Queendiva

It's been a while since I was here and I still haven't come up with a way to pay for my surgery. Has anyone come up with a way to get Medicare to pay?. I think that weight loss surgery should be accessible to everyone who needs it. The fact that I am medically excluded from being able to have the lap band and the gastric bypass shouldn't keep me from medical treatment that will vastly improve my health. It seems to me that the powers that be are playing God with our health. Those of us affected should unite but I don't where to start to motivate people to write legislator including the White House. I don't think one voice will do it, but that is my next step since Medicare flat turned me down ignoring all my concerns.

Hey fellow Texans Hiya doing? I am in the Dallas Area and still un-Sleeved. I have health problems that cause me to be unable to do the LB and GB. I can only do the Sleeve, but Medicare won't pay for the Sleeve. So I'm between a rock and a hard place because I want this Surgery as bad as I need it. I have several co-morbidities that will go into remission with this surgery. How can a country who gives free health care to foreigners not deny their own when it will not only save lives but it will save moned also, I'm not knocking the foreigners, I just want my piece of the pie. I may have to go to the media but I would prefer not to. I am going to file a grievance.Hopefully it will force a feel people to stand up and listen.

Hey fellow Texans Hiya doing? I am in the Dallas Area and still un-Sleeved. I have health problems that causes me to be unable to do the LB and GB. I can only do the Sleeve, but Medicare won't pay for the Sleeve. So I'm between a rock and a hard place because I want this Surgery as bad as I need it. I have several co-morbidities that will go into remission with this surgery. How can a country who gives free health knocking the foreigners, I just want my piece of the pie. I may have to go to the media but I know would prefer not to. I am going to file a grievance.

Oh my, it never occurred to me that they would put a catheter in. I guess that is why they wouldn't let me leave until I used the bathroom. I thought it strange since they didn't do the GB. Interesting no one mentioned it

They did it for my sister, who has made her transition, but the look wasn't what you would expect.

I haven't had the surgery yet but I have Lupus and my hair comes out and is thin. Wigs, baby girl is the answer. Everyone is wearing them. Looking around you. Probably the person with the prettiest head of hair has on a wig, extentions or tracks. We want our own hair for sure but living a longer life is superior to having longer or thicker hair. On the other hand vitamins (zinc for one) and protein will help preserve your tresses. Good luck and may God bless

I am still trying to come up with a way for Medicare to pay for the Sleeve but when I do I think my husband will be almost as happy as I am. He knows the struggles I've been through and the difference it will make in my health. For me, he married me and has loved me this way for going on 33 years so I don't see myself trading him in for a newer model. It wouldn't make a lot of sense. If you have someone who loves you and you love him or her, the weight loss should only make the relationship better. If one of you are confused or not secure in the relationship then I can see problems developing but I subscribe to the adage, "dance with the one that brung you"

Don't give up PollyKP..Although it may not help I am going to file a grievance as soon as I can get a letter from my doctor explaining why he couldn't do the LG or the GB. It may not help but I demand to be heard. I may even send a copy to the media. On Medicare's website there is a link for appeals and grievances. This is where I will start. I suggest that others do the same. There seems to be too many people who need the sleeve for us not to be heard. Like I said it is the difference being between being healthy or sick and getting sicker. It could be the difference between life and death for some of us. Some of us may not be able to wait another two or three years because that might be too late. For anyone who is interested you can go to this website (http://www.medicare.gov/basics/appeals.asp) and read about appeals and grievances or go to Medicare.gov, highlight "Medicare Appeals" and click on the link to "Appeals and Grievances." If we are going to go down, let's go down fighting. For me it's like I'm sick and can take only one kind of medicine and they are refusing to give me that. It's like they are saying,'It's not our fault that you can only take one kind of medicine so go ahead and die.' It's like they are saying 'we have the antidote to your poison but we haven't opened the bottle yet and we really aren't ready to open it just now so you will have to wait until we decide to open it, and if you die in the meantime, oh well.'

I am relatively new to this sight. I haven't been Sleeved yet but am very anxious to do so. At present the only way that will happen is if I am suddenly blessed with a rich benefactor or if I can convince Medicare to pay. Now we know the former won't happen so I am counting on my ability to somehow convince Medicare that it's in their best interest, as well as mine. Everyone is telling me that the chances of that are slim to none but it's all I have so I am doing as much research as I can to prepare me for the grievance I intend to visit upon them. Your prayers, best wishes, luck etc. are needed and very much appreciate. Now about my journey. My journey began Feb. 2009. I did the four months of nutrition required for the Lapband, had my surgery date then the results of my upper GI came and I had an eroded esophagus and a hernia...no Lapband. My surgeon told me Medicare was supposed to start covering the Sleeve in January so I waited impatiently until Jan. Got a surgery date and a few days before it I was informed that Medicare wouldn't cover the sleeve. I decided to do the Bypass, got my date, arrived early really excited. One of my friends said I was as excited as if I was going to a party. I told her that's how I felt. It's show time so they roll me in the OR and I was talking and joking and the next thing I remember was waking up with a feeling that something had gone wrong. The nurses and attendants acted as if everything was a-ok. When I was returned to my room I found out that I had spent over four hours in the recovery before I woke up. To make things worse my sister told me that the doctor couldn't do the surgery because I had too much scar tissue around my intestines and heart. That made the already risky Bypass too dangerous. I had the pain without the gain. So the only wls I can do healthfully is the Sleeve which I think is the best surgery anyway, but we are back to Medicare not paying for it. I saw a post on another sight that made me feel that it just may be possible to get Medicare to pay for it. I am 60 years old with enough co-mobidities to kill a horse and I will get on my arthritic knees and beg if that will get Medicare to pay. With the surgery my health will be so improved plus I would love to be around a few more years to watch my six year old grandson grow up. If anyone has any suggestions or knows someone who has gotten Medicare to pay please enlighten me.

I'm waiting on Medicare to wake up. With so many people changing to the Sleeve you would think they would get a clue. They seem to be on a power trip because once they start paying for it the insurance companies will follow suit. In the meantime our health is getting worse. As soon as I get my letter from my doctor I'm going to file a grievance. All of us who are waiting need to unite and those of you who have the Sleeve should join with us to let them know what's really happening.

I have checked and we don't have GHI, but I do get statments from Trailblazer although I am using regular Medicare. If I could find provider that would OK the Sleeve I would change. I guess I will call Medicare to find out.

It seems like we are a group of frustrated wanna be sleevers. My situation is a lot like yours PollyKP. I am on disability which doesn't begin to give me latitude to do anything but depend on Medicare if I'm going to get the Sleeve. My doctor attempted to do the Bypass but I had too much scar tissue and he just sewed me back up and told me that the only thing I can do is the Sleeve. If the Medicare people will stop playing God and start looking at us as people who want to live healthier lives it would make more sense than what they are doing. Everywhere I look on the internet people are singing the praises of the Sleeve. Many who had or have the band are switching to the Sleeve because of all the complications they have encountered. I wish there was a way for us to join forces and demand they listen. Do think if we bombarded them with letters it would help? They say it's not enough proof that the Sleeve will work. One thing we all know for sure, and there is much proof, is that if we continue at our present weight, and if we haven't already developed a multiplicity of co-mobidities we will. We know that obesity is a killer. We know that there are statistics on top of statistics verifying this fact. The surgery will definitely help more than hurt and is guaranteed to save the government millions of dollars when you consider the astronomical cost of health care already. For once they need to listen to the voices of the people. I know, I know I sound bit disgruntled, OK a lot, but it is my life, our lives.

Hi jeaniwantsasleeve It seems a while since anyone responded to this topic. I would like to know how Mary (doghouse) is doing now. Otherwise, I understand what you are saying. I've had my closest friends and church members try to discourage me. But I just turned 60 last month and like you I have several "co-morbidities"- diabetes, hypertension, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. I am not ready to lay down and give up. I have some good years ahead of me and I would like to live them healthier than I am now. I will go back to the first page and tell my story. Maybe you can check it out when you get a chance. I wish you God's blessings and lots of luck on your journey.

I am sorry that you are having problems.:ohmy: Do you think it is a direct results of the procedure or is it compounded by other factors. I am already on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds. Since medicare isn't paying it seems I may have to do the Bypass:frown1:

Are you losing and are you satisfied with results so far? How much have you lost?

I was scheduled to do sleeve on May 27, then on Wednesday I was informed that I can't do it because Medicare isn't paying for it. My doctor told me Medicare was supposed to start covering on Jan. 1. That isn't happening. I have the code but it does no good if they don't cover it. I did call medicare and was told that they to band, By Pass and By Pass Revison. I asked if they would start doing the Sleeve any time soon. The lady said she didn't know and the computer was down. I'm very disappointed and am now trying to decide if I should do the By Pass:sad0::blushing:

This is new to me and I have no idea what I am doing. I haven't been banded yet but I am planning to do a seminar as soon as I get feed back from the doctor on when and where the next seminar is going to be held. Has anyone used Dr. Nick Nickolson at the Nickolson Clinic in Plano. I was looking for the Baylor Hospital Bariactric but his clinic is what I came up with. A couple of ladies at my church used another doctor but he doesn't accept my insurance so my doctor suggested I try Baylor. I am both excited and nervous at the prospect of doing this. Are there any seniors who have had the surgery if so please tell me about your experience.