Hi all,

I am just beginning my exploration into bariatric surgery, and am trying to figure out the insurance logistics of it all. The BCBS RI website isn't very helpful besides to say the surgery is covered after my deductible. Does anyone know if they have the 6 month nutrition requirement? I have seen people from other states say the requirement has been removed from their BCBS, but nothing for RI. Also, what about all the preliminary tests and appointments? Are copays due for all those visits? I plan to go through Miriam hospital if I decide to do it. My initial consultation isn't until November and I am trying to research as much as I can before then.

I’m the 28th!

Yayyyyyy I have a surgery twin on this thread

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Yayyyyyy one of my surgery sister's is having hers on the 28th as well

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13 hours ago, briae13 said:

That's awesome! Christine in Dr. Stafford's office has been good to me (did my approval right over the phone when she found out it still hadn't been entered & personally faxed/made sure she got the fax back about my pre op testing appointments). Lady is a life saver lol but I think I'll be right on track, so long as I can get in for my consult with surgeon the same week as testing then I know I'll be good, after all I have to wait a month before surgery anyway also aside from weight I'm a pretty healthy person, no outstanding medical issues aside from some back pains. So I don't think tests will show anything so at this point I'm planning for early February and enjoying my holiday time in between if it doesn't pan out then I can cross that bridge when it comes (but crossing fingers none the less lol)

I spoke with Christine once or twice right at the beginning and she was really great! Fingers crossed for you for early Feb, and in the meantime enjoy the holidays! Have a NYE cocktail for me!

59 minutes ago, BeTrue83 said:

Yayyyyyy I have a surgery twin on this thread

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Yay!! We can check in on each other!!

Yay!! We can check in on each other!!

Yes I am going to tag her@ladyafrica

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Hope all of you had fast and easy surgeries!!! And best of luck with recovery [emoji175]

Hope all of you had fast and easy surgeries!!! And best of luck with recovery [emoji175]

Thank you so much

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Yay!! We can check in on each other!!

How did everything go???

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How did everything go???

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It’s been rough for than I expected. I came home today, three nights in the hospital. For me, and for my roommate who have the same procedures, it was intense nausea slowing us down. We both had large hiatal hernia repairs as well as the gastric bypass. Today feels a lot better. But I don’t imagine I’m going to be feeling anything like normal until towards the end of the week.

How about you?

It’s been rough for than I expected. I came home today, three nights in the hospital. For me, and for my roommate who have the same procedures, it was intense nausea slowing us down. We both had large hiatal hernia repairs as well as the gastric bypass. Today feels a lot better. But I don’t imagine I’m going to be feeling anything like normal until towards the end of the week.

How about you?

I definitely understand I went in Tuesday and was released Thursday... I wasn't getting enough liquids in and felt horrible.... I'm only getting 16.9oz of water in a day and some popsicles.... I hate protein shakes now and yogurt

Sent from my VS990 using BariatricPal mobile app

It’s been rough for than I expected. I came home today, three nights in the hospital. For me, and for my roommate who have the same procedures, it was intense nausea slowing us down. We both had large hiatal hernia repairs as well as the gastric bypass. Today feels a lot better. But I don’t imagine I’m going to be feeling anything like normal until towards the end of the week.

How about you?

I had mine the same day as you. Awful nausea for about 48 hours after. Maybe the anesthesia? I’m doing pretty good. Staying sedentary and taking about 1/2 or a Norco 2x a day.

Hey! Just wondering how you all are holding up [emoji4] just got my date (2/22) and curious how everyone's doing post op

9 hours ago, briae13 said:

Hey! Just wondering how you all are holding up just got my date (2/22) and curious how everyone's doing post op

Hey! I just had my last nutritionist appointment last night and everything is ready to be submitted to insurance! Since I haven't had the sleep study or any of the other tests done yet, the nutritionist thinks I'm still 3-4 months out, which seems like a long time and is kind of a bummer but I think it will work out for the best. I am the maid of honor in a wedding at the end of May with a bachelorette weekend the first week in April and a shower to plan so if I didn't have the surgery by the end of February I was going to wait until June and based on the 3-4 month estimation it looks like it'll be June for me! If it were too close to the bachelorette it would be hard trying to eat puree every few hours while away for a weekend and don't want to risk jeopardizing my health or potentially not being there for her like I want to be. Plus I want to enjoy my oldest and best friends celebrations with her!

Any advise on things I can do now to prepare myself mentally/physically? I've decided to cut out all carbonation now so I can get used to that not being an option and I'd appreciate any other little tips of things you did, or wish you'd done.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Definitely get used to drinking lots of water! Post op is really hard to get your water in, so being used to drinking a full 64oz daily before hand can only help try and set the habit. If you're into instagram I also definitely suggest starting up an account for your weight loss journey! It's been so helpful to me mentally (and even physically) to follow other people's journeys and get advice/recipes/support from an awesome community. I've done a ton of research on everything and I've picked every brain I could find (especially surgeon, nut, etc.) and, for me, that's helped a TON to lessen some of my anxieties.

Other than that just remember to give yourself a break. Sounds silly but this process definitely has a way of stressing you out/messing with you mentally and physically. Give yourself a chance to catch your breath or even treat yourself (especially with the wedding on top of it all!).

Hope your journey goes smooth and well! [emoji4]

I’ve been absent for awhile. It’s hard to respond easily from my phone and I was having problems with the app. I’m trying to catch up a little but still on my phone.

Three weeks out today. Overall it’s gone well after the initial nausea slowed down. That was rough! I feel old this week is when the nerves are starting to heal so I’m feeling different things from my tummy. I’m feeling hunger and feeling “stop eating” a bit more now. Some things are making me queasy. Etc. none of it is bad, I’m just getting a chance to learn my new tummy.

As far as vitamins, etc go: I’m still not taking them all. Because of the nausea, the surgeons office said to hold off on incorporating all that stuff for a few weeks, so I’ve been slowly adding them in. In a week or two I’ll have everything incorporated.

Food is going fine, if boring. I’m still on puréed food, though I’ve allowed myself some stretch on “how” the food gets puréed. (Meatball gets puréed in my mouth. )

Anyway, mostly all is well. How about the rest of you?