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Lokking for mentor who used Dr. Nick



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Hi. I'm trying to find someone to mentor me along the process with Dr. Nick. Hopefully someone who also went through the 3month program for insurance. I really think this will help me tremendously.

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Hi. I'm trying to find someone to mentor me along the process with Dr. Nick. Hopefully someone who also went through the 3month program for insurance. I really think this will help me tremendously./QUOTE]

Hi I just saw your note. I used Dr. Nick, but was self pay. I have no experience going through the insurance merry-go-round. Sorry I can't be of help, but wanted to send a reply! Good luck! I'm very satisfied with my surgery! :confused1:

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Hi. I'm trying to find someone to mentor me along the process with Dr. Nick. Hopefully someone who also went through the 3month program for insurance. I really think this will help me tremendously./QUOTE]

Hi I just saw your note. I used Dr. Nick, but was self pay. I have no experience going through the insurance merry-go-round. Sorry I can't be of help, but wanted to send a reply! Good luck! I'm very satisfied with my surgery! :confused1:

Thank you for replying....it doesn't seem like it will be that bad of process

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I'm also going with Dr. Nick but I'm on the 6 month waiting list for my insurance. Why don't you go to his support group Wends night? Starts at 6:30 I'm going just to see what it's like and to speak with people directly.

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I really have no one to watch my children, and my husband isn't home yet to watch them. I have 2 appts scheduled already YAY. I have one this sunday and one on the 25th of this month (hoping they have a cancellation so I can get in sooner). I'm just glad to be moving forward in my journey.

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Hi Stromgardgirl. I used Dr. Nick and Aetna PPO. I also went thru the 3 months nutrition classes. Also had the sleep study, and psyche eval. Feel free to ask me anything. I'm almost 6 weeks out and feeling pretty good. Congrats and good luck!

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Hi Stromgardgirl. I used Dr. Nick and Aetna PPO. I also went thru the 3 months nutrition classes. Also had the sleep study, and psyche eval. Feel free to ask me anything. I'm almost 6 weeks out and feeling pretty good. Congrats and good luck!

I'm using Aetna Choice POS II I'm hoping I can get everything done by end of year including surgery. How long of wait for surgery did you have after you completed everything? I just got my sleep study results today which were good no apnea or other sleep issues. I have my first dietician appt on monday then meet with PA at dr nicks office on thursday. still need to schedule psych eval hope not long wait to get in.

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Completing by the end of the year will be close. Aetna wants 4 nutrition classes spaced over 90 days. I squeaked thru at 84. Also Dr. Nick will probably taking some vacation time and others will be squeezing in to use FSAs before the end of the year. I certainly think it is doable. They are very efficient.

I started my nut classes the end of Feb. I was scheduled for RNY. The nut classes are pretty basic. You can print the same info off the USDA or FDAs websites. April 12 I heard Aetna was going to approve sleeves so I told Summar to switch me. I was approved about May 3. I finished my psyche eval and last nut class May 22. They wanted to schedule surgery for June 1! I didn't think I was quite ready due to some of lifes little events and Dr. Nick was on vacation the rest of June so July 12th it was. Everything was fast compared to other stories.

My biggest worry now I how much do I really owe??? Dr. Nick's office couldn't say upfront. That kind of worried me. I paid the hospital $1300 when admitted which was the balance of my remaining co-insurance since I had met my deductible for the year. Aetna's website is showing completed bills with coinsurance due of $12,800+! The hospital said once my co-insurance max was reached, the $1300, Aetna picked up the rest 100%. I haven't received any bills so who knows. I will be very upset if I end up getting bills totaling more than the cash price when my insurance has coverage. I'm enjoying the moment and keeping my fingers crossed.

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Completing by the end of the year will be close. Aetna wants 4 nutrition classes spaced over 90 days. I squeaked thru at 84. Also Dr. Nick will probably taking some vacation time and others will be squeezing in to use FSAs before the end of the year. I certainly think it is doable. They are very efficient.

I started my nut classes the end of Feb. I was scheduled for RNY. The nut classes are pretty basic. You can print the same info off the USDA or FDAs websites. April 12 I heard Aetna was going to approve sleeves so I told Summar to switch me. I was approved about May 3. I finished my psyche eval and last nut class May 22. They wanted to schedule surgery for June 1! I didn't think I was quite ready due to some of lifes little events and Dr. Nick was on vacation the rest of June so July 12th it was. Everything was fast compared to other stories.

My biggest worry now I how much do I really owe??? Dr. Nick's office couldn't say upfront. That kind of worried me. I paid the hospital $1300 when admitted which was the balance of my remaining co-insurance since I had met my deductible for the year. Aetna's website is showing completed bills with coinsurance due of $12,800+! The hospital said once my co-insurance max was reached, the $1300, Aetna picked up the rest 100%. I haven't received any bills so who knows. I will be very upset if I end up getting bills totaling more than the cash price when my insurance has coverage. I'm enjoying the moment and keeping my fingers crossed.

That is one of the main reasons I want it done by end of year. All my deductibles and out of pocket for the year. I thought it was only 3 nut classes? How did you get approval before last nut appt was done?

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I may have messed up on date estimates. It all happened fast the last month. Summar was Dr. Nick's insurance coordinator that handled everything. Aetna has to respond within 14 business days and I was calling Summar and Aetna on day 10 asking if I was approved. She is great. Everyone has been great. I was told to do 4 classes, but if only 3 great because they're kind of silly. There is a booklet though that is helpful.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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