Kimmes

Congrats everyone on your surgery dates.... He Octobers, Novembers and Decembers save a little room for us January sleevers! (and I mean a little room - we don't plan on taking up much space any more after our surgeries!) Kim

Congrats on your success! I appreciate the update as I am pre-surgery and trying to gain as much knowledge from those who have gone before me (like you!) I am insulin resistant as well and am prepared to be a slow loser also. But the way look at it - it took me 47 years to get here and it won't come off in 6 months. Be patient and enjoy your journey! You have come a long ways! I bet you are in those size 14's before Thanksgiving. You have lots to be thankful for this year! Again congrats on your amazing success and keep up the great work! Kim

You are in my prayers and thoughts today for a safe and successful surgery. Best wishes for a fast recovery. Save me some room on the losers bench I will be by your side in January.

You two are going great! How nice that you are doing this together and have such a wonderful support system at home. Congrats!

OH MY! You look beautiful! Way to go girl. I love shopping and cannot wait to join you on the losers bench in January! Love the videos too. It is so obvious that this has be a success for you. You simply are glowing in your videos! Congrats and keep up the great work! Kim

Right behind you - January 6, 2011 with Dr Ramos-Kelly. So excited I am counting the days. I am preparing for my recovery time stocking up on some shake samples (I don't want to buy the big containers of Protein only to find I don't like some things). What's on your list to bring with you on your trip to Mexicali? Blessings and best wishes! Kim

LOVE IT! I am just a little ahead of you on January 6, 2011. What a way to ring in the new year! Cheers to a new you!

I am with you ringing in the New Year and new lifestyle! I will be sleeved on Jan 6th - just a little ahead of you. I had to wait for the new year for tax purposes and to use my Flexible Spending Account from work. Oh well.. it took me years to gain this weight I guess its going to hang around just a little longer than I wanted. Those pounds are going to be shed in 2011! Stay focused and healthy and prepare your body for the change now. Start taking vitamins, biotin (hair) and perhaps journal your thoughts and goals for next year! Best wishes and blessings! Kim

Kerri, I am glad to hear that it was not an infection! I am also happy to hear that you are up and about! I am confident that you will feel better every day! Get your water and protien in! Shortly you will be able to change your diet and I bet you are looking forward that. Take care and keep posting your experience, changes and thoughts. We are all with you! Kim

Sending best wishes and prayers your way today! Take care and rest! Let us know when you are done how it went! Congrats! Kim

My plan has that exact same run out on it. Have until March 15th to use 2010 dollars and services can be in 2011 and still use 2010 $$. I work in health insurance -I sell large group medical plans - but rarely work on FSA issues, so this has been a humbling experience for me to have the shoe on the other foot. I am going to keep positive and have a back up plan just in case!

Ask your Dr's office insurance person to provide you with an estimate cost. You pay after surgery and after the insurance company has processed everything for payment. They will send you an Explanation of Benefits that will tell you your exact responsibility -or amount you owe. I have no idea how much they might charge... here in Minnesota is can range from $14,000-$17,000. Kim

NOrmally they wait until after surgery because the isnurance company will apply discounts etc to the amount the doctor bills. If you want to call me cell I can most likely help you in further detail to understand your coverage. I will send you a message with my number.

Ok I can help you here - I am in insurance. First you pay your deductible. Then you pay 20% - they pay 80% up to the out of pocket maximum - you did not say what that was. And then they pay 100%. Are you scheduling this for this year or next? The out of pocket maximum is the most you will pay as long as your doctor is in the Aetna network. Let me know if you need any more help! Kim

Good luck to your tomorrow! My thoughts and prayers will be with you! I wish you a speedy recovery! Please keep us updated on your progress, experience and recovery!

Thanks for the information. THe billing for my surgery I found out actually goes through a billing service in the good ole USA. I did call the FSA administer today to discuss (got name and number etc). They said it would not be a problem, weight loss surgery is covered as long as I have letter of medical neccessity and itemized bill to back up the charge. They did indicate that my "$10 Test" was from a valid medical provider here in the USA and as long as I had the funds in the account I could use the card for up to my account limit ( which will be $5000 come Jan 1st). Keep your fingers crossed for me. I will bring all the correct phone numbers and information with me when I fly there for surgery so if there is any problems I can contact them directly. FUnny the person I talked to at the FSA administrator had been rejected for Bariatric surgery and used their FSA to help self pay a year ago.

Thanks for the information. THe billing for my surgery I found out actually goes through a billing service in the good ole USA. I did call the FSA administer today to discuss (got name and number etc). They said it would not be a problem, weight loss surgery is covered as long as I have letter of medical neccessity and itemized bill to back up the charge. They did indicate that my "$10 Test" was from a valid medical provider here in the USA and as long as I had the funds in the account I could use the card for up to my account limit ( which will be $5000 come Jan 1st). Keep your fingers crossed for me. I will bring all the correct phone numbers and information with me when I fly there for surgery so if there is any problems I can contact them directly. FUnny the person I talked to at the FSA administrator had been rejected for Bariatric surgery and used their FSA to help self pay a year ago.

YOur post made me smile because I can feel your genuine love for others! Our prayers will be with you on Monday and each day along your journey! I wish you the very safest surgery and fast healthy recovery! HUG... Hug... hug! Please update us after your surgery to let us know how it goes! I am confident the good Lord will take care of you! Enjoy your journey and have faith! I am not scheduled to join you on the losers bench until January 6th -so I will need your prayers and hugs then - but you have mine now! Kim

Sending my best wishes and prayers your way! Keep us posted on your recovery! Kim

I have scheduled my surgery today! It will be on Jan 6, 2011 - Happy New Year to me! Now I have to keep reading all the posts from those who have gone before me so I can prepare!

Thanks for the rely Sarah! I did you have your surgery in Mexico? That is what I am most concerned about... I know in the good old USA it should be eligible if the Dr certifies that it is medically necessary (even if insurance does not cover it or approve it). I was more concerned about Mexico. Dr Ramos-Kelly is the surgeon I have chose and he will write me the letter according to Sandy his coordinator. I also need an itemized bill (In US $$$) to substandciate the charge on the FSA Visa card. I am most likely worried and anxious for nothing... since my test today with the card worked. But I just was looking for someone with experience in Mexico to confirm this for me..... I am glad the surgery flex account and all was possible for you! How far out from surgery are you? Thanks for listening - er um reading.. Kim

So today is Sunday and boy did the good Lord do his work for me today. I happened to spot a post by Sandy who works with Dr Ramos-Kelly a surgeon I had read about but thought I could not afford. THey were running a special for VGS for Nov and Dec, unfortunately I am going in January so it would not apply to me. I though I would call Sandy and discuss the VGS and Dr Ramos Kelly anyways. Sandy was awesome to talk to and she informed me that the surgery I wanted was not as expensive with Dr Ramos-Kelly as I had thought. He is certainly worth the extra $300 for my anxiety and peace of mind. Sandy was kind enough to "Test" my FSA Visa card to put my mind at ease about paying for this surgery with my FSA - and I wanted to know before I deposited pretax $5000 over the course of 2011 into my FSA account. It worked... did you hear me IT WORKED. Sandy ran $10 through and it went right through. Which means after Jan 1st I can have this surgery! I did not want to take a loan or loan from my 401K if I did not have to. Also this way it reduces my taxible income by $5000.... horray! As soon as Dr Ramos-Kelly approves my I am going to make my deposit and get my date held... January 6, 2011 sounds like a very good day ... Happy New Year to me!

Just starting to do some research on VSG. I will be self pay and would like to fund part of my surgery with my Flex Spending Account. - THat is where they take money on a pretax basis and withhold it from your pay check to be used to fund medical out of pocket expenses. My account comes with a Visa debit card. Has anyone used their FSA to fund their surgery? What information did you need to provide? Did you have the surgeons office swipe your FSA card or did you pay at time of surgery and then claim the expense later? I am leaning twards using Dr Ramos-Kelly and today I had one of his coordinators Sandy, run my card as a "test" with a $10 charge - it went right through. Can it really be that easy? If so I will fund that account to the max after the first of the year and proceed with surgery on Jan 6th or so. I get the sleeve and save on taxes! That would be ideal to me. Please let me know if anyone here has any experience on this. Any information is greatly appreciated!!! Kim

Happy belated birthday - You look wonderful! Congrats on your loss to date! And I have to say that is such a cute dress - you are glowing!

Not getting sleeve until after the new year - first week of January - but cannot wait to have a similar moment some day in the future! Congrats! It is so fun reading all the posts by successful sleevers - cannot wait to join you on the loser side! Kim