:001_wub:Okay so here's my story...I'm a mother of 2 girls ages 12 and 2. Both are very active!! I have been an athlete for most of my life but after my second child my body can't keep up with my weight! The day I found out that I was preggers with my first child I weighed in at 199. That was the last day I ever saw the 100's. 10 years later I got pregnant with my second child and weight 242. I gained 40 lbs during that pregnancy and my heaviest post pregnancy weight was 272. With all that said, I started my weight loss surgery journey in June of 2009. I called my insurance and they covered WLS! I was so excited! I chose a dr. at Stanford medical hospital since there were no centers of excellence in Oregon and had my first consultation with him on Sept 9. I wanted the lap band because every single one of my clients that have had RNY have had major complications! One actually died and was brought back to life!!! They all told me to do the band instead so I listened! I started vigilantly doing all of my pre op testing and on my upper GI it showed that I had a hiatal hernia and acid reflux! NO BUENO!! Stanford then made me do a upper endoscopy to see the severity of both and apparently it was bad enough for them to tell me that it was a no go on the band! There was no way they were talking me into the bypass though! I cried!!! Then one of the doctors called me to tell me about VSG. He told me that my insurance didn't cover it but he would write a very convincing letter and then see what happens. After completing all of my pre op testing and my 6 month diet/excersice with my PCP I found out that Stanford and Dr. Morton were no longer covered by my Aetna:cursing: SO..... I then called around to other places like lapSF and the hospital is covered but the doctors are out of network so they are not! I called my bariatric nurse at Aetna and she said that Aetna is not changing there policy about covering VSG and that even if I appealed it they would deny me!! I'm ready to fight for my life and not waste anymore time fighting my insurance! I'm worth more than that! So...I decided to follow suit of all of the successful VSG patients that I see on the site and also on OH.com and go with Dr. Aceves. The wait is over and I am over the weight!!:tongue_smilie: My surgery is scheduled for 3/18/2010 and I am elated!!!! I will be arriving on my 3rd wedding anniverary, the 17th with my husband in tow. Just one month away to start shedding my fat suit and becoming the authentic me. The woman I am supposed to be! Good luck to all and come be my friend on this journey...we could all use 1 or 100:wink1: Jules

Jules,

I will be sleeved by the time you get to Mx. I am getting a revision (this band just is not for me!) Keep in touch. Happy you made the decision. I got 'most" of my fat suit off with the band but I am slowing gaining weight....30 lbs from my goal weight. (was 25lbs away last month!-20lbs the month before-Yikes :scared0:I keep getting food stuck so I eat crappy...)

Let your journey begin:party4:

D.

(been to Medford quite a few times, my roomate grew up in Eagle Point)

Hi Jules,

Welcome to VST!! This is a great website and you'll make many wonderful friends here. This is the site that had me realize that the Band just wasn't for me, which my doctor confirmed. He said he would only do the

Sleeve on me, so I was very lucky.

You're going to do great. I think it's so exciting that you're doing this on your 3rd anniversary!

I got my Sleeve last Wednesday and already think it's the best decision I've ever made. 50 years of dieting and I earned the right to have a tool that will finally work for me. :001_tongue:

Keep posting to let us know how you're doing.

Welcome. Can't wait to hear your progress.

Congrats on your your decision! I was sleeved by Dr. Aceves In January and I cannot speak highly enough about him or his staff. I don't think you will be disappointed. Best wishes to you.

Welcome Jules. I am getting my sleeve on March 10 so we will be very close! Congrats on making the decision. Like you I went for a band too and the doctor told me about the sleeve and it seemed like the perfect tool for me!

Thanks for sharing your story.

Welcome and congrats on your surgery date! I am a newbie here and just had surgery last Thursday. I flew home on Sunday and even went to work for a few hours today.

Hopefully you will meet up with a couple of others having surgery the same day at the same location. That really made the experience better for me.

Happy planning!

Congrats on getting your date, and choosing an amazing surgical team. You'll have to keep us posted on your progress, and if you have any questions, post away.

We'll be saving you a seat on the loser's bench ! ! !

Hey Jules. I just started my "official" journey. Been looking into it for a couple of years. Good luck to you. You are just on the other side of the state from me!

I just talked to a lady from aetna that said they were starting to see sleeves get approved! Of course... Now that I decided to pay cash They could possibly approve it! Just my luck! Thanks for all the well wishes and I'll keep you all posted! Thanks for saving me a seat on the bench Tiff!

Hey Jules,

Maybe you can get approved by you insurance but if not you will

be in great hands with Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos. I never could

get approved so I went to MX in Jan and everything went great.

Dr. Aceves meet us at the Hospital on Sunday afternoon even though

we got in late. During my stay there I was kept well informed and

saw both Doctors three times a day after surgery. I feel like I was well

taken care of and would go back again in a heart beat.

Good luck with the surgery and keep us posted.

Good Luck Jules...I went to Mexico also...twice, once for the band, then for the revision when my band crapped out. Glad to have you here. Aetna, I have them, don't get me started, I didn't even bother trying. I'm 3 months out and lost 46 pounds with little to no effort....you'll LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

Jules - Good luck! I am a newbie as well. My surgery is scheduled for March 9th.:blushing:

Jules - Congratulations, I'm very happy for you. My surgery date is 3/3/2009. We will have to keep tabs on each other.:thumbup: