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Normal BMI - I finally got to a normal BMI (25).  This has been a great journey, and I'm still hoping to lose a few pounds to put me safely in normal territory.  Thanks to everyone who supporte...

6 month surgiversary, less than 5 pounds from norm - This is a shout out to the newbies who stress about the process.  I know everyone's journey is different, but mine is an example of it just not being that hard.  I know people ...

What to eat/not to eat? Nothing fits all the rule - I'm just starting my fifth week post-op.  I feel like I have impossibly many constraints on what I can eat based on what my stomach tolerates, what my palate tolerates, and all the...

Two weeks postop progress. Need vitamin ideas! - I got my sleeve two weeks ago today.  I healed up very well, and had no problem staying hydrated.  The worst part wasn't the incisions but the allergy to the steri-strips -- I got ...

Sleeved! What I did right (long) - Hi OH! My surgery on Monday at noon went super smooth.  My poor husband was terribly nervous, more than me even, and everyone was kind to him and answered all his questions.  Th...

Finally got approval! - I just learned that BCBS will cover my procedure.  In addition to submitting the appeal to OPM (which I still haven't heard back from), I had my doc re-submit to insurance directly...

OMG, approved after appeals! Need to transfer app - Oh my gosh, I can't believe it.  It's been over eight months since my doctor first submitted to insurance.  My first denial (BCBS Federal Employee) was last October -- got turned d...

Giving up my daily glass of wine. Boo. - I really enjoy my daily glass of wine or two.  Sometimes I really like a margarita with Mexican food or a beer at a picnic.  I really like a fine wine paired with a lovely gourmet ...

At long last I have a date! - Although I'm still on my third appeal, I've decided to go ahead and get 'er done.  June 6, 2011! I'm told by the Office of Personnel Management (the appeal authority for BCBS Fe...

More impediments -- need support - I just saw another doc today to pursue self-pay, which I'm resorting to given how badly my insurance process has gone.  I still have a hail-mary appeal in to the Office of Personne...

Anybody go to Stanley Hoehn? from out of town and - I just read the federal regulations and it says the Office of Personnel Management has 90 days (!) to review my appeal.  90 days.  Aarrrgg!  (For those of you not following my lame...

Okay to ask for an MD anesthesiologist? What's th - I am wondering whether it's the norm to have an actual MD as an anesthesiologist, or whether a certified nurse anesthetist or tech is more common.  What did you have, or do you kno...

How long for an OPM appeal review? - I have the BCBS Federal Employee Plan, administered by Carefirst.  They have denied me twice for coverage of a VSG, and I'm just about to submit an appeal to the Office of Personne...

More VSG appeal verbiage - The benefit plan language on bariatric surgery (2010 brochure, page 54) says that it covers surgical procedures:   “ordered and billed by a physician, such as…Gastr...

More arguments that the VSG is a standard of care - In a letter dated October 14, 2010, Blue Cross BlueShield Federal Employee Program (BCBS FEP) denied prior approval for a Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) for me as a standalone procedure f...

Arguments to use in insurance appeal - Hi All, My insurance company denied covering the sleeve gastrectomy (SG) because they said it isn't a standard of care because it's usually reserved for the "extremely obese with ...