Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Pittsburgh Pa



Recommended Posts

I am just south of Pittsburgh in Washington, PA. I had my surgery 5/12/14 with Dr McCloskey at Magee.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am in Washington too. Going to Magee tonight for the info session and hoping to get started ASAP. What was the program like at Magee?

I am just south of Pittsburgh in Washington, PA. I had my surgery 5/12/14 with Dr McCloskey at Magee.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The program is pretty simple. You have to do 6-mos of a medically supervised diet. You'll need to keep a food/exercise log during that time which you turn in each month at the mtgs. The goal is to lose weight or at least stay weight stable. Each month you'll receive an education module to learn about better ways of taking care of yourself. You'll have lots of pre-op testing to complete which isn't too bad then the nurse practitioner submits all your results/information to the insurance company for approval. I got my approval within 1 wk but I hear it can take up to 6 wks. Six months seemed like forever when I first started the process but it goes by pretty quickly. I was in the hospital for 2 days and out of work for 2 wks. Hope this helps. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That sounds great. 6 months does seem like forever but I work full time and I'm a full time student online so I imagine it will be a busy 6 months. Did they wait till you were completely dones with the 6 month program to submit your insurance or do they do it towards the end? I am hoping to have my surgery by Christmas. I'm going to have to do a sleep study during this time too because I already use a c-pap. It's kinda scary knowing how I can't breath at night and thinking about the anastesia, but I know they know what they're doing.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes you have to wait until everything is completed then they'll submit it to the insurance company. If you are already using a CPAP machine that'll increase your odds of getting approval. I had to do a sleep study and now use a CPAP machine too. I understand the working full time & doing school full time. I spent many years like that. Good luck with school. That'd be great if you could have surgery by Christmas. I was done with everything & had approval in March but had to wait until May for surgery because Dr McCloskey is so busy. I was like 'but I want to do it now!' Lol It worked out for the best though. I'm down 20 lbs since surgery 42 lbs overall.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery in February 2014 and I've lost over 125 lbs... I'm going to see a plastic surgeon on July 30th. Kinda nervous to hear what he has to say and I'm hoping what I want done won't cost too much.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Have you had any complications?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes. I've had an infection about a week after dismissal post op. I had a JP drain and I on a TPN pump for a week. Then I was just switched to solid foods on September 16, 2014. Two days later I was rushed to the hospital. Turns out I had an internal hernia that caused bowel obstruction. I'm about 10 days post op from that just down in the dumps. I had a positive attitude. But now I just want to be healthy and healed

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm in Pittsburgh area. Having mine Nov 20th at magee

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey all i,live in williamsportt

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good luck. I have my 6-month checkup tomorrow at Magee. I'm down 97 lbs since starting my weight loss journey. Only 47 lbs to go.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That's great. Who is your surgeon if you Dont mind me asking?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@kelly lynn i am going to dr bono in hazelton where are u from

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×