2goldengirl

I'm so sorry for your loss. Of course you can start over at 62. There are folks here who had their surgeries later than that. I'm over 60, and I'm preop. You've had your surgery and have healed from it, so you're ahead of the game. Starting out by revisiting the rules is a terrific idea and a great place to start. Congratulations on getting to this point in recovery from your loss. Now it's time to take care of yourself and the investment in your health you made when you had your surgery. There are lots of friendly cheerleaders here!

It isn't Anthem so much as your medical group or IPA. They're the ones who actually review and approve your surgery. I would say (I do this as part of my job) that no, receipts from WW aren't sufficient, but copies of your weekly book show you consistently showed up for meetings. Additionally, if during that time you met with your PCP and discussed your weight loss efforts, that also helps. The goal here is to show that you've made an honest effort and show consistency in adhering to a weight loss program for more than a month or so at a time - because that 's what you need to be successful with the surgery. I would call your IPA or Medical Group and ask to speak with the person who reviews bariatric surgery requests. Talk with them directly and you'll get the best answer. People who answer 800 numbers have to answer every question under the sun and they aren't part of the review process.

Fasting phase? The only fasting I've had to do is for labs, for my upper GI X-ray, and for my endoscopy = and of course nothing after midnight day of surgery.

Awesome work! Do you feel as good as you look?

You've lost 25 lbs in a bit more than a month. That's fantastic progress! Getting in motion is always a good idea. Keep on keeping on, you'll be fine!

Honestly, don't waste your money. Skin "firmness" is a factor of what is under the skin, not on top of it. Collagen, elastin, hydration, genetics - all are internal, not external. The molecules of anything you put on top can only be absorbed into the surface, not by the layers underneath. Keeping skin hydrated and exfoliated makes the surface look better, but whether or not it sags is due to factors far beyond the influence of cosmetics.

Target carries online and in stores a second-label line from Spanx called Assets by Sara Blakeley. More reasonably prices and just as workable. I loathe shapewear. I think I will have to get used to some going forward. Preop I ony use it when I have to, usually under a special-occasion dress.

This is especially true in December and January, also around things like school breaks. December is when people want to squeeze things in before they get new deductibles Jan. 1, and people who have changed carriers effective Jan. 1 are trying to squeeze things in as well. I had to wait nearly a month to see the GI to get my EGD, fortunately she was fantastic and I left her office with a date for my EGD less than 10 days later. As a bonus, I know who will do my colonoscopy next year.

Actually, in CA, it's the law that criteria on which medical decisions are based must be available on request to providers, health plan members, AND the general public. Most CA H M O plans have their medical policies online available without a password. It's the easiest and most cost-effective way for them to comply with the law. Anybody at an 800# who doesn't know that is pitifully misinformed. Try it. Google "Blue Shield of CA Medical Policy bariatric surgery" And for heaven's sake, STOP talking to people who answer 800 numbers. They are not allowed to think. Ask, politely, to speak with a supervisor. Then when you get one, ask why the answers you are getting on the phone from their member services folks are not consistent with their policy. And while I'm foaming at the mouth over this, the three-month timeframe is in no way a requirement, that's why the policy says "suggested". I once wrote health plan policies and I can tell you that if it was a requirement, it would jolly well say "required". Many people start and stop the process once or twice before they really are ready. Some, like me, don't need extra time for education in the changes my surgery will mean, thankyouverymuch. Blue Shield wrote this to give control to the surgeons. Unfortunately, they did rather too handy a job of it and everyone is flummoxed over it.

I would keep one garment, a lot of folks choose a pair of pants or jeans, that fit you at your heaviest. Keep those as a yardstick for the days when you feel you haven't made progress (we all have them). Then when you're at goal you can take photos of you fitting into one leg.

@@swizzle, the new policy is for Blue Shield of CA H M O - I don't know what the policy is for Illinios. I've been very specific about California and H M O product ONLY. This is the link for BCBS Illinois: http://www.medicalpolicy.hcsc.net/medicalpolicy/activePolicyPage?lid=ia2d1toe&corpEntCd=IL1 There isn't even a "suggestion" for three months. Always, always, always, read the policy. Know what it says. Hold your providers accountable for following it.

FWIW, I'm lactose intolerant and I can use Isopure powders and Premier Protein shakes without any problem.

Your surgeon deserves a trip out to the woodshed for talking to you that way. You can help us help you if you can tell us what guidelines you were given for your intake at this stage - how much Protein, Fluid, calories, etc. Were you given a calorie guideline? Any information helps. I agree totally with the weighing and measuring, and including in your journal how foods are prepared.

NO. they can't. First, there is no six months. If you're speaking of my particular situation, it depends on my BMI when I saw the surgeon or when I first saw my PCP about it (they're less than a point different) There is nothing in the selection criteria about weight lost or gained - simply weight to meet or not the BMI requirement.

No, I wouldn't bother. You've spent too much time already. They ought to have a call log for your account that shows each call anyhow.

Fantastic work! Celebrate! (throws confetti).

I've only told a handful of people. Two of them who don't believe I'm "big enough" are in different camps. One is a dear friend who herself has lost 150# with her sleeve. She's nearly a head taller than I am with a much larger frame, so I see where her perspective comes from. To her, I'm tiny. The other is my boss, who is herself tiny. I didn't tell her my weight, I told her my BMI. She was actually very complimentary; she just said "I just can't see where that extra weight is on you". Both of them have been totally supportive of my decision.

A bit of both, actually. I didn't find out about the change until Late September, otherwise I'd have told my PCP on our first appointment. Then I had to change surgeons because the first had an office staff that, ahem, doesn't work and play well with others. I WAS able to determine that my medical group knew of the change. But I filed a grievance anyhow, because Blue Shield did a crummy job of educating their own staff and their medical groups about the change. How to find out who your medical group is? Easy. Look on the back of your insurance card. There is the name of your PCP AND your medical group. They're also referred to as IPAs. Here's how it works in a nutshell: Your employer purchases insurance coverage from an insurance carrier (in this case, Blue Shield of CA). They agree to a health plan for their employees and the premium, part of which is paid by the employer, part of which is paid by the employees. Blue Shield contracts with medical groups throughout the state, who process authorizations and pay the majority of claims and provide other services for members. Primary care and specialty physicans contract with those same medical groups to get paid for the services they provide at an agreed upon rate. You go to your PCP. She/he submits a claim to, for instance, Healthcare Partners (an IPA). Healthcare Partners pays the claim. Your PCP wants you to see a cardiologist. She/he sends you to a cardiologist who is also a participating physician in the same medical group. The cardiologist wants you to have testing done. They submit a request for authorization for this to be done at a facility contracted with your health plan. Healthcare Partners processes the authorization and pays the claim afterward. In CA, in most cases, the day to day of managing authorizations is the responsibility of your medical group/IPA. This is why Blue Shield doesn't actually authorize your surgery - your IPA does. Blue Shield writes the policies, the IPAs carry them out.

You don't mention purees in the food choices you're so tired of. Throw some cooked chicken in the blender with some chicken broth and unflavored Protein powder. Throw canned tuna in the blender with broth and plain yogurt. And of course you can stand it for a couple more days. You worked hard to earn the privilege of all these liquids, and they're the means to an end. You've got this.

I'm salaried, not hourly, and my supervisor and manager know I'm having the surgery and are totally supportive. They know I work extra time when there is extra work to be done (like tonight), and they don't insist I make up the time for medical appointments. Your surgery and follow up visits should be covered under FMLA leave, unless you've already had your surgery and maybe even then. FMLA leave doesn't have to be taken in full-day increments if you're hourly, and can be taken a day at a time for things like medical appointments. If you haven't talked with your HR department already, do so now. they aren't allowed to share any information about why you are taking leave without your permission. FMLA protects your job for up to 12 weeks total for care for a medical condition or illness. I don't know what state you're in, but in my state, state disability insurance covers you for the period of time your surgeon says you are unable to work due to medical illness, which includes recovery from surgery. In my state, SDI only covers about a third of my income. I have Extended Sick leave as a benefit from my employer that picks up the other two-thirds. I hope this helps!

The grounds for your grievance is that their people on the phone are giving outdated and inaccurate information to their providers - in this case, to your surgeon's office. I can't understand why MD offices insist on calling when the information they need is right there on the internet, except that they also want to verify that the policy doesn't exclude bariatric surgery. I've yet to have a Blue Shield policy exclusion in more than five years of working with their members. Thanks so much 2goldengirl! Here goes the update and not a pretty one. The surgeons office called Blue Shield to verify the policy information. Btw my patient navigator was so upset with Blue Shield...she said she was on hold forEVER and that when she finally got someone, they didnt sound very knowledgable.....funny because I felt the same way when i called....They were told that the requirement is 6 months, no less. The surgeons office said if I wanted to I could do the 3 months and they can submit all of my paperwork to Blue Shield however, they will probably decline it and request me to do more or I have to appeal it and they would take "an even longer time". So how can I file a grievance if Blue Shield/CA is telling them the policy states 6 months pre-op.... So here you go: Call Blue Shield Member Services (the number on your card). Say "I want to file a grievance" They will ask you to state in general terms the nature of your grievance. You tell them: "Blue Shield changed their medical policy concerning bariatric surgery on July 31, 2015. Both my surgeon (surgeon's name) and I were told over the phone information that was contradictory to the new policy. My surgeon's office won't proceed with submitting their request for my surgery based on this misinformation." If you have the dates you called yourself (I know you called more than once) and the names of the people you spoke to and the answers you got, you can fax this information to them. Also write down what your surgeon's office told you (and who told you that at the surgeon's office). Fax it to 916-841-0999. Then call your medical group (sorry, I don't know which group you're with). Ask to speak to whomever handles requests for bariatric surgery. Ask that person whether they are aware of the change in policy. If they are, let them know that your surgeon's office isn't following the new policy, and that you have filed a grievance with Blue Shield over it. Good luck. And yes, I do this for a living. And a lot of other things as well. If it's any consolation, I had my first visit with my PCP about this in September. It was December before I could see a surgeon for an initial consult, and it will be late Feb. to mid-March before my surgery date. That's just about six months.

No, it doesn't necessarily mean that. It depends on both your surgeon and the degree of reflux you have - if you have reflux. Try to relax, getting anxious won't do anything but make you miserable. Nobody needs that.

It may be that her view of "normal" has gotten so distorted over the years that she's having trouble adjusting to the "during" you. With so many people we interact with every day anywhere from obese to superobese, it can be hard to view someone differently. It's hard enough for us to see ourselves accurately - imagine what it must be like for those around us!

Attention, especially from the opposite sex can be very unsettling if you aren't used to it. We get so used to feeling "invisible" before WLS - or worse, the object of the wrong kind of attention (judging, shaming, and all that). It takes work on the inside to unprogram a lot of those old messages and negative self-talk. As far as "letting them all down", you aren't doing this for anybody else. You're doing this for you. Your health and well being. it truly doesn't matter at all what anybody else thinks. They don't define your success or lack of it - that's strictly up to you. If you aren't getting counseling about these issues, I'd really, really recommend it. It's just like working out at the gym; the gym works the physical body, counseling is your personal trainer for the inside of your head. Good luck!

Well, my OD'ing on a food and never wanting to be in the same room with it again was...fruitcake. I was five. I thought it was amazing. And I was five. And - don't even get me in the same room with candied fruit. I have no interest in testing changes in taste with fruitcake postop, thankyouverymuch. I DO think it would be really interesting to see a study done about postop changes in taste/texture preferences, though. I'd especially like to see if different surgeries led do different taste/texture changes; or whether typical preop preferences influenced postop preferences in any way.