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Total Newbie- Looking for fellow newbies!



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Hi everyone, today is my first appointment! I am super nervous. I'm ready but the worry of approval is always on my mind. I'll check back in this afternoon! :)

Hi I started my journey on August 2 there has been a lot of highs and lows the not know is the hardest I found out last week will be having surgery in October or Nov so stay positive good luck we are here for you

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Couldn't agree more - not knowing is definitely the hardest. I'm coming up on 2 weeks since my docs were submitted and I just want an answer from insurance already. I know people wait longer, but I'm not always the most patient person in the world. LOL They told me last week that I should expect about 5 business days ... so I'm just going to be stalking them this week. Not sure if I should ask for the contact info for the nurse reviewing the case or just continue talking to the reps that answer the phone. The one I got yesterday wasn't all that helpful. I do kind of wish my doctor would set a tentative surgery date, even though we're still waiting. I mean, there's really no reason they shouldn't approve me (which is kind of sad, but whatever) and I'd feel so much better having something on the books.< /p>

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Hi jezika!

I am a newbie too! I had my 1st Dr's appt on March 31,2014 & after all the NUT, Psych,PT & Dr's visits I was approved by July & I had my VSG on August 18 th 1 week out! It seems like it takes forever to get your surgery but.... Just keeping thinking positively! And you will get there. Good luck to you and just take it day by day. The weight didn't come on overnight. ( although it feels like it sometimes) ;) glad to add you to "my friends"

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I'm back from my first appt! :)

According to that office, BCBS Highmark still has the 6 month supervised diet pre-req. when I told her that I heard it was changed, she said she check to see if there was an updated policy. HOWEVER, even if my insurance doesn't require it, they do. Well, sort of. The timeline they gave me was spaced out into six months but I don't think it is exactly 6 months to the day until they submit. As soon as I have all my pre-reqs done, I should be good to submit. I was really hoping that I could possibly schedule a December surgery but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. My "homework" is to log my food and concentrate on one aspect I can do better this month-for instance-get in my Water, or cut back on portions....and on September 17th, we'll go over my food log and I'll have my NUT class and hopefully I can squeeze in the Support group meeting next month too.

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Hi everyone, I too am in the beginning process. I am waiting to schedule my sleep ap test and upperGI,, I was at the doctors last Tuesday and I am still waiting for them to call to set up my tests. I already had blood work and ekg so just waiting for two other tests.. I have to call tomorrow to see about scheduling surgery. hope to get a late sept or early oct appointment. best of luck to all playing the waiting game

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I just had my psych eval yesterday. It went really well, I wasn't sure how it would go. The only sorta bummer is she takes about 2 weeks to write up the results and send them over to my surgeon's office. It's the last thing they need before they submit to insurance. I'll be on vacation all next week though, so at least I know around the time I get back it should all be submitted.

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Holy cow! I just got my approval! Not only that, but I've got my surgery scheduled. September 18th!

All I can say - once that info gets submitted, call your insurance and make friends with someone. The first first person I spoke to is the one that made sure the docs got where they were going, kept me updated and called me today to tell me I was approved. I'm SO grateful - especially after all of the horror stories I've heard.

23 Days and I'll be on the Loser's Bench...

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Hi...I'm brand new myself hopefully getting the sleeve going in for my very first appointment on September 8th so your a little further along then me but I would also love someone to take the journey with me!! :)

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I was excited, thinking I had gotten "an appointment to talk to the surgeon", but what I actually got - and it's tomorrow - is an appointment to attend an introductory lecture by the surgeon.

The office staff won't even discuss what comes next, I guess because it's so individual.

Oh well, everyone has to start someplace. I have a list of questions to take with me.

On the bright side, I have been super conscious of my chewing, since I have been reading on here how you have to relearn how to chew your food really, really, REALLY thoroughly and it has been helping my digestion. Who knew?

Jan

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Yeah I has to attend a seminar before I even got a first initial appointment now at this one in supposed to see the surgeons, nurse, nutritionist and theorist but I have no idea hat comes after that! My insurance told me today that they don't require me to be on any diets or to lose 5% or anything all I have to do is have he surgeon send a predetermination 15 days before surgery and we wait to see what happens, I was expecting to have to diet and lose weight and do all kinds of stuff so I have nooooo clue what to expect!!!

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It's funny how every doctor is different with there requirements and also how all insurance is different the waiting is so hard it seems that all I do is go to appointments but it will all be worth it can't wait went today and picked up a few different Protein Drinks to try

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Hi lovelies! I'm a newbie as well. So far I've gone through my initial appointment, pre-op screenings, sleep study, NUT visit #1 of 3, psych visit #1 of 2, and am working on losing the 15 lbs I ironically have to lose to placate my insurance company (wellll...10 lbs to placate the insurance co., the other 5 to make up for the 5 I gained having all those food funerals!)

Looking forward to getting to know you all as we move into this next phase of our lives!

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The waiting so far has seemed to take so long. I can only imagine how nervous I'll be for the wait after everything's submitted to insurance. I'm thinking early October at the very earliest if insurance approves me right away.

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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
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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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