I am finally approved!!!!!!! It only took a week or so. I am so excited and scared all at the same time!!! The only dark spot is that the determination is only good for 60 days so I have eight weeks to get the surgery scheduled and done or a new request will have to be submitted. But everything else is completed so it should be no problem!!!!!!!!:Banane01::purplebananna:

Right now, there are quite a few doctors that can do the surgery within that time frame with the economy the way it is. From the time of my initial consult to the day of surgery was 3 weeks and 1 day. Just get a physician with experience in doing the procedure. Best of luck to you!!!

Glad you got it approved. I haven't checked the mail today so maybe I got a letter:lol:

Check and if you did not get a letter, have your doctor's office call BCBS - there may be a problem with the information sent in. And it may be something as small as a form that was not signed.

On another note, at the same time, I learned that I have to have a stress test. Uggghhh!!!!!!! Will the hoops ever stop!!!! But this is not the insurance company, it is the surgeon's office and they told me that they would still schedule me for surgery, but must have the test done. So, I am scheduled for in the morning at 7:30 a.m.:redface:

I am finally approved!!!!!!! It only took a week or so. I am so excited and scared all at the same time!!! The only dark spot is that the determination is only good for 60 days so I have eight weeks to get the surgery scheduled and done or a new request will have to be submitted. But everything else is completed so it should be no problem!!!!!!!!:crying::redface:

WOOOHOOOO im excited for you!!!!

I got my letter also. I am going to call the doctors office this morning.

Whitwolf, I am so very happy for you!!!! Let me know when you get a surgery date, who knows, we may even be banded at the same time.

Woot!!!!!

drtoliver, have you went to see the doctor yet? I haven't seen mine yet and they say that they are slower to get the paperwork.

Yep, I have completed everything and the only thing left is an ultrasound of my gallbladder, meet with the PA (Friday, June 5th) and meet with the surgeon on Tuesday, June 9th and surgery June 10th (Wednesday)!!!!!!

Stress test came back normal, so everything is a go, with no worries. I imagine that they will tell me on Friday, the 5th, what I can and can't have to eat/drink, etc.

Let me know how you are doing? And if you are not getting the response you want, don't give up!!!!! Keep pushing, it will happen.

I have an appointment on the 15 for initial consultation and I see the nutritionist to start my pre-op diet.

How long will your pre-op diet be? Are they just starting the process or has your insurance approved and these are just the steps before you have surgery. If so, it may only be a matter of a week or two before surgery!!!!! Yeah!!!!! I am getting nervous as a, well, you can fill in the blanks.

But at the same time, I am so excited to get this journey underway.

Who is the surgeon again?

the diet will be for 2 weeks to get my liver to shrink. The insurance has approved so it looks like it may be the end of the month for surgery

Yep, I have completed everything and the only thing left is an ultrasound of my gallbladder, meet with the PA (Friday, June 5th) and meet with the surgeon on Tuesday, June 9th and surgery June 10th (Wednesday)!!!!!!

Stress test came back normal, so everything is a go, with no worries. I imagine that they will tell me on Friday, the 5th, what I can and can't have to eat/drink, etc.

Let me know how you are doing? And if you are not getting the response you want, don't give up!!!!! Keep pushing, it will happen.

How did your surgery go?

I am having mine on July 2nd and right now I am nervous.

Surgery went very well. I am down 11 pounds since June 10th. I was home by June 11 at 7:00 pm. Very little pain. Mostly when I woke up and they asked immediately and gave me something immediately for the pain. No sickness or anything like that. I have not had any problems, except I am tired of the liquid phase. You would think that I would like having sugar free pudding, Jello, popsicles, etc. But after a certain amount of time, it gets old. However, I am on the home stretch. I start mushies next week, so I am excited. The blender is ready and waiting. I also have been walking almost two miles a day and the exercise helps a great deal. Especially right after surgery. Walk, walk, walk. I had very little gas pains at all. Let me know how you are doing. I will be glad to be a support system for you!!!!

D:thumbup: