Would You Do Things Differently?

[pandagirl 0]

Hi! I am still at the pre-approval stage. (Blue Shield:California.)

(Quickie background)

Today was my last day of a six month long supervised diet. This program is new to my medical group; I was literally one of the first set to go through it. I have had many issues with this program, but being the guiney pig means my feedback will make it easier for the next group.

My main concern right now is coordination between my insurance, my medical group and my Surgeon (Laura Machado). My dietician seems confident that I will be approved for surgery, yet she doesn’t have the final say. She has to send up my paperwork to another office and they will approve things. I am assuming they will speak directly with the insurance company for approval guidelines.

Once they approve me then I can go see my Surgeon. My Surgeon won’t see me until they get a referral from my Doctor/Medical Group.

What annoys me about all of this is that I really don’t know what I should have been working on. I don’t know what my Surgeon will require of me. I only have communities like LBT and books for reference. I am hoping that I did okay.

(Actual question) :hungry:

These last six months I have worked on my motivations for eating, getting in at least a little exercise a day, not eating fast-food, not drinking carbonated drinks, and finding a Protein Powder that I like.

Reading everything here, I do not know what to expect. Every Surgeon seems to have their own guidelines.

If you had to do all over again, is there anything you wished you had prepared better for? Would you have eaten less, gotten rid of fried foods, got more exercise, tried to lose more pre-op weight? Would you change a single thing?

[poodlecamper 0]

Hi--I'm also in the pre-approval process and my insurance (Cigna) requires a "six month Dr. supervised diet". No one (surgeon, nutritionist) has been able to tell me the rationale behind this. But the nutritionist told me many of her patients were afraid to lose any weight, fearing the insurance co would use that as "proof" that surgery wasn't needed.

Frankly, after 40+ years of weight issues I don't get what this "diet" is supposed to prove and it worries me too. I have a BMI of 51 and co-morbidities.

Anyone ever figure this out? what's the insurance co's point?

[No Idea 0]

My insurance (Aetna) has a 3 month pre surgery approval process. What mine was for was to get me used to the lifestyle and make sure surgery was the right thing to do. Going to support group meetings and meeting with exercise specialist and nutritionist did help.

I do wish it could have gone faster, but the support groups and information helped tremendously.

[faithmd 14]

The supervised diet is for a number of things (BTW, mine was 12 months, I'm jealous of you 6 or even 3 month folks ).

No idea mentioned some of them, getting used to life style changes, getting a mind set, etc. It also shows the insurance company that is going to pay loads of $$ for this surgery that you CAN make a committment to weight loss and that you will follow doctor's orders. After all, so much of WLS is following guidelines and changing our eating drastically. From their point of view, if we have dieted in the past and gained it back, or if we just continue to creep up on the scale every year, why is sugery going to magically cure all that? WLS requires a deep committment on our part and they just want to see some evidence of that committment in the form of a "supervised diet." Many insurance compoanies require a certain amount of loss on this diet, mine required 5% loss of my excess weight in that year. Worked out to 9lbs, so certainly they weren't forcing me to lose a LOAD of weight, just enough to show I cared.

[No Idea 0]

FaithMD is right. I lost about 10 pounds in those 3 months and the insurance approved me pretty fast.

I think it is just they want to make sure you are committed and will follow all the rules. Lap-Band isn't a cure all, but it is a great help.

[poodlecamper 0]

Thanks for your posts, no idea and faithmd. I went out today and bought some of the Protein Drinks, and powder, to begin trying to find some I can live with. My doc and nutritionist have a very detailed, mult-stage diet plan that must be followed pre and post-op. And definitely there are "mind" issues that have to be dealt with. No more corn on the cob?? AUGGHHH!!!! I am a corn on the cob maniac. Maybe I can chew it and spit it out? Just kidding ;>)

[luvinke 0]

Good luck with your approval, everything will workout for the best. I wouldn't do anything differently because every mistake teaches me something new so I will continue to go with the flow. Keep up the good work, with the eating and excercise.