Insurance

[donna1470 4]

I really need some advice for insurance. They are telling me I need 3 month diet and I can't wait that long!!

[txdogmom 30]

Why can't you wait that long? Is it the "I've-finally-made-the-decision-and-I-want-it-now" feeling or is there a reason it has to be now (like your're losing insurance)?

If it is the first reason, I am sooooo with you there girfriend! 3 months seemed like an eternity. Then I found out some insurance made people have a 6 month diet. Yikes! All insurances have some hoops to go thru to get this surgery: a supervised diet (3 or 6 months long), a visit to a psychiatrist (at least 1), a visit to a nutritionist (at least 1). While it seems like a waste of time and effort in the beginning, it turns out there is merit to madness.

The supervised diet gives you time to kill some bad habits, develop some good habits and make sure you really know and understand what you are commiting yourself to. During the 3 months, I got off caffine, chocolate, chips, ice cream, soda and bad snack foods. I took the time to really examine why I was fat and look for solutions to help me manage my life better than to seek comfort in food.

Try not to look at this as a punishment but just the first steps in your journey.

[Mike4132 256]

I thought I couldn't wait 6 months for the program my doctor required but it amazed me how fast it went. 3 months will fly by!

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

3 month diet and I can't wait that long!!

@@donna1470

what is 3 more months out of a lifetime??

well worh the wait

"God Grant Me Patience, Just Hurry Up About It"

use those three months wisely

lose as much weight as you can

work up to drinking 64 oz of Water a day

practice not drinking while you eat

after you eat don't drink for 45-60 minutes

eat in moderation

don't drink any soda

just the tip of the iceberg of rules you must follow for the rest of you life with the sleeve

you are on your way to a healthier, happier, longer life

enjoy the ride ride

good luck

kathy

Edited October 2, 2014 by proudgrammy

[Pepper123 320]

Trust u can other waited 6 months and sme more….

[stephh 634]

I just went through my 6 month supervised diet plan, required by insurance (surgery is 10/13). October felt so far away when I began my journey in March! I still call it a six month game with my insurance company haha. When I finally said out loud that I wanted a sleeve, I wanted it THEN. It was the longest six months, and yet the shortest too! Keep your chin up and your 3 months will be over before you know it!

[MaureenVA 35]

There's a lot to be done before surgery anyway....medical testing, surgery appointments, pre op diet...and those are just the required things!

[Forsythia 882]

By the time you get all the tests and visits scheduled you will have used up that three months, possibly more. I had to have an endoscopy and had to schedule that out by a couple of weeks due to availability. So fear not, that time will fly by.

[Sherrischeffler 74]

At least you aren't waiting 6 mos.

[1NaturalLoser 20]

I really need some advice for insurance. They are telling me I need 3 month diet and I can't wait that long!!

I started this process in December 2013. I completed my required 6-month diet program (really 7-months, whew) and was scheduled to have surgery on 9/22. As much as I wanted to have the surgery on that date, I reluctantly rescheduled to 11/24 since it's undoubtedly a better time for me and my family because I will already be off from work during that week. I've waited so long to have this surgery; what's a few more weeks gonna matter? That's what I keep repeating to myself and it works for me.

[The Candidate 3,215]

I just got the call last night that I've been cleared to start the 6 months (24 weeks) worth of Options classes required by my insurance. These classes don't even start until November 13 and will be meeting once a week on Thursday nights. Now considering that Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, plus both Christmas and New Years, I'm looking at not finishing until sometime in May! I was also told that I won't even get to meet with a surgeon until the last month of classes. They told us in orientation that the whole process usually takes about 9 months and that's exactly what's happening.

In the meantime I'm trying to stay positive, and am using the time to prepare myself and my environment by stocking up on everything I'll need, researching, and also attempting to get ahead at work so things will run smoothly in my absence. I know once I start the classes the time will fly by and because I was given that extra time I'll head into the operating room armed with all I need to be a successful WLS recipient.

Just remember that no matter how long you have to wait there's always somebody else behind you who's just starting out, so count yourself lucky!