T_Hay81

Thanks I have Medicaid and I reside in NY. I called Medicaid directly and they stated they don't have any specific requirements and that my surgeon would let me know. So i guess I'll just have to wait
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi T_Hay81 I had the surgery 9 weeks ago and I'm doing great now ! I already lost 30 kilos and still going ! It's a bit hard in the beginning but by time you will get used to it . The most important stay away from sugar and alcohol and I'm sure you will be doing great Sent from my SM-G935F using the BariatricPal App

Hello all,
I have my first appointment on feb 2. I am very nervous. Can anyone tell me what their first appointment was like. How long did it take you guys to get an actual surgery date ??
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It's been one year today since I had my sleeve done. My life has changed in every aspect.
My start weight was 333.1lbs
My weight this morning was 137.8lbs
That's a total loss of 195.3lbs!!
I've also lost a total of 95 inches...I'm a size 6 now...used to be a size 30.
I have accomplished this by being very focused and strict with my eating and exercise.
I eat very low carb, and always get in my Protein, Vitamins and Water every day.
For all of you just starting out, just know that anything is possible, and if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything!! 
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That's not bad. I hope everything goes fast for me too. Good luck with everything and thank you for your advice. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I go on Monday ...OH GOSH! Excited. I will also share what it is like. All Dr's are so different and the Insurance companies are as well.

I had my first appointment on December 21st. It's exciting, isn't it? With mine, it was a three hour appointment. I met with a nurse, then the nurse practitioner, the surgeon, the dietician, and finally, the psychologist.
It was both, an exam and interview, to see if I was a good candidate to get into their program. Fortunately, I had a lot of tests done in the last six months for other things, such as a Pap smear, ultrasound of the liver and gall bladder, lab work, mammogram, sleep study, and chest X-ray. I have low cholesterol, bp, and sugar so I guess that's why he didnt have me do an ekg.
But in the month between December 21st and up until yesterday morning, I didn't hear anything from them. I didn't know my next step or if they still needed something. I was going out of my mind. Yesterday morning I decided to call and it's been a whirlwind of calling several places since, getting things faxed to them because they never uploaded all my tests properly the day of my visit--which is frustrating. So stay on top of it.
My preop class is February 6th and I'm hoping to get a surgery date soon, but I'm hoping mid February. So that's two months from start to finish. Probably could've been sooner if I called them a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks I have Medicaid and I reside in NY. I called Medicaid directly and they stated they don't have any specific requirements and that my surgeon would let me know. So i guess I'll just have to wait
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So here is how it went. My appointment to speak with the surgeon was at 10 quickly followed by an appointment with their dietitian. I knew I had to pay for the dietitian but I was not told about anything else, so today ended up costing me $220. My guess is the DRs time and like new patient fees or whatever, unfortunately I neglected to ask. Thank you HSA account!!!
When I got there and signed in I was asked for my driver's license and insurance card, the lady gave me about 5 or 6 new patient forms to fill out. They were the normal information and previous health forms, one asked which surgery I wanted and some other minor questions, the others were the normal HIPPA related paperwork that goes with the office needing to request your previous medical records and such, and then the last one explained that my co-pay/deductible/maximum out of pocket that the insurance didn't cover would be due prior to surgery. (Eg My insurance only covers 80% after I've met my deductible). I sat in the main waiting room for perhaps 15 mins before a nurse came to get me.
The nurse took me to a little triage room where she weighed me and got my height. Now when you're in here make sure they out all your info in correctly, this nurse typo'd my weight and it showed I had a BMI of 47.2, which is wrong, she had my weight at 371 as opposed to 471. She also gets your temperature and blood pressure. After speaking with her on was taken to a patient room where I waited until the DR came in.
I waited for about another 10-15min when the DR who would be performing my surgery knocked and came it, introducing himself. He first asked me if I had any questions about the online seminar I took, which I did not, and then proceeded to go over my medical history. He asked which surgery I was interested in and then had me lay back on the table and pull my shirt up so he could listen to my breathing or something. After that he asked if I had any other questions, which I could not think of on the spot.
After seeing the DR I was then taken to see the dietitian, I sat with her for probably 30 or so minutes as she explained portion size and a very general idea of the post op type of diet and things I would need to work on(more chewing, no drinking during the meal and x amount of time before/after etc..) then she got some goals from me and asked if I had questions. This is when I asked about a pre-op diet for surgery, if I needed to loose a certain amount of weight and what the liver shrinking diet would look like, that's also when I realized they had my weight wrong because she said "with a BMI of 47 the DR does not require a liquid diet before the surgery" to which I asked more about what they listed as my weight and she corrected it. I do not have to loose any certain amount of weight before surgery, I just can not gain any before my last weigh in. But I will have a 2week pre-op diet that consists of mainly liquids, but not all liquids.< /p>
Lastly I spoke with the patient and insurance coordinator who gave me my options of a 6mo/4mo pre-op plan that the insurance required. I opted for the 4mo and she explained what was needed(blood word, upper GI(per doc), psych eval, letter of medical support from another Dr/nurse practitioner, setup physical therapy appts and maybe a few other things). I had her triple check my initial weight and she explained the items she needed in order to submit it over to the insurance company.
All in it was a good visit, aside from the typo of my weight but that was resolved.
Hope that helps!
Sent from my Nexus 6 using the BariatricPal App

I have been in contact with my surgeons office for the last few months. I have my first apt Monday the 16th. I have completed 2 months of three month supervised diet. I have my last weigh in Feb 2 I only have Blood work and Nut visit left to do with an EKG at my last weigh in. I am hoping to be approved with a date mid to end of FEB. This last 3 months have been so long. I have BCBS FED and they only require 3 months.

Where are you located? Are you looking for general support along tbe way or answers to specific questions?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App