Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

This is my first post here. I joined this site because I was looking for some additional support while waiting for my approval. I turn 26 next month and my employer's insurance does not cover any weight loss surgery or medication at all. My dad's insurance is MMSI through mayo clinic and it covers it with a pre-determination. I have done everything asked of me by my weight loss doctor: attempted medication, been doing a low carb 1200 calorie diet, had a psych eval done, and met with her monthly. My insurance does not require anything except a letter of medical necessity, all of my notes from my weight loss doctor, and a list of my co-mobidities (insulin resistance, PCOS, infertility issues, hypothyroid issues reaching max dosage for Synthroid, asthma, GERD, as well as having a family history of: heart disease, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.) I'm just starting to get anxious. the surgeon I originally choose is no longer taking new patients. I found this out by calling the surgeon's office to schedule an appointment and find out why they had not reached out to me. There is another in my area but his next appointment is June 10th with the new surgeon. This is only 3 weeks before I lose my insurance that will cover this procedure. They have not even sent the required documents to my insurance company yet! I was told my MMSI that they can take 14 days or more to make a decision. I'm worried that it will not happen and that they will take their sweet time so they don't have to pay for it knowing I lose it in a month.

has anyone ever experienced this? how long did it take for your surgery to be approved and scheduled?

Backstory for those of you wondering why I waited until almost 26 to do this:

I have been heavy all of my life i remember being 109#'s at age 10. I have suffered from hypothyroidism and was diagnosed at age 11. I have attempted so many diets and still manage to gain weight. At one point i was taking phentermine and having 400 cal a day and some how still gained weight (this isn't a healthy diet but was managed by a doctor I did this for only 3 months before going a a dietitian instead). I have been dieting in some way shape or from since I was 18. I have seen many doctors and have been successful for brief amounts of time. The lowest weight I have been in my adult life was 243 then I quickly gained up to 318#'s due to my thyroid levels being so off. I have had many doctors suggest weight loss surgery to me, I was convinced that I could do it without surgery and honestly wasn't ready to permanently alter my body, the idea of having surgery freaked me out when I felt I still had other options. I made an appointment to talk to June (my weightloss dr) and she shared that anything she could do for me I have tried and failed, she said she could try again but that I would most likely have the same results, she had my medical records that showed my ability to diet and be successful on medication but then balloon up, she suggested what I feared she would the gastric sleeve, I never considered it and the thought of having ANOTHER doctor suggest it made me mad I was ready to walk out, my husband told me to hear the doctor out and convinced me to stay and talk to her. We spend a hour and a half speaking with her and asking her questions mostly about my ability to have children after. I have done extensive research and am ready to make this life altering change, (it sucks that it took me that long to finally come to this stage but it is what it is)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×