Sad, Frustrated, Wondering What To Do....

[mylynn1377 93]

So I have been so excited the past few weeks waiting on some finalization with insurance and doing my pre/pre-op diet. When I started this journey my doctor referred me for lap band, the place I chose in Springfield MO told me that my managed care plan was in the process of being accepted at their location and my insurance would still pay for the consult. Many of the pre-req's were waived because my BMI is so high, etc.

So today I get the news that my financial aid is wiped out and I am not eligible for more until I get my Master's. So my hope of a college degree so I could start teaching are slowly flushing down the toilet. So hoping for good news I called the clinic that I am going through for lap band and they put me on hold, come back and tell me that my managed care plan doesn't pay for lap band. I say, Wait a minute, they just told me less than a month ago that your company was finalizing contracts with my plan and it shouldn't be more than a few weeks. This lady, who I had never met, tells me that she has no idea what I am talking about. They accept one kind of my insurance and it isn't the managed plan I have. So I explained my conversation with the receptionist and she still has no idea what I am talking about.

So by this time I am about ready to cry...really choking back tears because my day was crapping out rapidly. I call my managed care plan and they had no idea what I was talking about either. They only pay for gastric bypass...period. None of the other managed care plans where I live pay for lap band. I was floored. So I call my insurance coordinator and she tells me that I can try going the gastric bypass route and find providers that will see me or since I am staying with my fiance so much down here in Buffalo, I can switch to a different region where I would have other managed care options, including the one that my clinic takes.

So now I can switch, which I really didn't want to do that yet. Or I can try to qualify for gastric bypass, which I really didn't want to do either. And then I have to add to the consideration that I am covered by the state. This insurance goes away in October. I don't have a lot of time to make a decision and then I also have to think about the fact that I have to find a decent paying job soon to help me pay for college. But most people won't hire you when you're this big. So do I go ahead with gastric bypass and loose weight faster so I can get a better job and pay for college, or do I switch plans, get lap band, and hope I loose weight at a decent pace so that maybe I can find a job this fall and save money to start back at college in the spring.

I'm so lost today that I hate half a Hershey's bar. My fiance said something about it and I told him if he can go smoke when he's stressed out then he better let me eat my chocolate or I really would rip someone's head off. Yeah I know I'm a stress eater, sue me!

[fericito 138]

I don't know what to tell you or advise but just wanted you to know your post had been read. I am so sorry.

[Shelleymb 75]

It's frustrating when our insurances insure gastric, but not lap band, when it seems lap band is safer and cheaper. I'm so sorry, after finding out what gastric was all about I knew it wasn't for me... so now I'm self paying. And that isn't fun either. I'm proud you didn't eat the whole thing, I would have had two.

[jiggleless 3]

I'm so sorry. The school issue is truly horrible, but contact some places for grants for teachers. State Farm does some and I know there are others. If you are close to getting your degree you might be able to cobble together enough grant money to finish. I hope you can get the surgery you need as well.

[Cazzy 725]

I had my lapband fitted when my bmi was around 61 like u are having started off at 67 bmi.. all i can tell you is that it took me approx a year to lose the majority of my weight. The issue is that it has been almost a full time job losing this amount of weight, if you have the time and dedication and resolve to go for the lapband then go for it, but if u have time pressures and know u cant dedicate enough time to exercising this weight off too then it might be better for u to go the gastric bypass route. I think the bypass is worth consideration given your circumstances and time constraints even tho i am a real advocate for the band

a lapband wont stop u eating chocholate

[Jim1967 3,569]

a lapband wont stop u eating chocholate

And chocolate with bypass will make you down right sick!!

[Toddy 758]

I have found the weight loss with the band to be slower than I had hoped ... and I didn't want to lose too fast, but now I'm really regretting not having plication with the band. If you want to lose fast, look into other options.

[Bamabander 111]

I'm sorry! It sounds like a lot of disappointment in one day. I don't know what I'd do but I would decide to decide. Give yourself a set amount of time.. A couple days and research, make your decision and give that decision 100%. Being in limbo stinks and once you decide you will feel so much better! Hang in there. Wishing you the best!

[Lauzzz11 0]

My doctor told me that when you get approved for WLS, you get approved for all three...band, bypass or sleeve so maybe you need to find a different place. Why don't you check with your PCP. Anyway, I only hope your weekend gets better and sorry for what you are going through.

[Shelleymb 75]

My doctor told me that when you get approved for WLS, you get approved for all three...band, bypass or sleeve so maybe you need to find a different place. Why don't you check with your PCP. Anyway, I only hope your weekend gets better and sorry for what you are going through.

This isn't quite true, it depends on what your insurance allows. My employer has excluded everything besides gastric, and I think I know why. It's so extreme, that many people won't do it, and then they don't have to pay for that either.