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First consultation in 2 days! Help



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Hello there I'm new to this. I have my first pre op consultation on tuesday at 10 am.

I have no Idea what to excpect. I've been looking into weight loss surgery for a year now.

I live in California and have MediCal/IEHP just yo get approved for a consultation my Dr. Submitted a severe apnea test and 2 months of weight watchers. Will that count to get approved for surgery sooner?

Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

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Hello welcome to bariatricpal! Everyone's experiences are a little different I think but there might be someone with a similar insurance who could tell you their experience. My first consultation, I went to the surgeon's office, he evaluated me and recommended the type of surgery he thought would be best for me which happened to be the laparoscopic gastric sleeve. He told me what it entailed (cutting my stomach and making it smaller) and of things I could expect, what I couldn't eat anymore and the type of lifestyle I would have to adapt to after the surgery.

He also told me I would have to see a bunch of specialists that my insurance covered, an endocrinologist, gastroentrologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist, respiratory doctor and nutritionist. I had to be cleared by all these people in order to be approved for the surgery and it took roughly 6 months to complete this process. Then he'd have to submit all that information to the insurance company to get it approved. He also told me I had to go on a liquid diet 2 weeks prior to surgery and had to pay $300 out of pocket for the program fee and food they were to give me during that time period. Some people have to go on a 6 month pre-op diet but I didn't have to. Anyways I wish you the best with your consultation and hope everything goes well.

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Hi. I had to see all those doctors mentioned above. My insurance required 4 months of Doctor visits for weigh ins . I was sleeved on 5/29/15. SW 320. CW 195. GW 185. I added a pic to see the progress. Feel free to ask any questions you may have

post-244766-14585599083453_thumb.jpg

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Omg @@atontor congrats you look amazing

Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

Thank you

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He also told me I had to pay $300 out of pocket for the program fee and food they were to give me during that time period. Some people have to go on a 6 month pre-op diet but I didn't have to.

No, No, No. You have Managed Medi-Cal. You can't be forced to pay any "program fee" or for any supplements or shakes. By law, all you are responsible for are your copays. Period. Call IEHP and tell them that this doc is trying to overcharge you. They will remind him that he can't do this.

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Hello there I'm new to this. I have my first pre op consultation on tuesday at 10 am.

I have no Idea what to excpect. I've been looking into weight loss surgery for a year now.

I live in California and have MediCal/IEHP just yo get approved for a consultation my Dr. Submitted a severe apnea test and 2 months of weight watchers. Will that count to get approved for surgery sooner?

Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

Where in cali are u at? I had mine done through medical as we'll. How they said it depends on ur dr. All my process took about a month. For me, was every time I finished an appt I would call my drs office and let them know. And I would tell them ok my next step. I think the only thing I paid for was the nutritionist, because the ones that medical provided were to far. But good luck, like I said especially with medical, just keep basically stay on top of them.

Good luck and hopefully it all goes through smoothly!

Sent from my SGH-M919N using the BariatricPal App

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Hi. I had to see all those doctors mentioned above. My insurance required 4 months of Doctor visits for weigh ins . I was sleeved on 5/29/15. SW 320. CW 195. GW 185. I added a pic to see the progress. Feel free to ask any questions you may have

attachicon.gif ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1458559907.602226.jpg

You look amazing im inpressed

Sent from my SM-N910P using the BariatricPal App

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My experience was really smooth. I met the doctor after my vitals and weight were done. He showed me the different procedures and suggested the sleeve. They turned in the preapproval and I went to the psych evaluation the next day. Within a week I was approved and the scheduled my surgery in 2 weeks time. My whole process was 29 days from consult to sugury. Good luck...you know that you want to make this lifestyle change so you will be fine! I have surgery in 4 days....whoo hooo!

Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

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My experience was really smooth. I met the doctor after my vitals and weight were done. He showed me the different procedures and suggested the sleeve. They turned in the preapproval and I went to the psych evaluation the next day. Within a week I was approved and the scheduled my surgery in 2 weeks time. My whole process was 29 days from consult to sugury. Good luck...you know that you want to make this lifestyle change so you will be fine! I have surgery in 4 days....whoo hooo!

Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

I'm happy for u!!!

Falecha

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I have my first consult/surgeon consult next Friday. Very excited to start the process and know I'll have to jump through all sort of hoops, but am ready!

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My experience was really smooth. I met the doctor after my vitals and weight were done. He showed me the different procedures and suggested the sleeve. They turned in the preapproval and I went to the psych evaluation the next day. Within a week I was approved and the scheduled my surgery in 2 weeks time. My whole process was 29 days from consult to sugury. Good luck...you know that you want to make this lifestyle change so you will be fine! I have surgery in 4 days....whoo hooo!

Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

I'm happy for u!!!

Falecha

What insurance did you have?

Did you do 3 to 6 months supervised diet?

Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

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    • 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.

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        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.

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