Thin4Anisha

So, as described in another post, I will soon be switching to my companies insurance policy with UHC which DOES cover wls . I called UHC today to get the specifics on getting it covered. Here is what the very nice gentlemen said to me: 1) it must be done in network, in patient at a hospital (thats fine, I kind of wanted to stay one night anyway), 2) must be over 21 years old (I am turning 25) Anyone else getting excited yet, sounds too good to be true huh... 3) must have a BMI over 40 (I am at 44.4) and "you have documentation from a Physician of a diagnosis of morbid obesity for a minimum of five years" Ok, so here is my problem. I have been morbidly obese for two years, and only obese before that. Anyone with experience or an opinion I would appreciate your input on if you think I will get approved?

UHC, my insurance, only requires someone to be at least 21 yrs old (I am), have a BMI over 40 (I am at 44.4) and have a history for 5 years of being morbidly obese. What if you have been in varying levels of obesity (well documented), have documented weight loss attempts in those 5 years (was on Fastin for 2 years, lost 65 and have regained 130 as of now) for the last five years but have only hit the morbid category for the last year? Anyone have experiences like this and got approved?

Surgeons office just called, UHC denied me. :smile: My policy states you must have a 5 year history with a BMI of 40 or above. 4 years ago I went on phentermine and lost 65 pds. Because of the I was denied. Never thought I would be punished for trying to get healthy. Any suggestions on what to do? Is it worth appealing?:tongue2:

I lost 60 pounds once on phentermine and went from a size 22 to a size 14/15 in 6 month period. I would kill to be in a 15 again... Soon hopefully, waiting to hear from surgeons office today on a yay or nay from insurance.

My surgeons office submitted my preapproval request two days ago. I keep getting on the uhc website, myuhc.com, to see if it will show me they are looking at it or have even received it and am not able to find anything. I am not very familiar with that site and want to know what section I should be looking in. Maybe I am missing it?

I cannot wait until I have these problems :thumbup: Waiting for word on approval

I work for Farmers Insurance and had my surgeons office submit the preapproval request yesterday to UHC Choice. The surgery IS covered on the policy and I have previously spoken with the reps and they gave me the specifics about the policy. That you must be over 21, a BMI over 40, you must have it done in a hospital and "you have documentation from a Physician of a diagnosis of morbid obesity for a minimum of five years" I am 25, my BMI is 44.9, I am more than happy to go to a hospital but I have had fluctuations in my weight. Five years ago I was about 218, then went on phenteramine and got to 165 by December. Than slowly began the process of gaining it all back and now I am at an all time high of 278. I wasn't even this big when I was nine months pregnant:sad:. I am terrified they will deny me because I have not had a BMI of 40 the whole five years. Cross your fingers and I will keep you posted. I am carrying my phone everywhere with me, even into the restroom!!

I have not been banded either but experience these symptoms already. Salad always gives me these symptoms as well as anything spicy (red sauce on a burrito, hot sauce.. you get the idea). The minute I am done eating the food I begin getting horrible cramps. On a few occassions I honestly believed I had gone into labor (not pregnant but only thing I could relate the well timed cramping too) and was reduced to crying in the bathroom until the pain passed. It may be that my stomache cannot tolerate such things anymore but I have secret suspicions (usually dreamed up while in pain after a meal) that my body is sick of salad (ate it for every single meal for a month trying to loose weight, then this started and I stopped) and is trying to "dump" calories to try and stop gaining weight. Who knows.

Thank you for that, it gives me hope. I checked online and it does not show anything yet. Did you submit medical records or a personal journal of weights and loss attempts? I did the journal and my surgeons office thought it was very good so I am hopefull.

Wow, I am glad to see I am not the only one who has been outcasted by their partner for gaining weight. My long time bf cut me off after the first 10 pds were gained. That was 4 years ago and we have had sex a grand total of 10 times in those four years. Sad because we use to be pretty crazy :rolleyes2:. Now at 100 pds more than I was then, I weekly get the treat of hearing how unattractive I am and if I just lost weight he would want to treat me better. And how he is embarressed to introduce me to his friends or how I am "the fat girl at the grocery store". What a load of crap! My plan is to get the surgery, hopefully this July, and move on to find someone who will love me and treat me right no matter if I am big, wrinkly, sick or premenstral. There is a lot more to me than my waist size and if someone is that shallow they don't deserve to get the skinny me! He keeps saying that if I was skinny our relationship would go back to the way it was but there has been to much damage done, I can never feel the same towards him now that I know he is so shallow. Also, it does make him feel secure that I am fat and he is convinced that no one would be attracted to me. I know that me returning to the body I had when I met him would twist his world.

That is so awesome!!!!

My insurance is also UHC Choice and they to require in my plan to have a 5 year weight history with a diagnosis from a physician of morbid obesity. I went from being overweight, to being very morbidly obese while pregnant, to being obese after the pregnancy, to overweight again and back to morbid obesity. I called the coordinator and they said they understand there are ups and downs and that is part of the disease. I have not yet been asked to provide medical records but did submit a weight history for the last six years with diet and exercise attempts. I may have... um, added a few pounds here and there but heck, I am goind off my memory :thumbup: I say, give it a try. What can it hurt? I will let you know what my insurance company decides

Had another moment last night that concreted my determination for the band, which was already rock steady but not I will die trying to get it.... (Forgive me if to graphic) I had a hard time reaching my rear end in the bathroom!! Seriously, 25 years old and can't reach my A**!? Drastic change is needed here...

You are the male version of me! I turned 25 yesterday, am 268 pds and have not support from anyone I have told about this. I have a 5 year old little girl and am scared that if I do not do this that I will not get to see her graduate high school and college, get married or have babies. My work also offers insurance that covers the surgery. Stay strong. Only you live inside your skin every single day and feel the effects obesity has on you. And only you know if it is going to work. Having insurance to cover most of the cost is a blessing that you should take advantage of. Do this for you, as I am going to do mine just for me. Why do we have to live with obesity for another 20 years before people will support us? I would rather live those next 20 years healthy and to the fullest!!

I too fear going under. One because I worry about not waking up but also because I had a bad experience previously where when I woke up I woke up very upset and emotional. Crying hysterically and trying to fight the doctor and nurses back. I had it explained to me by someone that going under like that is as close to death as the body gets and underlying emotional issues can surface when you awake because all of your defenses are down. Maybe I need therapy . My hope is that I was 13 when I went through that and now that it has been 12 years I think I have worked through most of my issues, we'll see!!

My doctor's pre-op diet consists of two slim fast shakes everyday and one "sensible meal" for a two week period prior to surgery.

My ah ha moment, there were a few that happened in the same two week period: 1. My daughter is my mini me, same hair, face ect. And everyone is always telling she and I how much we look alike. One day she said to me "Mommy, I look just like you huh?". I agreed and she replied "Am I fat like you are too?" I almost broke into tears as I got on my knees and explained to my beautiful 5 year old that she was healthy and perfect. 2. Went out to eat with a girl I work with. As we slid into the booth I got agitated thinking the booth table ahd been over onto my side more as I could barely fit. Then I realized, no it hadn't been slid over, I was just to fat to fit anymore. 3. I got onto the scale and saw that not only had I exceeded the 250 mark but had surpassed it by 18 pounds. I realized at that moment that if drastic action was not taken I would be that woman in the grocery store using the carts because she cannot walk anymore. At 25 years old the thought of that left me cold and sick.

UHC Utah Employer provider and paid for, in part, by employee Waiting for approval

I am still in the process of getting approved and a date but have already started this list in my head. My doc said he makes you do a two week diet before surgery of two slim fast shakes and a "sensible meal for dinner". So my unsensible meals for only the week before I start that will be as follows: Breakfast: doughnuts. 1 every morning, chocolate kind, cream filled and powdered filled with blueberry or raspberry. Lunch: Double Whopper, no onions, fries, diet coke and a crispy chicken sandwich from Burger King. Double cheeseburger, no onions, fries, fry sauce and a diet coke at Crown Burger. 12" Turkey Avacodo sandwich, with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, olives, mayo, peppercorn ranch dressing and mustard with a Diet Dr. Pepper at Blimpie and followed by a Maverick macadamia nut cookie. Fire Grilled Steak Burritto, hot, enchiladea style, avacodo on the side at Cafe Rio with a Diet Dr. Pepper. Barbacoa Beef Burritto at Barbecoa, black Beans, two types of salsa, guacamole (these burritoes weigh about 3 pds each) Dinner: Big plate of spaghetti and meatballs, with garlic bread, wine and cheesecake for dessert. Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken Pizze, a cheese pull apart and a bucket of ranch dressing, and a liter of diet pepsi. Sushi from Jasmine's in Salt Lake City (yum) and plum wine. Ribeye steak, fried potatoes with ketchup, cheesy broccoli, baked potatoe loaded with cheese and sour cream. Drink: a good stiff (or a few) rum and diet pepsi Chicken Fettichinni Alfredo from Olive Garden, all you can eat breadsticks (pass on the salad, can have that after) and a nice wine. Ok, now I am really hungry. Each of these meals will be a farewell to what I love so much and hate for having such a hold on me. I will not be eating them after being banded due to them being just really unhealthy, hard to chew and not worth the effort or to bready, carby for the band.

I like that people share the good, the bad and the ugly. Helps me feel prepared for the what if's. My feeling - keep on posting!!! But I totally respect your feelings. Everyone should be allowed to share their feelings and experiences here, even if I don't agree

To the above posters who had to have a 5 year weight history - did you have to be morbidly obese for all 5 of those years?

This board is a wonderful place to go for support. It has given me a lot of hope and comfort to be able to get advise from people who understand. We will support you. You are doing the right thing, for yourself and your future. Only you know what it is like to live in your skin day in and day out. And only you know when it is the right time to take the next step to getting banded. People may seem disinterested or outright negative about your decision, but at the end of the day you are the one who has to live with being overweight and not them so blast them all to hell!

And dress like a slut once ... In knee high stilletto (sp?) boots

Thoughts of what I would do infiltrate my mind everyday. My biggest one - 1. Never having to realize I am the FAT girl in the room, 2. Great sex were I am confident my partner finds me attractive physically as well as mentally, 3. To not have my work associates always offer me the front seat when we travel by car, and thinking they are just polite until I realize it is because I am the fat one and two other people won't fit in the back seat with me. 4.Regular clothes, 5. Not having people look at you like you are a freak at a restaraunt (fat people get hungry too, why do they act like we should just quit eating?) 6. Walking through a crowd and knowing I turned at least a few heads :wink:

I am trying to exercise to prepare for surgery, to be in as good of shape as possible. I have tried treadmills ane elliptical (sp?) bikes but as soon as I get close to my target heart rate my feet go uncomfortably numb. Does anyone know why or a way I can avoid this. Is it something I should be worried about?