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Hi guys, I'm new, so if this seems like a silly question, I apologize! I am in the beginning stages of getting the VSG surgery. Just had my informational seminar and have my first consult with the surgeon July 10. My BMI is currently a 44. I need to do the 6 month weigh ins/diet. 6 months is a long time and I can't afford to gain anymore because of my leg/joint pain. My question is...what if my BMI drops to a 40 during the 6 month period? I know I need a 40 to qualify, but would that ant of weight loss disqualify me? I don't know if I can lose weight, but I really can't keep gaining for health reasons. Anyone know?? Thanks so much :)

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When I started my 6 month classes/weigh-ins, my BMI was exactly 40 and that's what I needed for my insurance to cover it. I don't know if yours is different, but when I asked the nurse if I wouldn't be approved if I lost weight, she said most insurances encourage you to lose weight, even if it goes below 40. I guess it just matters to them if you start out at 40+. Hope this helps!

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I would either call the insurance company directly or ask your surgeon's insurance coordinator to verify. I didn't get a real solid answer so I've been coasting a bit. However, this is the last month of my supervised diet plan so I intend to turn it on. Should have surgery mid August.

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Thanks so much guys. I'll ask my surgeon. Some people say insurance goes by your BMI at the first weigh in even if it drops in the months thereafter...I hope that's true! Good luck to you both.

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I have surgery on Wednesday and my BMI is 33. I started out with a BMI of 42 but lost 50 pounds in the last 4 months. My doc said that since insurance has already approved my surgery that it was ok going under a BMI of 35 (you can have a BMI of 35 if you have co-morbidities).

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I have surgery on Wednesday and my BMI is 33. I started out with a BMI of 42 but lost 50 pounds in the last 4 months. My doc said that since insurance has already approved my surgery that it was ok going under a BMI of 35 (you can have a BMI of 35 if you have co-morbidities).

Great! Thank you. When will I find out if my surgery will be approved by the insurance company? When I have my very first meeting with my surgeon? Congrats on the 50lb weight loss! :) :)

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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
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    • 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!
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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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