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Hi All:

I have been following this forum for awhile while I was doing my research on the gastric sleeve procedure. This site was so helpful I decided to become a member and this is my first post. I have finished all of the requirements for my insurance and I am just waiting on their decision. If I am approved my surgery will be August 1st. I can't wait to join the rest of you on the losers bench.

Lara

Chicago, IL :)

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Welcome!! I have also just finished all requirements for my insurance as well and the doctor has submitted to my insurance company for approval on friday. What insurance do you have? I have CIGNA.

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Welcome!! I have also just finished all requirements for my insurance as well and the doctor has submitted to my insurance company for approval on friday. What insurance do you have? I have CIGNA.

How long did the process take? I'm approved by my PCP and going to my seminar June 9th.

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Welcome!! I have also just finished all requirements for my insurance as well and the doctor has submitted to my insurance company for approval on friday. What insurance do you have? I have CIGNA.

Hello! I have Blue Cross Blue Shield. My doctor's office didn't think I should have any problems getting approved because I meet all of the requirements but you never know these days. I wish you luck while you wait! Do you have a tentative surgery date?

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Well depending you your insurance requirements. When I first started my journey CIGNA they required a 6 month medically supervised diet and at month 5 1/2 they changed their policy and only required 3 months and my 6 month visit would have been on June 1st and that is when they filed with the insurance. So from start to filing exactly 6 months.

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Hello! I have Blue Cross Blue Shield. My doctor's office didn't think I should have any problems getting approved because I meet all of the requirements but you never know these days. I wish you luck while you wait! Do you have a tentative surgery date?

The insurance company said that the doctor's office said that they want to do it on the 28th so we shall see.

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The insurance company said that the doctor's office said that they want to do it on the 28th so we shall see.

I'm hoping because I have already six months of failed diet from PCP I will not have to wait the six months ... My sister is getting surgery done in August and hoping we can do this process together for support.

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The insurance company said that the doctor's office said that they want to do it on the 28th so we shall see.

Good Luck! Sounds like your journey has been much longer than mine. By the time I decided to go ahead with this process BCBS had already dropped the 6 month pre-diet requirement. I went to the information seminar on April 5th. So it has taken me almost 2 months to get my requirements done and submitted.

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Hello my fellow Chicagoan. Welcome, I also have bcbs, my surgery was approved relatively quickly, as long as all the correct information is submitted. Where are you having your surgery??

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Hello my fellow Chicagoan. Welcome, I also have bcbs, my surgery was approved relatively quickly, as long as all the correct information is submitted. Where are you having your surgery??

Hello! I will be having my surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital. Where did you have your surgery done? Do you know how long exactly it took to get your approval from BCBS?

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Hello all.... I'm in Chicago also.... My date is July 12 with Dr Cahill at little co of Mary .... I have bcbs federal

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I had my procedure at university of Chicago with Dr Prashad. I got my approval with in a week, however if your doctor has already submitted the info call bcbs customer service they will let you know the status of your request.

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Hi! I'm in Chicagoland (western burbs). I'm waiting on approval from BCBS, but it's because the insurance coordinator is not great. They've had my pre-cert for 3 weeks now but it isn't ready for review because they keep finding things she missed, then she takes her time sending it in. :(

I hope you get a speedy approval! I've heard as little as 2 days for some. :-)

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Hi! I'm in Chicagoland (western burbs). I'm waiting on approval from BCBS' date=' but it's because the insurance coordinator is not great. They've had my pre-cert for 3 weeks now but it isn't ready for review because they keep finding things she missed, then she takes her time sending it in. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />

I hope you get a speedy approval! I've heard as little as 2 days for some. :-)[/quote']

U know that u can switch all your paperwork to another doctor before approval.... My coordinator had mine done within a week and approval four days after that

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I had my procedure at university of Chicago with Dr Prashad. I got my approval with in a week, however if your doctor has already submitted the info call bcbs customer service they will let you know the status of your request.

How was it having your surgery at the University of Chicago? That is so weird because I work at the University of Chicago but decided to my sugary at St. Joseph's because it is closer to my home. I live on the north side of the city, also when I met the surgeon I knew right away he would do a good job.

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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.
      · 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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