Boy, it's been about 3.5 months and I am STILL jumping through hoops trying to get approved for the sleeve. It took about 2 months alone just to get a pre authorization from the insurance company to go SEE the weight loss clinic. Now I am working with a behaviorist and a nutritionist to be "ok'd" so that I can submit ANOTHER pre authorization to insurance to actually meet with the surgeon.

Frickin' bills are ALREADY killing me.

I am worried, but mostly about not being able to have the surgery now. In my heart it feels like I can finally see the end of the tunnel. Like maybe now I can FINALLY overcome this huge wall that's been standing in front of me keeping me from achieving all that I want to achieve.

And what if I can't get approved for it now? ugh. And then I'm worried because this summer is the only time that works to have the surgery done. I am currently off for the summer from school, and work has already agreed to let me take a week off at somepoint in July............ but............ It's already June. How am I going to get approved and scheduled in a MONTH?

Well, guess I'll shut up and just keep praying. Nothing more that I can do but just keep on jumping through hoops.

Kim

By the way, the newest hoop: Eating nothing but Protein for the next two weeks. Greek yogurt: not for me. Ew.

In order to be approved by the nutritionist I have to document (food journal) 2 weeks of 900 calories and TONS of protein a day. How fun. First day and I am really hungry already.... Please pray for me. hehe.

Sending up some prayers for you! I am jumping through hoops right beside you! I have my psych eval tonight. Just a little anxious, and maybe just a little excited to be able to talk to someone about it! Hang in there! Every hoop gets you closer to your goal!!!!

Keeping a journal of food is not that hard. I mean, how is she gonna know that you actually only ate what you wrote down? I'm not encouraging you to "cheat" but is it required that you lose a certain amount of weight before you are approved for surgery? If not, I wouldn't torture myself until I have to. I was really lucky and only had to do a 3 day pre-op diet of Clear liquids and that was extremely hard! But let me tell you, I had a lot of "Last Suppers" before surgery.

Again, what I say is just a thought and I want to make it perfectly clear that I'm not encouraging you to lie to your nutritionist. I'm just thinking out loud.... LOL

The only concern that I have with fudging my food journal is........... if I don't loose a lot of weight isn't she going to know that I cheated? In which case, isn't it better off being completely honest about what I ate? I'm not really sure what she's looking for with this food journal. My commitment or just that I'm trying to get in Protein? Wish I knew....

Kim

i am experiencing hoops also. i have much of the testing done and have lost 35 lbs. I currently weigh 401.8 lbs. Met with my surgeon yesterday for the first visit.. He said i am EXTREMELY HIGH RISK and made it sound like i will die if i have this surgery. i felt really terrible. I have 250lbs to lose AT LEAST. I need a new hip and cannot have that done unless i lose the weight. The surgeon put me on a 3 shake-a-day diet with orders to lose 70 lbs and get my diabetes totally down to normal. i got so discouraged by his voice-of-doom approach.

Fortunately, my diabetic nurse called the very next morning for our quarterly consult and explained a lot of info about the gastric sleeve to me and said that when i lose the 70 and control the diabetes, i will no longer be the high risk that i am now. So I am thankfully positive thinking again, and feel i can do this. Yesterday was my first day of my "new" lifestyle and i didn't cheat. I have not ever been on such a restrictive diet before. but I feel like i'll make it and as part of my plan, i want support mechanisms in place. My family is not really here for me as far as support is concerned. So, here I am. I hope to give inspiration as well as receive abundant inspriation and motivation back.

I hope we all do great.

I'm jumping through hoops too. Seems like that's all I've been doing from the get go.

I'm hoping I'm nearing the end- I'm just waiting for more info to be sent in to resolve my insurance denial-

some days it's hard to keep going..but I know it will be worth it in the long run and hopefully we will all be able

to sit back and remember the journey from a much better and lighter angle in months to come.

Hang in there and just keep putting one foot in front of the other- staying on track.

Your job is only going to allow you a week off? Keep in mind you may need more time than that....especially if you have any sort of physical job.

Just be patient...I know its hard but some people on here have been dealing with doc and insurance issues for a year or more to get approval. It can take awhile.

One other thing....just a side note. How did you eat your greek yogurt? If you tried it plain or with just fruit in it....I agree....pretty yuck. However, try putting some Splenda in with it....whip it up, add some cocoa powder maybe, or some sugar free flavoring syrups (like Torani). That makes a BIG difference.