NewKat

Now I AM scared! First time i was denied even though the rep told me that everything looked great except the 6 month diet. I just turned in my notes this week and now I am waiting to hear. The doctors office called to let me the the insurance was asking for additional info such a a couple of PCP visits earlier in 2010 to see what I weighed then, I did not do very well with the 6 month diet. I yo-yoed my way back and forth through 10 pounds. But if I could do this on my own without this "tool", then why would I need the surgery in the first place? I am so afraid they are going to deny me again.

I am in Alabama, but less than a mile from the GA line. Was hopeing you were having your surgery done in LaGrange. I am waiting on approval. Good luck!

Mine was submitted Monday. I am on pins and needles too! I am so afraid something will go wrong. I have not done very well on the 6 months diet. I went to the doctor every month, but have only lost a tolal of 8 lbs. I keep thinking that they will understand that if I could do this on my own, I would not be asking for approval.I am trying to focus on just getting the word that it has been approved, but the fear of the surgery itself still sneaks in too. i hope you hear soon that everything is ready and you get your date very soon. Kathy

I am asking if there are any other people that have had the sleeve surgery that consider themselves addicted to food? I find that I eat anything I can find during the day. I eat when I am happy, sad, sick, well, anytime I am awake, I eat. I have my first appointment with the surgeon on the 20th. I am so excited, but yet I am wondering about food cravings. At the seminar the surgeon said that you lose a lot of the sense of hunger. I don't eat because I feel real hunger. I eat because I love to eat. Will the loss of the part of my stomach that triggers hunger also affect the part of me that just craves food? Will it even help, or will I continue to think of the next thing I can find to eat? If it even helps control that I think I will be fine. Not afraid of the surgery, just wanting to stop craving food. Please advise.

Has anyone been able to appeal the 6 month waiting period for surgery? Already had sleep study, (severe apnea), and have letters from 2 of my doctors. I am getting appointment for EDG tomorrow. These are tests that I needed anyway since I am having more problems with headaches, fatigue, GERD, etc. I have 2 policies, but one has total exclusion of gastric surgery. The other pays 80/20, but has 6 months supervised MD visits before approval. I don't think my health will hold out another 6 months. Will a letter do any good? Has anyone written personal letters to the insurance company? The more I try to get testing and jump through hoops, the more depressed I am getting. I have no clothes left to wear, though I have a closet full, I get up sick, go to bed sick, stay sick all day while trying to work. Any hope anyone could give me that I can get around this would cheer me greatly right now.

I haven't been able to find anyone that has has their surgery done in Lagrange, Georgia. Still waiting on testing to be completed and to find out if my insurance company will accept a letter stating that I have tried Adipex since last March as proof of the 6 month wait. Has anyone else been able to use a letter such as this to get by the 6 month waiting period? I did not see my MD every month. This doctor only sees patients every 3 months and I was seeing him for arthritis.

Yes! Thank you so much! Address is kathy.maynard@irg.net

I had my first visit with the surgeon last Thursday. i was disappointed to hear that my primary insurance has an exclusion for any type of weight loss surgery. I work in the office of a Physical Therapy company so I guess they believe I could just exercise this weight off. My secondary insurance will pay after the 6 month physician supervised weight loss regimen. I was so ready for this. It has taken me 2 years to get to this point. This should be my choice now. My BMI was 37.7 last Thursday. I am 55 years old, and just sick of being held back by my weight. I am not taking this lightly. I am scared, excited, and scared again. I simply love to eat. It is my friend and comfort and good time. I know it will be hard to fill in all the places that I have filled with food all these years. I will be thinking about all of you that are taking this journey tomorrow. My prayers are with you. Kathy