PrincessBelle

I wasn’t able to find a March thread, so I guess I’ll start one. (If I missed it, someone let me know where to find it!) I got scheduled for 25 March a few weeks ago. Found out today that insurance approved! Getting my COVID test on the 19th. Any other March-ers??? Would be fun to have a place to share our experiences. :)

Hey y'all! How is everyone doing???? I am 6 weeks post- op now. I have been really lucky in that I had no real pain, got to go home several hours early the day after surgery, able to get back to work right away (not ideal but necessary), and every food phase has been okay. I hope everyone else is doing well too! I have two weeks until I am cleared to try anything I feel okay trying food-wise. As long as I can keep meeting my protein requirements mostly through real food, it's all good!!!

Hello! I am looking for anyone who can provide suggestions for experienced surgeons in Washington or Oregon with excellent stats. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts/advice as I search out the right surgeon for me! (Because of not having weight records with my PCP (as required for insurance coverage), this could be a LONG wait for me, but after giving up because of that, I have come to the conclusion that it is better to go ahead and, if it takes two years, that is better than just remaining like this for the rest of my (probably shortened) life.) Thanks in advance!

Hello! This is my first post! I have been reading here and on some other forums, and I have felt so inspired by all the people who have made this huge decision and worked so hard to make it work. I had never even thought about WLS until very recently, but after reading and reading and reading, I have started seeing this little ray of hope that maybe there is something I can do about my weight and help to ensure that I will be healthy and alive as long as I can for my daughter. I called my insurer (Federal Employee BC/BS Basic) and got all the information about what is required. I fit within their criteria - BMI of 35+ and co-morbidities for at least 2 years (although I have obviously been up and down as I am always trying to lose the weight and then regaining everything I lose), etc. HOWEVER, my PCP has never weighed me or taken down my weight! How in the world can I prove that I meet the 2-year requirement???? Am I out of the game before I've even started? I doubt there are many people out there with this exact problem, but I am hoping someone might have some words of hope for me, some suggestions, something. I have an appointment with my PCP in a couple of weeks, and I am going to broach the subject with him, but I don't really know what he could do. Thank you so much! I really am excited to join your community.

Thanks debi! Have you seen them yet? What research did you do? They are one that I am seriously interested in based on my insurance company's list. Plus, I love Portland and wouldn't mind visiting there a few extra times per year.

Yeah, I figured I would have to do the work. Isn't that always the way? Hahaha. Just wondering whether the surgeon's office will think I'm insane or will understand and be willing to submit. I guess there's no way to know until I try!

Thank you so much for your wonderfully thoughtful and useful advice. I have not let myself be photographed much, but I definitely know the dates of all photos I do have (although it would just be my word, I save and categorize pictures very carefully). I would even be able to figure out the size of clothes I was wearing in a given picture. I have personally tracked my weight for long periods over the course of the years, so I could offer that too for what it's worth - maybe worth more with my doc's statement that those weights correspond to what he saw in person over the years as far as me not appearing significantly thinner at any given time. Hmm, I will keep thinking and pondering! Is it the surgeon's office that has to submit all this crazy stuff?????

Thanks for the responses! I will definitely give the photos plus doc note a try. I wonder whether I should just call the insurer and ask about it now. I mean, it seems kind of nuts to decide on a surgeon and get myself all psyched up just to be denied because of the weight record. Ugh - hard to know what to do!

Thanks! I am supposed to show that I have been at it above a 35 BMI with comorbidities for at least two years. My PCP has no weight records not does my GYN. It's my own fault - I have never wanted to be weighed, and they haven't required it. Actually, no one has a weight record for me except me. I was reading on here that some people have used pictures. So maybe I will see if my doc will write a letter corroborating my own weight history and then submit photos to go with that. I can't believe that my own embarrassment at getting weighed at the doctor's office may now derail the possible solution to my problem! Oh, the irony........

Thank you for replying and for the warm welcome! I will keep looking around - I have not spent much time in this particular forum, so you are right - my answer may already be out there!