sassyfrass23

That's what I'm hoping for @@jantra12 !!!! Thank you so much, @@SHOTzY ! The excitement from everyone feels so genuine and heartfelt. I absolutely adore you all! Having this support, whether times be hard or great, it is incredible. My family and friends who know about my surgery are super supportive, but they're not walking this path with me like everyone else so they don't/can't fully relate.

Yes ma'am! I'll have another appointment this month, hopefully next week and will be told when to start my 2 week pre-op diet!! Thank you!!

Thank you @@MsB7 and @@Daisee68 ! My surgeon requires his RNY patients to stay two nights he won't budge! And thank you @@because I feel very blessed to have this opportunity. And as excited I am, my heart hurts for those who want this but don't have it as a feasible option. I don't know what I would have done had insurance denied or not even offered coverage. So so thankful.

@@OutsideMatchInside I obviously need to put my phone down while watching this...lol. I miss small bits of info like what you just shared with me. The way you just worded death was perfect and put me at more ease with my fears. Thank you.

Death has been at the back of my mind during my pre-op stage and as I get closer to the big day, that episode acted as the wake up call I needed. I knew it was a possibility and since I haven't been under anesthesia for any time longer than 30 min max in my life, I've been a bit nervous. But the last week or so I've gotten so caught up in thoughts about life AFTER surgery so sweet Daniel brought me back into reality. And yes- for the size patients & health conditions they operate on, their low numbers of fatality are impressing.

@@prettyCali916 - I'm down for a loser's bench trip to the UK! Tell me when and I'll start packing

That's what.....1 in 400 chances of dying from the surgery itself?? Those are pretty phenomenal numbers. I was surprised at one point to see his partner operating over an open GB without a mask though. Seemed a little less than sanitary...

Yes he was! I cried like a baby. I absolutely did not expect that outcome. My husband had to console me and I had to take a break from the show for about an hour to regain my composure. My surgeon's office has SHOVED the possibility of death/complications down my throat since day one. This was the first time I had actually seen a worse case scenerio regarding WLS on a show like this and it opened my eyes SUPER fast. Looks like it began in 2007

You are a star, @@Daveo Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

@@Daveo & @@prettyCali916 My mouth was watering over the chocolate bar! Mmmmm....I love chocolate. You gotta stop! I LOVE that they refer to the OR as the theater. It's sounds so much more exciting when put in those words

Haha! That's too funny! ???? But hey- I've had hefty doctors tell me to lose weight. And I giggled at the irony every time.

Ah! I see @@prettyCali916 ! I had heard them mention private doctors and didn't quite understand the difference. That's interesting.

Thank you so much!

Thank you, @@Nurse_Lenora ! I am meeting a friend who had the sleeve by the same surgeon to do my shopping for food, Vitamins, etc! I'll definitely start ASAP! My surgeon told me in January that if my surgery was approved before my February appointment to call in to move it up. So I'll be calling tomorrow morning and hopefully be on the books for March! Thank you for sharing that @@James Marusek . I'll definitely talk with my benefits coordinator about that tomorrow. With the bypass, I have to FOR SURE stay 2 nights. Unless complications arise and require me to stay longer. I'll see if they've already submitted for that approval or when they will. As do I!! Finally thank you!

That BMI requirement completely surprised me! I'm at a BMI of 41. So I couldn't imagine not having an option unless I was at a 60..

@@Daveo I think so! I will say that I was surprised to hear they they are #2 behind the US in obesity

Thank you, @@Inner Surfer Girl ! I am ecstatic!!! I can't wait to get the show on the road. I'll gladly sit by WHOEVER on the loser's bench. I'm not picky!

Heard back from Dari and things look promising. I hope to know more tomorrow. But hey...guess what? I just found out that my surgery was approved! I'm in complete shock! I called UHC to get some documentation from my call back in October to send to Dari. The nurse advocate decided SHE wanted to check the status of my file herself. She came back a few minutes later with my case #!!!! I still can't wrap my head around it! I thank you all for your words of encouragement and not letting me get down over all of this insurance mess. ????

@@Daveo I also had to google crisps! Since most everyone on this show loves them! They're potato chips for anyone who is interested.

Glad you like it!!!! I totally had to Google the conversion myself. I even whip out my handy dandy phone calculator to do the math when they lose excessive STONES! lol.

Season 2, episode 2: Daniel Simmons Very difficult to watch but real and informative.

I apologize in advance for what is about to become a novel. So, some of you may have seen on other posts where I am/was having issues with my insurance company and the uncertainty of when I could actually have my surgery due to odd verbiage in my policy. I called UHC tonight to get names and dates of when I called back in October for my HR rep who has been working with our UHC rep to find out the specifics. That was the ONLY purpose in my call tonight. While on the phone with Patricia, my new best friend, she told me that she wanted to call Clinical Services just to check on the status of my file that I thought SHOULD have been submitted this week. I waited for a few minutes for her to return to the line. When she came back, she made a statement and told me to write a Case # down, so I did as I was instructed. And paused. After a few seconds of silence, she asked if I was still there. Once my mind wrapped around what she said, I asked "Did you just tell me that I was approved for surgery? I am approved to have the Gastric Bypass? That case # you just read to me is my proof of approval?" To which she responded with "Yes!" Of course, this then prompted the flood gates to swing wide open and allow the tears to fall. A little back story to help you better understand where I am coming from- I would have to say that my life (27 years young) has been challenging. I don't want pity, because as tough as the trials have been, they truly have made me stronger. They have made me ME! And I'm grateful. My sister was killed in a car accident when I was 8. There was an 18 year gap between us as she was from my father's first marriage. But my mom was basically her mom and played a huge role in her growing up. I never viewed her as a half sibling. She was a single mom of a 3 year old at the time. So, we adopted her son the day she left this Earth and I went from being the baby and 1 of 2 girls out of 3 children, to the middle child and only girl. It was a huge adjustment that I struggled with. My grandfather passed that same year a long with my father having his first heart attack months after. Fast forward a few years, I became involved with a guy who was emotionally, mentally AND sexually (yes- it's possible even if you're in a relationship with the person) abusive. I was 14 and truly believed that the behavior I received from him was due to my own mistakes. I was brainwashed and blind to the severity of the situation. Throw in two more heart attacks for my daddy and open heart surgery for 5 bypasses during this time as well. Children are very impressionable at that age, and it has taken me 13 years to forgive myself for sticking with him for 2 1/2 years. From that relationship, I dove into another one with a guy who was great at first. And then the physical abuse presented. I loved him. I NEEDED him..or so I thought. After all, he was the one who helped me move past my previous relationship. Finally, after a year and a half of hell with him, things ended. These two relationships, all before I was 19 did a huge number on my self confidence and damaged me emotionally. And then I met my husband. My saving grace. We have been married for 8 years. Things have been tough. We have experienced every hardship imaginable with the exception of infidelity. The biggest challenge being our inability to conceive due to my PCOS. I have wanted to be a mommy for so long and this surgery is my last hope at becoming one. But the straw that broke the camel's back and contributed to my weight gain began back in 2011 when my daddy was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer. We quickly learned that his diagnosis and prognosis were not promising as the cancer had already metastasized to his bones and his spine/ribcage/shoulder blades were covered in cancer. I literally watched him wither away for an entire year before he passed. I helped Mama as we became his caretakers when he became too weak to care for himself. He passed away 10 days shy of his 1 year anniversary from being diagnosed. On January 18th 2012, I lost my safe haven. And a part of myself. I have ALWAYS been a daddy's girl and did not handle his death very well. So I tell you that all, to tell you this- I truly did not expect to receive approval. Not on the first attempt or without having to put up a fight first. I have had the cards stacked against me what seems like majority of my life, and believed this would be a similar situation. To hear Patricia confirm my approval....I am in utter shock. I have read a multitude of post on here where people are posting their approvals and surgery dates and while I have been so happy for them, a part of me felt envy. Because I didn't think I was ever going to be THAT person. THIS person. I am so stinkin excited that I don't even know what to do with myself!!

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?