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Sleeved and lovin' it

byubell

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byubell    0

byubell
Posted

My name is Kristi (byubell) and I am 35 years old. I have been overweight my whole life. At my hightes weight last December I was 321.

I work at a major health insurance company and except for a few select groups, we don't cover the surgery. I wasn't able to afford it and my husband would never have agreed to pay the note if we financed it. I believe that I am a very good employee and learned everything I could about everything that came across my plate. As a result, when we went to a new computer system, I got a promotion to systems analyst and am making a LOT more money. I could afford the monthly payment without cutting into any of out other bills. It was a gift sent from GOD. I talked to my husband, we looked at the finances and he agreed. I went to my surgeon in October, did my financing, and was sleeved on January 20th. I have since lost 67 lbs and feel like a new person. I have no regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat. I have recommended the surgery to anyone that has asked. I'm not embarassed to admit that I've had weight loss surgery. I would shout it from the rooftops if I could.

I have also worked with some actuaries about how much my medical bills would have been over the next ten years based on my medical conditions before surgery and am keeping a record of everything that I am spending medical wise after having surgery. Hopefully I can help with the fight to get the insurance companies (mine included) to start covering this surgery.

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Ruthi    60

Ruthi
Posted

You are going to be a very valuable asset to people on this forum that have insurance questions, Welcome to our group.

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Elisabethsew    50

Elisabethsew
Posted

Thank you for posting your very inspiring story. You've already had great success and I'm glad you feel better. Life will keep getting better as we all work towards those goals we've set. Welcome!

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byubell    0

byubell
Posted

I will be happy to help anyone that I can with insurance questions. Or any other questions for that matter. Ask away!

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Eyfura    3

Eyfura
Posted

Wow!!! I love how you found a way to be able to afford the surgery, so many people I know just say "I really want to have it but..." and give up instead of trying to find ways they could make it work! I really admire you for not giving up! I look at this like, if you had cancer and would maybe not die, but your life would be horrid in a few years, could you find $150 a month, most people would say yes. However if you're so heavy you can't walk, or in constant pain in your feet and knees, or whatever the case may be, you are not really living anymore! Your life is worth it, and I am thrilled you understood this and managed to do something about it! Welcome to the site, as some have mentioned you will be an asset!!!

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Malaika    50

Malaika
Posted

Wow!!! I love how you found a way to be able to afford the surgery, so many people I know just say "I really want to have it but..." and give up instead of trying to find ways they could make it work! I really admire you for not giving up! I look at this like, if you had cancer and would maybe not die, but your life would be horrid in a few years, could you find $150 a month, most people would say yes. However if you're so heavy you can't walk, or in constant pain in your feet and knees, or whatever the case may be, you are not really living anymore! Your life is worth it, and I am thrilled you understood this and managed to do something about it! Welcome to the site, as some have mentioned you will be an asset!!!

Good way to look at it.

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Go To Topic Listing Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
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