Bri24

Thanks for all the encouragement and for responding. Just giving a quick update I did get back on track and was able to break my stall. I have to always remind myself this is not a diet this is a lifestyle change and I just have to work hard at it everyday. Thank you!!!!

Hey I am nine and a half months out from surgery. I have lost a lot of weight but I feel like I'm going to start not eating right again. Can anyone offer any suggestion on how do fight an "urge" to eat unhealthy. What can I do to stay on the correct path. I want to continue losing weight and I know what I have to do, but sometimes I do not eat the right things. Then I just feel really guilty.

Hi Becky! On my first appeal I wrote a letter too. I do not think they will care, there main thing is saving them money any way they can. when I used lindstrom it was a very quick and painless process for me. I sent them over all of my weight history even history from my pediatrician to show that I have always struggled with weight. They sent in my appeal paper work to OPM on March 9 and I was approved by March 17. They are very nice and give great advice, I would suggest calling them because that is free.

I only had to do three months. The insurance company just does not want to pay, and will find any reason to deny you.

I can relate to that feeling. I just wanted it to happen as soon as I got the approval letter. My stay at St. Vincent was Great. I had a great nurse and tech. It got boring by the third day but I kept doing laps on the unit to pass time. I think you will enjoy your stay. I only saw Dr. Inman twice. Once before the surgery and the day after surgery.

I got denied the first two times. However my third try I was approved, so I hope you don't have to go through all of that. My appeal packet was sent in on March 9th. I got my approval letter from my insurance company on March 17. I got my pre-op testing paper work on March 29th. I had my pre-op testing on April 20th. My nutrition class was May 16, and my surgery was May 24th. Hopefully it will go quicker for you. Once you find out when your nutrition class is, your surgery is going to be the following week. Total wait time was 69days once I recieved my approval letter. Part of the reason was Dr. Inman was booked! what surgery are you having if you don't mind me asking. I had the sleeve done.

No it was not excluded from my policy. It said you had to have co-morbid conditions or have a bmi of 40

I see this post is a little bit older, so I was wonder how long were you guys on blood thinners? I was two weeks post-op and I returned to the ER they found I have a blood clot in my portal vein leading to my liver. I on blood thinners, but still in a lot of pain. How long did it take for the pain to subside, I want to go back to work so I really do not want to take blood thinners

YAY I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!! Do you have a date yet? I'm 10 days post-op and I'm already down 23lbs. This is so worth it. I'm so glad you get to go this journey too! I hope we can keep in touch and keep each other motivated throughout this life change.

I started out with bmi of 37 too. I was 228lbs. Actually I was in the same boat as you, I don't have any of the main comorbidities, only thing I have is PCOS. I got denied twice, but ended up having them overturn their decision. Does it directly state in your policy what comorbidities you have to have. If not you probably can appeal. What insurance do you have?

Anybody else surgery May 24?

Oh okay, I'm glad my program is not the only one! I think I'm going to try something anyway just because I would like to lose a few pounds before surgery.

I just was wondering does anybody not have to do the liquid diet before surgery. I went to my pre-op testing today, and they said once they got everything back and its normal they would medically clear me for surgery. After that I just have to go to a nutrition class, but I don't have a do any liquid diet, is that normal.

No problem! I know how nerve wracking it can be waiting around. Good Luck! Please keep me posted I hope you can get approved on your first try.

Hi! In the first denial letter they stated that my bmi was not high enough(it was 37 at the time), and I did not have comorbidities such as sleep apnea, hypertension, or diabetes. In the second denial letter they stated they would stand by their first decision. However if you read their operative language carefully they do not state that one has to have those exact co-morbid conditions. I would not get too discouraged about the weight gain, my bmi has been moving around the 30s for awhile, and when I was searching googled I do not have some of the co-morbid conditions that people were listing. So I gained weight intentionally to get my BMI in the forties( and I did that during my 3 months of supervised diet). Even when I did get my BMI to 41 they said, I do not have any comorbidities, which I do, so they chose to deny me that second time. I called every day and the main thing they are looking at is do you have any comorbidities or has your BMI been in the 40s for two years. If you get denied I will be happy to help you through the appeal process.