RosePollard

I love the info. My nut did a piss poor job sharing this info with the group when we had our one and only presentation. I'm going to order the collagen right now. And I am not taking any omegas so I need to add that.

I ordered the collagen peptides powder! Thank you so much for sharing this!!!

Thank you!

Cool. Noted. Also, I've been drinking collagen peptides in my morning bulletproof coffee for about 3 months. My hair has grown SO long and very quick. I'm not sure how collagen is absorbed after surgery though. With the sleeve, you might be able to benefit from it. Not so much after bypass. But this stuff is amazing. You can put it in anything. No flavor, nothing. Invisible magic!

One more thing...hair loss is one of my biggest fears next to loose skin. Most bariatric multivitamins I've seen have a good amount of these things already. Here's an interesting link I saved the other day...Supplements That Help Avoid Hair Loss https://www.tijuanabariatriccenter.com/blog/2018/01/30/supplements-that-help-avoid-hair-188771

I think it is 5000mcg...

Thanks! I have started taking Biotin and my hairdresser has changed to a Demi-permanent hair color. I never thought about starting supplements now. I will talk to the doc and see what he recommends. It looks like we are on the same schedule! I am getting a sleeve. You?

I'm in the same boat as you! My 3rd RD visit is coming up. 3 more to go after that! What I'm working on right now is getting my supplements in order. I'm going to start taking them now to start forming the habit. If you haven't already, figure out which ones you're going to buy, how much they'll cost, etc. Get ahead of the game! My RD gave me a pretty extensive PDF of all the recommended brands that offer the corrected dosages of nutrients. Of course, tolerances and tastes will change after surgery so what you pick now, may not agree with you later BUT at least you'll be prepared with something to get you started. Good luck!

This month marks number 3 in the 6 month medically monitored weight loss program that my insurance requires. I have been reading threads, taking notes, journaling, and have a spreadsheet to mark my weekly changes in weight and measurements. #scaleshateme
I still struggle with the idea that the surgery will happen. I tend to be a pessimist, so I keep thinking that this is too good to be true. Maybe my insurance will deny it. Maybe something will go wrong. I don’t want to be negative, but here I am. #negativenancy
I have changed my eating habits up a bit. I have started eating 4 meals a day and drinking water. I NEVER drank water before. I would drown out fatigue with caffeine all day long. I worry that I will struggle to give that up, but I am down to 2 mugs per day. #win
I have read about ‘not trusting a fart,’ not taking an underwire bra to wear home from surgery, the 3 week stall, constipation woes, and hair loss. I recognize that a realistic weight loss expectation is to lose 60% of excess weight, and I know to walk as much as possible to avoid gas pain post op. I also know that loose skin and vanishing boobs are a thing. #youguysrock
Just wanted to journal a bit on here. I would love some feedback or tidbits of things to expect that I haven’t found yet. #gettingexcited

Yep! Me! I've never not been fluffy in some form or fashion. The only thing I've ever wanted (for myself) is to be a "normal" size...to be able wear the cute stuff without looking embarrassing or gross. Finding new clothes effortlessly has never happened. Enjoying shopping....has never happened. Not sweating in all my cracks and crevices just walking around Target for 30min...never happened. I can't imagine a life without all fat people BS, so yeah, it seems like a dream. Part of me has doubts like I'll get the surgery and watch me be the only one it doesn't work on LOL This surgery is definitely not a cake walk (pardon the food reference) nor is it an easy way out of being overweight. We all know this here. This new life will require work. We're hiring someone to re-organize our guts and that's no minor thing. With that comes learning how to live again with our newly re-routed insides. It's like being born again in a way. You're not alone in how you feel...that's for sure! ?

I had my first appointment with my Bariatric surgeon yesterday! So exciting! He is confident that I will reach my goal weight within 6 months post op. I hear what he is saying. I hear everyone on here. I can rationally think that the surgery will help me reach my goal weight. However, it seems unreal. I can’t imagine not being overweight. I can’t get my mind wrapped around the idea that I am going to lose weight. Did anyone else experience these thoughts? It just seems too good to be true.

Can we have a bariatricpal forum conference where we all bring our scales and light them on fire like Burning Man? How do I tag Alex?

Well...it turns out that OSU is still denying my application. Even though their website clearly states that they consider NAFLD and hypertension as comorbidity conditions, I was still denied. So, I found another provider in my network. My insurance has been awesome with helping me find providers, so I am fortunate. I hope the next one works out better than OSU.

The good news is that the insurance is cooperating--usially when we hear stories, it's about insurance drama. I bet it goes a lot more smoothly from here on out!

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Well...it turns out that OSU is still denying my application. Even though their website clearly states that they consider NAFLD and hypertension as comorbidity conditions, I was still denied. So, I found another provider in my network. My insurance has been awesome with helping me find providers, so I am fortunate. I hope the next one works out better than OSU.

Well...it turns out that OSU is still denying my application. Even though their website clearly states that they consider NAFLD and hypertension as comorbidity conditions, I was still denied. So, I found another provider in my network. My insurance has been awesome with helping me find providers, so I am fortunate. I hope the next one works out better than OSU.

@RosePollard
hey bud
sorry you are "jumping through" the hoops of insurance. continue to stay in touch with insurance
et al - when "they" tell you nay or yea - (hopefully yea) have them send you a letter, so no misunderstanding -if they do so nay - you should/must appeal!!
fingers & toes crossed☺️
good luck
kathy

That is just...laziness and unprofessional!! Ugh!

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Thank you for your reply. OSU and both doctors are in network. I honestly think it is an error. If not, I will definitely be looking at another provider. I didn’t even think about the research aspect of application approvals/denials. I have been calling OSU, but their return call rate leaves much to be desired.

I have done my research, talked with my insurance, started monthly appointments with my PC doctor, and applied for the sleeve at OSU Wexner. I received a message from OSU stating my application was denied due to only having one comorbidity. I called my insurance back, and they assured me that I only needed one co-morbidity for coverage. In addition, I have another condition (NAFLD) that I don’t take meds for, and thus it wasn’t listed on my application (the application doesn’t ask for diagnoses, just medications). I am sure that my denial was an oversight, but now I am starting to worry. Has anyone else had this kind of problem?

I just talked to the clerk, who informed me that it did not look like they even contacted my insurance. They just denied it based on the assumption that I didn’t have 2 comorbidities (when I do) and that the insurance required 2 (they only require 1). They are in network as well. The receptionist said that the application has not been fully denied yet, so I am holding out hope that it will still happen. I hate that you went through this too. It is very frustrating!

Yeah, I noticed it when I was comparing the USC and UCLA (both insurance approved). I met the criteria for one, but not the other. Of course, then my doctor was like, Nope. Not in our network! You're going somewhere completely different!

I feel like I wasted a lot of my time [emoji23] [emoji23]

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Isn't it nice not to have your taste buds dulled? Granted some things have a different taste, but at least they are not all dead!

Welcome and Good Luck! Congratulations on the quitting smoking. I quit too on Sept 25th mainly because i decided to do the surgery and my surgeon required 30 day smoke free before surgery. I am now two weeks post op and do not regret a thing. I have no plans on going back to smoking either.

In my experience, the first appointment was pretty low-key. They take measurements, talk to you about your goals, etc. Until the insurance approval comes back, they don't do too much.