Rebecca Jo Ragon

I recently started my weight loss surgery journey, but certainly not my weight loss journey!  I have always been a little overweight my entire life.  When I look back at pics as a child, I was "chubby".  During my teen and college years, I was very active in sports.  Even though I was very active and in shape, I still carried a bit of extra weight.  Once I married and started a family, my activity level dropped.  During my late 20's and through my 30's my muscle slowly went away.  It was replaced with fat.  Until my 40's I gained weight evenly over my body, so I was able to fool others and myself as to how much I was actually gaining.  However, when the 40's hit, so did metabolic syndrome.  I began piling on weight just around my belly.  By 47 I was battling pre-diabetes.  Over the years I tried every diet available - The Diet Center, Nutrisystem, LA Weight Loss, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkins, Grapefruit Diet, Shakeology, Medifast, etc.  Many were tried multiple times.  I wish I had all the money back from those attempts!  I would lose 20 gain 25.  Lose 30 gain 40.  My weight hit an all time high of 288 sometime in 2013.  I have been going from 272-288 during 2014. 
I had considered WLS about five years ago.  However, I just couldn't get a peace about it.  I prayed about it and just never felt like pursuing it.  Something changed last year.  My Ob/Gyn asked me if I had considered it.  He felt I would be a good candidate.  I talked to my husband about it.  Previously, he had reservations.  However, this time he was very supportive.  Thus, I began inquirires around August 2014. I met with Dr. Colquitt at Foothills Weight Loss Specialists. I had already been discussing weight loss with my PCP, so I had a few office visits underway.  I started formal weight loss visits in October 2014.  Then in November 2014 a friend he worked with had Gastric Bypass with Dr. Colquitt and he put me in touch with her.  He then discovered two others that he knew and they reached out to me as well.  Their willingness to talk about every aspect of their journey has helped as well.  They all recommended BariatricPal.  Even Dr. Colquitt's office has information on BariatricPal in their folders that they hand out to all patients.
In December, my packet was submitted for insurance approval for the sleeve.  I was denied.  Apparently, there was some miscommunication and the sleeve is not a covered procedure.  The bypass and lap band are the only procedures covered by my plan.  Needless to say, I was very distraught.  I found this out December 22nd.  I decided to put it out of my mind for the holidays and revisit once I returned to work on Jan. 5th.  that was yesterday.  I went ahead and submitted an appeal, although I don't think it will work.  An excluded service is generally excluded.  End of story.  I work closely with insurance companies in my line of work and have had experience with appeals.  So, I am considering the bypass while waiting to hear about my appeal.  Dr. Colquitt's office said that the approval for the bypass will go through.  I have met all of the requirements.  I am just hesitant because I had really pumped myself up for the sleeve.  I had researched it.  I had ordered books on the subject (including the Big Book!).  I felt I knew everything I needed to know to be prepared and to be successful.  Switching gears is scary.  I need some time to process.  So that is where I am at now.