I'm Approved!! - ThinnerTimes

mermiesmom · 05-19-2008, 05:53 AM

Hi Everyone,

I am so excited!! I found out on Friday afternoon (late) and I just didn't have time to post this weekend. Hopefully my surgeon's office will be calling this week with a date. I am also having my gallbladder taken out as it is giving me a whole lot of problems right now. I found out last year that I had gallstones, but they never bothered me until just a few weeks ago. Now my doctor wants to remove my gallbladder when he does the surgery. I am not really worried about it, I just hope my gallbladder will hold out until they can get me a surgery date. I just really REALLY don't want to have 2 separate surgeries.

Anyway, thanks to everyone on here for your encouragement and your posts... I love reading them even if I don't post very much.

katzz87 · 06-09-2008, 10:47 AM

Sorry for such a late posting....but congrats!

Never realized how many posts I was skipping until John (the web admin.) added the "side bar" options!

So tell us a little about your journey so far...

Caren · 06-09-2008, 11:25 AM

woohoo wtg judy good luck

Debs · 06-09-2008, 11:33 AM

Congratulations on your approval, still waiting for my date for surgery. Should be late July or early August. Debs

shereeks · 06-09-2008, 12:14 PM

Congrats on getting your approval! You must be so excited! Yee hah - your day will soon be here.

BuCwiLd · 06-09-2008, 02:02 PM

congrats on your approval.. i hope for the same

Toony · 06-09-2008, 02:16 PM

Congrats! I'll never forget the magic moment I got word...

Things will start happening... so hang on!

mermiesmom · 06-10-2008, 11:31 AM

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for all of the encouraging words.

Well, I started this process over a year and a half ago. I started with a surgeon who performed the Open RNY surgery. I got about half way through his program and he decided to retire.

I was so upset at the time. I had not gotten to the approval stage yet, and I was just really disappointed that it wasn't going to happen. So then a few months later one of my friends had the surgery done, and she went through the Norfolk Surgical Group. She told me a little bit about it, and I decided to start all over and try to get this done again. So, I have been with the Norfolk Surgical Group for over a year now (I had to go through a 6 month pre-op diet) and I am finally set to have my surgery on July 7th. I am so extremely excited. And to tell you how awesome God works....when I had my first appointment with my surgeon, I told him about my disappointment with going through this before with another surgeon and then how he up and retired before I had the surgery. And my new surgeon, Dr. Brooks, said ...Judy, that was the luckiest day of your life. He told me that he had done so many revisions for the things that this other surgeon had done, and that if I had had the surgery with him, I probably would have had to come and had my surgery revised or God only knows what. So, I believe things turned out for the best. I really like my new surgeon, and I just can't wait for July 7th to finally get here (if it ever will!!).

Anyway, thanks for listening...and thanks again for your encouragement. That means a lot to me. And I really look forward to getting to know you all better too.

BuCwiLd · 06-10-2008, 12:28 PM

so when exactly should someone apply to their insurance?

mermiesmom · 06-10-2008, 12:43 PM

Well, I believe each surgeon has their own program that their patients have to go through before they submit to the insurance company. The insuance companies also have their own guidelines to complete or meet before they will approve. If you are not sure, you should call your insurance company and they can give you a list of their requirements. Also, ask your surgeon what they require.

My insurance company required over 40 BMI, 100 pounds over weight. Also, they required a 6 month diet with my primary care physician.

My surgeon required much more.... a Sleep Study (for Sleep Apnea) with a cleared letter from the sleep study dr, a Psych evaluation, a Nutrition class, a Exercise Class, Lots of lab work and tests, 2 support group meetings, I think there was something else, but I can't remember. They require you to do all of this stuff before they submit to the insurance, otherwise, it is a waste of time.

Hope this helps.