Nikki44

That's fantastic!!! So happy for you. I fall into that category as well (5'1, 240) and have all of those same things except the hernia. Thx for the info and keep up the great work. Imagine how amazing you'll feel (and me too) in three months...six months...a year. Woo hoo!!!!
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Sorry to hear of the frustrations! Mine was covered because I fit into the morbidly obese category. I'm 5'6 and was 275. I'm down to 239 at 4 weeks out . I had high blood pressure and on meds, have sleep apnea and on CPAP, I had a hernia, and was borderline diabetic. I can't wait to be healthier and hopefully not need the meds or CPAP after awhile.
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Thanks a bunch. Was it covered at 100% bc you've met your deductible? I called the program insurance coordinator and they referred me to BCBS, which referred me back to the office, lol. It's a huge hospital system, so I'll just have to spend some time drilling down this week and figure it out.
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I have bcbs fed, and the insurance specialist at the surgeons office told me that it will be covered 100%, and I will just have to pay copays, which amount to 500. But it also depends on how much overweight you were going in, and if you had pre existing conditions. A lot of variables come into play. I would call the insurance specialist at your docs office and inquire about it.
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I'm December 21st as well!!!! Just started my pre-op diet today.
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December 2016 Sleevers. Anyone can join. Its for all of us having surgery in December

I reiterate, we can still help others without telling everyone. Look at this forum, so many people helping out others and a lot aren't vocal about their decision in everyday life. Same with social media. I am not telling anyone but my husband. That doesn't make me untruthful. I just don't tell anyone my business. I keep everything in my life private. I do not overshare on social media with friends and family. I do not call and tell people anything about my life. I say we are good and I move on. With my last pregnancy, I didn't share with most people until late in the pregnancy, not because I was ashamed, but because it just wasn't anyone's business. And then I didn't let them know how far along I was or when I was due, because it really didn't matter. That time was for me and my husband, so it didn't matter if anyone was hurt or upset by it. I go to school and no one knows my major. Like I said, I am just a private person. Extremely private. If I lost weight In the past I'd keep that to myself. I would usually get negative feedback from family, so it wouldn't matter how I did it or how much was lost. If we want to avoid negativity, that is our choice. In the end, whether we decide to help others or not, that is also our choice. Yeah you choose to, but others may not. Just because we have surgery, does not mean that we sign up to be advocates. That does not make us untruthful. If someone walked up to me and asked how I lost weight, I would not say weight loss surgery, because that is private and no one's business but my own. If they assume, there is nothing I can do about that. If I share my workout or what I eat, that is also not being untruthful, because that is something I have to do to lose or maintain. But I am fine with asking and helping on here, because the anonymity doesn't require for someone to be up in my business.
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Why does my desire for privacy equate to me not being "truthful"? Do you tell people about your finances? Your sex life? Your marital spats? Do you tell people about a yeast infection or hemorrhoids?
Just curious...

There is a huge difference between not telling people your private medical history and being untruthful.
People who tell me(andever one else) how they lost weight by having surgery and Ishould do it too, piss me off just as much as those who think surgery is the "easy way out".

Not disclosing accurate health information to an insurance company is dishonest (and criminal), not disclosing it to your doctor is stupid, but not disclosing it to people who have no right to know it is neither dishonest or deceptive.

The truth? Proud? Are you implying that those who don't share are lying or ashamed?

@@Miss Impala

I appreciate your point of view and I applaud your decision to take care of yourself.

I am one of those who decided not to share and a few of your thoughts stood out prominently to me. First and foremost, you used the word ashamed repeatedly. I am not at all ashamed of my decision. I am not sure where my desire for privacy equates to shame.

Also, I have no desire to be "an example" for fellow fatties out there. I was obese for 20 years. I knew the options. Diets, exercise, surgery -- I'd researched every single one and I didn't need anyone telling me what the next best thing was going to be for me. The people I know who are of size also know about their options. It's up to them to decide when to exercise those options.

As for not "doing it on my own"? Who did it for me? I had the surgery. I did the exercise. I followed the plan. I weighed and measured my food. I followed my pre-op diet for a month and was on liquids and mushies (without straying off plan) for 8 weeks post op. I didn't eat solid foods for three months post op and I worked my ass off to lose my weight. I've worked even harder to keep it off for three years.

No one has done this for me. I did it. And because of that, I get to be ecstatically private about it.

Good for you recognizing your self worth and worth to others IN PERSPECTIVE.
There is NO REASON- unless you're planning on being the WLS poster child, that one needs to sing this from the rooftops.
You are a wonderful, caring person, and how it shines through right here---I can only imagine it does so 10fold in real life ❤️
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I'm a private person, I am perfectly thrilled with my decision to keep my medical decisions to myself and I'm successful to boot.

Any Dec 2016 sleevers out there? I'm scheduled for Dec. 21.
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And anyone feel free to join the group I made it open would love for everyone to join! Just make sure you search "December 2016 sleevers" the other December groups are old years
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12/21/16 - let the countdown begin!
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Still pre op, but have been following this thread and I'm inspired. Anyone with locs experience (or not) Hair loss?
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@halFab: I'm super private. I only share personal stuff with my closest family and my besties. I think it's great that you want to help remove the stigma!
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@@pixiesleeve I serve the greater good of the public through my career. I'm an involved and productive citizen, a loving and caring sister, aunt, daughter, granddaughter and friend. The sleeve is something I did for myself as an act of self-care. Which was rare for me but I've learned through this process that as I take better care of myself, I'm even better at all the things I described above. So I don't feel the need to share this one thing. It doesn't mean I don't care about other people who struggle with obesity- I just can't take that on in addition to everything else. And that's totally OK. You have to do what works for you and some of us will take better care of ourselves going through this on our own. Best of luck to you.

Totally fair! I have friends who are very private too! (I kind of envy them.
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If you really want to keep it a secret like I do, you might want to consider lying. To start,I tell people who ask that I lost a lot less weight than I actually have. That way they don't start trying to guess how I lost 50 lbs in a few short months. It'S more than easy for them to believe I lost 20 through diet and exercise because they WANT TO believe that works.