lfruge

This is my story.   I had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, knee surgery, gerd, and diabetes.  Apparently,  I inherited everything my Mom had. I watched my Mom try every diet plan she could...lose weight then to eventually gain it back again.  Four years ago I watched her health start declining.  Diabetes got worse, heart stint, then kidney failure.  She started dialysis and hated it.  Eventually, she had her leg amputated and it was down hill from there.  She never left the hospital.  I was not as overweight as she was. I promised myself that I would never end up like her.  All I needed to lose was 45 to 50 pounds.  I tried fad diets, drops under tongue, diet pills, carb. diets, diet books, exercise programs, Weight Watchers and other support groups and organizations. I would always lose, but end up putting it back on again.  When my Mom was diagnosed with kidney failure and I saw the suffering she was going through I knew I had to do something.  I called the hospital where my spouse works and they said they had a program through their insurance company that I could participate in and after completing the program my insurance co. would cover the surgery.  This program would last for 1 year.  I agreed.  I did as they program said...I saw a Dr every month for weight monitoring and health check ups...I participated in a diet program....exercise program..and sought counseling.  When 10 months had passed...I contacted the insurance company and they said they stopped the program and switched over to another program.  I was never notified.  I had all my signed documentations. The hospital was unaware of the change.  The insurance stated they started a different type of program and I would have to get approval for the new program. I had to attend a seminar on bariatric surgery and go through 16 weeks of classes. I was upset, but after going through all I had done..there was NO turning back.  I contacted my bariatric surgeon and he submitted all my paperwork. I attended his seminar and took online classes every week and a test at the end of each class.  I received certificates each week for completing each class.  I really loved the classes and learned so much more from them.  After completion of all my classes a letter was submitted from the program to the insurance company and they said I met all the qualifications. I was so excited until I found out the insurance company was only going to pay out a one time amount and I would have to pay the difference.  The deductible was not considered in bariatric surgery.  I was so upset but determined to continue on.......I called my Dr. and told him I was approved for the surgery and he had also received the same letter.  I then arranged to have my surgery at the hospital where my husband works.  The hospital was considered a Bariatric Center of Excellence when I started the 1st program.  Then to my amazement the insurance company informs me that the hospital is no longer a bariatric center of excellence.  They told me the closest bariatric center was 2 hours away.  Of course, that meant I would have to find a new Dr. and this would prolong the surgery. How much bad news could I receive.  I thought is this a sign for me not to have this surgery.  Then I get another call from the insurance co. stating there was another hospital in our area that was considered a bariatric center of excellence.  I then called my Dr. and he said he does surgery there.  Finally good news!  Get this..the insurance company calls me back again to tell me they will pay for my surgery at the hospital my husband works at because I started the program when they were a bariatric center of excellence.  There was no way I was changing my mind again.  It was a go.  I ended up having lap band surgery.  It has now been 6 months.  I am losing weight slowly.  My Dr. is doing a small fill every month so I can get used to it.  I am almost there with the fills.  My friends all say....why did you have that done,  you don't have a lot of weight to lose, you didn't need that.  I tell them.....It's not only weight issues..it's health issues too.  I qualified for health issues. I want to be able to see my grandchildren grow up and don't want to follow in the same footsteps as my Mom.   I am now sleeping better, off of blood pressure medicine, gerd medicine, and insulin injections.  This choice may not be your choice, but it was mine and I'm glad I made this decision, stuck to it, and went through all this hard work.  I would NOT recommend this surgery to anyone.  It's your choice..you make your decision. I had determination and still do and I'm glad I made the right one.