provenzee

Currently my BMI is around 47, and I thought everything was going well as far as being on track for Insurance approval. So far it seems like my insurance isn't extremely strict with their policy on bariatric surgery, however at my surgeons office I was given a form to be filled out by my PCP supporting my decision. My PCP supports me 100% and filled the form out without hesitation. When I was reading the form, however, I noticed that it asked for my five year weight history. The doctor listed the following: February 2007 - 175lbs (30.00 BMI) March 2008 - 200lbs (35.00 BMI) March 2014 - 201lbs (35.00 BMI) February 2015 - 255lbs (45.00 BMI) July 2015 - 272lbs (48.00 BMI) The reason he listed it like this is because between 2009 - 2013 I did not go to the doctor because I did not have health insurance. The numbers listed above mostly show a BMI of 35, and I do not have any comorbidities. If there were data for 2009-2013 it would have shown that I consistently went up and down between 280 and 200, but I just happened to go to the doctor on the lower end on the scale. I am worried now, that I might not get approved because it isn't showing I was morbidly obese for long enough...I know the only way i'll know for sure is when they submit the form, but waiting is going to drive me crazy. Anyone have any insight or a similar situation?

It's Anthem BCBS of Virginia

Thank you for sharing. Very inspiring

Thank you for sharing! I am hoping that because it was 35+ for the majority of the time I should be okay. If not, I am going to self pay also, because it is in my opinion a great investment in myself. Thanks again

Same! The lowest adult weight I've ever been was 184! Lol

Dumping syndrome isn't too much of an issue with Gastric Sleeve patients, that is common with gastric bypass though. I'm sure it can happen, but not often. Dumping syndrome isn't too much of an issue with Gastric Sleeve patients, that is common with gastric bypass though. I'm sure it can happen, but not often.

That is fantastic! Congratulations and please keep us updated on your progress. I am sure you will do an amazing job, and I am sure you will really enjoy your new lifestyle!!

The EGD was nothing at all! I just had it done yesterday and I was nervous over nothing. They put you to sleep for 10 minutes and it's over. I didn't feel or remember a thing. My throat wasn't even sore. Don't worry about it!

I am currently in the process of completing all of the required steps for insurance approval. I met with my surgeon for the first time on July 8th and I see him again on August 26th. Between then and now I have completed a psych eval, a nutritionist visit, a visit with my pcp to get the okay from him, and an egd (which I think is an endoscopy). I just have one more nutritionist appointment to complete, and I will have completed the process, so hopefully my insurance will approve and I'll be able to get the surgery on November 5th. It's so exciting, but feels so far away! Anyone out there waiting along with me?!

I am pre op, surgery in November and I am from PA! Northeastern PA near the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area

I have had some of the same doubts. I am currently struggling just to not gain any weight before my surgery in November and it is rough. Sometimes now when I go out to eat with a group of friends, or even breakfast with my dad, I question whether I will ever be able to do these types of things again. Can I ever go on an ice cream date again? And then I remind myself how healthy my body will feel, and that I can still do all of the same things I always did, but instead of feeling like I need to eat an entire sundae, I'll be able to eat a bite or two of my date's and feel content. We can do this. Food is not going to be my life anymore, and it's a best friend I am saying goodbye to.

I am not required to lose weight, but I can't gain any which for me is impossible unless I am losing. My goal for myself is to lose 17lbs by surgery which is in November. Good luck!!

Nanticoke, Pennsylvania here!

Hmm I guess I didn't think of that. At my surgeons office we leave on everything, even our shoes

I have heard about people using weight on their ankles for weight ins to make that few extra pounds appear without actually gaining...

I am not scheduled until November for surgery, however I plan on taking four weeks off. My surgeon will send the form that it is medically necessary, and I will be on FMLA and Short term disability. I hear that after about a week it is possible to return to work, however I want the extra time to adjust to eating differently and attend my post op appointments.

I have Anthem BCBS of Virginia and everything seems to be going well. I had my consultation, and first visit with my surgeon already. At that meeting I met with a coordinator who gave me a list of appointments/testing to complete before I see them again in six weeks. The coordinator told me that I am probably going to have the surgery in October or November. I asked the coordinator if I will be required to complete six months of supervised diet before approval, and she said all the insurance requires is to meet with a nutritionist twice within a six week timeframe and that I won't have to. I don't want to get my hopes up, so I was wondering has anyone had experience with Anthem BCBS? It says on their website they require six months. Unless they've accepted my previous attempts at weight loss even though I don't have six continuous months. I'm assuming the insurance coordinator at my surgeons office should know and be correct, right?

No one can say for sure what will happen but I keep reminding myself that a good relationship will get better, and a bad relationship will get worse. It sounds like he is attracted to bigger women, but that he loves you for who you are. My advice is that he loves you now, and he'll love you after the weight loss also.

Half of my family have weight issues like I do, and the other half are thin with perfect figures. Whenever I mention the surgery to the family members who have weight issues, they always tell me how excited they are for me to be taking this step in my life. Whenever I mention it to the thin half they always say things like, oh you don't need the surgery, do it on your own, and that its the easy way out. People who have never been overweight do not understand the struggle we go through everyday and how hard it is to lose weight. If I could do this on my own, dont you think I would have by now? Its frustrating but I am doing this because it is what I want, and what I need. Focus on the ones who support you, because anyone in our shoes would take this opportunity if they had it.

I have Anthem BCBS too and when I pull up the price cost estimator it comes up that only the band and bypass are approved, however they do cover the sleeve too. For some reason it's just not listed. It's the same price as bypass would be under their calculator I was told over the phone.