So I am working on all the things to get approval. I HAVE to get it THIS year if I want it....we have hit our deductible already so it would be no out of pocket for me. If it is next year it will be 5k.

Anywho. I went to the pulmonologist for clearance (trying to make sure everything is ready...and I am borderline needing this clearance). He did some kind of room oxygen sleep test where I slept with the finger thing on all night at home. He now said that he wants a full sleep study! ugh. He said my O2 was low sometimes (not sure if he read that I got up to go pee, switched the finger thing in the night (it hurt!), and kids woke me) and wants to be sure by having a full sleep study. Everything else will be ready to submit to Ins. (Aetna) October 3rd. sigh. Now I get to hurry up and wait again.

Frustrating since I feel like I am on a major timeline and I really don't want to be recovering too much around the holidays!

I understand some of what you are going through. He probably wants to test you for sleep apnea. I would get in there asap, and get the test done, so if you have to be on a Cpap machine, you can get it and be on it quickly. I know when I was going through the process everytime I thought I had everything finished (Test), they came up with something else for me. Just keep you spirits up. Also stay on top of that doctor, and don't let him/her waste valuable time.

this is exactly why i chose to be self pay, no hassels or jumping through hoops. . .i understand some folks can't afford self pay and insurance is the only way to go, but jeez that is sooooooooooo drastically dumb. . .

My surgeon required a recent sleep study to qualify for surgery. Luckily I had one recently due to the sleep apnea I have. What threw me was just when I thought I had jumped through every hoop Aetna had, they required a test to see if I had peptic ulcer disease. Thankfully it was just a blood test and it was taken care of in a matter of days! You might be sure to ask if that's needed as well.