DivaSoBlessed

@@Marie2016 Thank you so much! I had to let go of the tears in order to get angry so that I can stand up and fight. I'm not giving up. I'm all in.

@@mizzzzzzT Yes it looks like we both have had long journey's and I am sure that there are many more of us who have been going through a process of trying to get approved for quite a while. My journey for attempting to get this surgery dates all the way back to 2003. It was even harder back then because no one wanted to get on the phone and explain what is covered and what isn't. I just kept being told that I needed to do a six month supervised diet but that still didn't tell me if I had the benefits to get the surgery beyond that. During that time I had other things going on so I stepped back from the entire process to regroup and just started exercising and trying to eat better and for a long while I was doing well. It would take me a day to explain the journey but fast forward to today. My plate is less fuller and I can focus solely on me so I revisited the idea and discovered no more six month supervised diet so I decided to give it another try last year. The paper work says something about a hiatal hernia not necessary but I don't have that so I am more confused now than ever. I will definitely be giving the surgeon's office a call on Monday. Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm still in this fight. I've come too far not to be.

I'm logging on to my computer so that I can respond to you all. Thank you all so much for your input. It helps because I know that I am just thinking irrationally because I am upset.

Thank you! I'm not giving up just yet. I have just come a very long way and I am very emotional right now and confused at the same time. I just opened up the last letter which has me more confused because it says: Bases on the documentation submitted, code number ##### for laproscopy, sleeve gastrectomy (services must be rendered at a Blue Distinction Center) is covered under the member's plan. Howevwr , predetermination of benefits does not guarantee payment.

@@Vernelly sending prayers your way.

@@prettyCali916 Congratulations! Good luck with your surgery and I am wishing you a speedy recovery. This is a wonderful opportunity and brand new start to your new life. Enjoy it, embrace it, and take it one day at a time.

South Suburbs here Dr. Brian Lahmann will be performing my surgery.

@@thinatheart13 Congratulations! This is a wonderful opportunity of a lifetime. Enjoy it, embrace it, and take it one day at a time. I am waiting on my approval and can't wait to join you on the losers bench.

@@Inner Surfer Girl Thank you! I couldn't have said that any better. Hugs are awesome and powerfully sweet.

So I had my psych evaluation this afternoon and I think that it went pretty well. As I posted in a previous thread I didn't really know what to expect going in and I was a little nervous about it. I got some really good advice from a few people about what to expect as well as some insight on the kinds of questions being asked. I talked with a young lady for about half an hour then I was taken to a room with a comfy chair and laptop to start on a series of true or false questions. The first part was 338 questions and the second was about 165 fairly straightforward questions to gage tour personality and how you cope with every day life situations. After I vompleted both parts the uoung lady came back into the room and sat down opposite of me to make sure that all of my questions were answered and validated. As we were sitting there she started talking about how she was sleepy, and how the computers there run slowly, that she asked for upgrades and how she had a poor older woman who didn't understand how to use a computer and spent an entire hour not answering the questions when she actually thought that she was. From there she gave me a brief scare saying what did you do as if I messed up the questions but then she corrected herself saying that she was looking at the wrong person's file in the computer. She then said everything looks good on your end. Afterwards we were discussing computers and how she bought her grandmother a kindle for Christmas and had not yet given it to her. This made me feel very comfortable speaking with her so afterwards as I was getting ready to leave I didn't know whether to shake her hand or give her a hug. I'm big on hugs because of my friendly personality so I said to her I'm a hugger and she didn't find any disagreement with it. Afterwards I asked my husband was it wrong. His response was that it is a professional environment and that it was inappropriate, a handshake would have been more appropriate. What do you think? Was I being too friendly? Do you think that this would have any baring on her final analysis of me? Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

@@WLSResources/ClothingExch you are too kind! I am equally grateful for you being here to provide insight into this entire process. I have struggled with my weight for so long that I have learned that the process to recovery is long and patience is key. It's okay to fall off the wagon as long as you remain strong enough to get up, dust off those bruises, and get right back on the ride. No one said that this would be easy but its not impossible. I encourage to choose today as a day of reflection and figure out what areas you can improve in. Once you come up with a plan of attack then make an appointment with your surgeon's office to find out where you are. It's only over when we choose to give up and give in. We are all in this for the fight of our lives. I am rooting for you because I know that you have it in you to be the best that you can ever be. {{{Big Hugs}}} Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

@@Robin Leighbuchanan LOL! It happens. Not a problem.

@@Robin Leighbuchanan Its nice to know that I am not alone. I think that there is nothing wrong with giving someone a hug. We all could use one from time to time. I know that I could and its not to be inappropriate but a way of saying thanks and that things will be okay without saying it verbally. Thanks.

@@Mytime2016 Thank you. In the most humble way that I could speak of myself I truly am a warm friendly person and I am now confident that this is the way that she saw it as well.

@@CowgirlJane Your comment just made my day! I'm chuckling uncontrollably while my husband looks at me as if I am losing my mind. This is the best comment of the day. Thanks.

@@Wonderkind My thoughts exactly!!!! I explained to my husband that I didn't see anything wrong with it but the way he put it had me doubting whether I had did something wrong. After sitting and talking to her I felt some kind of trust enough to give her a hug in thanks for her time talking to me. This was a pre-surgery evaluation but it felt like good therapy to talk to someone who had an outside perspective on what I was there for and what brought me to her office. It was uplifting to say the very least.

@@WLSResources/ClothingExch Thank you so much! I indeed was excited about opportunity that I have and I wasn't afraid to let her know it. I answered her questions as honestly as I could and when she asked me questions like what support system do I have? and what kind of complications can occur post surgery? I impressed her with just how much homework I had done in preparation for this entire process. All the same I am very happy to have gotten past this stage of the process.

Thank you! That had me concerned. I wont get official confirmation until they send out the paperwork but I am soooo glad to be done with that part of it. Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

Awesome @@ssflbelle! I'm rooting for all of us on our journey. I'll update as my appointments happen. Have a wonderful weekend.

I had my consultation and everything went well. The surgeon was very reassuring and answered all of my questions to the best of his knowledge. He made things easier by starting the conversation off with a light hearted joke which lets me know that he has a sense of humor. I don't think that I could have asked for a better person to work with. This is exciting because I really didn't realize just how fast everything would be going. I had a little hiccup with my insurance after they updated my plan but nothing really changed with the exception of my deductible going up by 50 dollars. The stressful part was calling around and preparing for pre-operative testing. I didn't realize that a lot of these places for a cardiologist, pulmonologist, and psychologist were booking a month out. I was told that I had a limited amount of time to get all of these test done to submit for approval and that I needed to schedule to see a pyschologist first because they usually submit doc for approval after receiving psych clearance and taking a mandatory class. I found a place that will squeeze me in for my psych clearance sooner than next month however I am really nervous. I know that every office is different but generally What should I expect? I was told to be prepared to stay for 2 hours.

@@AliAqua That's exactly what I was thinking! I didn't want to walk into the office focusing on all of my past failures and the bad things that lead me to where I am right now. I acknowledge that they all have lead me to this point but there is just so much more to me than the bad so that is a good thing to know about how your eval went. Yes my husband just said this a minute ago that I will have told him or her my life story before its over lol! I am not going in for that I just want them to understand that I understand that what I am about to go through is irreversible and yes very life changing but that I am ready for all that comes my way. I just know that I can't continue my life on the route that I have been on for most of my life. Its gotten me nowhere in all of this time so it is time to start making some major changes. My goal here is to give what is required but not to be chatty cathy like I usually am when I get too comfortable. I'm not cuckoo-bananas but I'll probably talk them to the point that they go cuckoo-bananas lol!

@@ssflbelle thank you for sharing and congratulations on your upcoming surgery. This helps me prepare for questions that I hadnt even considered. While I might not be asked the very same questions just reading some of your questions I can tell you that I probably would have been caught off guard not knowing how to respond not because I don't know the answers but because I simply just haven't thought about these particular questions and the impact they have in terms of coping and making responsible. Clearly I am prepared for change otherwise I would not have taken the steps to start this process. But these kinds of questions make me seriously have to deal with the reality of the impact this surgery will have on my life. Not that I wasn't serious before. Ive only had this discussion with my husband and a few of my online friends so these kinds of questions never came up in any of my discussions. It was basically me talking and people agreeing with what I said without questioning it. I am grateful for each of you who responded. This gives me something to think about before my visit. Please keep us posted on your progress and add me as a friend. Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

@@AliAqua That is awesome news! Congratulations on successfully getting past this stage of the process. Sounds just like having a conversation with an old friend. I am prepared for the true and false questions as these usually aren't a problem for me but I haven't even given thought to how I will respond in terms of talking about my relationships and support systems. I am an open book but I have never really sat back and discussed my relationships. This is all good information to know. I really appreciate your response along with everyone who responded. I helps to have some insight going into this. I am not so nervous about it now. I think that I may have made this a bigger deal in my own head than it really is and I probably just need to relax about this entire process because what will be will be. I'm sure that everything will be just fine. My BMI is well over 35... 53.3 to be exact and I have more comorbidities than I care to alone to get approval. Add me as a friend, keep us updated on your progress, and welcome!

@@Miss Mac It sounds like I don't have anything to worry about. They will probably kick me out of their office if they talk to me because I can go on for hours if not days lol! It sounds harmless and this is what I was looking for how each person who has already gone through the process did in their evaluations. I understand that I have to do a questionnaire as well. I don't mind doing a questionnaire but they can be very long and tedious. I'm looking forward to this appointment. Thank you for your feedback and congratulations to all of you that have made it to the losers bench.