Linda's Journey

[lbriteyes 10]

Ok. I read through quite a few entries here, and I've gained insight and encouragement through Tawnya's story. I have decided to begin my own.

Recently, I've been diagnosed with High Blood Pressure, and have pre-diabetic conditions. My weight has ballooned to 299.2, with a very high BMI. I'm also short. I also have other disorders... some related to weight, some not. More on that later.

My husband and I talked with my medical doctor today. We all came to the same conclusion. I need some sort of gastric bypass in general, and have decided to go with the lapband. I found that my insurance won't pay, but will pay for most of it (I swear that's what they said). They will only pay if there is a medical condition attached to me.

I have decided on a hospital, and will hear from them this week.

So my journey begins.

Updates as they come in....

Linda

[gowalking 10,790]

Your high BMI plus the co-morbidities should make you eligible for insurance coverage for the procedure. Good luck on your journey. I have high blood pressure as well and I've gone from two different meds plus a diuretic down to one med and at a low dosage as well. I hope to be off all hypertensive meds completely by the time I reach goal..

[CHEZNOEL 4,061]

I would agree that your blood pressure and high BMI should make you eligible for insurance payment. Either way, the journey is worth it! I wish you every success with the program you choose.

[Tawnya777 106]

Ok. I read through quite a few entries here' date=' and I've gained insight and encouragement through Tawnya's story. I have decided to begin my own.

Recently, I've been diagnosed with High Blood Pressure, and have pre-diabetic conditions. My weight has ballooned to 299.2, with a very high BMI. I'm also short. I also have other disorders... some related to weight, some not. More on that later.

My husband and I talked with my medical doctor today. We all came to the same conclusion. I need some sort of gastric bypass in general, and have decided to go with the lapband. I found that my insurance won't pay, but will pay for most of it (I swear that's what they said). They will only pay if there is a medical condition attached to me.

I have decided on a hospital, and will hear from them this week.

So my journey begins.

Updates as they come in....

Linda[/quote']

Hello Linda. I just responded to your post on my thread...lol... So glad to hear the doctors went good and that they think that the lap band will be good for you. What do they mean that they will only pay part of your surgery? I think you have enough conditions to get you approved. I know I have a lot....lol... I'm so excited to hear what the hospital tells you. You deserve this!!! You got a lap band buddy for life from me

[kristinc1985 111]

I agree. My high blood pressure really helped me get pushed through where insurance was concerned. Good luck and welcome to the journey!

[lbriteyes 10]

Your high BMI plus the co-morbidities should make you eligible for insurance coverage for the procedure. Good luck on your journey. I have high blood pressure as well and I've gone from two different meds plus a diuretic down to one med and at a low dosage as well. I hope to be off all hypertensive meds completely by the time I reach goal..

Its going to be a long journey. I think the hardest part is to come. Hopefully, taking the weight off will help the other stuff resolve. Its good to know that you've been able to come down so much on your meds. I hope it continues for you.

Linda

[lbriteyes 10]

I would agree that your blood pressure and high BMI should make you eligible for insurance payment. Either way, the journey is worth it! I wish you every success with the program you choose.

Thank you so much. :-) I'm excited and scared all at the same time!

Linda

[lbriteyes 10]

Hello Linda. I just responded to your post on my thread...lol... So glad to hear the doctors went good and that they think that the lap band will be good for you. What do they mean that they will only pay part of your surgery? I think you have enough conditions to get you approved. I know I have a lot....lol... I'm so excited to hear what the hospital tells you. You deserve this!!! You got a lap band buddy for life from me

lol

The part the insurance will pay, to my understanding, is just the percentage they pay for other surgeries. I don't think I'm going to get away free on this. There will still be bills to pay for the other stuff. Hospital is 100%, but I think I'll be in and out the same day. There will be co-pays at specialists, blood workups, meds, special diet, etc. I thought I might chronical it all and see what it actually costs, but I think I might be afraid to!

Linda

[lbriteyes 10]

I agree. My high blood pressure really helped me get pushed through where insurance was concerned. Good luck and welcome to the journey!

Nice to see another Ohioan here! :-) If I might ask, where did you have your surgery? I was given three different hospitals.

Thank you for your support!

Linda

[lbriteyes 10]

Appointment went well. We're getting the ball rolling. The hospital will call me sometime this week to set up an appoint for consultation with all their specialists. My mdoc (medical doctor) said it will probably be six months before I can even think about surgery. I have to jump through all sorts of

hoops before it can happen. Try this first... then that... then something else. Process of elimitation, I guess, before it'll happen. Funny thing is, when I was being weighed, I lost 8 lbs. Go figure. I've been stress eating and not exercixing for two weeks. lol

Telling my husband how much I weighed was tramatic for me. Turns out he knew anyway. He loves me. Go figure. We'll have been married 30 years on June 10th. I do have a lot of support. My husband, of course, my adult children, and my father. Now I have you guys too. Thanks especially to Tawnya for her support as well.

Ok, I'm going to tackle my health issues. Some have been weight related and some are lifelong afflictions. Meds are listed too. Great lead-in, eh? Here goes:

Hypothyroidism: Synthroid

Triglycerids: Gemfibrozil

Sleep: Zolpidem

Vertigo: Meclizine (exercixed induced vertigo - weird)

Bipolar Disorder: Lithium, Seroquel, Klonapin, Trazodone

Resless Legs: Ropinerol

Skin Problems: Prednisone (for now - limited) (some ointment, too)

I have four different skin disorders - none weight related

Suppliments: Fish Oil

Stool Softener (because the meds I take give me

Constipation

Seems a lot. I'm not taking anything right now for the High Blood Pressure. I'm going through another round of keeping a diary of it. I've also had a total knee replacement a few years back.

We'll see what the day brings.

Linda

[CHEZNOEL 4,061]

Keep with the exercise and jump the hoops. It is well worth it in the end!

[lbriteyes 10]

Thanks for your support! :-) I need it. Especially on days like this. There is not enought time!

I found out that I have to take a class on lapband surgery before I actually get in to talk to the team. Not a problem. I will attend on Wednesday, June 26th at 6:00 pm. It'll be a very late night for me since I live more than an hour away. Ugh. Can I please just have this done now?

Linda

[Sharpie 3,306]

Linda I had diabetes and high cholesterol, was on medication for diabetes but since my surgery on Jan 15, I have been able to eliminate the medication.. The lapband will be a tremendous way for you to get your health issues under control. Best of luck and the lapbanders on this site are a great source of information and support.

[Tawnya777 106]

lol

The part the insurance will pay' date=' to my understanding, is just the percentage they pay for other surgeries. I don't think I'm going to get away free on this. There will still be bills to pay for the other stuff. Hospital is 100%, but I think I'll be in and out the same day. There will be co-pays at specialists, blood workups, meds, special diet, etc. I thought I might chronical it all and see what it actually costs, but I think I might be afraid to!

Linda[/quote']

Well I hope that you get your insurance to pay the biggest part of your surgery. I would call them and also review your policy to make sure you get the most out them. Hopefully your cost will not be to much out of pocket.

[Tawnya777 106]

Appointment went well. We're getting the ball rolling. The hospital will call me sometime this week to set up an appoint for consultation with all their specialists. My mdoc (medical doctor) said it will probably be six months before I can even think about surgery. I have to jump through all sorts of

hoops before it can happen. Try this first... then that... then something else. Process of elimitation' date=' I guess, before it'll happen. Funny thing is, when I was being weighed, I lost 8 lbs. Go figure. I've been stress eating and not exercixing for two weeks. lol

Telling my husband how much I weighed was tramatic for me. Turns out he knew anyway. He loves me. Go figure. We'll have been married 30 years on June 10th. I do have a lot of support. My husband, of course, my adult children, and my father. Now I have you guys too. Thanks especially to Tawnya for her support as well.

Ok, I'm going to tackle my health issues. Some have been weight related and some are lifelong afflictions. Meds are listed too. Great lead-in, eh? Here goes:

Hypothyroidism: Synthroid

Triglycerids: Gemfibrozil

Sleep: Zolpidem

Vertigo: Meclizine (exercixed induced vertigo - weird)

Bipolar Disorder: Lithium, Seroquel, Klonapin, Trazodone

Resless Legs: Ropinerol

Skin Problems: Prednisone (for now - limited) (some ointment, too)

I have four different skin disorders - none weight related

Suppliments: Fish Oil

Stool Softener (because the meds I take give me

Constipation

Seems a lot. I'm not taking anything right now for the High Blood Pressure. I'm going through another round of keeping a diary of it. I've also had a total knee replacement a few years back.

We'll see what the day brings.

Linda[/quote']

Congrats on the 8 pound weight loss. It's funny how when we are not thinking about it we just lose weight out of the blue. Congrats on your up coming anniversary!!! I always admire people who have been married for a long time. I have been married going on 4 years on June 4th. I have been with my husband for 7 years. I was married before, but that marriage was very unhealthy. He would physically and emotionally abuse me. I tried to make my first marriage work, but I'm so blessed for my children through that marriage and so great full for my husband now who treats me like a queen. It's wonderful you have your family's support and thanks for adding me in on your support team. It's my pleasure to share your journey with you

After your surgery you will be able to get off a lot of those meds you are taking and the pressure on your knee will feel so better. My knees would hurt a lot, but losing just the little bit I did made them feel better. I broke my femur when I was 9 and it stopped growing so they had to scarp growth cells out of my other leg to stop the growth, which I had already grown 2 inches. So now I have a 2 inch difference which cause pain throughout my body and osteoarthritis from the way my body structure sits. I have tried shoe insert lifts, but they never help since its not the actual 2 inch difference. I feel your pain and understand why you want the lap band so much. Even if all the health issues don't go away they still get better with weight loss.