Night

So I got notice today that I was approved! After clearing up that false stipulation (turns out being on the health plan for one year before surgery is a stipulation for a dependent or spouse - of which I'm neither!), they sent the claim back to processing. I called the Dr's office because insurance needed more clinicals. Then by this afternoon, I got notice from the Dr's office that I've been approved and we are good to go! Apparently the surgery scheduler took it upon herself to give my insurance a big ol' call about speeding things up haha. I'm so relieved I could keel right over!

boo I had a gain CW: 362

I appreciate your words! Called them today and they have no record of me being denied. But at least it's pending medical review for necessity. And they have a note in my file that they stipulation of being with the plan for over one year does not apply to me. Moderately hopeful!

Prefacing this by saying I'm not sure there's any more I can do for now, but this is kind of a vent, too. CIGNA denied me today. My surgery is December 20. My work has a stipulation (and the insurance is through my work) that you must work there for over 1 year before insurance will cover bariatric surgery. I have been working there since July of 2015, so well over a year. My surgery nurse called me today saying CIGNA denied me because I had not been with the plan long enough. I called my company healthcare advocacy line. The woman there called CIGNA and we had a four way conference between me, her, CIGNA rep 1, and CIGNA pre-cert rep. Both the advocate and I were vocal in saying that all of our workplace literature states 'employed for one year' and not 'had medical for over one year'. Nowhere in my benefits, on CIGNA's website, or in the calls I have previously placed to cIGNA regarding bariatric coverage has anyone said 'oh, you must be with the CIGNA plan for over one year before we will cover this'. Nowhere. I scoured everything. So basically, the pre-cert rep said she'd send my denial back and have them re-look into it. (CIGNA rep 1 said at this point that she'd overturn the denial if it were in her power to do so, but she's low level so I can't take anything she says as even hopeful, imo...) I was told not to appeal, since my denial was going back to the pre-cert dept... but idk. I feel kind of lost. I basically have to play the waiting game to see if they are going to uphold denying me over a stipulation that is not listed anywhere. I'm incredibly grateful my company has healthcare advocates, but I was shaking with nerves by the end of the call and still am a bit. If this surgery gets denied and pushed back... I will have to pay almost $4,000 more to have it. I won't be able to have it in January as my job will not let me have off... I won't have the hours accrued to take off enough time to recover (they reset every year). I was told they should reach a decision in 3-5 business days... My pre-op appointment is December 6. Should I call them on Monday and dog them for an update?

December 20th! Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

ahhh yesterday was nuts so i didnt get a chance to post but cw: 359

I typically use myfitnesspal for logging. It's free, it's easy. I can even scan the barcode of my Protein, etc.

I've had miracle noodles (which are shiritaki). They are alright but I didn't find them terribly enjoyable. I much prefer riced cauliflower or steamed cauliflower as a Pasta substitute. Once sleeved, I see them becoming virtually useless as an addition to your diet. They will take up pouch space and provide nothing in return as they have no nutritional value. However, I do use the cauliflower version of things to get rid of any pasta-like wants. Or I just make whatever pasta-y dish, only without the actual pasta haha.

I had the Mirena for several years. I found it made my periods bearable and I pretty much never bled. Switched to the implant (due to me being paranoid about finding the string for the mirena haha). After the nexplanon went in, I had horrible moodswings for like 2 months - I wanted to die, I cried at everything, etc. Since then it evened off to normal moods. I experience less cramping and less period/psm symptoms using the implant, but I do also bleed, which I did not on mirena. With the mirena, I did not bleed, but I still got horrible cramps, increased breast tenderness, bloating, etc. All in all, I'm happier with the implant, but those first two months were ROUGH. Next month I'm getting the essure & will be done with other birth controls haha.

For tuna salad mush - instead of using mayo, you could try adding a bit of ripe avocado to moisten it.

current weight 359

My favorite Protein is SDC About Time brand. chocolate is delicious. 1 serving of the protein is 100 cal & 25g of protein iirc. Personally, I like mixing it w/ soy milk, but that does add another 100 cal. Mixing it with cold, black coffee is an option as well for added flavor beyond Water. A protein I enjoyed mixed with water was Syntrax nectar Fuzzy Navel. I tried several of their flavors and everything was awful, excepting this flavor. It is fairly sweet, however. I know when I was trying out differing Proteins, I ordered a bunch of samples from Nashua Nutrition.

Goal Weight: 350 Current Weight: 364 Today's Date: 11/14

I'm pre-op but I'd still participate!

I just came home from mine! The only problem I had was them sticking me with an IV. I had a nursing student and wooboy. Last time a nurse took over and numbed my hand properly so all was good. Then you lay around, they wheel you here and there. I remember being wheeled to the OR and being given little oxygen tube for my nose. Then woke up as I was being wheeled out! Feeling fine except a slight sore throat, headache, and residual tiredness. Try not to over worry yourself over this. c: It's a routine procedure and pretty smooth.

I chose sleeve because due to my medical history and some medications I take, my chance of ulcers would up significantly if I went with the bypass. (still pre-op though!)

Two years ago, I had two bulging discs that made my life miserable. Around the same time I developed a horribly painful skin condition. Both of these are exacerbated by my weight. While the discs have resolves (still left with lumbar stenosis though), the skin condition continues to worsen. It's ruining my life. WLS should relieve some of the pressure on that skin, allowing flares the room they need to heal. It will help the medicine I take for it be more effective. And fuck, I wanna go ride some rollercoasters and go to the ballet without having to wedge myself in there like a sardine. I always told myself as a fat teen, as a fat early 20s adult, even as a fat pre-adolescent that I would never let myself get up to 400lbs. And yet here I am, knocking on that door. I can't do it anymore. My weight and weight-exacerbated issues are ruling my life and nothing should rule my life except for me.