Crystal-clear

Hello all. I started the process for bariatric surgery in February 2022. I weighed 310 lbs at 5'6, BMI 50. I completed my 6 months of supervised weight loss in August. I received approval for my surgery in September from my insurance company. I am STILL waiting for my surgery to be scheduled. My pre op testing was just completed last week. After the testing they said to allow 2 weeks for it to be processed and then another 4 weeks for them to call with the surgery date. Then I will 2 weeks of pre op diet. So likely it is another 8 weeks until my surgery will happen. My problem is I have been on Ozempic since May and steadily losing. My current weight is 245 which puts me right at the BMI cut off of 40. In 8 weeks I will likely be around 230 which will definitly be below. I guess my question is... my insurance requires a BMI greater then 40 for bariatric surgery, If I show up for surgery with a BMI lower than that will they cancel my surgery? I hate stop all the progress I've made this past year. I'm in a good weight loss groove. But I really never expected it to take 5-6 months AFTER my 6 months of supervised weight loss and insurance approval to actually get in for the procedure.

Oh it was 100% a great thing! But my insurance will only pay for Ozempic if you are a diabetic. I am not. My A1C was excellent. Long story short I only got the insurance approval for the med x 1 year through some creativity and then I wouldn't have been able to get the med any more. And we all know that horrible statistic about long term maintance of massive weight loss. I also have a long and sordid history with yo yo dieting. This is my 5th (5TH!) time loosing more than 125 lbs in the past 20 years. I would lose it and maintain that loss for 3 or 4 years through white knuckle will power and eating less than 1200 calories a day. Then slowly hunger would win and I'd start eating 1400 or 1500 cals a day and the weight would pile back on. Start the process anew in a year. So this surgery was necessary for me for maintaining, not so much losing. I've come to grips with my maintaince calories being 1200. I just need the removal of a large part of my stomach to make that a possibility for the rest of my life without fighting hunger day after day after day. I just drew the metabolism short straw in life. But if you can get your hands on the GLP meds. They are AMAZING. I lost 85 lbs total in 7 months. My surgeon had me stop the Ozempic 2 weeks before my surgery date. I had surgery in 1/4. In the 6 weeks since surgery I've lost 15 pounds. So far... my weight loss was trending faster with the use of Ozempic AND was eating almost double the amount of calories. Go figure! I don't regret the surgery though. I think this will be the tool that helps me keep the weight off for life this time.

It's strange to see the difference in protocols between surgeons! Mine only requires a high protein, low carb liver shrinking diet for 2 weeks before the procedure and clear liquids for 1 day before. Fascinating some places require 2 weeks of liquids.

Hello all! I just got the call today that I am scheduled for my surgery on 1/4/22! I'm pretty nervous and excited. I saw some surgery date buddies up thread. I'm excited to get to know you all!

Thank you all for the replies. That's a huge relief!