After much thought I have finally decided to get the gastric sleeve. For so long I thought that I could loose the weight on my own, but I can't. I've met with my surgeon to get the process started. His team has schedule ALL my appointments, and the last one is mid January. By that time the surgeon want to be loose between 20-30 pounds (closer to 30) to bring my BMI down, and he will do the surgery. I'm so excited, and stressed at the same time. It's going to be a challenge to loose this weight.

Hi all!

It is good to have others starting out around the same time! my PCP has changed her position on not doing the weight loss monitoring so now everything is a go. I have all of my appointments and hopefully I will be ready in April, at least that what I am putting into the universe. I'm very excited, I just wish I did this earlier in the year winter time in NY is not for me so I hate doing all of this running around in the cold.

That's great to hear that everything has been cleared and you've got the go ahead for April. I think a lot of people tend to wish they had done it sooner, myself included. Winter time can be tough, but I hate summer the size I am, I get so hot and uncomfortable, I love the idea of going to the beach but I usually end up spending the summer holed up inside with the air conditioner going.

My insurance required 6 months with NUT really ends up being 7 with the way the schedule goes..but this is actually how it works...for my insurance anyway.

First visit with surgeon was end of May, the NUT appt. needs to be scheduled as soon as possible which will make your first appt. then every 30 days..no less no more you will need to see the NUT 30 days in between that, they send you for any other test that needs to be done...as for me I had to have a endoscopy done, a letter from my primary doctor recommending the surgery and a phyciatrist evaluation that is required by insurance. AFTER your last NUT visit you see the surgeon to go over your 6 month history with NUT and a date can be set. It usually takes 15 days or so to get all paperwork to insurance and get approval. Then between the next 15 or so days waiting....the anesthesiologist requires a medical clearance which consist of an EKG and blood work. Still a lot of work for those 6 months..and very expensive with co-pays and deductibles..but the end, the result will be fabulous!!

Mine was a 3 month Pre-Op Prep, with my insurance. Had to schedule NUT appt same month as I seen my primary. Plus have documentation for going to the gym 3 days a week. Had the endoscopy done also, letter from my primary. I register and pre-op on Dec 1st and surgery Dec 2nd! Took a week for approval from insurance. I agree very expensive with co-pays and deductibles! I have to pay the surgeron 450.00 up front and the hospital $175.00 when I register. (I thought the hospital would just bill me.)

Hi!

It's great to see other people like me just starting out with this journey.

I'm very much like you, and for a very long time did not want to get surgery and thinking that I could do it all by myself, and I am able to lose weight by myself, but only so much before I slip up and the vicious cycle starts over.

I had been thinking about for awhile and then I had a couple of health scares which were the final push.

I need to wait until the end of October 2015 for my insurance to cover the surgery and then from what my surgeon said it'll only be a couple of month doing appointments before the surgery.

It's fantastic that hopefully you can have yours done at the beginning of next year! That's great!

Good luck to anyone with surgery coming up soon or anyone else just starting out!

Best of luck to you!

November 24 th I met with my surgeon and he told me I had to lose 60 lbs before he would operate on me. His team is setting up all of my appointments for me. I've loss 10 lbs only 50 to go. This is going to be a long journey for me too.

How's the dieting going?

Mine was a 3 month Pre-Op Prep, with my insurance. Had to schedule NUT appt same month as I seen my primary. Plus have documentation for going to the gym 3 days a week. Had the endoscopy done also, letter from my primary. I register and pre-op on Dec 1st and surgery Dec 2nd! Took a week for approval from insurance. I agree very expensive with co-pays and deductibles! I have to pay the surgeron 450.00 up front and the hospital $175.00 when I register. (I thought the hospital would just bill me.)

Please let us know how the surgery went!

Hi all!

It is good to have others starting out around the same time! my PCP has changed her position on not doing the weight loss monitoring so now everything is a go. I have all of my appointments and hopefully I will be ready in April, at least that what I am putting into the universe. I'm very excited, I just wish I did this earlier in the year winter time in NY is not for me so I hate doing all of this running around in the cold.

I felt the same way about the holidays coming up. I ate on thanksgiving, but I think I'll be staying home for Christmas & NYE.

@ Welcome to the journey of changing your life. I hope that everything goes well for you and I know the struggle of how hard it can be to start to lose weight around the holidays. This is a great site and believe me that I need the support cause I just broke up with food and friendzoned him because I'm dying to be have a better life and not feel like I'm trapped in the wrong body! If you need to talk I'm always around!d

@ Welcome to the journey of changing your life. I hope that everything goes well for you and I know the struggle of how hard it can be to start to lose weight around the holidays. This is a great site and believe me that I need the support cause I just broke up with food and friendzoned him because I'm dying to be have a better life and not feel like I'm trapped in the wrong body! If you need to talk I'm always around!d

Thank you so much for the support! How far are you into the process for the surgery? I have my 2nd meeting with my NUT & psychological evaluation both on the 15th.

My surgery is January 12th which can not get here soon enough. I'm actually opt. to go out of the country for two reason. One my insurance is requiring a 6 month doc followed plan which is fine in reality and I had not problem following but there is also a two yr waiting period to go weight loss at their determine hospital and then I have to be on the insurance for a year before I can even enter the bariatric program so now we are to three and a half yrs. So I spoke to my primary doctor told her about my choice and she has helped me tons. I have been following a diet plan she set up for the past 6 months and then on top of that I went to a nutritionist on my own. I also joined OA which has helped me understand why I eat the way I do and what I can do to help myself. It was not a completely easy choice for me but I got in touch with some AMAZING people who went to my soon to be doctor and i spoke on the phone with them got tons of info and think I made the best choice. plus the out of pocket cost is less even with my insurance here in the USA!