Heyher

Can you get your weights from before you moved? A call to your old doc to find out what record release they need. Maybe photographs with the date on them showing your weight prior to your moving. Also call your insurance and see if they have suggestions.

Congrats!!! Same day as mine!!!

November will be my 10 year anniversary of my diagnosis of MS. So to celebrate 10 years of MS and my surgery I am getting a phoenix on my leg with the quote "Perfectly Flawed" That will be added to my collection of 10 others and a sleeve. Going to sleeve out my lower leg with the phoenix. Rising from the ashes.

If insurance isnt playing nice and you decide to self-pay there are a lot of surgeons in America that offer reasonable self-pay prices. I was looking at Mexico too, but my family just couldn't get on board. I decided to self-pay here in the states for personal reasons. But there are a few in TX, Vegas, Kansas, and other states that offer self pay at more affordable pricing. I got my fingers crossed that they stop being butt heads and just approve you already!! If it does go to appeals send tons of documntation, medical studies, medical journals, a letter from you stating facts regarding benefits to your health, peronal reasons of why you need the surgery, ect. If you need an example, PM me and I can send you a copy of my letter I wrote for appeals. Good luck!!!!!!

Buying sexy under-roos. Go hiking for more then 10 minutes. (Colorado already sucks with the higher elevation) Walk around and feel like people are looking at me thinking "she is very pretty" rather then "wow she is pretty chubby" Not having people ask me when I'm due or how far along I am. Feeling healthy and actually being healthy. No longer ordering a large #1 from fast food. Going to my fiancé's school events and not feeling ashamed because he is the teacher with the fat wife. Taking pictures. Wearing a beautiful wedding gown to my wedding.

My name is Heather. I am 29 living in Lakewood, CO. I am scheduled for 2/25. I started in July 2012, so this has been a journy. I am ready for this though. I dont have kids, but me any my soon to be DH would like to start trying in the next few years. With MS and fibro, lots of added weight would make pregnancy hard on my physically. I hope to get to 145. I got down to 160 a few years ago and felt like I could lose about 15-20 more lbs, but as I get closer to goal, I may adjust closer to 150, depending on how I feel. Ummm hobbies are making jewelry, tattoos, our three dogs, planning a wedding, uhhhh... Hmmm... Yeah, just ready to do this!! Go fab feb!!

Trying to be positive. Now that I am healing up and no longer look like phantom of the opera, I can start joking around. :-) Get past the PHN and the crazy itching I will be good to go!! T-25 days and counting!!!!!!

Okay so great is a little exaggerated. But having shingles on my face helped me to drop almost 10lbs in 3 weeks. The pain and itching has really helped to deter eating... LoL!!! Sorry had to find SOMETHING positive about the whole shingle debacle.

100% agree with the OP.

I get sleeved in less then a month. But both my PCP and neurologist think it will be very beneficial for me. They are confidant it will help with maintaining my mobility when I don't have an extra 100lbs to lug around. :-) I'm thinking the same thing. Bummer is I was supposed to have surgery on 2/4 but we had to delay because stress from insurance caused an outbreak of shingles on my face. :-( But I'm on for 2/25.

My reasons are to help control comorbidities. I'm pre-diabetic and pre-hypertension on top of sleep apnea. Also help with my mobility because of MS and fibromyalgia. I'm not looking to be skinny. I want to be at a healthy weight. I don't have the goal of being in a size 4. I just don't want to be in a wheelchair.

That was very sweet of the man to say. Very nice compliment. Congrats on your loss so far!!! Excited to see your updates and see some pictures!!

I have a self funded plan through UHC. I have been vocal with how hard this has been and it has ended up causing me shingles due to stress. I tried to get DOL involved and got no where. If you are going to appeal I WOULD use a lawyer to help draft 1st, 2nd, and if needed external review. I have been fighting since July with UHC, and still don't have an answer. Lindstrom is well known and well respected with helping get approval. They aren't affiliated with specific surgeons and don't get kick backs for referrals. Keep talking to UHC, get your exact plan requirements from your employer, and fight. Also you can talk to your surgeon about what their self pay costs are. If you have a good relationship with the surgeon and you trust HIS abilities, don't let the desk jockeys at their office mess this up. Just make sure you stay on top of them and on top of insurance. Good luck!!!

I'm getting married in October. Not sure how the dress situation is going to work, but oh well. I'll figure something out. LoL!!!!

I was originally 2/4, but bad outbreak of shingles on my face. So pushed back to 2/25. I am going to ask for 5-6 weeks off. I keep reading about people dealing with major fatigue. With MS that's a big concern for me, so I have disability and I'll use that to help.

Aaaaaannnnndddd nothing. DOL can't help.

So the deadline of 1/19 for UHC to get an answer has come and gone. Called this morning and it is still pending. This is has gone on way too long. About time to file complaint with DOL.

I learned after breast reduction that the quick almost zing like pain is the nerves that were cut firing off and trying to reconnect. Constant pain could indicate an infection at or under the skin. Monitor your temp if the pain is persistent and note any fever. Pain around the incision with heat and redness is cause for concern and a call to the doc/trip to ER. Pay attention to the type of pain and talk to your doc. But just remember there are tons of nerves that were cut through and tons of healing going on.

And complaint has been sent to the DOL. UHC has been notified that the complaint was filed. Should hear from the local DOL tomorrow about getting this resolved and paid.

So I finally have a date of 2/4/13. It may be adjusted by a few days, but it is happening. I can't express how great it is to finally have a date. Just waiting to hear if insurance will pay or if I will pay. Woo hoo!!!!

So...... Waiting to hear back from doc if my surgery needs to be delayed since I have shingles. On my face. Specifically along the nerve that runs from my ear under my eye and down my nose... It's not until 2/4, but not sure how long this will last.

Also it's the 25th. So get my count down STARTED!!!!! :-)

Thank you!!!! I'm bummed it was pushed back, but I know it's for my own safety. In the mean time I'm going to start unpacking my clothes from when I had a successful attempt at weight loss. Also checking out wedding dressed while I wait. Then one month post op I will get to go dress shopping and be able to buy a smaller size knowing I will fit in by the time my wedding happens. Don't want to stress. And on my other post a member eased so much fear about pain. I blame insurance for stressing me out and causing shingles. Wish I could make them pay, but just knowing surgery is happening in a little over a month has me so excited!!!!! Can't wait!!!!