My dr has been advising me to look into weight loss surgery since January of this year, I finally made the call this past Friday, the rep called me back today to obtain my insurance info I'm with blue cross blue shield ppo in Illinois and waiting for the rep to call back and advise me if my insurance will cover the surgery, needless to say, I'm on pins and needles right now, it took months for me to go with my drs advice, after reading so much about the sleeve process over the months, I'm very confident that I've made the right choice.

Congrats for making that first step! I was terrified to make that call to RSVP for one of the info seminars my doctor's office gives. It was like admitting to everyone that I'm fat (um, like I was hiding it from anyone? lol) I had been pondering the surgery for quite awhile and finally I realized I needed to act and now.

One of the deciding factors was after reading so many forums I saw one overriding theme. The biggest disappointment I saw from people is that they just wished they had done it earlier.

Lots of good information and great people here - glad you're here!

I had been thinking about it for years until I made the call. I had even called insurance to see if I had options. One day I woke up and made the call, haven't looked back since. It will be exactly 1 month from calling to having my surgery done. Excited but nervous!

Hi I'm new to this all and would love any advice. What's the process to qualify. Any step to step advice. I'm currently in a weight management program that is required in California. But what to do next. Any advice our suggestions are tremendously welcomed. I'm really excited to start this new life but would appreciate any guidance.

I had been thinking about it for years until I made the call. I had even called insurance to see if I had options. One day I woke up and made the call' date=' haven't looked back since. It will be exactly 1 month from calling to having my surgery done. Excited but nervous![/quote']

Wow that's great I hope to have a quick turn around time as well, my insurance is still getting verified, keeping my fingers crossed, much success for you and congratulations.

Congrats for making that first step! I was terrified to make that call to RSVP for one of the info seminars my doctor's office gives. It was like admitting to everyone that I'm fat (um' date=' like I was hiding it from anyone? lol) I had been pondering the surgery for quite awhile and finally I realized I needed to act and now.

One of the deciding factors was after reading so many forums I saw one overriding theme. The biggest disappointment I saw from people is that they just wished they had done it earlier.

Lots of good information and great people here - glad you're here![/quote']

Thank you, my insurance is still getting verified but I'm pretty optimistic, and I also came to the determination to act now, I will be 38 next year I'm not getting any younger.

Hi I'm new to this all and would love any advice. What's the process to qualify. Any step to step advice. I'm currently in a weight management program that is required in California. But what to do next. Any advice our suggestions are tremendously welcomed. I'm really excited to start this new life but would appreciate any guidance.

I'm excited as well and thankful that there is so much feedback available, I'm in the very early stages of this I wouldn't be much of a guide but I do wish you much success, from what I have read and also from talking with others that have had the surgery, some insurance plans require a 6 month dr managed nutrition program before they will approve the surgery and some will only require basic testing and phycological insight to approve the surgery right away. Im hoping for a quick approval I've had over 20 years of dieting experience, I'm pretty good to go. Lol

Wow that's great I hope to have a quick turn around time as well' date=' my insurance is still getting verified, keeping my fingers crossed, much success for you and congratulations.[/quote']

Thanks, I hope the same for you!

I'm pretty much at the same stage as you. I go in for my initial consult on October 15th. I called and submitted my paperwork on September 13th. They have verified my benefits and it looks like I just have to have a psyche evaluation and a nutritional consult to get approved. My case worker says I should be able to have the surgery by the end of the year. I sure hope so because I have been going back and forth for about 2.5 years and I finally made the decision to go for it! Now....I'm ready! I'm excited, nervous, a little scared....all totally normal from what I've read.

I wish you the best of luck and look forward to meeting you on the other side!

Thank you so much, I'm expecting my call today to let me know what the next step is. Congratulations again, your moving on to a different world and I'm right behind you.

Thank you cushy! Thanks I'm currently in the weight management ( two months in) I'm excite and nervous. I just want to know it's going to happen I just fear that they will not approve our something. I know it's silly but I can't help it. I should complete the program by end of January. And hoping the process to meet with the surgeon will go fast and approval as well. Thanks again and best wishes.

Thank you cushy! Thanks I'm currently in the weight management ( two months in) I'm excite and nervous. I just want to know it's going to happen I just fear that they will not approve our something. I know it's silly but I can't help it. I should complete the program by end of January. And hoping the process to meet with the surgeon will go fast and approval as well. Thanks again and best wishes.

Thank you, best wishes to you as well, it's perfectly understandable how you feel, having this surgery is a huge deal, your already in the maintenance part if your insurance wouldn't cover it they would advise you up front so you are good to go and next summer will be awesome for the both of us. YEA!!!!!!!!!

I'm pretty much at the same stage as you. I go in for my initial consult on October 15th. I called and submitted my paperwork on September 13th. They have verified my benefits and it looks like I just have to have a psyche evaluation and a nutritional consult to get approved. My case worker says I should be able to have the surgery by the end of the year. I sure hope so because I have been going back and forth for about 2.5 years and I finally made the decision to go for it! Now....I'm ready! I'm excited, nervous, a little scared....all totally normal from what I've read.

I wish you the best of luck and look forward to meeting you on the other side!

This describes me to a T! I looked into bypass 8 years ago, went thru all the pre appointments, even the psych eval... Didn't get approved. Then, tried Medifast, lost about 35 pounds, and have gained it all back, lost and gained again like 100 times since then. I'm just done! I like the sleeve idea much better than the bypass. Not sure exactly why but it sounds better.

Anyways, I made the call on Monday, and got initial info from insurance, found the in-network provider, sent in information forms and they verified my insurance. I have my initial consult and NUT consult scheduled for Oct. 15th, my medical eval scheduled for Oct. 18th, and then will only need to get my psych eval done (as far as I know at this point). They said I could expect to have a surgery date approx 8 weeks from now! Maybe around xmas time? I hope so!!!!

What a wonderful way to start the new year.