srs82781

Thank you!! Can I ask why they denied you?

Even though I have a 43BMI, and that I have been obese the majority of my life, they said that I didn't have sufficient 2year medical history of morbid obesity.

Most of 2010 I was pregnant most of the year, and the only recorded weight for 2011 was my 6week postpartum weight. So they would not except any of my weights.

The office was going to resubmit after the 1st of the year since then they would only need 2011 and 2012 but Aetna already told me they won't accept my weight for 2011 so I didn't even bother doing an appeal.

Unfortunately I had no need to go to the doctor in 2010 prior to getting pregnant and only went to minute clinics otherwise, and they never recorded my weight.

Do you have any other conditions other then possible sleep apnea? I think they require 2 conditions to qualify cause that's what the woman from Aetna asked me when I walled to check on the status and she told me I was denied.

Any doctor I have come across in Florida makes you go thru all the preliminary testing and such. The surgeon I was working with (before deciding on Mexico) was booked out months in advance and he wouldn't take patients from out of the immediate area because he wanted to be in charge of their post op care. The general pricing I have come across for self pay here is 15,000-20,000. The only place I've found in the US that operates like Mexico is in Las Vegas and that was still about $10,000.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

Welcome Kim! Good luck on your journey!!! I am having my surgery finally on February 18th! I started with my seminar last may and was planning on going thru insurance (Aetna) but was denied and decided not to appeal and that this was too long and stressful of a process for me...i am a self pay going Mexico. Let me know if you have any questions going thru the Aetna process.

I am in Orlando and was going to be sleeved by dr Kim but insurance denied me and it was almost $20,000 as a self pay so I am now going to Mexico.... Surgery is feb 18th, but I was told dr Kim won't take me for post op care if I use a different surgeon so I'm on the hunt for another bariatric doctor in Orlando for my post op.

I'm from Orlando. Having my surgery feb 18th in Mexico.... Insurance denied me and I'm not going thru another 6mos of waiting to be denied again.... I'm hoping to get dr jawad to take me on as a post op patient since my previous dr will not.

You look amazing!!!! Very inspiring!!!

I have been doing my research' date=' and I am trying to figure out which weightloss surgery actuall "suits" me. I have gone to my first consult with my surgeon, and he suggested the band, but after researching this, the band does not seem to be a long-term method. I have made up my mind to conquer this obesity (which I have struggled with since childhood) with wls, and the sleeve seems like the better option. I am aware of the risks of both. My surgeon lives two hours away, and I am concerned about missing work and going to get filled or unfilled. I am 5'6" and 230 pounds and suffer from hypertension. I have tried every diet known to man. Yes, I lose, but it comes back every time! The sleeve seems to be the best route for me. Please share any tjoughts on my situation.[/quote']

I had gone to a surgeon last may after wanting the band and he was the one who talked me out of it and into the sleeve.

For starters he had done more revisions then actual bands.

And for someone my size 5'4 250lbs he said the band is not meant for such high BMI the average weight loss was 50lbs and would not recommend for someone having more then 100lbs to lose.

I was nervous with the thought of having part of an organ removed, but it seems that there have been way more issues with having a foreign object inside of you.

It truly is a personal preference, but after reading so many stories about how many people have had revisions, I'm glad my doctor steered me in the other direction.

Correction... BMI has to be between 30-40. I just rechecked her email response to me.

I talked to alma about single incision with Dr Garcia.... He does do it, BMI must be below 35 and its an extra $1000.

I ordered about 30 different samples of various Protein mixes from nashuanutrition.com they make their own packets from the tubs and send along with the invoice a list of how to prepare the brands that you ordered. Was a great site!

Looks like I won't be able to go until February 18 now. Stupid Fiscal Cliff delayed filing returns till the 30th n that's how I'm paying for my surgery.

So I'll be behind u guys a couple weeks after

Its a bummer you had to push it back but I'll be there for surgery with Dr Garcia on the 18th so I will be seeing you there!

Hey shrinksthinks! I will see you there! I arrive in San Diego on the 17th and have my surgery with Dr Garcia on the 18th! So I will for sure see you in the hospital!

Lets stay in touch! Woohoo 6 more weeks!!!!!

Where does the invite appear? Do I have to be on the full site or can I see it on the mobile app?

So I booked my flights to San Diego and we have a redeye home, so we don't leave till 10pm, but R4C said the latest they bring us back is at 2pm cause of the hotel checkout time. So we will be stuck waiting for about 8 hrs.

Did anyone run into this situation and if so what did you do with your time? I do not want to sit in San Diego airport for that long 2 days after surgery. Thanks!

Dr Keith Kim at celebration health. I was planning on having surgery with him but insurance denied me. I went thru a long 6 mo journey with him and his staff attempting to get insurance approval. Great facility and top notch staff!

I've ordered a bunch of samples, I know they say your taste will most likely change after surgery but I figure if I can't tolerate one now that I won't like it after surgery. So I am at least sticking with the ones I can tolerate. There are so many out there I keep a list so I don't keep buying the same one over again. The Nectars aren't too bad, because you mix them with Water I tend to water them down more then they say and it's pretty good!

Vitamins I really like the Celebrate brand they are sweet but not that bad aftertaste like some have.

I'm being sleeved February 18th in Tijuana. So excited its right sound the corner! Please send invite for group!!!!

Dr Garcia - February 18th

Age 31

Weight 256

Height 5'4

Bmi 43

Goal 140

Smart Water as just as much electrolytes as Gatorade and its just water so that might help....

Very inspiring! You look great!

Welcome amanda! I'm 31 from central Florida and getting sleeved in Mexico February 18th! You know what's best for you and when it comes down to it you are the one that has the final say in your health and at 29 your getting a head start on the rest of your life.

As my PCP put it, WLS is not the easy way out, it is the toughest decision we will ever make and it is a forever decision we will be changing our lives in such a drastic way that it's not always easy. But we are all strong and will be better off in the end!

I know it's tough without family support but that's why we are here, to get the support we need from people that are in the same position and understand our day to day struggles. I'm sure along the way you will find someone on here that will be in Mexico at the same time and that's always a plus to find someone to communicate with that you will be able to connect with once you are there.

Welcome and good luck with your journey!

See you on the losers bench!

They should definitely accept a work health assessment weight without a problem, especially with comorbidities. Especially when they accept weight history from weightloss programs like weight watchers and Jenny Craig. You should be fine as long as you submit it all together. Otherwise the process will drag on. Good luck!

Deposit paid and flights booked! I am a go for Tijuana. Set for the 18th of February with Dr Garcia. I'm so excited!!! I started my journey as an insurance patient back May 2012 and after all the appointments, testing, 3month mandatory dr/nutritionist monitored diet and then 3 mos waiting on insurance to make a decision I finally decided to take control over my own health and not let someone else that I don't even know decide my fate! I feel such relief and no more stress waiting to find out if and when!

Will I see anyone there???????

Well officially DENIED. My two year weight history didn't work for Aetna. I knew 2010 wouldn't because the only time I went to the doctor was when I found out I wa pregnant and then there after all prenatal visits....

The office was just going to wait since we had a weight history for 2011 and 12 and resubmit the 1st of the year but Aetna told me that they won't take my weight for 2011 either cause the only one on file is 6wks postpartum. And when sick during those years I always opted for an urgent care cause it was usually a quick option and even though they weighed me, they never documented it!

Oh well! I'm ok with it, I am now a self pay and traveling for surgery and it will be much cheaper still then the out of pocket expense here.... Not to mention having to meet the 2013 deductible again if I stay here!

Good luck everyone with with your approvals. Date is set for February 18th! Hope to see you all on the losers bench!!!!!

I have a date with Dr Garcia for feb 18th! Also went thru R4C. Alma has been so helpful!