I have been in the prep phase for over a year, and am finally reaching the finish line. I work full-time and have been enrolled in an intensive full-time MBA program, so I didn't think I could handle the life-changing recovery and habit replacement at the same time as juggling school and work. But I graduate on Saturday (yay!) and my medical team submitted to my insurance 2 weeks ago. I'm assuming their response has been delayed by the Thanksgiving holiday and all the other people rushing to get procedures done by the end of the year, but I am still sitting by the phone willing it to ring with the approval.

My parents are coming to town for my graduation this weekend, and I'd planned to tell them about surgery plans over dinner on Saturday. I expect my dad will be supportive and my mother will need a lot of hand-holding. But I don't want to tell them about it until everything is a sure thing, so the clock is ticking (ticking ticking ticking) this week waiting for an answer.

I am taking my mother to Peru for an adventure vacation in April, so I really want to have surgery as soon as possible so I can be relatively stable with diet by April. We're going on this trip for her 65th birthday, and she's never left the country before, so I want to make sure she has a good experience.

I don't have any questions, just needed to get some of this off my chest and outta my head. I'm new to the group and am very glad it's here.

Congratulations on graduating! Your parents may surprise you with their reactions. I was certain mine were going to try to talk me out of surgery, but they told me they had been worried about me, and were glad I was taking this route. Your mom may very well surprise you. If not, show here these forums so she can read the success stories of the people here. That may relieve her anxiety.

I hope your phone rings with good news soon!

You might try calling your insurance company and asking where in the approval process you are and how soon you can expect an answer. Congratulations on finishing your MBA! So exciting!!

Thank you for your support, Mommabird and Melody Siracusa.

The phone finally rang! The surgeon's office just called with the happy news that insurance approval came in this morning. YIPPEE! Hoping to still hear today with my surgery date, but at least this particular worry is resolved.

[side note: Melody, I love your icon! I have that same image hanging on my wall at work!]

I am brand new to this forum as well. I just joined today. I just got the call today as well that my insurance has approved the surgery. However, my Doctor's office has not received the approval yet. I am still waiting to hear back from the doctor's office. I am trying to have surgery before the end of the year since my deductible has already been met. I am so anxious waiting. I am glad you heard back today. Hurray!!!! I hope I receive a call really soon.

Edited December 3, 201411 yr by hicksfamily

hicksfamily, I asked the insurance company to fax the approval letter to me and then I faxed it to the surgeon's office. I got my date quicker than if I had waited for the insurance company to contact the surgeon.

Scheduled surgery yesterday for January 6. It's a bit freak-inducing to have it be so concrete and so soon after so much waiting and deliberating. It's going to be an interesting month.