I am seeing surgeon tomorrow. Expect to be scheduled for surgery 2-3 weeks from now. Anybody out there sleeved or about to be at CMC? Dr. Catania?

I am going through CMC via Dartmouth Hitchcock in Concord.

I just had my first consult at CMC yesterday. So far I have been very impressed with everyone. I am having difficulties in working out my Lifestyle classes but staff at CMC has been very nice and accomodating. I would love to hear about your experiences since you are nearing your surgery date. How long did your process take?

I had my surgery on 5/2/11. The process took about 8 months from first appointment, but that was mainly because my insurance (Cigna) required 7 monthly visits before seeing the surgeon.

I was very happy with CMC, all the way through. I used Dr. Catania, just because he had done more vsg's. I started the program with a BMI of 41, and it is now 30.2. 2 more pounds and I will not be obese anymore (just overweight). If you have any other questions, please ask away.

I just had my first consult at CMC yesterday. So far I have been very impressed with everyone. I am having difficulties in working out my Lifestyle classes but staff at CMC has been very nice and accomodating. I would love to hear about your experiences since you are nearing your surgery date. How long did your process take?

I am actually working really hard to get the surgery by years end which I know is overly optimistic. I met my very high deductible for the year so CMC seems willing to help as much as possible no promises. It sounds like you are doing great after surgery. Congrats! The only area I seem to be having problems with is the Lifestyle class scheduling. My BMI is hovering in the 36-37 range with sleep apnea. I have not had any feedback from my insurance Anthem NH yet.

I just had my first consult at CMC yesterday. So far I have been very impressed with everyone. I am having difficulties in working out my Lifestyle classes but staff at CMC has been very nice and accomodating. I would love to hear about your experiences since you are nearing your surgery date. How long did your process take?

Be really careful about your BMI. Don't let it get to 35, and remember that scales weigh differently,a nd the one that counts is when you see the surgeon for the first time - that's when your paperwork goes to the insurance company. I had such a long delay to surgery that I worried my BMI would get too low for the insurance company to approve the surgery. Once you've had that weigh-in by the surgeon, they no longer care if you go below 35. Good luck getting in by year's end. They were really good about scheduling my surgery - with my work I didn't have a lot of days together that I could take off except for that one week, and they scheduled me for that Monday, although it was kind of close. CMC was great.

I am actually working really hard to get the surgery by years end which I know is overly optimistic. I met my very high deductible for the year so CMC seems willing to help as much as possible no promises. It sounds like you are doing great after surgery. Congrats! The only area I seem to be having problems with is the Lifestyle class scheduling. My BMI is hovering in the 36-37 range with sleep apnea. I have not had any feedback from my insurance Anthem NH yet.

I am seeing surgeon tomorrow. Expect to be scheduled for surgery 2-3 weeks from now. Anybody out there sleeved or about to be at CMC? Dr. Catania?

Hey, NH sleever! I am in the seacoast and was sleeved by Dr Looser on the 10-13-11 and am doing VERY well. I did go through Anthem, and found them very reasonable with prior-auth, but I did need to meet with my PCP for 6 mths and demonstrate wt loss over that period for them to approve. And the wt they went from was the one when I first saw the bariatric program NP- my first appt with anyone. After that I lost about 35 lbs, and it did not influence their approval. Good luck to you- I hope you get to join the 2011 sleevers list!! Rebecca

Good luck after your recent surgery. You must have gone thru Portsmouth Hospital? The only 2 certified programs in NH are CMC and Portsmouth. Probably similar programs.

My surgery was on 5/2/11, and I found the recovery to be fairly easy. I am now 5 months out, and it has been wonderful. Yesterday, I went to a training to be a spin instructor. My BMI has dropped below 30, and I am no longer wearing plus sizes! It is truly miraculous.

How has your recovery been so far? It really isn't that long that your diet is so restricted. I have been eating normally (but less) for at least 3 months now.

Hey, NH sleever! I am in the seacoast and was sleeved by Dr Looser on the 10-13-11 and am doing VERY well. I did go through Anthem, and found them very reasonable with prior-auth, but I did need to meet with my PCP for 6 mths and demonstrate wt loss over that period for them to approve. And the wt they went from was the one when I first saw the bariatric program NP- my first appt with anyone. After that I lost about 35 lbs, and it did not influence their approval. Good luck to you- I hope you get to join the 2011 sleevers list!! Rebecca

Good luck after your recent surgery. You must have gone thru Portsmouth Hospital? The only 2 certified programs in NH are CMC and Portsmouth. Probably similar programs.

My surgery was on 5/2/11, and I found the recovery to be fairly easy. I am now 5 months out, and it has been wonderful. Yesterday, I went to a training to be a spin instructor. My BMI has dropped below 30, and I am no longer wearing plus sizes! It is truly miraculous.

How has your recovery been so far? It really isn't that long that your diet is so restricted. I have been eating normally (but less) for at least 3 months now.

Hey- how encouraging to hear you are doing so well only a few month out! I did have my procedure at Portsmouth Hospital, and I really think I got terrific care. My husband and I are both nurses, so we were watching pretty carefully, and I would not have any problem recommending it. I bet the CMC and Portsmouth programs are very similar. They are very fond of saying that it is a 5 year program. That means alot to me! I know I can fall off the wagon, and I will need the longterm support. Rebecca

Just wanted to check in and see if you received your surgery date at CMC. I finally have my surgeon consult next week but am wondering how long it takes after that appointment for surgery.

Hello all,

I am going through the bariatric surgery program at DHMC Manchester and the Elliot Hospital. My VSG surgery is scheduled for Monday the 20th of February. As far as I know they are a certified program too. I had gone to the CMC meetings years ago but was not ready to commit. When I revisited the idea of surgery, I decided to go through the Elliot's program instead and am VERY pleased so far. I also have Anthem and had no problem getting them to approve it.

Good luck!