Hello fellow April surger...

Hello fellow April surgery buddies! I'm scheduled for lap RNY on 4/4/06. Received insurance approval after first submission so no issues there....just hanging around waiting for April to get here. Seems like it is so far away, doesn't it? Bonnie

Hi Bonnie, Congrats ! You are scheduled to have your surgery on my birthday ! I am scheduled on April 5, 2006 , so just the day after you ! You are right when you say it seems so far off ! The waiting game makes us so anxious ! I am on Medifast until my surgery to lose 10% of my weight . I get just five shakes a day and all the no-cal fluids I want . NO FOOD ! It is hard and it also makes April look even further away ! Keep in touch ! Maybe we can share the rest of our journey together ! Feel free to email me anytime ! Take Care , and , Carol

Hello Bonnie: I'm set to have my surgery on April 3, 2006. I'm curious though. I'm set to see my PCP on 2/10 and he will be the one to write the letter to the insurance company. My Surgeon Ass't. check the plan and knows that there is no waiting period and in the past this insurance has approved right away all patients. Do you think I have enough time to get approval before April 3? I'm currently going to all of the pre testing appointments....the EKG, Echo, sonogram, etc. I'm anxious and acutally have a seperate calender just for this surgery. Are you doing anything as far as nutrition to prepare your body for surgery? april

Hi April - congratulations on your surgery date! In response to your question, it seems to me that your insurance company will have sufficient time to approve your surgery if your PCP or surgeon submits all the paperwork on 2/10. My insurance company approved me within 2 weeks so I don't see a problem for you since your surgeon is allowing about 6 weeks (or slightly more). I also keep a separate calendar for all my pre-surgical appointments. When you're right in the middle of all the testing, there always seems to be another appointment to keep track of. I had to have it all written down just to keep my sanity. I am currently trying to lose 10 pounds before surgery since losing weight makes the liver easier to handle during surgery. Unlike a lot of surgeons that I have read about, my surgeon does not require a liquid diet other than one day before surgery. I will be trying to increase my protein intake just to promote healing after surgery, but other than that (and trying to lose weight) I'm not really doing anything special. How about you? Bonnie

Hey Bonnie, I'm sorry for taking so long to respond. The doctor will write the letter in about two weeks. He wants to see some other paper work from my orthopedic doctor and prior PCP. I have New York Presbyterian Health insurance under medicaid. I was told that they respond pretty quickly and have approved most people. I don't wanna get this far with all the testing and not get approved. I have so many issues with my health that I'm not even working. Question: How does the protein help in the healing process before the surgery? and How do you take it? (Shake, powder) Thanks bonnnie all of you are great

Proteins are the building blocks of the body. Carbs are for quick energy, but for building muscle (or maintaining muscle) and repairing the body, you want protein. Bonnie

Cong. My Surgery is April 5. I Wish you all the best and my God Bless you. Your Fellow April Buddie, Nanette

Hi Nanette - welcome to the April 2006 board and congratulations on your surgery date. Best of luck to you as well. Let's all try to keep in touch to track each others' progress and help each other out during the early post op days when we don't know what we're doing! Take care! Bonnie

Hi Bonnie! I, too, am hanging around for April to get here : ). My surgery is scheduled for April 27th. And though it seems so far away, just imagine how far away it would seem if we DIDN'T have a date already..lol. Hang in there!