DreamsOfSkinny

Did you have to do 6 month diet? I was told UhC has 2 plans - 1 that requires this and 1 that requires 5 yr weight history.... I'm PRAYING mine is the later. My coordinator is going to list my bmi of 40 w/2 com. Plus 5 yrs of weight history along with dietician visit, consult, recommendation medical necessity, and pysch eval next week. She said we should hear back within 2 weeks and will find out what they say.

I heard about the Spider technique and really interested in that. I have United Healthcare and need an in-network provider and would like to find someone around where I live for follow up visits....although if there is someone around Sac or even SoCal I'd be willing to travel for the right person with great recommendations.

How did you get ins. Approval so fast? What ins. Do you have?

Can I ask how much you paid?

Oh wow! Yeh mine didn't tell me anything "insightful" but if I do get the surgery I'd like to continue as i think it would help eating habits, recognizing and changing them and just the emotional factor with me and hubby of such a drastic weight change.

So I had all my appts today... Whew was 4 hrs total! My psych eval consisted of me filling out some paperwork prior to arrival and then just talking about why I wanted surgery, my family background, obesity in family, etc. That was it.

Well I found a Dr. that I really like that is in-network for UHC and doesn't charge any stupid program fee----thanks goodness people posted on here and another board about him. He seems much more patient friendly and is the Director over WLS/GI surgeries at a local hospital. I lucked up and they were able to fit in all my needed appts. this Friday since I'll be out of town for 2 weeks coming up---finally graduating (well at least walking across the stage) for Bachelors degree...I'm just starting my last 2 courses today--so I have my appt. with surgeon, RD, and Psych. I also will start getting all my medical history information collected tomorrow and hope to get most of it to coordinator by next Tuesday (the day before I leave the state). My goal would be to be able to get everything submitted and done so that she can send off to insurance ASAP. The coordinator over the phone didn't mention any real tests needed for surgery besides x-ray and blood work done day of. I've recently has colonoscopy, ultrasound on stomach, endoscopy, etc. -- wonder if that made a difference? What tests did your doctor run? I'm also a bit confused by my insurance. The coordinator said with United that there are 2 different plans she's come across... 1) that requires 6 month weight loss classes/Dr. and 2) one that only requires 5 yr. weight history and any health issues related to being morbidly obese---yes, that's what I'm considered now with a BMI of 40.??? How many of those with UHC didn't have to do 6month plan--what type of UHC plan did you have? (I have PPO called HRA Plus by my HR Dept.) I hope to find out more answers to my questions come Friday, but I definitely am excited to find a Dr. that got me in right away, seems much more willing to work with my insurance, has great bedside manners, is highly qualified, and doesn't charge extra thousands of dollars for things that will be covered by my insurance PPO plan. I only have $2,200 left OOP for my max until June 30, 2013 Can't beat that!! My husband suspected something tonight when I went to the information monthly meeting... I said it was at the hospital and by a Dr. and RD for weight loss. While I wasn't technically lying I feel really bad. Now I have to figure out how to explain needing to go to the Dr. for 4 hrs. on Friday..... :- / Any suggestions on explaining to a spouse that has never really been overweight? I'm scared to death to say anything until the insurance approves it because I feel like I don't want him to know unless it's really going to happen because I don't want to be judged. We've been together over 5 yrs., so he knows I've always struggled with losing weight and keeping it off and the health issues now arising because of my increased weight, but I still feel like he's going to respond with-- why in the world would you get surgery? Just eat right and go to the gym. Sorry so long -- thanks my new WL family.

Yes, even though I'm over 40 now the coordinator did say she's been doing the packets to insurances for several years and knows what UHC is usually looking for to approve. I've asked medical records for asthma, high cholesterol, etc. as well as some Dr. Restricted weigh ins monthly and weight loss plans, so I'm going to ask her tomorrow to include those within letter so at least the ins. Sees to begin with so they don't have to come back denied to have to appeal it :-/ Hoping the coordinator is right.......

Thanks for coming back to update. I have my appt tomorrow. She told me it'll be an hour so we'll see... I'll update this post so at least others (pre-op) can see how different this can be.

What a difference between top right and bottom right! Congrats!

Congrats on your loss! You can see the difference.

Did you meet your goal by that time?

You look amazing for such great results in a small amount of time.... Wishing I can get approved for this.

A thread of post-op (no matter how veteran you are) is what (as a pre-op) I want to hear. I'd like in my research to see what different dr.s have suggested as I didn't realize they can vary so drastically. I want to hear people's experiences so I can make my own decision as to how much or not I want to follow orders or what foods to avoid until which month out, etc. It's quite frustrating to see after someone posts their opinion and tries to cite sources that helped them make their decision/opinion and then see others completely bash them for that. What's the point in anyone posting their opinions then? Opinions.... Everyone thinks they are giving their personal experiences to help the next person. As anyone going through this, you should never take one person's opinion as the final word, but then again I'd hope this would be common sense. Take your Dr.s word. It makes me think twice about posting my opinions if I ever get approved and have surgery on here.... *runs to another site*

Guys... You both look grown, so grow up already. Sad to see this type of juvenile behavior on this site. Discouraging to even read.