OBXhappy

Totally understand, I was very frustrated with Einstein Bariatrics. The office staff at the time honestly had no clue. When my insurance denied me the Dr. would not do a peer to peer. I hired Lindstrom Advocacy and honestly wanted to switch doctors. Although, I had read very positive things about my doctor and knew two other people that gave rave reviews (they both had issues with poor follow through in the office). Lindstrom Advocacy worked wonders and I won the appeal. I was advised not to switch doctors if I felt comfortable with his skills as he would be performing the surgery not the office staff. I did not switch and am thrilled with how well my surgery went. Long story short. I honestly understand your frustration. The waiting, the lack of follow through, and care on the part of the office staff put me over the edge. I actually gained 20 pounds in a couple of months (I'm a nervous eater) and my nerves were shot. Good Luck to you!

How are you doing? I had my surgery on 10/3.

How are those of you that had surgery at the beginning of the month doing? I'm now in Phase 3, it's nice to be able to have a piece of fish or chicken. I've stuck right with the plan, lost 10 lbs the first week and only 2 lbs since then . I'm perfectly okay with that. The scale going down or staying steady are both okay with me. Just please don't let it go up.

I had bypass and found i didn't need the painkillers after day 2. not sure if it is different depending on the type of surgery. i was up walking within hours of my surgery and at least every hour on day 2. I think it helped with the gas which is the worst part and the cause of most of the pain. @@Travelher I too had a very easy time of it. Makes me sad for those that have had difficulties.

I went through Einstein Medical Center, Montgomery - Dr. Dallal. I was not impressed with many aspects about the office itself. However, I totally trusted Dr. Dallal. He came highly recommended by a friend who is also a physician. I decided that the office staff was not the one operating on me it was the surgeon. All testing including cardio can be done on site. The hospital staff in the operating room and the third floor where I recovered were fantastic!

52 and sleeved on 10/3. Lost 20 lbs during the liquid diet prior to surgery. Down another 6 lbs so far.

On my way to work! Feeling well. I may only put in a half day but it feels good to get back to life. Good luck to all!

I totally agree with you. I too was sleeved on Monday. I had no real pain. Just uncomfortable from the gas. I kept feeling like a rib was poking into my lung.

I've been walking a lot! Started about an hour after I got to my room. Walked 1 1/2 miles on both Monday after surgery, and on Tuesday prior to coming home. Wednesday I walked around the block. Today I walked a mile. The walking has been a huge help. While I was at the hospital I woke up hurting around 4 a.m. I got up and did 7 laps around the hospital floor and felt much better. Remember, not everyone is affected the same. I had no side effects like nausea or dizziness. Not even extremely tired. Perhaps, I'm just fortunate.

Yes, surgery on Monday yesterday I slept on my side felt a bit odd at first but my stomach adapted quickly!

Wow! I felt pretty good afterward and joked that i was ready to go home. Not sure that I really was. Good for you, hope you are feeling well.

So how are you doing? I'm actually pretty good. Thinking about going back to work tomorrow. My only issue is I've been alternating jell-o, sugar free popsicle, broth and Water 1/3 cup each hour. If I go back to work it's pretty much just crystal light, water all day. I've only needed the pain medicine once. On Tuesday when I got home -- it's an hour and a half from the hospital to home and I think the ride was a bit rough. Good Luck!

Hope you are doing well. Congrats on the big loss prior to surgery. My vsg was today. So far so good.

Surgery is tomorrow at 6 a.m. I'm down 19 lbs today. Hopefully, tomorrow morning I will be down one more lb. to make my 20 lb. goal during my pre-op diet. So far I'm not the least bit nervous!

Got the time for my surgery 6 a.m. This is wonderful, but I live 1 hour 45 minutes from the hospital. Very excited!

Surgery scheduled for 10/3. One week left of my pre-op diet. The first 7 days have been fairly easy for me. Of course I'm fortunate in that I can have non-starchy veggies. 15 lbs. gone so far. I've stuck with the plan 100%.

October 3rd. Very excited!

We have the same surgery date. Can't wait!!!

Very impressive! Congratulations

Finally after a year I have my date … My insurance denied me so I hired Lindstrom Obesity Advocacy and they filed an appeal for me. I was notified on Thursday that my insurance has approved my surgery. Called my surgeons office on Friday and today they called me with my date. I'm scheduled for October 3. Wish it were sooner but after waiting a year 2 more months doesn't seem like long.

One of the nutritionists at the surgeons office I go to is always stating that we need to eat plants and Proteins. So that is what I'm doing. Lots of veggies, along with high Protein foods I've also started walking. Looking forward to reading other peoples successful ideas. Obviously, I don't typically eat healthy or I wouldn't be here.

It is so exciting to finally have a date. I too had to complete the 6 months nutrition visits. I'm scheduled for Oct. 3. I've decided to walk each day and try to eat healthy. I'd like to lose 15 pounds prior to surgery. Congratulations and best wishes.

Insurance requires a 10% loss which is 25 lbs. My goal is to lose 100 lbs.

Received a letter from BCBS TN stating that my surgery has been denied, the reasons are: My five year weight history does not show a presence of morbid obesity. I knew that I did not have this proof going into the process. I don't go to the doctor unless I'm seriously ill so as it happened my weight was down (Due to dieting) at the one time in the year that I was at the doctor. My surgeons office assured me that would not be an issue. I questioned this at my first visit and took paperwork in on a second visit and discussed it with the nutritionist. I also have it in writing with a PA in the office stating, "It will not be a problem." They did not receive documentation of a co-morbidity. Not sure why this would not have been submitted as I had a sleep study and was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea They did not receive documentation from attending physician that I followed a non-surgical weight loss program within 2 years of surgery. I've been on one type of diet or another for the bast 20 years. Like many obese people I didn't check in with my doctor prior to going on any of them. I did not achieve or maintain 10% of weight loss I did not know this was a requirement. My surgeons office didn't mention it, in fact they stated I wanted to be careful not to go below the 35 bmi. I had checked in with my insurance and this was not on the documentation sent to me. This member only participated for 4.5 months a minimum of 6 months participation is needed. I met with a nutritionist for 6 visits. Six months in a row. Evidently it was not submitted correctly. A person from the surgeons office (not the particular office I've went to but one of their offices) called today to say that due to the missing 5 year history the surgeon will not do a peer to peer with the insurance office. After all that is a requirement by the insurance company and their isn't anything they can do about MY insurance. To top it off I have a preop appointment with my pcp tomorrow as my pcp's office called me to set up an appointment since they were sent a date of May 5 by the surgeons office. When I asked the surgeons office about the date today she said, "Oh, we just put a date on the form for insurance purposes." I'm at a loss. Trying to decide rather I sign up for Nutri-System again, or Weight Watchers etc. I've got to do something as I got rid of all my summer "Fat" clothes when I started this process as i was determined that I would be a thinner me by summer since I started this last August. Anyone know of any wonderful diets that work.

@@FocusOnMeNow I've already been through the 6 months of nutrition visits. I don't have the patience for insurance appeals, and yet the thought of self pay angers me. Like most people I pay a large amount of money for insurance. I've hired an attorney to do the appeals process for me. It isn't a guaranteed positive result, but I'm sure their success with an appeal will be much greater than my efforts at one would have been. Your results are fantastic and perhaps I will end up being self pay. I will fight the insurance battle first before I make that decision.