AKMama

Hope everything works out for you. I'm in the process of waiting to see if i will be approved. It's like being on a roller coaster everyday. L

I'm afraid to lose any weight before the surgery. I'm afraid if I do I want qualify for the surgery anymore. Lara

So I have been on this sight awhile reading all kinds of post and really getting alot of great information. I had decided to have the surgery awhile back but what I am having a hard time with is that don't know how to start. Do I pick out a Dr. first or contact the insurance company. When I spoke with my family Dr. about deciding that I wanted the surgery all she had to say was good luck with that. So now I'm sitting here going what do I do? If any one can help I'd be so grateful. Thank you, Lara

Well, I'm not to worried about it. I got a new Dr. he's wonderful and very helpful.

Who do you have for insurance? Where did you have your surgery done? That's impressive.

Best of luck to you!!! Lara

Well, this sounds promising. I will have to chewck it out. Thanks for the information!! Lara

Hi, I was so happy to here from someone in Washington. I was talking with I think her name was Karen at Puget Sound. I was quoted around 16 thousand for the sleeve. She called me though and told me that BCBS FED normally wouldn't approve the sleeve because it is still considered exploritory. I think this is bull. So I have just been in limbo now for a while because I can't afford to pay that out of pocket. I haven't ever heard of Virginia Mason, I will have to look them up. Right now I am trying to find a new Dr. up here to do my 6 month monitered diet with. When I told my regular Dr. that I had decided I wanted to look in to a WLS. She was like good luck with that. Not how can I help, I agree - disagree nothing. So I'm really trying not to just give up. It was so nice to hear from someone who understands what I'm going through. Congratulations on getting approved!!! TTYL - Lara Hi there. I'm in Washington and I started this whole journey at Puget Sound Surgical Center. I have BCBS FEP. After 9 months, a couple of appeals, and then having to complete the 2011 requirements, I was finally approved. Don't give up! I swear they finally gave in because they were sick of hearing from me. I am now considering going through Virginia Mason in Seattle as it might be cheaper for me if it's done on an inpatient basis. I'm still awaiting price quotes from both facilities, but I do know that 2 surgeons are present for surgery at PSSC and you will be billed as so. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions. :-)

Wow congradulations, only 3 days. I am wondering now if it will ever happen for me. Way to go Ashley!!! I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks for the information, I am in Alaska and no one up here even does the Sleeve procedure. So I am going down to Washington to Puget Sound Medical Center. I keep a BMI of around 40 to 41. I have sleep Apnea, bad knees, borderline high Blood Pressure and my feet look like sausages. So I'm hoping that they will accept me. So how do you get away with 3 months diet and not 6months? Do most get their Dr. first or get approved by the insurance? Thanks again, Lara

So why is that some BCBS Fed will cover the Sleeve and some will not. Lara

Were you approved for the Sleeve? I was just told that my insurance will not cover the Sleeve because it is considered to still be in the experimental stage. Lara

I am just starting the process of getting sleeved (I hope if everything goes right) I have my Dr.s appointment the 19th, we'll see what she says. I was curious though does anyone have Blue Cross Blue Shied - Federal? and if so did it cover your surgery? I am just so excited at the thought of finally being able to lose some weight and feel better that I don't know what I'll do if my insurance doesn't cover it....

I know exactlly what you mean. Over the past 6 -7 months I have had a harder and harder time staying awake. It has finally gotton so bad that I cannot go to town (which is 110 miles away)anymore by myself because I will catch myself dozing off. I can't watch t.v. because I am sitting there the whole time with my head bobbing not able to stay awake. I hate it. I hope that whenever I eventually have the surgery it will help. Lara

Thank you, i feel like a kid waiting for Christmas.

I have been trying to find a surgen in Alaska that will do the Vertical sleeve. So far the only thing I've come across is possible in Kenia I think that might do it. I am still waiting to hear if my insurance will cover it or not. There is a place in Seattle Washington that does it and that's where I would like to go. I was so excited last month when I had decided to have the surgery but now this month I feel like it will never happen and I am going to always be fat and out of shape. I keep telling myself to have patience because I know it can take a while to have everything approved. Anyway have you found any support there in Anchorage? How much was it to go to Mexico and have the surgery done? How are you doing? Any complications? Hope to talk to you again, Lara

So how are you doing? I am in Delta Junction and have just started the steps to have the procedure done. Now I just have to find a Dr. who can do it.

Hello Everyone, My name is Lara and I live in Alaska in a very small town, I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful girls. After the birth of my last daughter I was never able to loose any weight, so for the past 12 years I have been dieting only to loose 20 lbs then gain back 30...you know how that goes. So... I have just decided to have the vertical sleeve procedure done. After a year of am I ready for this? I have looked all around at the different types of weight lose surgeries and came to the conclusion that this one sounded the least evasive and had the best results. The problem I'm having now though is I can't find anyone in the state of Alaska that does the procedure. So if I have to go outside to Washington does anyone have any suggestions as to who to go to? Thanks for any help givin, Lara