Bethany Copley

I only have 3.6 more pounds to lose and I will be able to schedule surgery and start my 4 week pre-op diet (Phase 3). I am HAPPY TODAY. And scared. And happy. And nervous. And then happy again. For the last month I have worked my ass off doing my requirements, losing weight. All in the face of: Tax audit Fiance job demotion 15 year old picked up at a party now has probation officer til May to avoid a "frequenting" charge House repairs we can't afford Etc. But it all blew up the same week I started this. And Ive kept on track. Its scary. 3.6 pounds seems so small, and at the same time, feels like 20 pounds away again. Normally putting such pressure on hitting a "number goal" isn't something I do ( I go by my size) but its my requirement...and the closer it gets the more it feels like *something* else is going to happen. Something else will finally happen and break my resolve to complete this and I will end up gaining or regaining (rapidly, as I am wont to do) the weight I have lost, and not make my requirements by the time I am supposed to. So. I have my Water bottle. And my Walk Away the Pounds DVD is queued up to play on my PS3. Im so close.

I only have 3.6 more pounds to lose and I will be able to schedule surgery and start my 4 week pre-op diet (Phase 3). I am HAPPY TODAY. And scared. And happy. And nervous. And then happy again. For the last month I have worked my ass off doing my requirements, losing weight. All in the face of: Tax audit Fiance job demotion 15 year old picked up at a party now has probation officer til May to avoid a "frequenting" charge House repairs we can't afford Etc. But it all blew up the same week I started this. And Ive kept on track. Its scary. 3.6 pounds seems so small, and at the same time, feels like 20 pounds away again. Normally putting such pressure on hitting a "number goal" isn't something I do ( I go by my size) but its my requirement...and the closer it gets the more it feels like *something* else is going to happen. Something else will finally happen and break my resolve to complete this and I will end up gaining or regaining (rapidly, as I am wont to do) the weight I have lost, and not make my requirements by the time I am supposed to. So. I have my Water bottle. And my Walk Away the Pounds DVD is queued up to play on my PS3. Im so close.

I am being recommended for surgery, because I have demonstrated stability for the last 10 years!

I have to lose the 15 pounds before they will start the 4 week pre-op diet. 2 weeks modified, 2 weeks liquid. I know I would totally lose on that...just have to lose this first. Maybe its psychological, like how it is for a wedding, or big even like you said. I keep trying to just breathe, let it go. I even got rid of my scale (its at a relatives) so i would only be weighed by my doctor. Still stressing. Letting it go is so much harder than I thought.

My starting weight, that was taken in Nov. was 309. I was approved in January, when my weight was 313. You would think that getting to 293 (its like 15.5) wouldnt be a huge deal....thats practically Water weight. But it is. Ive lost this same 15-20 every few months for the last two years. Why is it so hard to do it now, after Ive been approved for surgery? Im more active than Ive been, and am learning to eat right, but it won't budge. In fact, it went up, but thats probably due to TOM. I know itll come off...Im just bewildered and depressed about it today.

I would follow your plan, especially since it sounds like you are struggling a bit. cutting out all food could lead to a binge, which leads to feelings of failure. Itll be okay.

Thanks guys! i appreciate all the comments and advice. I also wear them for costuming, and it was a pretty important piece of clothing for my cybergoth gear, but not necessary...just...looked great, you know? I think, once the time comes, Ill give the spanx idea a try.

Before i gained 100 pounds, I wore corsets almost everyday. Steelboned, plasticboned...whatever I thought was cute or made me feel pretty. Have any of you worn corset post-sleeve? I *could* wear one now, at 315 pounds, but they dig and rub and hurt me. Im worried that because of the loose skin I am going to have, that it will be the exact same problem. Not well-fitting and digging. Any experience?

Yeah. Its an awesome loophole that my surgical office found.

You too! <3

Not yet. Im in the middle fo getting all my reqs done Just super interested in helping other people. In my former "life" prior to anxiety, I was a community resource specialist lol

ME TOO!!! girl...I got some good news for you! Imma message you. **Wait lol I thought you were saying you were on Molina. i am on molina. This is was regular price list they gave me, in case Molina doesnt pay for it, which I am 100% covered, so im not worried

I found this...I dont know what state you are in, though. https://www.unitedhealthcareonline.com/ccmcontent/ProviderII/UHC/en-US/Assets/ProviderStaticFiles/ProviderStaticFilesPdf/Tools%20and%20Resources/Policies%20and%20Protocols/Medical%20Policies/Medical%20Policies/Bariatric_Surgery.pdf

I am with Dr. Bright! I just had my first appointment with him today. Its a process. I got an appointment with him within two weeks to start the process. Im Molina Medicaid, so i have a bit of red tape to go through before i get to have a surgery date. (They also have three different surgeons in office, I went with the one that got me in the fastest lol...they are all top notch) I lived in Spokane for almost a decade <3 I now live in Clarkston. I have the packet of info from the appointment today if you have questions, hit me up!

I know Molina Medicaid requirements, as im in their program. 12 counseling visits (psych) 12 nutritionist visits 12 Physical Therapy visits Lose 5% of weight All of these requirements need to be completed within 180 days of your acceptance date into the molina bariatric program. The only way to get referred is through your doctor. ALSO...Molina cannot tell you this, but in their policies, it only says that the requirements must be met within 6 months...that means that if you had counseling, PT and Nutritionist appointments once a week, you would have completed the program in 3 months. Then you just have to complete the surgeon requirements, which is usually a bariatric psych eval, EKG and blood labs. Sometimes more testing if you have apnea or diabetes.

Rockwood Weight Loss Surgery Center This is the total cost (minus two night stay in Deaconess Medical Center) for sleeve/bypass/lapband. They also require a bariatric psych eval (around $300), an EKG and labs. Some people might need more testing. These are not listed in cost, as you get them through PCP. Cost for sleeve is just under $7000.

I found out something interesting. Molina isnt allowed to tell you that its just completing the 12 visits of each *within* 6 months....not having to wait the six months while completing it. My doctor says I can be fast tracked to surgery if I have all surgeon tests done, and complete 6 visits of each (nut/PT/counselor). I could have surgery done in 3 months if all things fall into place.

Rockwood Weight Loss Center This is the total cost (minus two night stay in Deaconess Medical Center) for sleeve/bypass/lapband. They also require a bariatric psych eval (around $300), an EKG and labs. Some people might need more testing. These are not listed in cost, as you get them through PCP. Cost for sleeve is just under $7000.

I am genuinely worried that I won't lose weight. Thats kind of insane. But nothing else has worked, or at least for long, so I think my jerkbrain is making me doubt myself. Ive just started my prerequirements. I could have surgery anywhere between 2 to 7 months from now, if I understand them correctly, depending on how quickly I get my visits done, and how my progress is. Im worried that the 15 pounds (5%) that I am supposed to lose in that time frame will be the same 15 Ive lost and gained for the last two years, and disqualify me, because I gain weight by thinking about food lol

I cant even allow myself to dream of ever being able to afford plastics, or be able to get carecredit. Just the way it is. I wish I could, but I know my reality. Im gonna have quite a bit. But thats okay.

Thats great! My counselor said she wouldnt have a problem with sending in a letter of her support.

Thanks Makes me feel a little better. Yeah, the sleep study has me trippin' but only because I have a hard time sleeping away from home lol Thanks for help alleviate my worry.

**UPDATE 02/16/16*** I had my psych eval done this evening. He said that he was highly recommending me for surgery! So relieved!!!! I am really worried about the psych eval and whether or not i will pass. I am currently in counseling, in fact, Ive been in counseling for the last 10 years, to keep me stabilized. I take medication of depression and anxiety disorders, and also have a personality disorder. I am worried. I am stable. I am medicated, and I want to be the best person i can be, even if it means taking it the rest of my life to manage my symptoms. But this is putting me in an anxiety spiral. Does anyone have any insight? or have any of you passed an eval with issues like my own?

I am on Molina insurance, so it might be very different. My case manager told me that Molina isnt allowed to let patients know (even though it is in their policy manual) that you dont have to wait six months. You have six months *to complete* 12 visits to dietician, physical therapist and counselor, which could be done in as little as 12 weeks (3 months) if you are on top of it. The surgical team I have says that they can actually do early enrollment for me after completing 6 visits to the dietician, physical therapist, and counselor, which puts it a 6 weeks, or about 1.5 months, and fast track a surgery date. I would seriously ask your bariatric case manager through your program if your insurance might operate the same way.