sassyfrass23

Well, that's upsetting...

I brew a pot of decaf coffee every Sunday to last me all week. Once it cools, I transfer it to a big bottle and place in the fridge. Every morning I pour my vanilla premier protein drink and some coffee over ice along with Sugar Free coffee syrup. It's like heaven in a glass! I LOVE iced coffees and this is both inexpensive and healthy I'm not a breakfast person so this has been a huge help for me.

I concur 100%! Do you know if it's still filming?

You're more than welcome @@jenn1 ! I wouldn't mind if my surgeon was that attractive. Maybe then I wouldnt dread the monthly appointments as much. ???? haha!

Yes! Compassionate is the perfect word to describe him. I have seen him do the lap band a handful of times, but primarily the bypass. I wonder if VSG isn't practiced over there yet with how new it is in comparison? Now I'm intrigued. It certainly did shock me to see him perform the procedures as open surgeries until the 3rd season when he finally switched to laproscopic.

Heyyyyy....didn't even think of that @@wannaBthinsoon ! Good thinkin! Did you watch them?

I just searched and Netflix didn't pull any results

@@heather5565 maybe! I haven't actually looked though!! Hulu is $8.00 a month and you can upgrade to $11.00 a month for no commercials, if you're interested. Totally worth it and it offers quite a variety from what Netflix does.

Sketchy....

I'm so happy for you! Will be praying for a quick and pain free recovery. Please update us as soon as you feel up to it! Seeing all of your preparation post are exciting!

Thanks for reassuring my obsessive phone calls, @@RNYDawn ! And to be honest, I called again last night (gasp!) to inquire about the Psych eval amount I was billed. While on the phone, I figured it was worth asking about the status of my file and if it'd been received yet. The nurse advocate also read off my dang requirements again. I almost want to join in with the reps everytime they do since I practically have them memorized. And because...well...I'm curious... I asked her how SHE perceived the additional 6 month wait. She was flabbergasted. Said that out of all the policies she reviews DAILY, that was the first she'd ever seen. She really couldn't believe it. Much like many of us. She gave me hope in saying that if it's true and required that I could have my surgeon submit an appeal to override the wait. So as the days go on...I honestly do feel a little better about everything. I didn't hear back from Dari today, but hope to by tomorrow or Friday at the latest.

Thank you! And yes ma'am. The more time I have to prepare mentally and physically, the better. I actually had a moment of panic last night when I thought about everything I would be giving up for this procedure. I know without a doubt that the mental challenge will be the worst, but I know it will be worth it in the end and that really is all that matters. I have to save my life.

You and me both, @@bellabloom !! I must say that patience isn't my strong suit either.

Thank you, @ ! I certainly do appreciate all the prayers I can get ???? As the initial shock has worn off...I have come to have more at peace with waiting if I have to. That may be another story if I hear later in the week that I FOR SURE have to wait until August. But I'm not allowing myself to panic just yet!

Quick update: Dari emailed me today and said her UHC rep asked that I give them 1-2 days to investigate this whole situation. I'm very grateful that they appear to be taking this seriously and want to give me a FINAL answer rather than guessing like the customer service reps were so quick to do. My file should have been submitted today or will be tomorrow according to what Tonya said yesterday. Progress! I appreciate all of you talking this out with me and allowing me to rant/obsess/freak out! I'm sure my husband enjoys the break

Junkin! I absolutely love to find old pieces of furniture and repurpose them! Pallets = my obsession! My sister-in-law & I are heavily discussing opening our own "antique/junk" store and I'm tickled pink about it! And also a bit of a geek myself...so I do play a fair amount of video games on my PS4. Had to back off from that a little because I was spending TOO MUCH free time on it. ???? Once I lose my weight and rebuild my stamina, I plan to join the women's soccer league. I played in high school (lettered my freshmen year in a 5A school)...could have and would have received a nice scholarship to a great school but chose puppy love instead. I've kicked myself in the butt for that for many years. So this will be my way of making it up to myself.

Ah crap- it won't let me post the link. If you go to YouTube and type in robotic bypass surgery, I believe it's the second video.

@@Renkoss It's laproscopic but my surgeon sits at the robot to move/control the tools. Like this video:

Gosh...even $35k is more than I could imagine spending Idk if this makes a difference, but my surgeon will actually perform a robotic surgery on me. Maybe that's where the higher cost comes into play? I'm curious as to what the self pay price would be.

You're my inspiration! I just got excited as if this was my own personal NSV!!! I'm so happy for you!

$70,000 - &80,000? Who in the world is charging $70,000 - $80,000?My friend had the VSG by the same surgeon at the same hospital and her hospital bill alone came out to $50k. Not including the surgeon or anesthesiologist fees. And she only stayed over night 1 night. With RNY- I'll have to stay a minimum of 2 nights. So I was kind of guessing in that figure which may have been a little more but not too much more I wouldn't imagine? With that being said- I've wondered how some of these folks I've seen on here get/got VSG for around $11k. Maybe it's based off of location? The hospital I'll be going to was ranked #2 in the state behind Mayo. Maybe that has something to do with it? Right??? One would think....

What is this nonsense you mention about seeing your lady bits? *gasp* ????

HI, @@Renkoss ! I really hope that Dari's rep will provide exactly what we need to figure everything out. Even if it's not the answer I'm wanting...I'm just ready to know and quit guessing/wondering. I believe the unknown is what bothers me most about all of this. I can't prepare myself mentally. I can't prepare my boss. I can't prepare my family who will be taking off work to stay with me in the hospital those two days and any help I may (hopefully not) need after. As far as the difference in each patient's insurance, I completely agree! I posed that question to Tonya from the very beginning when I asked her about this waiting period, and she said that she'd never heard of it before. To which my response was "Is this something specific to my individual plan?" But because we never could find it in writing, she didn't think it was true or applied to me. I understand that most reps at insurance companies read what is on their screen with little understanding of the information they're relaying. After all- it would be almost impossible for them to learn and understand each policy. You would still think they'd have a better way of handling all of this to make it less convoluted. OH! I forgot to mention- when I called last Thursday evening before I posted this original thread, I was told by the second rep I spoke to that night, that I didn't even have bariatric surgery coverage. Talk about your heart dropping to your stomach!!! My dead silence more than likely gave away my shock and disbelief. She basically asked if I was okay after hearing that. I pushed a little and told her that the guy I spoke to right before her confirmed my coverage so how did things change in a matter of minutes?? Which was then when I asked if she was looking at "Bariatric Resources" which is NOT covered and I was already aware of. Yes- she was looking in the wrong section and misinformed me. Apparently they told Tonya the same thing on Friday. Two out of the four reps told her that. But she was able to confirm on both of those calls that the reps were not looking at the correct information when stating I wasn't covered. Just another example of them not knowing whether to wind their a$$ or scratch their watch

Had my final visit with my surgeon today! I've met all insurance requirements along with his requirements. I've lost some weight and dropped myself to a BMI of 40. He said that I have proven I'm serious about this surgery and what it will entail post op so he's given the office the go ahead to submit my file to insurance. From what I've read with most UHC folks, they don't take too long to respond. Either way....this little lady is going to have a fun time keep herself preoccupied until we receive an answer! I cannot believe I'm this much closer!!!!

@@Nurse_Lenora yes...they have had HUNDREDS of patients with United Healthcare! But never one with a plan that specifically states this. Which is why they're just as confused as I am. It's all become kind of funny to me. Yes, still stressful and upsetting. But entertaining nonetheless. ????