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I would have loved to join but I'm only on month 2 of 7 of my nutrition appointments so I don't have a date and the app wouldn't let me join without a surgery date :-(

I can't speak for PA medicaid rules but I also have medicaid in CT. For some its 6 months of nutrition classes (mine is 7). I also had to do an ultrasound, a sleep study, and I have the upper endoscopy, cardiology, and psych eval coming up next year. First step is attending a seminar to find a surgeon. My surgeon had my insurance requirements available. Some have to call the insurance you find out your definite requirements. I hope this was helpful. Best wishes!

Thank you! And you should definitely talk to your surgeon about your previous nutrition classes just in case. I know most insurance companies want you to do 6 consecutive months of nutrition. If I miss a single month, I will have to start over. I go to nutrition class 2 of 7 in December. Hopefully, your previous nutrition classes will count towards required classes. Good luck!

You're welcome! Oh, and I forgot to mention that my surgeon and nutritionist have both advised me to follow the diet but not to be perfect. Pretty much tiptoe it to show that I'm making an effort but not enough to lose too much weight and not qualify. I know that I can't go below 257 lbs because of my height on the bmi calculator. I'm nowhere near that but its good to know the lowest you can go without a co morbidity [emoji5]

From my understanding, they want proof that you've tried to do this naturally. Also, to make sure you a are educated in your dietary lifestyle post op. My insurance requires 7 months of nutrition classes. Best wishes, good luck!

I think across the board the start up process is the same, go to a seminar/find out who accepts medicaid. The harder part is finding out the medicaid requirements which differ depending on which state you live in. I'm in Connecticut and a few days after the seminar, I was contacted by the surgeon's office to come in for a consultation. At the consultation he discussed with me which surgery I was interested in, which he thought was best for me, and my eating habits. The surgeon actually gave me the list of requirements for medicaid to approve the surgery. 7 months of nutritionist appointments, psych eval, upper endoscopy, cardiology, ultrasound, and a sleep study. I'm about to do nutrition appointment 2 of 7, and have already done the ultrasound, sleep study, and have appointments scheduled for next year for the remainder of my appointments. Also, its best to have a referral from your PCP for Bariatric surgery. Best wishes and good luck!

Thought about you today, hope you're still recovering well! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Welcome to everyone! I'm fairly new to the forums myself (joined in September) and I love it here. Such a beautiful community. My insurance requires 7 months of nutrition appointments. I attend my second nutritionist appointment December 6th. Should be doing my last nutritionist appointment in May and will hopefully get a surgery date soon after. Best wishes to everyone and their personal journeys!

You're welcome! And thank you! My bmi is definitely well above 40 but my surgeon wants to be sure that I don't have sleep apnea because if I do, I will need the cpap machine for surgery. Apparently if you have sleep apnea it is harder to wake you from the anesthetic. I will keep you posted! And good luck on the 2 week preop diet, I'm sure you've got this [emoji5]

Wow, I guess requirements changed. I have husky D and I have to do 7 months of nutrition instead of 6. 1 down, 6 more to go. Wish there was a way to fast track it, lol. Best wishes to everyone going through the process!

I'm so happy for you that you got your date! Tuesday I have to do a sleep study [emoji24] Just another step in this process! Cheering all of you who have a date on!

A friend bought me a container of the syntha-6 whey protein powder (strawberry milkshake flavor). I mix it with 1% milk and I love it. Have you tried a powder instead of already made shakes?

I can't speak from a surgery standpoint (I'm only on nutrition class 1 out of the 7 required by my insurance) but I also hated vegetables and used to do smoothie. I started exercising vegetables better after going meatless for 6 months. Cleansing my palette of meat changed my tastebuds so much. I eat meat again but I enjoy vegetables more. Have you thought about trying veggie burgers? You may tolerate them better. Congrats on your surgery date and good luck!

Glad to hear it! And super happy that you have support [emoji5]

I was just wishing you well on your original post. Hope you are doing fine and healing great. Congrats and best wishes!

1badassbiggurl I hope your surgery went well today and that you are healing nicely. Best wishes!

Thank you! And the same to you!

I don't need to lose a particukar amount but I need to lose enough to show that I am trying

It was a long day but everything went well. I've been given a diet and exercise guide. Its time to put it in action. Hopefully I've lost something by the time I go to my second appointment next month. Excited and terrified at the same time!

You look great! Congrats!

Praying for you that you have a speedy recovery! Congrats!!

The pictures are definitely inspirational and the community as a whole is beautiful! Thank you and will definitely keep posted! My first nutritionist appointment is tomorrow!

Yes! God forbid! And the heartburn is awful! Mine has calmed down but it was pretty bad. My metabolism died before I even hit my teen years, lol. And the aches and pains of carrying around extra weight is no fun either. I think we are definitely making the right choices for ourselves (and in your case, for your family).

Congrats! I'm so happy for you!![emoji322] [emoji322] [emoji322]

I am just starting my process for bypass and I keep trying to explain this to a friend that bypass does not mean no more sweets forever. I have a relative who didn't even like sweets until after bypass and they don't make her sick. I have another relative who also has zero issues with sugae after bypass. I started the process considering the sleeve but eventually opting for bypass because of my family history of diabetes and high blood pressure. I don't have these things but I do not want them either. Also, my surgeon believes this is the best option for me because I have a metabolism problem. I don't eat much but I still gain/retain weight. Best wishes on your journey [emoji5]