Neurologist and Neurosurgeon is trying to have 6 month BCBS required diet waived.

[CaitlinT 26]

Hello! I have IIH and my Neuro and Neurosurgeon is trying to get BCBS to bypass 6 month diet so, the surgery can be sooner. I am losing my vision and they think that the surgery will cure me so, I do not have to have brain surgery. Has anyone been able to bypss the diet?

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

@ Have you done any other WL program like WW or dr. regulated diet? I was able to get my done with the history from WW, Gyn, and GP. I went to them and got all my weights. This showed the losses and gains over the years. Not saying is your answer... but it maybe something to look into just in case.

Good luck

[CaitlinT 26]

@ Have you done any other WL program like WW or dr. regulated diet? I was able to get my done with the history from WW, Gyn, and GP. I went to them and got all my weights. This showed the losses and gains over the years. Not saying is your answer... but it maybe something to look into just in case.

Good luck

Thank you for your reply! Yes, I have done WW a couple years ago and I log on fitbit now. I have been following the Paleo diet. I called and mentioned the fitbit log and WW to my nurse advocate with BCBS. He is supposed to call me back by this afternoon with an answer. Thank you so much!!

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

fit bit is great.... What is your bmi right now? If it's borderline.... be careful of how much you do lose... you don't want to lose to much and not qualify for not being fat enough.... lol

I actually had to gain 10 to get my band.... and i would do it again and again. i had no co morbids and my bmi was 39ish... and it had to be a 40. But i knew this before going in. So me and chic fa lay milk shakes became best buds. Do you know how easy it is to gain 10... lol. I lost those 10 on pre diet plus a few

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Hello! I have IIH and my Neuro and Neurosurgeon is trying to get BCBS to bypass 6 month diet so, the surgery can be sooner. I am losing my vision and they think that the surgery will cure me so, I do not have to have brain surgery. Has anyone been able to bypss the diet?

Sounds like they need to do an appeal and talk directly with BCBS.

[CaitlinT 26]

@@bayougirlmrsc I am well over the 40 BMI requirement... 58 right now. I spoke with my Dr at the bariatric clinic and it doesn't seem like they will even speak with my neuro and nuerosurgeon and go ahead and submit for early surgery... I think it is because, I am going to their dietician monthly and their dietician doctor monthly... They are making $400 a month off of me for the next 6 months out of my pocket because insurance doesn't cover the pre-op diet.

[CaitlinT 26]

@@Inner Surfer Girl I am waiting for BCBS to let me know how many appeals there can be... my biggest fear is submitting it... getting denied, appealing with peer to peer review, getting denied and then not having another chance to appeal after having my brain surgeries. I told my bariatric doctor today that after having 2 brain surgeries, I just do not know if i will have the drive to have another surgery. I am thinking it is safer to have the brain surgeries, follow the 6 month diet, and then decide if I can handle another surgery. It is frustrating that a less invasive, cheaper surgery could cure me but, insurance would much rather cover not one but 2 brain surgeries, and WLS. It just doesn't, make since at all.

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

@ Not to be a butt..., but are they the only game in town? Please don't give up on your self.... Keep on them. I was lucky with my old insurance.... it seems like they would be more pro-WLS than paying for all the WL related problems... it's crazy too me.

Don't give up on yourself.... you are worth the fight

[ocgirl15 667]

Wow I hope bcbs listens to your doctors... Because they are paying for surgery either way and WLS sounds like win win for both of you. Best of luck and prayers for a quick answer.

[CaitlinT 26]

@ Not to be a butt..., but are they the only game in town? Please don't give up on your self.... Keep on them. I was lucky with my old insurance.... it seems like they would be more pro-WLS than paying for all the WL related problems... it's crazy too me.

Don't give up on yourself.... you are worth the fight

I am looking into another surgery center now.... I followed their diet for a month and gained 4lbs... their doctor's response... It's ok 4lbs is nothing in the grand scheme of things, you will lose everything you gain once you have surgery. I responded with, sure no big deal to you but... every pound I gain puts me closer to brain surgery and blindness! She said not to worry... not exactly the kind of doctor I want to go to.

Wow I hope bcbs listens to your doctors... Because they are paying for surgery either way and WLS sounds like win win for both of you. Best of luck and prayers for a quick answer.

Thank you so much! Now BCBS is saying they will cover it early but.... the doctor's office is not wanting to do it early. I am switching centers!

[CaitlinT 26]

Just a little update! I switched clinics last month and I was just approved for July 5th surgery date! I am awaiting letter confirmation but, I have the approval number. Woohoo

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[breuxo 78]

i know this is old, i have iih i was put into remission after optic nerve stealth fenestration surgery for about 5 months but wanted to try weight loss to make sure it didn't come back. my neuro surgeon swore if i lost 20 pounds i would be cured. well i had surgery september 22 and i'm having problems again!!!!!! ugh how are you doing?

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