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Congrats!!! I’m excited too just got my surgery date of February 28th. I’m sure it will transform to nervousness and anxiety at some point but for now all I feel is joy!! The Road 2 A Better Me

Hi and welcome to the boards! It isn't so much that you "can't" have surgery with a >60BMI. It's more that you need to make sure to choose your surgeon and new tool wisely. Make sure to ask your surgeon how many people he/she's operated on in the past year with BMIs >60? Ask if it will be an open or closed procedure. Ask about the surgery type. Ask about their success rate/complication rate. If it were me, I'd be sure to go with a Center of Excellence surgeon, team, and hospital--but I'm a wieny that way...I'd mainly want to know that my doc has great comfort/skill in operating on someone towards the higher BMI spectrum. Ask about contingencies: what happens if he/she gets in there and that there's "not enough room" to perform the chosen surgery--then what happens? Will the surgery change to an open procedure? Will you wind up with a different procedure? BTW, most docs are gonna wanna see some weight loss. They're gonna want to know you can go the distance, are serious about changing food relationships and sticking with a diet program. They're also gonna want to reduce your bulk to increase the space they have to operate and to reduce your liver. So you may have to lose 5-10% of your weight or more. My insurance company only required I lose 5% of my total weight. My doc said 10%. I've lost 10% from the date of my first weigh in with the surgeon. I think I will have surgery either next month or in early March.

I did not. But many, many people do:) Very common.

I am on February 8th or 9th. They said it would be one of those days.

Each insurance company has its own set of requirements. Consider yourself extremely lucky! Your new insurance is great. Since I am disabled, I am on Medicare. Medicare's requirements for medical necessity include: (1) BMI > 35, (2) an associated co-morbidity like diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, (3) and a documented history of failed attempts at medical weight management. Yet, Medicare does not specify how many attempts and over what time period. It turned out that I could use documentation from 3 years ago. Also, each insurance company operates at its own pace. I heard back lightning quick. I applied on Dec. 27th, approved electronically, and was told by my provider today. We even scheduled today.

That’s incredible! Good job! Thank you. I’m stoked/nervous/excited all at once .

I was 400 at my highest, 350 at my first appointment and then 295 on my day of surgery, so I'm probably not the best example, but I figure if the doctor's aren't too concerned and are going through with the surgery, then they must believe you won't be at higher risk of complications.

Happy Anniversary to @Yosy and @Rainbow_Warrior !!!!!!!

[emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173] Happy Anniversary its been 11 years for us!! Sent from my LGLS676 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had the sleeve surgery 5/29/16. I am a very social person and very open. I was open with my friends and some of my family and some coworkers about the process I was going through and that I would be having the surgery. Since starting this process I have lost 250 pounds. That is a pretty noticeable difference! In my experience people are curious how you've achieved such great results and when they ask I just tell then I had weight loss surgery and I just watch what I eat and exercise. Most of the time they just accept that answer and say okay! Some people ask how it was and I tell them that I had issues in the beginning but it has saved my life. I tell them about my small portions and the focus on protein. Ultimately it's up to you how much you share. You owe them nothing. If they ask you how you are doing it just tell them you are eating healthier and trying to be active...WHICH IS TRUE. You don't need to divulge your whole story. For myself I tell anyone and everyone. I'm EXTREMELY proud of my weight loss. For example, I was just at the lab to get bloodwork and was so excited to fit in the chair with the arm down I couldn't contain my story and told her how I used to not be able to put the arm down and I had lost 250 pounds. That's me though. I'm very open about my experiences and I like people to know how hard I've worked. When I am able to fit somewhere I couldn't before or do something I couldn't I am SOOO surprised still. My mentality is still in the 540 pound woman who can hardly walk and can't fit most places. I think part of me telling people is that I'm still overweight and want people to know I am working on it and have already come a long way and won't be like this forever. That is my own insecurity though. In conclusion...just do what you want. Share what your feel comfortable sharing. You will be surprised at how little people judge you for it. At least that has been the case in my experiences.