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@kmagee' date=' happy to hear about your lost. My nut tells me that it takes time after surgery for your body to get back on track. It's been 3 weeks for me and I have lost another 6#s. It may have been more, but I am backed up...lol. I couldn't imagine taking benefiber at this stage. I have a hard enough time with the mushies.[/quote']

Oddly a cup of coffee will um get me moving!

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Hi everyone!

Such a great thread, so much information. I'm still in the pre-approval stage, haven't even sent everything to insurance for approval. I'm ready for this journey to truly begin even though I'm nervous as well. I have SO much to lose and can't wait to meet the new me.

Is anyone in the chicagoland area? I'd love to get some buddies or mentors to get through this journey. :-)

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Hi everyone new to this site, I'm AA 35 yrs old in Cali, doing my stages to get my approval for vsg. I originally was going to go with dr Cirangle but couldn't afford his fee so I decided to use my ppo insurance and go with Dr Feng of Palo alto medical foundation. I'm having my last nutrition session this week, as well as my echo and that would complete everything I need for insurance approval, so after next week will just be waiting for approval from insurance. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea along the way (completely took me by surprise) but on the cpap and feeling much better. I'm hoping to be sleeved by June my surgeon assured me blue cross ppo's approval is quick. Anywhoo s their anyone still in the preop phase would like a buddy/buddies to share my journey with. Thanks

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Hi everyone new to this site' date=' I'm AA 35 yrs old in Cali, doing my stages to get my approval for vsg. I originally was going to go with dr Cirangle but couldn't afford his fee so I decided to use my ppo insurance and go with Dr Feng of Palo alto medical foundation. I'm having my last nutrition session this week, as well as my echo and that would complete everything I need for insurance approval, so after next week will just be waiting for approval from insurance. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea along the way (completely took me by surprise) but on the cpap and feeling much better. I'm hoping to be sleeved by June my surgeon assured me blue cross ppo's approval is quick. Anywhoo s their anyone still in the preop phase would like a buddy/buddies to share my journey with. Thanks[/quote']

Welcome & good luck!

Little bits

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Hi everyone new to this site' date=' I'm AA 35 yrs old in Cali, doing my stages to get my approval for vsg. I originally was going to go with dr Cirangle but couldn't afford his fee so I decided to use my ppo insurance and go with Dr Feng of Palo alto medical foundation. I'm having my last nutrition session this week, as well as my echo and that would complete everything I need for insurance approval, so after next week will just be waiting for approval from insurance. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea along the way (completely took me by surprise) but on the cpap and feeling much better. I'm hoping to be sleeved by June my surgeon assured me blue cross ppo's approval is quick. Anywhoo s their anyone still in the preop phase would like a buddy/buddies to share my journey with. Thanks[/quote']

Hi vsg chichi,

I was originally goin to dr Garcia in Tijuanna for my vsg but I found out that my insurance may cover me. I have bcbs of Alabama cuz I work for the state. My bmi is 38.2 I think and they r saying I'm prehypertensive, possibly prediabetic, my ankles and knees swell a lot. So , I see my surgeon this fri. I have done the weightloss seminar. I hope bcbs doesn't take long once they submit my info. I think the nurse said that the surgeon is gonna order a sleep study. So we can go through this preapproval headache together. Hope all goes well.

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Hi vsg chichi,

I was originally goin to dr Garcia in Tijuanna for my vsg but I found out that my insurance may cover me. I have bcbs of Alabama cuz I work for the state. My bmi is 38.2 I think and they r saying I'm prehypertensive, possibly prediabetic, my ankles and knees swell a lot. So , I see my surgeon this fri. I have done the weightloss seminar. I hope bcbs doesn't take long once they submit my info. I think the nurse said that the surgeon is gonna order a sleep study. So we can go through this preapproval headache together. Hope all goes well.

Hi dkna2

I have blue cross CA ppo and I heard they were pretty fast with approval (crossing fingers) definitely would like someone to share this process with because it's been challenging, through the whole preop process they found 1) borderline hypothyroidism 2) moderate sleep apnea 3) currently on a 2 weeks course of heavy duty antibiotics for h pylori. I'm hoping this is it! Best of luck with you.

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Hello I'm so happy to find this thread. I'm hoping for surgery in the fall. From Louisiana . Will be self-pay. I'm just ready to fell better and have a life. I hope for any input. Researching , researching , researching.

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Anyone having their surgery in July/August?

I'm pretty much done with my preop stuff so I'm anticipating June/july

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Hello I'm so happy to find this thread. I'm hoping for surgery in the fall. From Louisiana . Will be self-pay. I'm just ready to fell better and have a life. I hope for any input. Researching , researching , researching.

I know how you feel...think if my insurance didn't cover I would scrounge up the money to self pay. Lots of surgeons out there that take self pay just have to research. Wish u the best of luck

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Hello all!!! Hoping I can join this thread!!! Im a 33 year old mother of seven who cant keep up with the kiddies anymore. I feel like I'm far to young for that. My BMi is 39 and other than joint pain I dont have any other issues, which is why my insurance has denied me twice. I have kaiser and they say that I have to have to comorbidities. Well I feel like the one I have is enough.

So off to dr Garcia I go. My surgery is scheduled for 05/22/12 and I am so excited!!!!

Kisha

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Anyone having their surgery in July/August?

That is theoretically when I'll have mine according to my nurse practitioner. I see my surgeon for a consult on May 3rd and that's when everything goes to bcbs for approval. I've heard that they typically give a decision quickly but my last nutrition class isn't until June 21st. (And I'll still have the pre-surgery class to do as well.). So I'm thinking late July to early August.

Do you already have a date?

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Hello all!!! Hoping I can join this thread!!! Im a 33 year old mother of seven who cant keep up with the kiddies anymore. I feel like I'm far to young for that. My BMi is 39 and other than joint pain I dont have any other issues, which is why my insurance has denied me twice. I have kaiser and they say that I have to have to comorbidities. Well I feel like the one I have is enough.

So off to dr Garcia I go. My surgery is scheduled for 05/22/12 and I am so excited!!!!

Kisha

Hi kisha I had kaiser insurance and I was like you they want to comorbidities which I'm only Pre hypertensive so that didn't count, you have to have Uncontrolled hypertension so I didn't qualify. I had to switch to husbands plan blue cross.

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All of you who are in PRE-approval, I wish you success! My insurance, Health Advantage Choice only has 3 requirements: psych eval, 5 yr weight history & 6 month dr supervised weight loss attempt. I was blessed, because they approved me SO fast it made my head spin! I sincerely pray that speed will come to you all during your process :)

Sent from my iPhone using VST

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Hi dkna2

I have blue cross CA ppo and I heard they were pretty fast with approval (crossing fingers) definitely would like someone to share this process with because it's been challenging' date=' through the whole preop process they found 1) borderline hypothyroidism 2) moderate sleep apnea 3) currently on a 2 weeks course of heavy duty antibiotics for h pylori. I'm hoping this is it! Best of luck with you.[/quote']

What were your req from bcbs ? Mine does not require 6 month diet only 1 or 2 comorbidities due to under 40 bmi. So I'm gonna call in am to find out my lab results due to I had a full panel done last week.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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