Would love to have a pen pal!

Would love to have someone to chat with that has gone through the WLS or is starting through the process like me! Just went for my first visit with Dr. Stellato on Monday, May 2. Went very well i think. Now to get papers all together to send to insurance company. Waiting on Sleep Study results to come back and need to have a psych evaluation yet. Then well go from there!!!!!!

Jackie, I would love to be your pen-pal/email pal. I have found that talking with several different people on this website is fun and gives great support to me and the other person. I am now 3 months out of surgery and live in the Dayton area. Not sure where freeport is. Email me if you would like to. Sounds like you are well on your way. Prior to surgery I had HTN, Sleep Apnea, etc. Don't know if you are a mother or not, but have a great day! Chris

Hi Chris! Thanks for replying. I am 38 years old and the mother of a 20 year old son. Just recently got remarried on December 17, 2004 to a wonderful man. We've been together for about 2 1/2 years. He supports me whole heartedly with this and so does my whole family. Im from the Cambridge area and have to drive about 2 hours to my appointments but i did alot of research and found that University Hospitals of Cleveland and Dr. Stellato had a good reputation so i chose them. Getting very anxious and excited, hope everything comes together for me!!! How long did it take for you to get approved after sending your paperwork in? Did you have a long wait or get the run around? My insurance company seems pretty good so far, we'll just have to wait and see! Write Back soon and nice to meet you!

Jackie, I have Anthem PPO and I first went to one surgeon and their office did all the initial evaluations-psych, dietitian, md, and tests. and their finance person submitted the paperwork and initially I had requested Lap-band surgery. Well, I think it was probably a month or so and they denied Lap band because they say it is experimental, but by the time the denial came I had decided that I really wanted RNY anyway. They submitted for that in early January, I think, and that was approved in about 1-2 weeks, I scheduled my date with the surgeon and then decided to go to hear another surgeon's information session and decided that I liked him better and that office only had to make a phone call to have the approval switched to him. That was 1/20/2005, and I had my surgery 2/7/2005 by the 2nd surgeon. I had a great experience and have been very pleased. So the whole process started in Nov 2004 and I had surgery 2/7/2005. The insurance covered a good bit of the initial bills, but are asking for more information about some additional bills that are coming in now. Feel free to email me anytime. Chris

Jackie~ I am 19 months post-op(and 9 months pregnant!!!!). Would love to share my experience with you... Feel free to email me at [email protected]!!! Take care! Brandi