I'm approved!

Okay, so this happened waaayyyyy faster than I thought! I went for my initial eval on 9/18/07. Saw the nutritionist and had my psych eval in early October. Had my sleep study done in mid-October. Carol at Dr. Averbach's called me last week to say they hadn't gotten my psych eval, so I had my therapist refax it. I called today to make sure they got it and that they had everything they needed to submit to BlueChoice and Carol said, "I was just about to call you....I just got your approval today!" What? So soon? I didn't even know they'd submitted it yet, and all of a sudden it's real! Yikes! She said they could schedule me as early as the week after Thanksgiving. Double Yikes! I thought I might be hyperventilating on the phone.   This is something I've been thinking about and praying about for many months. As I've been going through the testing and stuff, I've started to have doubts. My husband told me to just wait and see...I don't really have many comorbidities (just slightly high cholesterol and blood sugar) and my BMI is 39%, just under the 40% my insurance policy says is necessary for approval without comorbidities. John (my husband) felt that the insurance approval was kind of like a fleece for me.....that if I got approved despite not having all the "right" qualifications, then I'd know I was doing the right thing. I expected to have to wait weeks for approval, and here it is already! Wow. Anyway, I feel like I have so much to think about.  I asked about a pre-op diet, and apparently, Dr. Averbach didn't think I'd need to be on one. All I need to do is set up a date, attend a pre-op class at Dr. Averbach's office and have my presurgical testing done. Aaaahhhh! I'm trying not to freak out. I really do want to do this, right? Did you guys feel this way, too? Thanks....

Wow Chelle!!    You are on your way.   Your timeline is very similar to the one I was on in 2004 when I had my surgery.   I saw Dr Sofronski on January 29 and had my surgery on March 22 ... just about 7 weeks later. I spent several years 'thinking' before I realized that I really needed to do this so once I made up my mind I wanted it right then and there. Only you can decide if this is the right thing for you, but the fact that everything has come together for you is a good sign that it's right. Best wishes as your WLS journey continues. Hugs. Mo P.S.   You have found the right place though.   This Maryland message forum is an excellent source of support both on and off the board.

Woo Hoo! Today was a great day for approvals!!! Congrats Amy

Wow!  Congratulations!

Fast yeah I can relate to that, now you can breathe.  Congrats! Hugs Kristen

Congrats on the approval! You are on the fast track. Keep us updated. TraciL

Yes, I think everyone gets scared right as you approach the time for surgery. The class was what had me running scared. Then I found OH. Here I am a year later feeling fantastic!!! Congrats on your date for a new life!

Congratulations!  I'm happy that you did not have to go through a battle with your insurance company.

Congrats!  Besides my insurance approval taking a little long for my impatient self, my journey has been quick and smooth.  I believe that things happen for a reason. I'm well over the 40 BMI, but when I first started researching surgery, I was probably closer to where you are. My insurance then wouldn't cover it, regardless of my BMI. But, I doubt I was ready then. I'm very ready now!

Thanks for all your responses....now the question is, when do I schedule my surgery? I guess I just wasn't mentally prepared for such a quick approval and now I'm not sure what to do! I'll need at least two weeks prior to the surgery to do the pre-op class and have all my pre-op testing/exams done and we are going on vacation the week of Thanksgiving. Dr. Averbach has dates available as early as November 26th, but there's no way I'll be ready by then. I will also need to arrange for two weeks off work...for which I will probably not get paid. (I'm having the Lap band) Can I afford to do that right before Christmas? I've talked it over with my husband, and he would like me to wait until after the first of the year, but is understanding if I can't or don't want to do that.  On one hand, now that the approval has come, I want to do this as quickly as possible. On the other, there are practical considerations that would seem to make it better to wait. I'm also thinking about how having surgery and adjusting to this new way of life might affect my holidays.  I'll ask my doctor's office on Monday, but does anyone happen to know offhand if the surgery approvals have an expiration date? Like, are they only good for the next 45 days or something? All day today, I've been thinking to myslef...this is real! By this time next year, I could really be 90 pounds thinner! Everything I've done today, I've tried imagining myself doing with the band, or even better, at my goal weight. I'm excited and scared. Normal, I guess. Thanks again....I appreciate the support.