jtickle

My surgeon's office checks for ankle weights. This sounds so bad but I am happy I don't have to worry about being borderline. The only time I am happy that I am overweight.

I started the program last year and quit. I just started up again and have decided not to tell anyone about it until after I have the surgery. Only two people know, my husband and a girl I met at the weight loss seminar. I came to this decision because my mother in law was constantly nagging me about that dangerous stomach surgery and my Bff is always trying to convince me to save my money because I can lose 184 pounds in no time by going to the gym. She doesn't realize I just had my sixth back surgery and I really can't do any exercise besides walking. She only needs to lose like 30 pounds. Trying to explain to her that when you are morbidly obese weight loss on your own is not the easiest of tasks.

I agree you can't let friends and family make the decision for you. I started a program last year and I quit because I didn't know if it was right for me. I had already went thru everything. Talking to my PCP, getting a psych evaluation done, blood work, chest xray, the whole nine yards. Now I have to start all over with different insurance. Thursday I have to go ask my PCP to put me on insulin because my blood sugar is out of control. I am also having to ask him for another letter of recommendation for bariatric surgery. I am very nervous about this. I used to think that none of what I termed when I was younger as fat people diseases could happen to me. I'm 34 yrs old, I have diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, I have had 6 surgeries on my lower back. The surgeon says my spine problems are genetic, but I weigh 322 pounds. We all know weight puts a strain on your back. I am to the point were I have to use the head board of my bed to turn over. I also have a family history of heart disease. My father died when he was 43 of cardiovascular issues. Anyway, that enough of my rant. You are the only person that can make this decision. Do a ton of research on the surgery. I started out reading weight loss surgery for dummies. Sounds silly but it was actually a pretty good book. Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about it. I have decided not to tell anyone until after the fact, because like you they will all tell me how dangerous it is. Only two people know, my husband and a lady I met at the weight loss seminar. Good luck and keep us posted. Jennifer

Calling UHC and getting it in writing is the best way to go. I had issue with my doctor's office not believing me because I have so few requirements. I had to get it in writing so they would believe me. I have UHC Choice Plus and I am only required to have bmi over 40 and bariatric center of excellence. I do not have to do a 6 month diet, psych eval, or six months of nursing phone calls from Optum. The requirements are chosen by your employer. Good luck on your journey.

I went to my first appointment yesterday. I have literally spent countless hours on the phone with insurance company seeing what my requirements are. They even emailed me a list of them. So I get thru with my appointment and I find out that the insurance people at the doctor's office do not believe my requirements. All I need is over 18, bmi over 40, bariatric center of excellence. I have UHC insurance so I have to go thru a company called Optum. I do not have to do their six months of nurse counseling sessions, like most people do. That is dependent on what your employer chooses. After spending most of the day yesterday on the phone with the insurance company they sent me another letter with my requirements on it. I called and the doctor wanted it faxed to them. Hopefully they believe me now. Just needed to vent to people who understand. Thanks Jennifer

My first appointment with the surgeon is on Monday March 3rd. However, I just had back surgery on the 20th of February. They don't remove my staples until March 5th. I really want to go to this appointment, seeing this is my restart to the program since I had a pre-existing condition exclusion on myself for my obesity last year. If I reschedule it could be another month before I get in to see the surgeon. I guess I am looking for some advice on what to do. Any thoughts?

I called them everyday to see if I was approved for my back surgery. They even gave me the phone number to their clinical services department. They people who supposedly make the decisions. They were nice enough to call me when they had a decision. No one is going to stop me from calling.. Lol

I have UHC. I have not submitted for my WLS yet, but I just had surgery on my back. It took them about two weeks to approve that surgery. They say it can take up to 21 business days.

I have UHC, all they require for me is a BMI over 40 and a bariatric center of excellence. You call them and they will go over all your requirements with you. You may have to go through something called optum health. I know they require some people to go thru a six month nurse phone call program. Good luck on your journey!!!

Hello! I have just started out myself. I have my first appointment with the doctor on the 3rd of March. It would of been sooner but I am having surgery on my spine on Thursday, so I had to put it off for a bit. My insurance only requires a bariatric center of excellence and BMI over 40. I have United Healthcare. You'll find tons of support on this website. I know I am ready for the new me.

Depends on your insurance, you may have to get a referral from your PCP. At my surgeons office they have a dietitian there. Patients that are required to do a diet, go thru her. You will have to pay a percentage of the surgeon's fees. Its the portion your insurance doesn't cover. Most weight loss surgeons require you to go their free seminar about the surgery before you can even make an appointment. Hope this helps.

I have UHC choice plus. Mine only requires a bariatric center of excellence and be over 40 bmi. Well, you have to be over 18. No diet or psychological evaluation.

I was so excited about my first appointment being this coming Monday. Unfortunately, I had to change it to March 3 because I am having surgery on my back and I need to focus on it right now. Sometimes I just feel like I am never going to get this done.

I just got a call from the nurse and she just went over some questions about my meds that i am taking. She also asked me about lifestyle changes. No dietitian calls or anything like that. Then she explained my insurance requirements.

cassyV- I had to enroll in optum health and wellness, that is one of my requirements. I am still waiting for one of their nurses to call me. They told me if she hasn't called me by the 27th to call them back. So I guess I will be calling them on Monday. I am hoping for a spring break surgery date(late March) since my husband will be out of school then. I will find out more at my appointment on the 3rd, it can't get here fast enough.

I have my appointment to see the surgeon on Feb 3rd. I have no requirements other than an EGD. I have terrible back problems. I just a spinal cord stimulator trial. A spinal cord stimulator is a medical device that sends electrical impulses to areas of pain instead of pain signals thus fixing the pain in my back and legs. I had no idea that the stimulator would work so well. I could walk everywhere, I have done that in years. Now I am second guessing having a bypass. I have 183 pounds to lose. I find myself thinking I could exercise my weight off. I know I will still have to work out after the surgery. However, if I have a permanent spinal cord stimulator surgery, my back and legs will not bother me anymore. I was so ready to have a gastric bypass. Now i am confused.

Thanks for all the replies. I wasn't offended by any of them. I wanted to know what others who are on the path to weight loss surgery had to say, critical or not. That's why I love this forum everyone is so supportive of each other.

I am having my new patient evaluation on February 3rd. I am very excited. I only have to do the EGD. I am not really a new patient, I had to quit the program last year due to pre-existing condition stuff. Hopefully I will have a march surgery date since I do not have to do a six month diet. I already have a mental evaluation, my personal psychiatrist wrote a letter to the surgeon stating I was good to go and they accepted that. I worry that they are going to see something terrible during my EGD because I have terrible heartburn all the time. I guess now would be as good a time as any to find out. I will keep everyone updated.

United Healthcare choice plus

I had a long talk with my husband. He is very supportive of me wanting and having weight loss surgery. He had an idea. I should have the WLS. After I lose some weight , if my back still hurts then check into getting the spinal cord stimulator permanently implanted. I honestly believe a lot of my back pain is due to my weight. I do have failed back surgery syndrome, I have had two spinal fusions that just stabilized my spine, but didn't help with the pain. That's the plan. It is something I am going to have to decide on my own. Thanks for the reply.

Welcome, I hope you enjoy the support you get on this site. I am having my first appointment on February 3rd. Technically its my second time starting the program. I had to quit last year due to some insurances issues. I thought I would be all into the fact that I would be able to buy nice clothing. Which is something I have never gotten to do before cause I have been overweight since I was a child. I have realized my health is more important that cute clothing. My father died of heart disease when he was 45 and I don't want to follow in his footsteps. I take several meds, like many of us on the site, and I just want to get off them. I am glad I have had to wait quite some time to restart the program it has given me time to think about this life changing decision and really know if its what I really want to do. Again, welcome to the forum.

Well since it has been over six months since i did my labs, they are making me do them again. Which is okay I guess. I don't have to do a sleep study, I just had one done in December. I also don't need the cardiology or pulmonary visits either. I just need the EGD, which I am very afraid of. I am ready to get this show on the road, since I don't have to do a six month diet. I am hoping for a March surgery date. Hopefully the week of spring break so my hubby doesn't have to go to school.

I had to pay for the labs outta pocket. Luckily they were only 500 dollars. I know that is still a lot of money but it could of been worse. Couldn't find a way around it. I tried. I have different insurance now, who are very easy to work with and I don't have that stinking pre-existing clause following me around anymore.

jlong007- They insurance company said being overweight was a pre-existing condition. So they would not pay for the labs.

I have my first consultation on February 3rd. There are only two people that know I am going to go thru with the surgery. My husband and a friend I met at the weight loss seminar. I have really bad back pain along with other issues from being overweight, My friends and family think I should get a surgery on my back to fix it, but I think my weight has a lot to do with my pain. I have already had 5 surgeries on my back. It's completely up to you who you tell. Personally its just something I am going to keep to myself for now.