Katrinakit

I have been told that most people lose 50% of excess body weight in the first 6 months and then it slows down after that so it depends on starting weight.

I actually did finally get the letter in the mail! So now I have it in writing which makes me feel better. Any luck with your insurance, tripletmommy?

I'm a cat lady! Maybe you could volunteer at a pet shelter. I know some single cat ladies that do so.

So I called and first they told me the couldn't mail, fax, or email me but they could read me the criteria over the phone?! And then after reading jt to me she said she would "draft an authorized letter" or something and get it approved and hopefully I will get it in the mail within 10 business days after the approval so maybe in two weeks. So we shall see. So weird. It's blue cross too. It's not like they don't have bariatric patients.

Lol I had lost a significant amount of weight in my early thirties (which I of course gained back) and I realized the lower poles in the closet were not too low. It's just that my shirts were so huge they had been touching the ground. Once I was wearing normal sizes the poles were suddenly, magically an appropriate height!

Ditto the high boots and heels and shopping in non plus sized stores

Also want to wear sleeveless shirts and shorts without being self conscious.

And I want to develop a personal style that is not constrained by limited clothing options.

I also want to hike, kayak, zip line, and take adult hip hop And ballet dance classes. Maybe I will hike part of the Appalachian trail!

I want to cross my legs all lady like and become more of a flirt (right now I feel so self conscious that I figure they wouldn't be interested)

And I want to be able to hang out with a group of skinny people without feeling like I am the odd woman out

It's actually free. But don't worry I will call when I get home next week

I'm at a conference right now and when I get home in a week I will look into this more but my surgeons office called and told me they just want me to go through their 3 month pre op program (monthly weigh ins, psych, nut, meet with surgeon, support groups etc) that they make everyone do and then just submit to insurance and see what they say! Surely they have to say why they are denying me at that point, right? Lol

I know! That's what makes me nervous! Why the secrecy?

I am getting a bad feeling about this... I had contacted my insurance plan and they said that they covered bariatric surgery at 80% and the woman rattled off all of these criteria for me including a 6 month diet. She was talking so fast I didn't get it all though. Then the woman at my doctor's office called to get the specifics and they wouldn't tell her anything. So I called again and asked them to fax the criteria and they said they can only speak to the providers about the specifics and gave me a phone number for them to call. So she called back and they told her there wasn't really a list of criteria and they were just supposed to submit information about why I need the surgery and they would get back to her about whether they would cover it. She replied "that's not how this works. How can I play baseball if you don't first tell me the rules of the game?!" But that was all they were willing to say. She says she has never had an insurance company act like this before. I'm a little worried this is going to be a problem.

Did you lose all of that in those 6 months?! WOW!

Does 40.1 still count as greater than 40? lol

ok thank you! Good to know!

If I lose weight before surgery so that I am just above the 40 bmi, get approved, and then go on the month long liquid diet and drop below the 40 bmi right before surgery will they not pay for my surgery?

Just trying to plan out the next 6 months.

Thanks!

Kat

That is really good to hear that it is possible to drink 8 oz after. I have been worried about dehydration

It just seems like that won't amount to enough Water. At the moment I make it work by drinking 8 oz at a time but won't be able to after surgery. Keep in mind that I work 11 hour shifts. But that is a good idea to get a letter from doctor! Thanks!

Haha. That's a lot of bathroom breaks

Hello folks! I haven't had surgery yet and am just in the contemplative, how-would- I-make- it -work phase of the journey. Here is my question: if we can't keep Water with us then how do people who have had the surgery get their Water in on the job? Thoughts?

Thanks,

Kat

Hello! Newbie here! I have BCBS RI and am in the early stages of considering surgery. What requirements did you need for approval? Did they want the doctor supervised plan? Just curious. Thanks!
Kat