vovo2013

How did you get the cute scale of your BMI? I would like that! I am also a newbie...

My insurance company (Cigna) called me as well and said, "Congratulations, your weight loss surgery is approved!" I was like ... wait, what! I was not finish doing all my test before submit to y'all and they were like no problem! You are still approve. I was kind of surprise that my surgeon team submit it without telling me. Kind of took the fear out of me and the anxiety!

I have BCBS IL. We submitted docs on June 4 and insurance called just now to tell me that I was APPROVED!!! I started to cry with the ins rep LOL

Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I like this topic. Surgery approaching June 12th. I know I am making the right decision but still having a lot of anxiety. As someone else said it would be irrational NOT to have anxiety before surgery.

I worked to get my RNY surgery for almost a year. As the date approached, I got more and more nervous. It is a big deal - choosing an elective major surgery. As I was lying on the pre-op bed, I started crying and thinking maybe I should get up and leave. My surgeon came in and assured me that it would be OK and that none of his patients had ever come back regretting the procedure. My PCP previously had told me that if I had been able to do it on my own, I would have by now, Both doctors were right.
This is about the best thing I have ever done for myself. Yes, I had a complication of a blood clot and am still on a blood thinner, but after 70+ pounds gone I feel like a new person. I am doing things I have not done for decades. I wish I had done it sooner in a way, but I really did need to come to a place in my life where I was willing to make the needed lifestyle changes first, and for the right reasons - health. And my commitment needed to be total. My life slogan now is "I AM NEVER GOING BACK!" If that means no more sugar, wheat, soda, coffee, alcohol, or processed foods, then so be it. My health is worth more than any of those things.
Yup, my skin is getting saggy - but I am 63 years old, and the collagen just aint what it used to be. But so what? I am happier and healthier and saggy skin is just a badge of the journey. Haven't lost any hair yet, but again, if I do, so what? It will grow back. (have been taking Biotin 10,000 mcg since week 2 and nails are super strong so I hope it will also prevent hair loss). I have so much energy and stamina, my mental health is better, my sleep apnea is nearly gone, asthma improved, no GERD, my back and joints don't hurt anymore, I am not embarrassed in public, and I actually feel cold instead of sweating all the time. What's not to love?
Being scared is normal for a lot of people. It just means you realize the risks. But you will never realize the benefits until you get to the other side. And this is the chance you have to take. If you could have done it on your own, you would have, It is still going to be a lot of work. This is not easy, but WLS is a tool that can give you the jump start you need for health and happiness for the rest of your life.

I started this process in late January. I was scheduled to meet with the surgeon right away and I really liked him. After speaking with him I talked to the Coordinator, also very nice and assuring. I kept hearing, "Call us if you have ANY questions or concerns." Admittedly I am too easygoing and didn't want to seem impatient so I waited. And waited. Three weeks later I called the number I was given for the Coordinator. First off there was a LONG intro message that kept repeating that the process takes time because of the insurance company, patience is required, don't keep calling about a surgery date, and please expect 3-4 days for a call back - is this normal? Anyway, admittedly this made me very uncomfortable because of my personality... I hate confrontation and didn't want to be annoying (I know that is ridiculous since that is there job, but I'm being honest.) I did leave a message but no one called me back in the 3-4 date range. When I finally did get a call it was a reminder of my surgery date for the following week and I knew that was wrong because I hadn't even been scheduled for the required appointments yet. The caller apologized when I told him this and we both knew I had been confused with another patient. No wonder I wasn't being called to schedule appointments. I wasn't sure what to do so I found the email where I was first contacted about my interest in the program so I replied to it and explained my situation. I received a prompt reply saying they were sorry and that my email had been forwarded to the Coordinator. Still no call, but I did get calls from providers to schedule my other appointments. I finished up all of my requirements in mid May and I sent another email which was forwarded to the Coordinator and left a voicemail and still no calls. It's so frustrating and I'm starting to worry because I've spent so much money toward my deductible and if I don't have the surgery this year I don't know if I'll be able to afford to have it. I know I could find another surgeon at a different facility but how complicated is it to switch this late in the game? And it sucks because I really liked the surgeon. I'm just not sure what to do. I feel like if I call and leave a message for the surgeon he would make sure they submit my paperwork (I don't think they have because on the Cigna site there are no pending authorizations for me), but would I be stupid not to switch given the experience I've had? Surely this can't be normal. It blows my mind that they didn't call after finding out about the mix up to reassure me that everything was okay. And you'd think they would make sure that they stayed on top of my case to make up for the mistake. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Yes it should get better, remember when you get to solids-are you there yet? Take things slow and chew chew chew until you think you can't stand it anymore, count to 30 and give it 5 more chimps. And if That still doesn't work, check out whether you have a stricture, ulcerations or something else that might be causing it? Even intolerance to milk or soy Proteins could cause the errpie- durpies! 💝And stay strong, darling, time cures many many things!

I got the sleeve back in Feb '17 and now am in full research mode to get the bypass done sometime early next year. I should have done it in the first place, but like many others, thought the sleeve would be less invasive and I wouldn't have to worry about supplementation the rest of my life. But since the operation I've have had very little restriction and the only thing that kept the weight off was sticking to a very strictly controlled low-carb diet. Once I tried to integrate back into regular life (albeit with smaller portions) I gained a lot of weight back. It's clear I have a sugar addiction and I hope the bypass will cure me of that through negative reinforcement (although I know that's not guaranteed). All my attempts to "reset" my sleeve have failed, so I hope this process will be the one that sticks.

I wanted the sleeve, but my surgeon recommend the bypass because of Barrett's Esophagus. I too was self pay, but well worth it. [emoji3]

Sent from my XT1710-02 using BariatricPal mobile app

I am right behind you! I am Tuesday, Aug 6

I am in hospital now with internal bleeding again... it’s just nightmare

Looking for some help and advice on a few things. Looks like am will be getting approved for surgery in late July 2019.
I have lost 30+ pounds but I feel like the closer I get to that time the more depressed and anxious I am. Also, despite losing some of this weight I am very self-conscious right now. I don't feel like I am in a great place but I am hinging a lot on the long term of feeling better and being able to do more.
The transition to healthier food hasn't been bad for me, but I am often hungry. I am not a binge eater but I have a healthy appetite and quit when I feel full (problem is getting to full!)
I also don't have many friends and I have been very guarded with the information about having this done. My parents and mother-in-law know that I am getting something done to fix my GERD problems but they don't know what. I really don't want to tell anyone at all. I have been eating healthy so people are already seeing my weight changes, I just want to go with that and not make a scene (I have a weird personality, I like being social and I am funny but I also often times like blending in).

Anyway, just curious for some advice. Also, struggling with some ideas post op, I don't really like eggs, cottage cheese or seafood so I am a little worried. Have found that I enjoy the flavored tuna packets, cheeses, lunchmeats and some veggies which my nutritionist said could sub out for some of those things I don't enjoy eating.

Yes, it is definitely the mask you chose. I wanted the one where the pillows go up your nose so it has less of a mask...I thought I was going to suffocate. I hated it! I now have the kind that just covers your nose. I still don't like it because it slides up the back of my head which causes it to come off and wakes me up, But, no suffocation! Go get a different mask. When I go back, I hope to get the same kind but with a strap under and above my ear to hold it in place instead of just above my ear. I also like the hose that goes from the top of the head, I feel it gives you more freedom.
I do not think you have to have mask in hospital. My mom has sleep apnea and they always just give her oxygen. Maybe it depends on doctor.

Hi,
I am set to have sleeve surgery 7/8/19. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea through the pre testing. It is moderate I believe. I am told the surgeon will not do surgery unless you comply with the cpap for a month prior to surgery. I have psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia so when I put the nose pillows on they irritate me as well as the face straps, I also move a lot with the arthritis pains and I am finding it near impossible to wear it. When I do manage to sleep with it on I wake up an hour later feeling like I am drowning or something. I don’t want to miss out on surgery but I cannot do this. I have a message for surgeon to call me but the assistant on the phone was pretty rude about compliance. Do you know of alternatives or if I can switch to a different surgeon and not lose my 2 months into this program? Feeling stuck. I am 5’3 and 201 at 53 years old. I need this for my autoimmune issues and hate to lose it.

I'm August 5. Seems so far away!! I'm excited (with a touch of scared) and ready to rock this!!

Everybody has a difference requirement for there insurance company and/or surgeon team. Before I even meet my surgeon, I had a upper endoscopy, HIDA scan, gi nutrition e val, nut e valve, gi doc saying what I needed for surgery and his PA backing up his claim with a PLAN B, my pcp cleared me. The only things that I needed was a sleep study, 24 hr ph test, gastro empty stomach test, blood work, ultrasound, pulm doc clearence, ekg and physical with chest x ray. But, my surgeon team turn in all my paperwork before I had my 24 hr Ph test, ultrasound and sleep study and I was still approved by Cigna. Hope you get everything approve. I am not doing this for weight loss like everybody else on here... I am doing it to help my gastroparesis and GERD to go away.
Sent from my SM-G973U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have Cigna 2 and not doing it for weight loss but for gastroparesis and GERD. I though I was the only one on here not doing it for weight loss. Gastro Family...[emoji7]

Sent from my SM-G973U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have Cigna 2 and not doing it for weight loss but for gastroparesis and GERD. I though I was the only one on here not doing it for weight loss. Gastro Family...[emoji7]

Sent from my SM-G973U using BariatricPal mobile app

I had a RNY because of a previous failed surgery (10 years ago) to correct my L shaped esophagus. 1/2 of my stomach was above my diaphragm. food was getting stuck just about every day. My BMI was about 34.
I didn't have to do any of the pre-op things that people with high BMI’s have to do. My doctor wasn’t a WLS surgeon. He was a thoracic surgeon & told me to find all of my info on the internet.
After I decided I wanted to do the surgery it was only 2 months til I had it.
I spoke with a nurse and a nutritionist through my insurance (Cigna) several times before & after my surgery.
I am 13 months out from my surgery. I have lost 65 lbs. I would like to loose 5 more to get me to the top end of a healthy BMI for my height.
The weight has dropped pretty easily & I know it’s gotta be exercise that takes off the last 5. I also know I would not have lost 65 lbs on my own. Now I just got to keep it off & that scares me
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Hello, everyone. I'm new here and just starting the WLS journey.
I am curious if anyone here has had the gastric bypass surgery for anything other than weight loss? I have a chronic condition called Gastroparesis (paralysis of the stomach) and it has turned my life upside down. I won't go into the details or symptoms (cause there's a lot), but suffice it to say it is pretty awful, greatly affected motility and slowly killing me. I am also overweight, just shy of the 40 BMI mark. Weight loss would be an added bonus, but not my sole reason for looking into this. My PCP wanted me to speak to a bariatric surgeon to see if a bypass would help since it bypasses the paralyzed, useless part of my stomach. I have a consultation tomorrow.
I'm also wondering if this (medical, not weight management) might make the process go any quicker? I know you basically have several tests, speak to a psychologist, and diet, etc. Just wondering if anyone has gone through this for a different medical reason. Hope that makes some sense.

Thanks everyone for your feedback!! I wasn't sure if it varies from patient to patient. my S-N-L said on the paperwork given to her they require an ekg, something about a breath test and a dye test. not sure what she means by the dye test as it can be multiple things. And do the visit with PCP have to be back to back or does it just have to be within the last year. example I will see my pcp 2 times this month regarding weight loss 6/5 and 6/19 will those both count or will they only be considered one?

Hello everyone! I'm in the beginning process of this journey and i've already ran into a road bump. (dr didn't put proper info on refer so got a call saying I didnt meet guidelines thankfully I asked what I didn't meet and explained it must have been a typo error.) anywho, I am trying to find out what tests everyone had to do prior to surgery. which ones are required ect if it helps im going to uf and shands in Gainesville once my pcp fixes the errors on refer but figured since they require you to do test before you can schedule surgery why not get ahead and get most of it done before my consult with dr's.

please be patient and be grateful you had the surgery. your body is getting use to the difference and it will take time. yah, some people have diffrent results but hang in there!

BOOM BABY! I got approve for my Gastro Bypass Surgery! From start to finish 3 weeks and surgery is schedule in August 2019. I had everything ready to go BEFORE I ever met my surgeon.

I only needed a Gastro Empty Test, Ultrasound, 24 hour Ph test and a sleep study! (all this was diagnose imagining scan.)

This is true but I am already anemic with Iron. This is a huge factor I have to weigh by going into surgery and afterwards next year... donating my kidney! So, pick wisely...