WitchySar

My insurance only requires a 6 month clinically supervised diet and a meeting with the counselor again within 90 of surgery. No other testing required.

I'll keep trying. It's stupid that it's this difficult though.

Not many. I have medicaid so my options are limited. Plus if I switch now it'll take even longer to get cleared for surgery since I'm sure the new therapist and psychiatrist would want to establish a relationship with me over a few months first. It's so frustrating.

Beats the hell out of me. I needed a letter for another situation before, I needed it to say that I had bipolar and anxiety and that those conditions could cause problems with attendance and that I am now in therapy being treated. That's all, just the facts, not even personal judgment. They refused. Flat out refused. Because of that I am no longer eligible for financial aid. This place just is completely irritating.

I've already signed papers for them to get the records but they also need this particular form filled out and signed by my therapist and psychiatrist. Without that particular form, no surgery. The surgeon's counselor has cleared me for surgery AS LONG AS I get those forms filled out. My therapist isn't allowed to write out anything at all. Can't write anything, can't sign anything... nothing.

So, I have bipolar and because of that the counselor at the surgeon's office and the surgeon require that my regular therapist and psychiatrist both fill out a paper stating that they believe I’m stable, understand fully what I’m getting into, have a support system, etc. I took the papers in to my therapist appointment today and she said she’s not allowed to sign anything. She sent an email to her supervisor who said she doesn’t think they fill those out at all. OMG! The surgeon said he can’t do surgery until he knows I’m stable and they sign off on it. My therapist said she’ll continue to push on getting it filled out and she believes I’m perfectly fine for surgery, but now what? I seriously hate the clinic I go to. If they refuse to fill out the forms I’m screwed. I called the counselor at the surgeon’s office and explained what’s going on. She said she’d give them a call on Monday or Tuesday and talk to them. I hope she can get through to them and get it done. I do NOT want to be denied surgery just because this clinic doesn’t like signing papers. ARGH!!! If they still absolutely refuse to fill them out I will ask the surgeon's counselor if I can meet with her monthly instead. They will be able to get my records from my therapist and psychiatrist so they'll at least be able to see that I'm still being seen. If that doesn't work, well, I guess I'm heading off to Mexico. I've already been cleared for surgery there. I just REALLY don't want to spend my entire tax refund on that.

Thanks. I almost wish I wasn't so on top of everything. Then I'd at least still have something to do to pass the time. lol Anyone have a time machine?

Believe me, done that, pretty much all of it. LOL I already drink a minimum of 120 oz of water a day (it's basically all I ever drink). I follow a low carb diet so my protein is already where it needs to be. I have two Pinterest boards full of bariatric and keto recipes (I hate to cook but my husband will cook for me). The only thing is diet soda (haven't had sugary soda in over 12 years), but I already gave up caffeine about a year ago and I've cut WAY down on my soda, so it'll come in time. The dietitian I saw on the 11th said I'm her favorite patient and that there isn't much more for me to be doing except learn to eat slower (I have 3 kids, if I don't eat fast my food goes cold lol). I just feel so ready, I want the surgery now, darn it! LOL

I requested to add you. I'm witchysar on Instagram. I don't have much there yet though.

I've heard it continues until you are done with your rapid weight loss phase, however long that lasts for you. I haven't had my surgery yet though so I can't tell you what it was like for me.

I haven't had my surgery yet but I'm already trying to prepare for this. With eating such small portions it just seems impossible to get as much protein as required. Obviously it's possible, but it just seems like it's going to be hard. Unfortunately I'm allergic to a lot of foods (including seafood) so I'm going to be stuck with probably mostly chicken.

I think I'm driving myself bonkers. I'm so impatient for things to HAPPEN. I started seeing my PCP on June 8th and have had two visits with her. I saw my surgeon, counselor, and dietitian for the first time on July 11th. It was a great visit! The visits I had with my PCP should count toward the 6 month requirement. So excited! But now there's nothing to do. I see my PCP again on August 3rd (for other reasons but she'll also document my weight as well, just in case) and then I have a weight loss class that my surgeon's office does on August 9th. I'll be weighed there as well. And then nothing until September. The only other test my surgeon wants done is a body composition analysis which I hope to have done in September, and the next weight loss class is in September as well. My surgeon only wants to see me lose another 10 pounds so there is no pressure there. The biggest thing is he needs to see that my bipolar is stable, which the new med I'm on is working great so I'm not worried about that either. How do you manage to pass the time? I feel like I'm so focused on the surgery that it's the only thing I can even think about. I think I'd feel less nuts about it if I felt like I had more to do. More tests to schedule, more classes to go to... something. Am I the only one feeling like the clocking is moving at a snails pace during this whole process?

I has two visits with my PCP before my visit with the surgeon too. The surgeon said they should count as long as my PCP writes up the visits properly. It needs to document my weight, what weight loss advice she gave me. As long as your insurance doesn't require the 6 months to be with the same person then I would imagine you'd be okay. Definitely something to ask your surgeon when you get there.

I haven't had my surgery yet but I've already started logging everything to get in the habit. I use SparkPeople. That way I can log on my computer or the app. I like having that option.

I had my first appointment with the surgeon, dietitian, and counselor today. I couldn't be happier! I loved everyone I met at the office. They were all so warm and friendly. After talking to the surgeon we decided that my first choice of the sleeve is the best. So I am now officially on the path for the sleeve. Yay! Next step is another weigh in with my PCP on August 3rd (I already did two with her, June and July), then a weight management class on August 9th where they do a weigh in as well. After that I'll finish off the rest of my weigh ins with my clinically managed diet with the surgeon's office. They're going to be able to count the time I did with my PCP toward the 6 month requirement. Yay! So if everything goes well I'll be done with the diet portion in November. I have bipolar and the surgeon said if I remain stable on my meds that I will possibly be able to have the surgery in December. That would be amazing! So we'll see what happens next on that. In the meantime he said I don't need to have more tests (like EKG, sleep study, etc) because my medical history don't show any need for them. Yay! He does want me to have a body composition analysis thingy (I can't remember the exact name of it), and that's it. So that's where I am in my journey now. So excited!

I'm so jealous of everyone with closets and boxes of clothes! At size 30/32 it's so hard to find anything that fits that doesn't cost a ton. I can't buy very many clothes so I keep everything until it's so worn out it has holes. I currently have about 3-4 outfits I can wear, total. I expect to have to keep them for a while, even while losing. I can't wait to get into smaller sizes so I can buy clothes without having to pay and arm and a leg.

Congrats! I had my first consultation today as well. I saw the dietitian, counselor, and surgeon and loved all of them.

My surgeon and I chose the sleeve for me for a couple of reasons. 1 - I feel more comfortable with it. I know many people who had the RNY and all but one had severe complications after the surgery. Two of them to the point of almost dying. That makes me uncomfortable with it personally, and it's important to feel comfortable with what happens to my body. 2 - After surgery I'm still going to have several meds I'll need to take on a daily basis, including meds for anxiety and bipolar. My surgeon has had several patients who have had issues with their bipolar meds after RNY because of the malabsorption issues, and I don't want to risk that. So for me the sleeve was the perfect choice.

I am so nervous right now. My first appointment is today at 1, just 3 1/2 hours away. We have to get going soon so to get there. What if they surgeon says I can't have WLS for some reason? I can't think of why he would, but still... I'm so nervous. I'd better go get dressed to go, and take a klonopin while I'm at it.

I've not heard of this either. I had my gallbladder removed as an emergency last year because of gallstones. I asked specifically if there was a med I could take instead and they said there was nothing for gallstones except removal. Now I'm mad because that surgery was horrible! Good luck!

Hmm, interesting. Are they taking other mobility factors into account? For example, I injured my knee and ankles very badly years ago. I will never be able to walk as fast as others, no matter how the rest of my health is.

Thank you for clearing that all up. I think even if I end up not needing to go to Mexico I should look into getting a passport.

Where did you get yours? I looked for one after my gallbladder removal and couldn't find one big enough.

Could something good be coming my way? Oh I hope so! I called today and found out the surgeon has to be out of town on the 21st which is why they were rescheduling me. The next appointment they had was mid-August. I explained about losing medicaid at the end of the year and asked if the weigh ins and diet with my primary could work and they said yes, most likely. They also managed to squeeze me in on Monday so to make sure they do everything possible to get me the surgery. Ack! So now I have my appointment on the 11th, not the 21st. So soon! I'm so excited. This still isn't a guarantee that I'll be able to have it done by the end of the year but I'm sure as heck doing everything I can to make it happen.

Thanks for all the info. I don't even know how to go about getting a passport, but I suppose, for sake of ease, I should figure it out.