Changes

Hello. My name is Grace (hi Grace) and I have been overweight since I can remember. As a child, teenager, and even today at the ripe old age of 30

I have decided to take this lap band journey. I have been reading the forums and blogs for about a month and decided it was time to show my face, so to speak. I am at the beginning of the process. I found out today that since I was accepted into my insurances Bariatric Surgery Case Management Program and barring my failure to complete the paperwork or an unknown medical issue I should be approved. It is a process and most of it is the medical tests which is no surprise. The thing that I am worried about is the 5% weight I have to lose before surgery. 3% before I can even have the surgery scheduled. I am currently 312 lbs at 5' 7". This means that I need to lose 9 lbs before the paperwork is submitted and another 7lbs before surgery. Now obviously, as I'm sure you all know, weight loss is NOT my greatest skill. I have tried dieting since I was 14 years old with little results. I will turn to these forums to help me stay on track and focused on the goal. I know that having the lapband is not a magic device where the pounds will melt away. I know from reading and research that it truly is a took which I have to work hard with to get the results I'm looking for. So I will try to keep my eyes focuses, start to change my relationship with food now, the way I eat and what I eat. I accept the challenge and know that in the end the rewards are endless. The best reward is my health. I deserve to be healthy. My kids and husband deserve a healthy mother. I am worth this. In the past my issue was losing the momentum. I'm hoping that having this goal will help the motivation. Thank you for reading my LONG post, I tend to get wordy. I can't wait to take this journey and to have you guys by my side. I will also be here cheering you on!!

Since there aren't a lot of people on here to seem to have dealt with ghc in WA, I guess I'll share my experience so far. I received approval for the bariatric surgery case management program. I have an intake interview with the nurse (phone interview) on Tuesday. I have received a check-list which I need to complete (I think within 3 months) which includes enrolling in Accomplish, completing the pre-surgery testing, talk to my pcp about contraception, and attending weight loss support groups through ghc. I will get more answers on Tuesday as to which tests I have to have done and when those will be done. I received information in the mail today about Accomplish, which is their pre & post weight loss program/nutrition program. Everything with Accomplish is done over the phone which is nice since I live an hour away from the clinic, but feels a little impersonal. Oh well. I am ready and willing to do whatever it is they require to get approved for the surgery. I am trying to stay positive and keep all the steps straight in my head. I am assuming that after I talk to the nurse Tuesday I will have a better idea of what to expect. I will keep an update here in case anyone else uses this insurance and has questions. I should point out that I have PEBB GHC.

I have just started the process and can use all the help I can get, would you mind sending it to me too? gracierose9581@hotmail.com

Its called "weightloss surgery insurance secrets". by craig and leslie thompson

Hello, I'm new to the forum and just starting the process of being considered for the surgery with my insurance. I was wondering if anyone has GHC in WA and could maybe give me some insight as to how their approval, or disapproval, went and what the considerations are. I have called the insurance company twice, but they keep telling me I have to talk to the doctors. Anyone have any tips that have worked with this insurance?