 month supervised and all paper work for approval got submitted October 6, 2015 ???? so I'm Just waiting to hear from Aetna. Surgeons office said it's been taking about 15 buisness days. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!

just to update I have finished the 6 month supervised and all paper work for approval got submitted October 6, 2015 ???? so I'm Just waiting to hear from Aetna. Surgeons office said it's been taking about 15 buisness days. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!

just to update I have finished the 6 month supervised and all paper work for approval got submitted October 6, 2015 ???? so I'm Just waiting to hear from Aetna. Surgeons office said it's been taking about 15 buisness days. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!

Just a quick update. Aetna changed their policy as of November 2014 (No longer says you need a two year documented history) So I started my 6 month supervised WL with Doctor in April 2015 and will be done October 5th. The surgeons office will be submitting that first week of October (Woooohoooo I've spent these 6 months collecting copies of all my medical records and labs. I have a notebook full to include when everything is sent to Aetna. I have a copy of their policy and have been following it to the letter. (I even had to inform the surgeons office of some changes in the policy they didn't know about) So keep your fingers crossed that I get approved and with luck will have my surgery before the end of 2015!! Oh and I'm still smiling

just to update I have finished the 6 month supervised and all paper work for approval got submitted October 6, 2015 ???? so I'm Just waiting to hear from Aetna. Surgeons office said it's been taking about 15 buisness days. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!

@@wildflowergirl ... you're going to do GREAT at this. You have a great, positive attitude. That really helps so very much.

@@Inner Surfer Girl I was but I started this process almost four years ago and I did the supervised back then. Aetna says the 6 months supervised has to be within 2 years of submitting for approval. I was a little bummed but the six months have gone by fast.

@@Inner Surfer Girl I was but I started this process almost four years ago and I did the supervised back then. Aetna says the 6 months supervised has to be within 2 years of submitting for approval. I was a little bummed but the six months have gone by fast.

Just a quick update. Aetna changed their policy as of November 2014 (No longer says you need a two year documented history) So I started my 6 month supervised WL with Doctor in April 2015 and will be done October 5th. The surgeons office will be submitting that first week of October (Woooohoooo I've spent these 6 months collecting copies of all my medical records and labs. I have a notebook full to include when everything is sent to Aetna. I have a copy of their policy and have been following it to the letter. (I even had to inform the surgeons office of some changes in the policy they didn't know about) So keep your fingers crossed that I get approved and with luck will have my surgery before the end of 2015!! Oh and I'm still smiling

@@Inner Surfer Girl I was but I started this process almost four years ago and I did the supervised back then. Aetna says the 6 months supervised has to be within 2 years of submitting for approval. I was a little bummed but the six months have gone by fast.

Good for you! I am glad to hear that Aetna changed their policy and you no longer have to wait two years.
And good for you for having such a positive attitude and hanging in there. I don't think I would have been as patient as you were.

Just a quick update. Aetna changed their policy as of November 2014 (No longer says you need a two year documented history) So I started my 6 month supervised WL with Doctor in April 2015 and will be done October 5th. The surgeons office will be submitting that first week of October (Woooohoooo I've spent these 6 months collecting copies of all my medical records and labs. I have a notebook full to include when everything is sent to Aetna. I have a copy of their policy and have been following it to the letter. (I even had to inform the surgeons office of some changes in the policy they didn't know about) So keep your fingers crossed that I get approved and with luck will have my surgery before the end of 2015!! Oh and I'm still smiling

Just a quick update. Aetna changed their policy as of November 2014 (No longer says you need a two year documented history) So I started my 6 month supervised WL with Doctor in April 2015 and will be done October 5th. The surgeons office will be submitting that first week of October (Woooohoooo I've spent these 6 months collecting copies of all my medical records and labs. I have a notebook full to include when everything is sent to Aetna. I have a copy of their policy and have been following it to the letter. (I even had to inform the surgeons office of some changes in the policy they didn't know about) So keep your fingers crossed that I get approved and with luck will have my surgery before the end of 2015!! Oh and I'm still smiling

Just a quick update. Aetna changed their policy as of November 2014 (No longer says you need a two year documented history) So I started my 6 month supervised WL with Doctor in April 2015 and will be done October 5th. The surgeons office will be submitting that first week of October (Woooohoooo I've spent these 6 months collecting copies of all my medical records and labs. I have a notebook full to include when everything is sent to Aetna. I have a copy of their policy and have been following it to the letter. (I even had to inform the surgeons office of some changes in the policy they didn't know about) So keep your fingers crossed that I get approved and with luck will have my surgery before the end of 2015!! Oh and I'm still smiling

Just a quick update. Aetna changed their policy as of November 2014 (No longer says you need a two year documented history) So I started my 6 month supervised WL with Doctor in April 2015 and will be done October 5th. The surgeons office will be submitting that first week of October (Woooohoooo I've spent these 6 months collecting copies of all my medical records and labs. I have a notebook full to include when everything is sent to Aetna. I have a copy of their policy and have been following it to the letter. (I even had to inform the surgeons office of some changes in the policy they didn't know about) So keep your fingers crossed that I get approved and with luck will have my surgery before the end of 2015!! Oh and I'm still smiling

yes I hope so just waiting. I hate waiting my bmi is 45 and I have sleep apnea and I'm on medication for a low thyroid. I qualify. The insurance company just want to be difficult

Can you just do another month and then resubmit? I was denied when I tried before because I had no co-morbidities with a 35 BMI My Doctor would not do a peer to peer review. So now 3 years later my BMI is 40 and I have Co-morbidities so I started the process over in April (in the process of doing the 6 months supervised weight loss that insurance requires) I will be done October 5th and (fingers crossed) will get approved.

I'm in VA also (Hampton Roads). I graduate from my 12 month program on September 30. Then I just need insurance approval! Hoping for mid October!

I have bulging disk between L5-S1 I am hoping to get approved for surgery October or November 2015. I have 100 pounds to loose and am hoping I'll have no back pain when I get to goal.

Found out that Aetna changed the Policy they no longer say "two years" As long as doctor records show consistent on going obesity and the policy now says that during the 6 month supervised you can not have a net gain of weight- so you have to weigh the same or less at the last appointment as the first appointment. I am so excited I have been at a 40 BMI since November have had sleep apnea since January and have been over 35 BMI for over five years(probably longer) So I just started my 6 months this month (April) and if all goes well I'll get surgery the end of the year!!!!

@@wildflowergirl - That is great news! It will be here before you know it

Found out that Aetna changed the Policy they no longer say "two years" As long as doctor records show consistent on going obesity and the policy now says that during the 6 month supervised you can not have a net gain of weight- so you have to weigh the same or less at the last appointment as the first appointment. I am so excited I have been at a 40 BMI since November have had sleep apnea since January and have been over 35 BMI for over five years(probably longer) So I just started my 6 months this month (April) and if all goes well I'll get surgery the end of the year!!!!

@@mykdzmom, thank you for your support. It is definitely nerve racking.
@@bncbabe2015, definitely check with the doctor before starting this process. Also I suggest to call your insurance and verify with them, what weight they base their decision on.
@wilflowergirl, if you have sleep apnea and a BMI of 40, you should qualify for surgery. It is crazy how many different rules each insurance company has...each plan is different and each company is different. There should be a default on the minimum requirements for every company and everyone should follow the same.
Good luck to everyone!!!