Megand

I am going to large hospital in Philadelphia, it's not an 800 clinic. This dr. come highly reccomended. I found out today that my insurance excludes bariatric surgery. There is nothing for the doctors to fight since its excluded. So now I get to be fat the rest of my life as i can not afford self pay. I can loose weight but can never keep it off. Just so frustated because it took a long time for me to come to terms with having to have surgery to help myself and feel like I have been punched in the gut.

This is gonna be a long one so bare with me. I had such high hopes for today. Come to find out my insurance might not cover this waiting to hear if there is an outright exclusion with insurance. The second thing was Dr. T. suggested the gastric sleeve rather than lap band. He said the surgeons in Sweden have stopped placing them due to success rate. They are now moving towards sleeve, but if I really want to be banded they would do what I am confortable with. I felt the dietician and exercise specialist were also pushing the sleeve saying with my issues this would be better. I feel more confused and let down now that I went to the appointment. I am really not confortable with them cutting away my stomach but the way they made it sound is like the band will be a failure for me. Has anyone dealt with this?

I meet with Dr. T. for the first time on Nov 2. I am so anxious! Have you met with him yet?

I received my pre-appointment paperwprk today and have been asking myself the same questions. I am so petrified to do this and petrified not to. I can lose up to 60 lbs with a lot of hard work but each time gain almost 80 back so whats the point? The point is I want to lie a long healthy life and if I don't do this now I never will. I am hoping since i have quite a lot of co-morbities that my insurance will pay because right now I can not do self pay:( Good luck and keep us posted.

Looking for anyone from Philly PA to talk about experience. I am going to Penn Presby Hospital for seminar but they are all a part of Univ of Penn network so I have a choice of 3 hospitals. My insurance does not cover but I am told the my PCP can fight for me. I am excited to get started on this journey, I have lived far too long overweight!

I am EXTREMELY close to my sister and both are very overweight. We are on the phone like 3-4 times a day, also text and email. I have not begun the journey just yet as I am waiting to attend my seminar on Jan 17. However when I mentioned lap band for me she freaked out yelling and telling me how disappointed she is in me for takin the easy way out. I hung up so sad and frustrated. The next day she joined WW. After a few days I called her and sent her all the research I have done so far. We talked about our weight history and issues and how each of us need to take our own paths while supporting each other no matter what. Maybe in a few days you and her can go out for a walk and talk this out. Say listen I feel like something isn't right with us. Is my talking about my weight loss upsetting to you and see how it goes from there. I always think its best to talk these things out because in the past I haven't and turned to food. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!

I am 36 over 300 lbs with hypertension, hypothyroid, asthma, and PCOS. I have Aetna insurance and when I called to see what they cover they said no to bariatric surgeries. I have been told that you can fight your insurance but I have no idea where to start. I have not attended any seminars yet as I just made the decision to look into lap band surgery. I did however purchase the new book is lap band surgery for me. I have my obgyn suggest this about 2 years ago and at the time the insurance said they don't pay so I did not push the issue. Well now I need to fight for my life. I just can not afford self pay as I was unemplyed for a year and my credit is awful now. Anyone who has been through this I would appreciate any advice. If you would rather email me privately my email is cakinqueen@yahoo.com Thanks!