BrittanyCow

I need lap band. I've had low thyroid for years and PCOD and I will not lose weight on my own. Im now having mobility problems, hip problems, back problems, neck problems, high cholesterol (common in low thyroid) and high blood pressure, and everyone says "just exercise". They don't get it. My ins co has a "no fat slobs" clause, so there's no help there getting surgery. I called St. Francis bariatric and when they heard the word "clause", a wall went up and it was "Sorry, have nice day". (No such thing any more). I know that I will die soon. I would self-pay if I could. The payments are too high (already have mortgage and 2 car payments as it is, and three children). Have any of you overcome this? Have any of you succeeded in getting the band you need when it all seems that the world is against you? HOW? If I didn't have children, I'd probably just end it all now. I'm so sick of it all.

I also want to add, for those who think I sit around and eat bon bons all day, that with my current thyroid status and medication, I gain when eating normally. If I diet (which I'm not good at to begin with) I stay the same. In order to lose, I need to eat between 600-800 calories a day and no more. And that's a slow loss. This is unrealistic to do in real life, especially long-term, without something like a Lap Band to help me feel "full" on very little food.

Thank you all for the responses. I cannot "appeal" because my insurance policy has an exclusion. That means that the policy my husband's work bought says up front that it does not cover any bariatrics surgery or treatment whatsoever. The HR of the company won't change it, because it's just a small business with mostly male employees who don't need such a procedure. financing is not an option since we have a mortgage and 2 car payments already that we struggle to pay (and those were used vehicles). I would go to Mexico in a heartbeat, but I don't think they finance that kind of thing. Don't you have to have the money up front for that? I don't exactly have $5,000 in my sock drawer. The ins co would surely save money by letting me have this. I'm going to need a double hip replacement because of the strain on my hips. That will run them 3-4 times what the cost of Lap Band would cost. Not to mention all of the other medications I need, plus the increased risk of stroke. Caring for stroke victims' hospitializations isn't cheap, either. Insurance is stupid. They take take take, but they never help you when you need it. I know for a fact that I will not be here 5 years from now if I cannot find a way.