Jemma23

I can’t express the frustration and emotions I have gone through this past week. I literally feel like I am grieving. I got to the end of the Whole process. I used sick days from work to go to my countless appts. I paid for all these pre-op visits including heart stress test and echo that surgeon required for pre-approval. I have spent countless hours reading posts, watching videos, following journeys, making notes and lists. I paid for my surgery in full and surgery scheduled for July 18th. I was so pumped and happy that I finally had some hope of being able to walk without pain, get rid of this miserable sleep apnea machine, get on the right path to lower cholesterol and blood pressure and hopefully not end up immobile like my mom who had her first heart attack at my age. Then I got the call... you have been denied! How? How can this happen? Why put me through all this time and money, get my hopes up, to deny me? I am so beyond mad. Considering I hadn’t told anyone but my husband, I have no one to vent to... so I’m venting to the only ones who can possibly understand my tears.

Thank yall so much for the support! Even though you have me crying again, it is great to have someone to vent to. I can’t afford the surgery without insurance help. I can reapply next year, problem is, I need to be losing weight for my health not gaining to wait another year and reapply. I am back on Keto this week... not losing yet, but hope to. I am 50 yrs old, much harder to lose than it used to be. I have probably gained and lost 1000 lbs in my lifetime. I NEED the restriction to keep it off. I have never done keto before because doesn’t seem heart healthy at all, but I have to get the weight off. Yall know of any good weight loss support groups online? Thanks again for your support.

There is no next appt. I am out of the program... no more appts.

Insurance told me that they have so much money allotted for this surgery, so they can’t allow it for everyone. I heard way too many wanted in the program this year so they were looking for mistakes I’m sure.

When I first applied for process, I went through my pcp. Apparently they measured me wrong and put me at 5-2 instead of 5-3. My measurements put me right at a 35 BMI, which is lowest bmi they will accept into program, but... I have many medical issues. So, when I got to my first surgical visit they measured me at 5-3 so I was at a 34.2 BMI so I gained a few lbs and came back. Then we continued with entire process, MANY appts, which you all know process. After I paid and scheduled surgery date, ins called me 3 days later and said “she had GOOD news, I was just too skinny to have the surgery”. I begged, cried and pleaded with her. As soon as I got off phone with her I drove straight to surgeons office and cried to them. They called insurance and plead my case. Then I called insurance back next day. I don’t know how else to fight it. Its a done deal. All over an inch discrepancy or 3 lbs... doesn’t matter that I have cholesterol of 300, prediabetic, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, high bp, plantar fasciitis, auto immune and my mom had her first heart attack at 50.

I would love to gain some confidence in this process by hearing some stories from you post-ops about medical issues you have overcome since surgery.

Has anyone kept your surgery a secret? I am pre-op and at this point, I don't want to have to explain WHY to everyone. I am also scared of being judged every time I eat in a social setting. What if I fail and have a regain, I can only imagine the judgment there. If you had it to do over again, would you tell people about the surgery, or not?

I am having sleeve. I also have BCBS so maybe they will call. Are you in the pilot prog? I am also a teacher, but we start back in August unfortunately. What do you teach?

Was the obstruction from your original surgery or just coincidental? I’m hlad you gotbit taken care of and hope you have smooth sailing now.

Would love to hear about your pre-op class.

Did you get a letter or a call? Will be so nice to know for sure! Congrats on your approval. I was hoping for an earlier July date because I have to go back to work August 1st, not allowing for a lot of recovery time. Good luck to you!

I would call your dietician. She should have some answers for you.

I received my sleeve date, July 18th also, looks like I have a sleeve twin. I am still pending insurance approval.

That is awesome Carrot! I know when you feel bad all the time it definitely takes a toll on the family, All the extra lbs steal so much from being able to fulfill life in SO many ways.

Maggie, how do you feel about having the surgery after having complications? Any regrets? I hope all is better now.

LOL Ren, I have only told my husband, because I need him to go with me. We shall see if he can keep it quiet....he BETTER!

Yes, it is definitely the mask you chose. I wanted the one where the pillows go up your nose so it has less of a mask...I thought I was going to suffocate. I hated it! I now have the kind that just covers your nose. I still don't like it because it slides up the back of my head which causes it to come off and wakes me up, But, no suffocation! Go get a different mask. When I go back, I hope to get the same kind but with a strap under and above my ear to hold it in place instead of just above my ear. I also like the hose that goes from the top of the head, I feel it gives you more freedom. I do not think you have to have mask in hospital. My mom has sleep apnea and they always just give her oxygen. Maybe it depends on doctor.

LaShunn, I am not sleeved yet, but I would be tickled to death to lose 15 pounds in 2 months. Do not get down or discouraged. I have read so many posts of people that got so discouraged and then overnight lost 5-6 lbs. I have heard if you lose slower you have less risk of losing your hair, so that's a plus, lol. The main reason I don't want to tell are my mom and my kids. My mom is in very poor health.. she would discourage me from doing this and I don't want to worry her. My two older kids are both overweight and can't afford the surgery, so I want to be a good role model for them by eating healthy in hopes that they will see my progress and follow. My daughter is 21, has PCOS and Psoriatic arthritis. She tries so hard to lose weight but just hasn't been successful. I definitely don't like lying. I talked about this on my psych visit and he said, You aren't lying! You tell them you are doing it for your health. You are eating healthy, low carb and exercising which all will be the truth. But, I would also love to share this wealth of knowledge I have learned with overweight friends that would benefit greatly from the surgery, so I have mixed feelings. I already had two people yesterday at the heart clinic that asked why I was getting the surgery. I was not expecting it there for sure.

Thank you so much for sharing that! What an amazing story!

This is all so encouraging! I can't wait to throw this sleep mask away, I hate it! I would love to get rid of my meds, but most of all lose auto-immune and plantar fasciitis symptoms. They are what I feel have stolen my life. I'm praying for my mobility back.

I started this process in April with my PCP. I barely met the cut for insurance to cover with a 35 BMI, but need the surgery for several medical conditions. I called my insurance to make sure it was okay to start the weight loss and fall below the 35. She said, yes, as long as you have process started and have weight on record. Then I went last week for appt. with dietician and she was concerned about starting the pre-op diet for insurance purposes falling below the required 35 BMI. She went and talked to someone, I am assuming with insurance dept. She came back and said we don't have to worry about that, she says it is fine to drop below 35. I get home and get a call from my insurance, education dept. He said, NO, you Can't fall below the 35 BMI. So... here I am, supposed to be starting the weight loss journey, but scared to lose weight. I don't know who to believe.

I do have it in writing now. The guy from insurance that called me a few days ago sent them to me. I think with insurance things change from year to year so everyone stays confused. The policy was different last year and they should have kept it that way. This is a "new" pilot program. My doctor's office staff rolls their eyes when you mention the work "pilot program".

Mine asked some pretty personal questions and gave some strange advice... but I think they are just making sure you can mentally handle the process. I wish I had not marked depression on mine, because that is what stemmed the personal questions. My advice would be just try to keep your answers focused on weight loss, unless you want to discuss personal issues in depth.

He said day of surgery, you can't be less than 35, or weigh more than starting weight.

For sure! Thank you for the heavy pocket/ weights advice. I managed to weigh in at 199 after lunch, lol. We are waiting on results from stress test, then will put in for approval and get a surgery date for July. I need to weigh in no less than 198 and no greater than 200 (initial weigh in) lbs day of surgery which is really going to be tricky with two days of liquids prior to surgery. She said weigh every day and be very aware of weight gain and loss. They will not approve if you are above your first weigh in or if fall below 35. Where in Mexico are you having it done? i hope you have someone going with you. I have watched several youtube journeys of people who went to Mexico. They seem to have all had a good experience. Best of luck!