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lehana

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lehana    12

lehana
Posted

I had my very first consult with my surgeon last week. I LOVED HIM! He probably spent an hour or better just chatting with me about the surgery, benefits, complications, expectations, etc. It was a wonderful visit! That being said.... there is SO MUCH MORE paperwork and red tape and hoops to jump through than I ever imagined. I am a nurse so I have an insight to how insurance rules the world, but I had no idea!! For example, my insurance requires me to show proof of being followed by my family doctor for 6 months for weight loss.... Ok, no problem, we've got that. The catch is, it has to be 6 consecutive months, which I don't have, because my doc would see me and then say check back in with me in 6-8 weeks.... UGH! So, not knowing then what I know now, I have to start back at square 1 with the family doc for 6 months before we can set up surgery.......................... I just keep telling myself it's going to be worth it but DANG INSURANCE COMPANIES!!!!

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tlh4life    66

tlh4life
Posted

Insurance requirements can feel so defeating at times. Like you, I found out that I needed 6 consecutive months of nutrition visits. It's like seriously?! That being said, the time goes really fast. I have my fifth visit this month. I can't believe the final visit is in a month. It sounds like if you start now you could have your surgery by the end of summer, which is great! Best of luck on your journey!

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mochamommy727    36

mochamommy727
Posted

Per my insurance company's policy, I had to schedule six monthly diet visits with my doc as well. I thought it would take FOREVER but I'm already on month four, hoping my surgery will be scheduled in April. Yes, it's pretty frustrating but we'll get there! :)

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lehana    12

lehana
Posted

I guess what I'm frustrated with the most is that I have my 6 months and then some..... They just aren't CONSECUTIVE..... Totally bummed. :mellow:

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mochamommy727    36

mochamommy727
Posted

Yeah, that's pretty crummy -- to basically have the six monthly visits in your pocket but not having them count because the months weren't consecutive. :(

I just keep telling myself, "This will be my last November at this weight," "The next time I Celebrate Christmas, I will be at a healthier weight," "This will be my last January at this weight," and so on. It has helped me to stay motivated the these last few months.

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tlh4life    66

tlh4life
Posted

That's a great way of thinking about it Mochamommy!

Yeah, that's pretty crummy -- to basically have the six monthly visits in your pocket but not having them count because the months weren't consecutive. :(

I just keep telling myself, "This will be my last November at this weight," "The next time I Celebrate Christmas, I will be at a healthier weight," "This will be my last January at this weight," and so on. It has helped me to stay motivated the these last few months.

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Tufflaw    465

Tufflaw
Posted

One of the doctors told me that there's no medical need whatsoever for the six month requirement. The insurance companies just don't want to spend the money, so they make you wait 6 months hoping that either you won't complete the program, in which case no surgery. You lose interest, in which case no surgery. Or you drop dead, in which case no surgery. Any way they can save money is good for them.

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jennijo    38

jennijo
Posted

I have make the choice to change my life also. I too have to do 6 months of weight loss with family dr and psych evaluation and 3 years of weight loss charts. It sounds like a lifetime 6 months that is but I did this to myself and if only 6 months is standing in my way, I've got this!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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dodlbug    23

dodlbug
Posted

The health group I'm with has a designated bariatric program which has scheduled meetings, helps you get everything done you need for insurance requirements.

Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

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lehana    12

lehana
Posted

That is an awesome outlook! I'm totally stealing this and doing it for myself too! On that note, I called and scheduled my Jan. appt with my doc today!

Yeah, that's pretty crummy -- to basically have the six monthly visits in your pocket but not having them count because the months weren't consecutive. :(

I just keep telling myself, "This will be my last November at this weight," "The next time I Celebrate Christmas, I will be at a healthier weight," "This will be my last January at this weight," and so on. It has helped me to stay motivated the these last few months.


I'm sure that's 100% true! Insurance truly does run the world!

One of the doctors told me that there's no medical need whatsoever for the six month requirement. The insurance companies just don't want to spend the money, so they make you wait 6 months hoping that either you won't complete the program, in which case no surgery. You lose interest, in which case no surgery. Or you drop dead, in which case no surgery. Any way they can save money is good for them.

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lehana    12

lehana
Posted

I have a folder full of "stuff" to be done. I'm slowly checking things off and I scheduled my Jan. appt with my family doc.... I've got this! I guess it's part of the "its a marathon not a sprint" mentality that they're prepping us all for!

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • LeighaTR

      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

      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!
      · 0 replies
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    • Alisa_S

      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

        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

      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

        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

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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