GassyGurl

What cup keeps your liquids cold? Would love to know!

Something like a yeti tumbler keeps stuff hot or cold almost all day. Walmart brand tested better than the brand name and is about 1/3 the cost. They work great!

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Don't let the enemy destroy this for you! Sending a prayer your way.

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more discouragement. found out just now that I will also be disqualified since I wasn't obese enough in 2016. If I dropped below 35 during the two year period (I did), then they will not cover it.

so even if I could maintain the 35 BMI for the next 4 months, I still cant meet their 2 year history. I can meet start bmi, and the end bmi, but in between is a mixed bag of highs and lows.

oh well. we'll see what the EGD shows before deciding on the next step. ~sigh~

But of course they'll pay for the BP medicine that my PCP will probably prescribe tomorrow since my BP was 180/95 today. grrr.

thanks guys!

I guess i'm just venting/whining. I had my initial consult today. I managed to hit the target BMI (35.5) but I don't want to confess what I had to eat to make sure the scale read what it did. Their electric tanita scale measured me 4# less than my home scale, which was a little disappointing. (this was after eating a steak biscuit and drinking 40 oz of fluid).

All went well, but the dr and the patient rep both told me I cant lose any weight for the next 4 months (even though the fepblue insurance book doesn't say this). How am I supposed to do a supervised diet for 4 months and maintain this weight (my highest weight EVER)? I don't mind a weekend binge to hit a single weigh in, but there is no way to maintain this for 4 months - I don't even think I could fake it. right now I feel like I'm about to have a heart attack from this past weekend's eating and my current weight. the good news is this has my BP way high (yay! another comorbidity!)

I made all my follow ups - my first being in 2 weeks for the EGD. but I'm seriously wondering if I should even continue because maintaining 'all this' weight seems impossible. How does everyone else deal with this?

Next appt is EGD in 2 weeks. I was hoping he'd order a gallbladder ultrasound (because I have symptoms) but he said they don't do that.

not only am I fat and yet not "fat enough", but now i'm discouraged...what a great combination, lol.

I would compare total costs too. I have fepblue basic and it seems like the coverage is excellent. $40 copays for specialists. No deductible. If surgery is done at a blue distinction center, it's $100 per day, max $500. Plus, 3 Mos (4 visits) of medically supervised weight loss with your pcp, 2 year history of being obese, nutritional assessment, no smoking, and evidence of failed attempts at weight loss. Compared to other people's requirements, it seems like fepblue is awesome.

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Just wanted to share an exchange I had with my insurance company today (fepblue basic). Right now I'm going through the process with a local bariatric clinic, but am keeping Mexico, Vegas, Florida Medical Tourism surgeons in case I receive an insurance denial (BMI is 35.1) . If insurance approves, it's a great deal, but if they deny, I'm not paying the $18500 cost. I am also not sure if I want to wait till October.

I asked (via secure portal) if I had surgery

in Mexico,
away from my home state,
was cash pay,
or anything other than approved and paid for by fepblue,

Would complications be covered? Such as a stricture or a leak. I also asked if there was any stipulations regarding the original surgeon or facility needing certain accreditation, (JCI, Center of Excellence, Surgeon of Excellence, etc)

Their response can be seen below. This makes me feel so much better about considering less expensive (yet fully qualified) programs. Complication insurance quote was almost $500 - I think I'd feel less pressure to purchase it now.

Mrs. Wood,

Medically necessary corrective measures needed to correct complications arising from any procedure, whether the original procedure was approved or not, no matter where the original procedure occurred or who the surgeon was, would be considered for coverage and payment; the corrective procedure would not automatically be excluded or denied but would be considered as any other medically necessary procedure would be.

Sincerely,
********
Customer Service Advocate
Federal Employee Program
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina

If you feel up to traveling, you can get done for 10000 or less here in the US. Las Vegas is about 10k, Florida is about 8k, and Texas is somewhere in that price range too. NC has an office that has a 9995 special. They cater to traveling patients. My surgeon is 18k too, but I get denied there is no way I would pay. Dr umbach in Vegas is a center of excellence, my local Dr is not.

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If it were me, I'd go based on how I feel, with Dr's orders in the back of my mind. There are plenty of folks who travel for Medical Tourism, traveling from Mexico to Canada less than a week after surgery on . I wouldn't do an all out high adventure vacation, but if I could go in a car, then relax and heal somewhere else, why not?

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What insurance? I am nervous about getting my approval after all of the legwork and time put in:( It is a shame that I am hoping for a hiatal hernia so I can have that option in case I get a denial!

I know exactly how you feel! I am 'hoping' for a hernia or gallbladder problem, just in case. And hoping that I'm really 5' 1/2", lol.

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Has anyone used a chiropractor for medically supervised weight loss?

I like mine better than my Pcp and already go once a month. They offer nutritional counseling, but they don't typically do a weigh in. I'm sure they could though.

Anyone used this to meet the insurance requirements? (BCBS Federal). The book doesn't specify, it just says medically supervised.

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I've been reading the post op notes from my practice. They have you come in at 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks post op, then every month for the first year, then every 3 months. Other than a weigh in and incision check, what do they really do?

Is this number of visits ormal?

Is this number of visits necessary/useful?

I know it's great if I am having problems, and probably a key to long term success for some.

but on the other hand I just see inconvenience and $$$. That's a lot of copays.

Thoughts?

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Are there any YouTube videos you could watch? Maybe their informational seminar is available online or they have a YouTube channel?

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Has anyone had any luck going through their PCP to determine if they had a hernia before seeing the bariatric dr? I have the symptoms, but what are they chances they'll send me for a barium swallow or EGD to see if I have a hiatal hernia?

My BMI is on the fence. 3 lbs and half an inch makes the difference between > 35 BMI and < 35 BMI. Also, just because my home scale says I weigh enough (barely) their fancy bio metric scale might say something else. that instant decides the self pay or insurance track. all of the other requirements are no problem, it's just not a 100% sure thing i will be 35 BMI that exact moment.

If I go to the bariatric dr and I am 35 BMI, insurance covers it all. copay for the appts, $25 copay for hospital stay, no deductible, etc. Excellent coverage.
If I go and I am not at 35 BMI - it's $710 right then and there. that's a lot to pay for being 3 lbs underweight. self pay cost for VSG is $18,500 (not going to happen).

the scheduler was very clear that their scale will have a different result than my home scale. that's a HUGE risk for me and I'm not sure if I want to take it.

Thoughts/Tips/Advice?

See if PCP will send me for hernia testing (so I can try to do insurance for hernia repair + cash for VSG?)?
Find another dr who doesn't use the biometric scale?
pig out on Hardees burgers topped with boneless ribs to make sure I weigh more than enough?
Use one of the dr's such as blossom bariatrics, Dr Borton, etc, or one of the ones in MX the US that cost less than $10k?
buy my own biometric scale to practice weighing?
Go to the local weight loss clinic for $90 a month who uses a biometric scale, but struggle to follow the program? (could also count as medically supervised diet), then go to the bariatric dr?

I'm so frustrated and sick of being obese for the past 20 years. just not quite obese enough. ~sigh~

I'm at the same stage you are. One thing I have been pondering is post op care. I know the Mexican surgeons provide online post op nutrition support, but my local Dr has you come in probably a dozen times the first year. You see him, nutrition, spiritual and a therapist all at some point, as needed. Plus the in person support groups.

I'm trying to decide how important in person follow ups would be to my success.



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If you go to the American society for metabolic and Bariatric surgery website https://asmbs.org you can do a search. One of the choices of surgery type is "FOLL - willing to follow other patients". This might help.

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My future Bariatric office uses Tanita body composition scales. Take shoes off, step on and it spits out all sorts of interesting stats.

My coworker says wearing layers of clothes and a heavy purse will not affect my weight on this scale. She said it only measures your body. Is this true? (I hope not)

I'm right around 35 Bmi so I need to make sure I'm a certain weight when I have my first visit.

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I think lake norman center for surgical weight loss in NC is doing $9995.

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Dr Borland in New Iberia, LA is $9800. Lots of great reviews.

Thomas Umbach at Blossom Bariatrics in Vegas is about $10,400. Surgeon and Center of Excellence. Great reviews.

Dr Kim in Colleyville, TX. Price unknown, Surgeon of excellence and great reviews. Lots of mentions of a hiatal hernia discount.

Alabama weight loss surgery,Dr's Miles and Schmitt. $11,900. Surgeons of excellence.

Dr Scott stowers in Decatur, TX. $7200-7800ish. Blue distinction center.

Bariatrix Florida, Dr's Taggart and Wizman. Bariatric Center of excellence, $7899.

Im still in the researching phase myself. All of these have great reviews everywhere I can find.

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Several weeks after hubbies cancer surgery, we noticed the same thing. Turns out there were internal dissolve stitches. that had dissolved inside, and a little teeny tiny end piece was barely poking thru his skin. They came right out with tweezers, because they weren't attached any more.

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If you buy a wireless one, understand the technology first, especially if you live in a rural area. I had one that used AT&T cell towers but I'm in the boonies with Verizon towers. scale worked, but would never transmit.

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Does anyone know of a document that details this for fepblue? The SBP makes no mention of this, but if there are other policy documents out there, I'd love to know what they are so I make sure I am compliant and have no surprises.

Whatever is in the Google play Store. Hope this helps. 5.0.20 build 21000042

I'm having this same problem. I downloaded the app, and all is well for a few days. Then things start to hang, posts don't update, etc. So I tried logging out and back in, but it will not take my password. The only way to resolve is Uninstall, reinstall and login again. Rebooting doesn't work. Nor does the reset password. Then I repeat the next day.

I'm a new user, so I don't think it's an old version cache issue. Any ideas?

I'm using a Droid turbo, android version 6.0.1.

It would be nice if the 'system' rounded like the IRS. Enter 34.9 and it rounds to 35. Lol.

I used to say I was 5'3" when a nurse asked. (Because it kept me in the 34 Bmi range and I didn't feel so fat.)

When I actually get measured by a nurse, I'm either 5'2" or 5 '2 1/2". Now I want to be shorter so I can have a higher Bmi, so insurance will cover surgery.

It matters now, because it affects my bmi history. At 5'2", I have the 2 year history, but if I use 5' 2 1/2, it's 34.9. I have records that say all 3 Heights.

Any chance the surgeon would measure me, and be able to recalculate the bmi from 2 years ago? If so, I can start now. If not, I have to wait till the end of October.

Anyone else have similar issues with their records?