Amurillo04

I'm afraid it will slip through my hands because of something stupid and I just don't know how I will deal with that. How do you guys stay positive?

I think from an early age I realized that I have to become an unmovable force. You have to plant your feet firmly on the ground and resolve to go forward no matter what.

During the approval process, there were many challenges. So I just put blinders on and continued forwards. When I went through the 6 months of medically supervised weight loss and exercise program required by my insurance company, they refused to pay for my doctor visits. Maybe a more accurate statement was that they paid for the first but not the second. They paid for the third but not the fourth. They paid for the 5th but not the 6th. When I challenged the insurance company, they claimed they made a mistake but would not try and take the payments they made to the doctors back. It made no common sense. They mandated this medical requirement.

Also when I choose a doctor for one of the specialized tests required during the second round of pre-op tests, I choose this doctor based on the fact that he was within network. But the insurance made payment as if he was out of network. When I challenged the insurance company and told them their own online list of medical personnel listed this doctor as within network, they still objected. They said it must be some clerical error and they were not responsible for the payment.

So don't give up but be prepared to dig your heals in and then move forward. Set your fears to one side and focus solely on your movement forward.

thank you you are absolutely right, even if I do get denied the first time or go through a tough time with insurance if I try hard enough in sure I'll be able to find away through it.

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I've been there/am there - I see an excellent therapist and psychiatrist who have saved my life more times than I can count. I doubt I could navigate all the upcoming changes without them and my medications. Hell, I doubt I could navigate life without WLS without them!

I'm also in school and have psoriasis...can't speak to the effect of surgery on my skin because I'm still pre-op, but I have had it on my face at some points and it's awful. It does tend to wax and wane, though, on its own terms rather than mine.

I am definitely considering seeing a therapist and psoriasis is terrible. I have it on my scalp and Patches on my body that keep popping up more and more everyday. I have a terrible diet and I'm hoping the surgery will be a vital tool in eating a cleaner diet with much less preservatives and junk, which might help my psoriasis.

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First, I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. I hope you know that just because you feel this way, that doesn't mean anything is wrong with you.

Depression is a d**k, and depression lies.

When I finally learned that, I was able to move forward. Everyone is different, and everyone suffers differently. What has helped me was several months in therapy last year, combined with an anti-depressant (Wellbutrin). It's not a miracle cure, and I still have days that are just all around terrible, but I have far more good days than bad. And in fact, it was the idea that I couldn't "fix" myself on my own, that I needed tools like therapy and medication, that made me realize I should have WLS.

The main thing is to remember - depression lies.

Thank you for you kind words, I was on Wellbutrin a few months ago and although it helped my mood overall when my mother was mean or having an anger fit -which she does often- I would get really upset and cry rather than get angry or ignore her and according to her it's much easier to stop my antidepressants then for her to try to be less of an harsh abrasive person. I think I will definitely need to get some therapy and I know a lot of the anxiety will go away if I get an approval.

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Hello all, I'm going through the process of getting approval for a gastric sleeve. I'm about half way done and I'm expecting to have surgery in by July. I've always been a generally sad and gloomy person and since starting my journey it has only gotten worse. I have some positive moments but they are soon clouded with negative thoughts like maybe I'll get denied and just ballon up more. I want this so bad but if something bad can happen it always will. This surgery will be a huge improvement for my life and I'm afraid it will slip through my hands because of something stupid and I just don't know how I will deal with that. How do you guys stay positive? Another contributor to my depression is my psoriasis that has been flaring up and the ointment is breaking out my face and I feel generally gross. Not to mention school stress. Has anyone dealt with psoriasis and did their surgery improve it? Sorry for such a long sob story but I had to vent.

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I have empire bcbs and I was told it is the 1st weight taken and I was encourage to lose as much as I can. Ask your surgical coordinator to verify

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Hey I haven't gotten my surgery yet but I'm halfway done, I would love to make friends with someone who has experience with wls already.

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Hello all.. I am new to all of this and started the process of paper work, insurance, blah blah no date set yet. I am 27, 379lbs and totally depressed with a serious food addiction. I am looking for a friend who understands I have family members who are supportive but none who are as over weight as me or had surgery. My

Husband is boarder line supportive and I don't have friends who understand in real life. Please contact

Me if you are open to becoming weight loss buddies:)

hello, I would love to be weight loss buddies, I don't have a lot of people to talk to who understand how important this surgery is to me.

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Hi I am also having my surgery with Dr Yacto at Lennox hill:). I am currently doing my 6 month weigh ins at my doctors office using the sheets Lennox hill provided.

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Hey !!!! I'm so happy to see your post ... do you mind if I message you ? ... How far along are you ?

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sure you can message me and I'm about halfway done I've done 3 appts already.

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Hi I am also having my surgery with Dr Yacto at Lennox hill:). I am currently doing my 6 month weigh ins at my doctors office using the sheets Lennox hill provided.

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I know how you feel lol, do you have a surgical coordinator at your surgeons office to ask? I feel like it's there just to answer our questions .

Me neither lol, there's so many unknowns about the little details of the surgery and I feel bad bombarding my insurance lady at my surgeons office.

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My last appointment will be in June so I hoping to get mines in July just in time for summer break.

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hello all, I'm half way through my 6 month diet my fourth appointment is at the end of April. I have gone down from 231 to 224 but I am worried about keeping it off for my next appointment. If at my fourth appointment I am let's say 225 or 226 will it effect my insurance. Can they deny me for being heavier then the month before or is it as long as I'm under my initial weight of 231 and don't have a net gain I'm good. All this stuff is so confusing and anxiety provoking. I need this.

I will bee doing the sleeve, after a lot of research this fits my life best..

Yes I think it fits most people's life very well, my mother and most of her friends got it too and lots a whole bunch of weight.

My insurance appt was today, the appt with the dr is 3/8, and my appt with the dietician is on 3/22. Still have a lot of questions, so hoping the meeting with the dr answers most/all of them.

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Oh and I'm needing to get fasting blood work done by 3/10

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My coordinator doesn't want me to do the blood test till the end of my 6 months because something to the effect that the insurance only accepts them for 1 month or so and if they're older than they will make me redo them. Insurance can be such a pain and I'm super worried about them finding something silly to deny me over.

My journey starts next Friday. See my PCP on 3/11 to start my 6 month diet. 4/21 is first appointment with surgeon.

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Good luck with that, if all goes well by October you should be done:) Are you doing a sleeve or something else?

I've had 3 appointments of my 6 months period, 3 to go. At first, I was annoyed I had to do 6 months instead of 3. Once I made my mind up, I wanted the surgery then dang it! But now honestly, I'm somewhat glad I have the 6 months. Gives me a chance to get mentally ready for the completely different lifestyle. I'm gradually changing my eating habits with the help of the nutritionist, starting very slowly and gradually to increase physical activity and working on my issues around my emotional eating/food addiction (although still struggling to find an appropriate therapist). I figure in the long run a year or two from now, that extra 3 months waiting before surgery won't have mattered except that maybe it gave me the chance to better set myself up for success long term. Hang in there! The time will go by faster than you think.

Yes I'm trying to find positivity in in, I've been overweight my whole life and six months more isn't gonna be the end of the world. I'm just such and over thinker I'm gonna be anxious till I finally have an approval

Hey my name is Ana and I just finished my second month of the diet. It's pretty nerve racking and I try to stay positive but it's hard. I try to tell myself I've been over weight all my life so 6 more months isn't that bad lol

Hello all, I'm new here. I started my journey in January and just finished my second appointment of 6 a few days ago. This process is going so slow for me and I feel so anxious knowing that I could be doing all this waiting and get denied. All this waiting is giving me time to conjure up all the ways I can be denied. At the surgeons office my bmi was like 41, I have no comorbities. I also have very slight hypothyroidism and I worry I may be denied because of it because I have to do a tsh test. I am on medication for it so it should be good. Just need some buddies in the same position as me . Or people who've been through it. Btw I'm trying to get the sleeve done.

Hello I am new to the forum. I am pretty worried about my insurance covering my surgery. I have Empire BCBS -NY- and I just did my seminar. My first consultation is Wednesday and I am very anxious. I did my first of six doctor visits needed for my insurance and I weighed in at 227 making me just above 40 BMI. My doctor has been very helpful and listed my comorbities as knee pain, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. I know my weight and comorbities should be enough but I don't know if it matters that although I do have high blood pressure and high cholesterol it's not high enough to the point that I need to take medication. Has anyone had a similar situation where they had comorbities that weren't severe enough for medications? Also I'm 21 years old.

I'm going through the SAME thing as you. I do have a different insurance company though. My current BMI is at the lower end of the BMI range that qualifies for coverage. I was worried about having to do the 6 month supervised weight loss because I wasn't sure if the insurance company would pay if I fell out of that BMI range. My dietician told me that if I get close she will help me maintain the weight so I can get coverage.

With all the appointments & test this whole process sort of feels like a part time job. ????

I know what you mean, I try to think of it as I spent most my life over weight I can wait another 6 months but it's hard to not have a little negativity, especially knowing the tricks insurance company's like to play!

I hope it goes fast for you! I did my first of 6 appointments with my pcp Thursday.

Here is a link to your health plan requirements: https://www.empireblue.com/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053317.htmIf your BMI is > 40, it doesn't matter about your comorbidities. Maintain your weight and you're fine.

Thank you for your reply, I get so anxious because it would break my heart to have to wait 6 months just to get denied. Especially because I just hover around 40 BMI

Hello I am new to the forum. I am pretty worried about my insurance covering my surgery. I have Empire BCBS -NY- and I just did my seminar. My first consultation is Wednesday and I am very anxious. I did my first of six doctor visits needed for my insurance and I weighed in at 227 making me just above 40 BMI. My doctor has been very helpful and listed my comorbities as knee pain, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. I know my weight and comorbities should be enough but I don't know if it matters that although I do have high blood pressure and high cholesterol it's not high enough to the point that I need to take medication. Has anyone had a similar situation where they had comorbities that weren't severe enough for medications? Also I'm 21 years old.