PhalconR

Hi Cricketcree, I have GEHA, I don't know if it is connected with United Healthcare. GEHA for me only required that I have a BMI of 40 or above or if my BMI is below 40 that I have a comorbidity, have documented 6 months of attempted dieting (the months leading up to surgery count towards that) and that I use a surgeon or practice listed with the "centers for excellence". My DR/practice had just lost their accreditation, but after I appealed and received my approval I was told that the "centers for excellence" only means they've done more than a certain amount of surgeries a year (I think the number is 285?). My appeal only took a week to sort out. Be sure to check and see if your GEHA plan has a yearly limit on the amount out of pocket you pay for medical. I spent $500 prior to my surgery and my GEHA's policy is that after I reach $7000.00 (yearly) I can't be charged any more out of pocket for medical, so my remaining amount was only $6500.00 (altogether w/out insurance would have been aprox. $45,000).

After a year of going back and forth to the doctor and debating with friends and family if this was indeed the best approach, I jumped off the cliff. My surgery date was August 19th. So far things are better than expected. I was in the hospital for two days came home and settled in for the recovery. Today is the 22nd of August and I feel good. Not a whole lot of energy, but no nausea and very little pain. I've only used the pain medication once so far at night to get to sleep. It took me a while to figure out how to sleep comfortably (for me it is on my side <I am a notorious stomach sleeper> with a pillow to the side and a pillow under my head. I live alone and I am a transplant to my area so I have no family nearby. So this is really a solo journey. I kinda prefer it that way right now. It is my journey to take and I don't want any one else to be held responsible for my failures or to take credit for my success. In the end for this to work for me I need to feel like I AM DOING IT. It would be nice to have a little more help driving to appointments and such, but I feel more self conscience if I have to worry about someone else looking over my shoulder at my progress. My friends were gracious enough to drop me off and pick me up at the hospital, but I hate asking people to take time off work. And they have called and stopped by to check on me and if an emergency arises they won't fail to be by my side. So where am I now. Well I've jumped and I am falling fast, better hang on ready the parachute.