finally diving in

Hi Y'all, I'm embarrassed to admit that I've been a "lurker" on the MD message board for a while now.   This is my first time posting (what can I say...I'm shy), but I feel as if many of you are already my friends.  What a lovely, spirited, supportive bunch of folks we have here on the Maryland Board!  You've all been infinately helpful to me with the information and insight you've shared.  THANKS!!!  I hope you'll forgive me for not chiming in sooner.   The  news is that my surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday, July 17th with Dr. Schweitzer!  It's hard to believe that I've got less than a week to go.  This will definately be a year of lasts and firsts (last eclair, last donut, first time to shop in a regular size store, first time to not have to lay down on the bed to zip up pants using a coat hanger...)  Can't wait!! All the best to Jay and Mo for a speedy recoveries from your recent procedures.  Jo and Nancy, congrats on your upcoming surgery dates with Dr. S!!  I'll have to miss the Bayview support group this time around (I was there last month), but I'll definately be there next month!   Thanks again everyone and have a great weekend! Cheers, Elaine              

 Elaine! Welcome 'aboard'.   I know there are always lurkers out there and it's always exciting when a lurker speaks up and becomes a part of the group. Best wishes for an uneventful surgery and a very speedy recovery! I'm looking forward to meeting you off the board and getting to know you better. Hugs, Mo p.s.   Thanks for the good wishes!   I am feeling so much better now that the stent is out.   It's 6 a.m.-ish and I'm trying to decide about getting dressed and going to the gym, fixing a pot of coffee or just going back to bed.   The best thing is for the gym to even be in that mix of options again!

Hi Elaine!! Welcome to the group. Glad you finally posted. Your journey is about to begin. This has been a wild ride with so many joys!!! Can't wait til you have your spot on the losing side. Aime

Elaine, Welcome to the board!  And, good luck on your upcomingsurgery with Dr. S!  Thanks for the well wishes.  I can't wait for six weeks to go by, so I can get back in the gym.

Welcome Elaine!  I am also scheduled for the 17th with Dr. Singh and I am feeling a little overwhelmed.  Good luck with everything. 

Welcome! I lurked also! SHhhhhhhh Tell me all the details about your doctor. I was recommended to see him and he is who I think I will go to. What was required by his office to do???? Did you have nutritionist, psych eval? We they proactive on the insurance???? How long after the consult was the date set for surgery??? Did he want the 6 month diet done before seeing him????? Jennifer

Hi Jennifer, I originally chose Dr. Schweitzer at Bayview because he's the surgeon that my insurance (Johns Hopkins EHP) would pay for.   However, since then, I've been happy to find out that he's one of the very best.  Most folks say that he's very direct and to the point , but he really knows what he's doing.  I guess I'll find out next Tuesday!  When I had my consult with Dr. Schweitzer (it took 2 months to get the appointment  so start now!), I was told that it would be about 4-6 weeks before I'd hear back from insurance.  Then, once approved, surgery would be scheduled for about 30 days later.  While I was waiting to hear from insurance, they gave me a "to-do" list.  This included bloodwork, nutrition consult and they psych evaluation (Dr. Vadiya is wonderful!).  Dr. Schweitzer's office seems to have a pretty good idea about what the insurance companies may look for, so they have you working on those tasks from the beginning.  I didn't have to do a 6 month diet, but they did want documentation of 6 months of supervised weight loss history (my primary Dr. was able to provide this).  My consult was in late March, and I got my surgery date in mid-June.  My only complaint thus far is that his new secretary delayed in sending all of my paperwork into the insurace company for over a month.  That held up the process by about 30 more days.  So, I'd suggest to follow up with the surgeon's office to insure that your paperwork is where it should be.  My insurance company was awesome and didn't drag their feet with anything.  I feel so incredibly lucky.  It seems like a lot of people really have to fight tooth and nail to get the insurance approval.  I'm sure that part of the ease in my situation is that I have Hopkins insurance and was using a Hopkins doctor.     On his website www.smallscar.com there's a power point presentation on the surgery process.  Bayview  also has informational meetings.  Looks like there is one tomorrow night. If you can't make it then, I'm sure they'll have another meeting soon.  Here's their website http://www.hopkinsbayview.org/bariatrics/calendar.html.   I hope this is helpful to you.  Best of luck with your journey! Take care, Elaine

Hi Elaine! Thanks for giving me all of the info. My insurance plan states that I need to do the 6 months of some sort of supervised program so I am doing Weigh****chers for 3 months then I will se my PCP and get monthly weigh ins. Now here is what I think about this little deal. Get ready! If I had managed to keep the 5 thousand pounds that I had lost over the years only to regain mind you then I certainly would not be doing this surgery! I Do not see the point. I did find out that towards the end of the 6 months I am to make an appointment with the surgeon ( after seeing the PCP and getting the referal) then I will be finishing the 6 months while getting the psych and nutritionist appointments done around the same time. I already did a sleep study so just in case that is done. I then hear it only takes the insurance about 1 week or so after all the paperwork to get approved and then the surgery can be done.  Now in my head it all goes so smoothly.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my head. I will be keeping my fingers crossed. Best of luck Keep in touch Jennifer

My sentiments exactly about the 6 months supervised weight loss.  It made no sense to me either.  Since then, I've come to feel that it's just another stalling tactic that insurance companies use.  They require it because they CAN.  It is interesting to see the disparities between the different health plans.  Some require the 6 months supervision, some require a certain documented timeframe of how long you've been obese (my birthmom's company required 5 years of weight history!), some don't require anything as long as you meet the NIH criterion.  It sounds like you've made a good plan of attack.  That 6 months will be over in no time, so hang in there! Take care, Elaine 

Hi Elaine and welcome, I agree this is a great bunch of people. I hope all your tests and procedures go smoothly for you. I realy like how you listed firsts and lasts.  Mark, who lurked in stealth mode too