Big Opie

I've done the 5 months of monitored weight loss. I'm having doubts. My acid reflux has gotten so bad I now have to take omeprazole everyday because apparently everything I eat now gives me heartburn. I'm doubting my surgeon, the type of surgery I originally picked, the hospital and this whole thing. The surgeon hasn't followed up with me at all. I've seen him once since my first meeting. Are they supposed to follow up? The sleeve makes acid reflux worse, I'm teetering with the idea of bypass but not sure my surgeon will agree to do it. The other surgeon in the practice that I originally met with does bypass but he is seemed so impersonable and quick to pass me to another surgeon that I don't know if I would want him to do it-but he's been doing it for 32years. If I move hospitals I'm afraid of issues with medical records and tests being transferred over. I know deep down I want to do this-so bad, but I'm having so much anxiety. I need help please.

I am 24 years old going to be 25 when I get my surgery. I am currently 255lbs coming in at 5"3. I haven't had my surgery yet and I am so beyond scared I'll have saggy skin. I have no self esteem now because I'm too fat to do anything. I can't fit into normal chairs, can't cross my legs, and can't even tie my damn shoe....I just found out I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and am diabetic. I refused medications for all of these and have started working out and eating better. Does anyone have any advice? I know I'm doing it so I can live a long healthy life, but I'm just having second thoughts. I'm 4 months into my appointments and am still going but idk anymore. I need help.

If you have been following me you know that I was waiting for a surgery date. I got a call on August 27-and have a set date! October 12 at 1 p.m, and I have to be at the hospital by 11 a.m that morning. Since I've been having so many issues with this clinic, when I told my dad, he said that I needed to call them and double check that this is scheduled for the Bypass and not the Gastric Sleeve. When I called and spoke with the receptionist, she said that she saw I was scheduled for the gastric sleeve surgery, which she said right away "that's not right is it?" and I told her no that it's not, and that I spoke with a nurse yesterday who put a note on my account that said I was supposed to have the bypass not the sleeve. I have been having so many issues with this clinic, that it is slowly making the trust and faith that I have in my surgeon diminish. They've been giving me the run around for the last 2 months and just making me extremely stressed. I will be making an appointment with my surgeon to tell him all the crap that I have gone through the last 2 months, to make sure that he is aware of what's going on in his clinic and to make sure that he is still comfortable doing the bypass. That's all for now ya'll!

I have been going through almost 8 months monitored weight loss (insurance only requires 6) and two months of being drug around in the mud by my insurance, bariatric office, and the insurance coordinators. Long story short, they denied the surgery at first, and them told me I'd have to see someone once a week for 3 months (currently still doing that), and then I could appeal. We submitted an appeal anyway, to have the denial overturned. I called on 8/22/2015 for s$%*^'s and giggles to see what the status was. The surgery has been overturned, meaning it's approved. It's done, it's over, I can finally get the surgery!!!!! I called my bariatric office to see what the next steps are from here, they said they need to get the actual letter from the insurance, then the surgery coordinator will call me and schedule a date! This is a huge weight off of my shoulder! I know that a lot of you people may not think that I am ready for the surgery (mentally). Over the last 2 months I have had time to really sit down and think if I am ready. After going to this psychotherapist for 2 months, and talking with her, I am ready. I have been ready from day one. I decided that I am going to continue our sessions weekly up until the surgery, and then go every other week after that. I need someone to talk to because this is a very overwhelming decision and a HUGE life changer. I am beyond scared and I haven't even got a date yet. I have so many questions that I want answered. I'll put some of them down below and if you can answer any of them PLEASE do! 1. I have a desk job, work overnights and am barely up moving around and am getting this surgery done laparoscopically, I am planning on 2 weeks off after surgery for recovery/getting my schedule corrected. Is this too long? How long were you out? 2. After I leave the hospital, I am on soft foods. Anyone else's post-op diet like this straight after surgery? 3. How soon were you able to do household things, like carrying laundry baskets, dishes, driving, exercising? 4.What's the pain like? Anything to compare it to? 5.Anyone have ADD and have to up their dose or notice a change in prescriptions? 6. Birth control? I'm on the pill now any suggestions for afterwards? 7.Any tips, or advise?

I'm in the same boat as you. I've been doing this process for the last 7 going on 8 months. At first everybody was on board with my surgery and after like a few months they began to not respond or shrug it off. I do talk about it all the time and with anyone who will listen because I feel like if someone else is thinking about it I can be a support or resource for that person. I know exactly how you feel as my surgery is pending insurance review since mine was originally denied to to lack of doctors information. This site is a great source of support as well as another site I found thinnertimesforum.com I use both because there is a wide variety of people on each. Good luck lady! May the odds be ever in your favor!

I've done the 5 months of monitored weight loss. I'm having doubts. My acid reflux has gotten so bad I now have to take omeprazole everyday because apparently everything I eat now gives me heartburn. I'm doubting my surgeon, the type of surgery I originally picked, the hospital and this whole thing. The surgeon hasn't followed up with me at all. I've seen him once since my first meeting. Are they supposed to follow up? The sleeve makes acid reflux worse, I'm teetering with the idea of bypass but not sure my surgeon will agree to do it. The other surgeon in the practice that I originally met with does bypass but he is seemed so impersonable and quick to pass me to another surgeon that I don't know if I would want him to do it-but he's been doing it for 32years. If I move hospitals I'm afraid of issues with medical records and tests being transferred over. I know deep down I want to do this-so bad, but I'm having so much anxiety. I need help please.

When I originally got the denial from an insurance representative on July 14th, at around 4:00 p.m. CST time, I was advised to contact my bariatric office for more details on how to appeal. I had called my bariatric insurance coordinator, Lisa, at around 4:45pm whom have reviewed the information with her supervisor who then advised me based on the denial I have to go through once a week meetings for 3 months with a licensed psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist. That was it. That was the end of the conversation. I slept on it, and came back with questions on the morning of Wednesday, July 15th. I called the next day and asked the following questions. If I can have a copy of what was submitted to the insurance by the psychiatrist, so I can take it elsewhere and get a second opinion. I was told no, it wouldn’t matter because I still had to do the 3 months BEFORE I can appeal. I asked if there was specific information required by the plan for the once a week meetings for 3 months. I was told no. I asked if I could speed up the process by going to twice a week sessions instead of one and completing it within a month and a half instead of 3 months. I was told no. I asked if I could get a copy of the denial information, and also what the psych evaluator had submitted to the insurance, so I could take it to the other psychotherapist and discuss it. She said I had to call the Psych place and request the file. That same day, I went up and requested it, and long story short, they said they would take care of it by confirming the information with the Psych who submitted the information and would call me back. I get a call that Friday, July 17, 2015, stating that they needed a copy of the denial letter to move forward with their research. Which I couldn’t give them because I didn’t have it to give, I had to wait. I got the letter on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, late enough in the evening to where I couldn’t contact anyone, but I had the denial letter in hand and I was ready to get the ball rolling. The next day, Wednesday, July 22, 2015, I got up at the butt crack of dawn, did laundry, and called the insurance company around 8:30am to discuss a possible peer to peer, a possible expedited review, and also a possible external appeal through Independent Review Organization at the same time. I was told by the rep, that she’d send the information to me through the mail, but to contact my bariatric office for more information. I disconnected and called again. I got a different rep, which had bariatric surgery and went over this step for step with me. Told me that if I have my psych evaluator correct the information, or add that I understand the process, and my past won’t hinder my ability to understand the process and follow medical/surgical recommendations, then my provider can call and request a redetermination. Not that I had to go through the 3 month process, which I was so thankful for. All he had to do was call. Later that morning I went up to the psych’s office and provided them with a copy of the denial letter. I then called their billing office and requested the documents that the psych had submitted AS IS as of this moment. They refused and referred me to my bariatric insurance coordinator for that information, because they don’t have a claim through insurance, and they didn’t submit anything to the bariatric office so how do I have a denial letter. I read it to them. I told them I gave the office a copy already, and that I, as a patient have a right to ALL medical records according to this denial letter, so I can put together an appeal. She transferred me to her supervisor. Who told me that they didn’t submit a claim to insurance, they don’t even have the evaluation completed by the psych so how could they have a denial. They stated that I needed to contact my bariatric office for what they submitted to insurance. I called my surgeons office and made an appointment for July, 29, 2015, at 4:00pm to talk to my surgeon because I do not feel like he is aware of all the disconnects between his office and the premier psych. I then called the insurance coordinator. I then again, requested ALL information that was submitted to my insurance, because I have a right as the patient, to any and ALL documentation in regards to the appeal. She stated I’ll have to talk to Premier psych. I told her that I made an appointment with Dr.Winterstein who I don’t think understands the hassle that I have gone through for documents that I have a right to as a patient. That I don’t think he is aware that I’m doing the job of his so called office coordinator, whom is blowing me off and telling me that I cannot do anything until I do once a week sessions for 3 months with a psychotherapist. My letter states differently. She transferred me to her supervisor, office manager Kristy. Which I explained all the above information to, I advised that the documents that submitted by their office were incomplete and wanted copies of everything AS IS! She stated that he submitted the information with the following information only, “The patient is currently stable on all prescriptions. Patient has not had substance abuse problems or depression issues since 2011.” That’s it. She felt that if she coordinates with them and requests that he submits information per insurance, they can just resubmit not a problem. I advised her that I have a psychotherapist appointment, (July 23,2015) and I plan on keeping them for once a week for 3 months until I have a date for surgery, because it doesn’t seem like anyone can do their job. Went to the appointment, got a call during the appointment. Checked my voicemail afterwards; which was Kristy, who stated that Dr.O submitted the information completed to their office. She wanted to see how my appointment went, to see if the psychotherapist can submit something that states my past will not hinder my ability to follow instructions of surgical/medical staff. I gave her the number and told her to do it. That’s where we stand right now. It’s a hot mess. I hate it, but I feel so empowered because I’m fighting for my right, for what I believe, and here is to hoping it gets corrected. I have all my appointments scheduled for Tuesdays at 4:30pm until October 23, 2015, for my psychotherapist. If it does fall through, that will be my last appointment; I will have to set up with my monitored weight loss for August, and September. Then hopefully it will be submitted by October 31, 2015. I’m not getting my hopes up. That’s my long drawn out update, and the hell I have gone through. Sorry it’s so long.

Currently I am in absolute freak out mode! I have my final visit before I submit everything to insurance on July 2nd, and I am losing my mind!! Actually psyching myself out is the better terminology. I have BCBSMN, and am wondering if anyone else out there has it as well. I'am trying to find out overall (doesn't matter what plan you have) How long did it take to get approved after you had submitted all the information to the insurance? Did anyone get denied, if so, how long did the appeal process take? What surgery did you have? How was the pain level? Anything you can compare the pain of post op to? What was your diet like post-op? Did anyone skip the liquid stage, pureed stage, and go straight to soft foods out of the hospital? How long were you out of work, and what type of work did you do? (I work at a call center and do a lot of sitting *I'm worried about blood clots because I only get two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch*) Do I need to get a doctors note to get up and walk around more then what my breaks are? Any advise, suggestions, or ANYTHING helps! Please help me ease my mind!

Here is an update since I haven't posted in a while.....my surgery was submitted July 7th to insurance and denied on that following Tuesday due my psychiatric evaluation. The insurance coordinator said I have to do 3 additional months of monitored weight loss AND one week sessions for 3 months with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or psychotherapist. BEFORE I can evern appeal the denial. I completely lost my mind....bawling, hyperventilating and just in utter disbelief....at that moment I felt defeated, and like I've failed....yEt again... Now that I have had time to ask my questions, voice my concern and really sit on the fact it was denied, this is what has happened. On Wednesday, I called my surgeons office, and spoke with the Insurance coordinator. Since I have to do once a week sessions for 3 months, I asked if I did twice a week sessions if I could finish early, her response; No. I asked if there was any certain information that I needed to take to the psychiatrist, psychotherapist, or the psychologist, her response; No. I asked if there was any way we can remove what was entered to insurance, If I could get a second opinion and have a re-evaluation done, and her response; No. I asked if I could come up and get a copy of the denial and what information was submitted to the insurance company, and she stated that I’d have to talk to the psychiatrist whom did the evaluation and my denial will be to me within the next few days. With all of this not so helpful information, I took it upon myself to call a psychiatrist my friend see’s to see if I could get in ASAP. They referred me to another program, and I have my appointments for once a week psychologist meeting starting August 21, 2015 and going until September 25, 2015. When I go visit her for my first appointment I’ll have to schedule all my other meetings for the rest of the 3 months. I also, took it upon myself to go to the doctor who did the evaluation and get a copy of the information that was submitted to insurance, so I can take it to the new psychologist so she can see what information we were working with. The receptionist called her supervisor, who directed me to the billing office, the receptionist was nice enough to be willing to contact the billing office for me to see what I needed to do. However, there was, standing behind her, another psychiatrist who normally does the evaluations. He asked what the problem was, and I told them that according to my insurance my surgery for bariatric was denied because of the information provided by the psych evaluation. They stated that because of my past in 2011: my past mental and substance abuse issues, I did not understand the process and the possible outcome of the surgery (Summarized of course, since I don’t have my letter as of yet). He stated that there was nothing in my records indicating that I didn’t understand the process, yet there was nothing in there about bariatric surgery at all………So! With that being said, he said they were going to talk to the doctor who submitted the information and see what the reasoning behind it was, and see if they can resubmit to the insurance. I agreed, said whatever and to call me with an update. Then, as I’m walking out to my car, the head supervisor over the establishment calls me and tells me that the one who did my evaluation is not even a registered psychiatrist with their office yet, and that’s probably why it got denied. That he just came over from another area, and they haven’t got him in the system yet….SERIOUSLY?! OKAY, so you let me see a doctor who isn’t registered there As a psychiatrist.... And let him submit the information INCOMPLETE and expect me to be chill?! Oh my god, I was sooo heated! Without totally freaking out and cussing out everyone under the sun, I asked if this was going to be resolved. She said that the psychiatrist who did the evaluation was out of the office, and that they will contact him tomorrow and have him reword the information, and send it to my surgeon’s office to see what they can do with it. I got a call stating they need the denial letter before they can do anything...so yet again, here is to waiting...... Right now, as it stands, I will be keeping the once a week sessions for the time I have requested already, seeing as I needed to find someone I like to talk to (other than my boyfriend) for post-op anyway, might as well start early. I don’t have my hopes up; I don’t care at this point what happens- I needed a reality check. I know this surgery is not going to fix everything, but it will help me along the way. I feel like time will help me realize a lot of things, and this psychologist appointment maybe what I need to really let this all sink in. I’ve read THOUSANDS of hour’s worth of material, seen videos, heard podcasts, and I still don’t think I realize how life changing this is and how I need to ease myself into this, and not be in such of a hurry. I appreciate all your feedback and understanding!

In just had my NUT appointment yesterday. I'm concerned. All the books I've read, forums, and websites I've read say four stages of post op diet. liquid, puréed, soft, and then solids. Apparently my surgeon skips all of those! He does ice until I can keep it down, then 24 hour liquid diet, then straight to soft foods for a month. I'm in shock, panic, utter disbelief! Is this safe?! I'm so nervous now! Help help please help! Anyone else's like this?

I am waiting for my insurance to approve my surgery. I'm going with Winterstein

My 6th month doctor appointment is on July 2nd. I have been reading articles, blogs, forums, books, watching YouTube videos of the actual procedure online and watching YouTube videos of peoples journeys. I haven't had my surgery yet, I 'am getting the bypass done due to a hiatal hernia and severe acid reflex. I talk about it a lot, even if I don't mean to, I read as much as I can about other peoples experiences, and watch so many YouTube videos. I feel like people are getting irritated with me because I 'am talking about it so much. I am trying to figure out if it's normal to be this obsessed with it, and I haven't even had the surgery yet. Anyone else go through this pre-op? does it get better afterwards?

I talk about it all the time too! My parents are annoyed so is my boyfriend I think. They just don't know how much this is going to change every aspect of my life. For the better! I just want someone to be as excited as I am I guess lol. The videos on you tube are the best!

. I have my last appointment on July 2nd and I just can't wait! I want it done and over with already!!!!! ???? good luck to you hope everything goes well!

I want the bypass done. I don't know how to look up someone that has a lawsuit. I'm just at a loss..

I have BCBSMN and I am about to be done with my 6 months of monitored weight loss, I have my Upper GI, EKG, Nutritional appointment, and my psych evaluation on Thursday, and then after all that they submit to insurance. My Surgeon said hopefully by beginning of August I'll have my date. I started on Feb 12 2015

That's my view as well, this is the only co-morbidity that I have. I'am getting the surgery to FIX my problems and since reflux and weight are the only issue I have right now, I'd rather fix both with one stone. When I first met with the surgeon my reflux wasn't that bad, but I notice that as this 6 months of monitored weight loss goes on, it has gotten so bad that as of late, I've have to take 40mg almost EVERYDAY, if not 40mg then 20mg. It's reassuring that no one else's doctor has been constantly in contact with them since their initial consultation. Their office staff is amazing, and very personable. So, I'll go to the visit on the 15th and keep everyone updated. Thank you all for your support I appreciate it more then you guys know.

I haven't had surgery but I have been teetering back and forth between the sleeve and the bypass. The only co morbidity I have is acid reflux/heartburn and I'm wondering has it gotten better since surgery or worse?

Haven't had the surgery yet, but wondering has anyone's reflux gotten worse with the sleeve? That's the only co morbidity that I have and as of late it's gotten extremely painful and it seems it's with everything I eat. I've had to up it from 20mg once in a while, to now 40mg daily. I'm just worried that I'll get the sleeve and it'll be worse then now.

I was wondering if anyone has bought unflavored protein and put it in jello, or other things to get the protein intake.

I see everyone saying how they're getting their surgery dates, and how their on the losers bench. I literally can NOT wait! It's driving me bonkers! I just want the surgery so I can have my own success story-so I can feel how everyone else feels. I want the feeling of being able to tie my shoe without having to sit down or tie it then slip it on. Or the feeling of running a mile nonstop without my joints hurting. Eating a meal and not being hungry 20 minutes after. Being able to buckle my seatbelt without having the safety lock come on. Being able to sit in a regular chair without it digging into my sides. Being able to close my car door without my butt touching the door and the middle counsel. Being able to save money, due to my food bill going down. Being able to walk up and down stairs without hurting. I just want to be able.... Sorry for my rant.

No I haven't considered going to Mexico due to my money situation. My insurance covers it its just going through hell and a hand basket to get it done. I'm a very impatient person, and when I want something I want it then and NOW . Lol I just need to keep patient and it'll work out. Fingers crossed.

I have decided that I want to try to blog. I guess here isn't really the appropriate place to do it. I wish there was an area on this site that I would be able to write daily. I don't want to keep an actual diary, because after a while I would get so tired of writing. I seem to be able to get my thoughts down better on a computer, seeing as I type fairly quickly. I just want to have somewhere daily that I can write, and get feed back. Help?

"slvarltx" my only concern with the sleeve is I LOVE sugar.

My 5th month doctors visit is coming up on June 4th. I have no date due to having to wait for my 6th month weight in on July 2nd then my psych evaluation and my dietician consult. They say insurance can take 4-6 weeks then after they have an approval I have to get an upper GI and something else done before I'll even get a date. ???? I'm just so tired of being fat. I've done my exercising and eating healthy. I've lost 4lbs since my first appointment. I do NOT understand what I am doing wrong. I've cut my portions in half, exercised 5 days a week cardio on all days for at LEAST 30 minutes. Upped my vegetable intake TREMENDOUSLY. I'm working so hard and I've lost nothing.....idk I just feel like this will help me in my journey and nothing I'm currently doing is helping. I know this will and I just want it so bad.