sarah-tiffany

Wow!!! That's a lot of bs to go through! I've only just begun, but I'm exempt from six month wait due to bmi over 50, so at least I can check that off the list. I've spoke to 3 different BCBS agents, and all three have informed me that yes, all my costs, 100% will be covered after I've met my OPM...(even though wls surgery has a 50% coinsurance)...BCBS says doesn't matter, once OPM is met all approved procedures covered in full. WELL...the coordinator at surgeon's says she's not seeing that info on my policy. For the love of God!!!! Is it too much to ask if I can get a straight and consistant answer as to if I will be paying 1000...OR 3000?!?! That's quite a chunck of change...not like I have a couple extra thousand lying around! Hoping I'll find out more as the process gets further in. Glad I'm not alone in the insurance cat and mouse game! Good luck to everyone still waiting!

With any surgery they recommend at least six weeks, but every surgeon is different. Mine says 6 weeks. One post I read somewhere said her surgeon required six months of testing negative for nicotine. Ten yrs ago I had breast augmentation, and they required me to stop 30 days b4 surgery.

Congrats! Mine is tomorrow, and I'm meeting w/ the surgeon who specializes in DS. Fingers crossed my news will be as good as yours! Keep us posted!

Thank you, everyone, for your ideas and advice. I really appreciate the input! I am fortunate enough to be in the hands of a surgery center that has been recognized as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. I have faith that my surgeon will ultimately make the right choice for ME...I don't know if that means I will have the DS, but I am confident in his recommendation, no matter what that might be. I will know more on Thursday when I meet with my surgeon. I'm getting very nervous, but also SO ready & excited for what my future holds. I'll be sure to update throughout my journey. Thanks again!!!

Hello, all! My consult with my surgery center's DS specialist is this Thursday. I already know that my surgery center only performs the DS procedure on a case by case basis. I've already met the over 50 BMI requirement. I've put together a PROS/CONS list between the DS and RNY, but every Fiber of my being is telling me that DS is the one for me. I have put together a list for the doctor "proving" my case...with a list of legitimate reasons why he should agree to DS. I am a very organized and detail-oriented person, and so I really don't think that the strict Vitamin & Protein regimen will be an issue. Is there anything else that you can think of that might help "plead my case"? THANKS!

I have BCBS of MI, and I too am hoping for the DS. The way it is working for me is probably different b/c I am not required to do the 6 month wait b/c my bmi is more than 50. Anyways, the way it works through my surgeon & insurance is they take your very FIRST WEIGH-IN. That is the # they go by. I still have to get weighed for any and all visits, but my initial weight is only submitted once to insurance. All insurances are different, but I would think that your WLS coordinator would have the answer for you. That's where I turn to for all of my insurance questions. Good luck!

What "sealed the deal" for me was this summer...my girls & I took a plane to FL for a 3 wk visit to my mom's. As I sat in our first plane, I went to buckle the seatbelt..it wouldn't buckle. I began to sweat with nervousness & panic. I had always been able to buckle my airplane belt any other time I flew. Granted, this was my first flight in close to ten years, but my God! Seriously?!? I started out w/ denial... I fumbled around, sure I was doing something wrong! Next, came anger...now why in the hell would they make these belts so small??? Finally, I got very nervous. At this moment, I had never heard of a belt extender, so in my mind I thought if the flight attendant noticed, I would either be forced to purchase an additional ticket, or be forced off the plane.. Leaving my girls standing there mortified. I was NOT going to let that happen, so I did whatever I could to make it appear as though my belt was latched. I put both sides on my lap, and then covered my lap w/ my purse. Each time an attendant walked by to do a seatbelt check, I went through the panicking all over again. It was the single most shameful moment of my life. I vowed that I would have the surgery no matter what the cost. I will be having surgery later this winter.

Most overweight people are well aware that they are gaining weight & how detrimental it could be to their heath. It's not, IMO, something one needs to bring to my attention. Being obese is hard enough on its own...I certainly don't need a friend, or otherwise, pointing it out. I don't see how that would benefit anyone involved.