I am scheduled to have my surgery on May 22 with Dr. Garcia in Mexico. I have had previous surgery in Mexico (tubal ligation reversal) and figured I might as well tell my mother this time. (last time I waited until after I got back and she wasn't too happy. So this time I fully expected her to give me grief!!!! Wrong, she is very supportive. She knows the medical issues that I have been having and how my insurance (Kaiser Permanente) has denied me twice. She says, that she is here to support me to help me a happier and healthier me. She is even going to travel with me for my surgery. I am totally happy that she didnt give me a hard time.

Now, I wish my doctor was the same way. If anyone has Kaiser, you know that they are crazy strict with their guidelines and blah blah blah. Well I broke down and told him that I was "considering" going out of town (didnt say Mexico) and self-pay for my surgery. This is the same doctor that referred me to the board for consideration for bariatric surgery in the first place. But now that I am going to an outside doctor he is being a jerk. Says that if I come back and have any issues, that he will not see me and Kaiser wont cover it. Urgh. I don't anticipate any issues but dagnabbit ish happens.

My friend and sister both work at Kaiser and just told me to switch my primary and never mention to anyone (at Kaiser) that I had the surgery. Urgh, but up until now I really liked my primary. So now I have to go through the whole process of finding a new one just because I decided to take matters into my own hands. Just because my bmi is "only" 39 and I only have 1 health issue(instead of two), I don't qualify in the eyes of Kaiser.... but now I am being blacklisted if I go through with it.... KAISER SUCKS

But the one good thing about this is... MY MOTHER APPROVED AND IS SUPPORTIVE....so I am still on cloud now...

thanks for letting me vent

Congrats! I too am with Kaiser and had a 38 bmi at the time. I went to Mexico 11 days ago. I didn't tell my pcp but will when I have him run my blood work after two months. I was very dissatisfied with them as far as trying to get approved and am going back to bcbs during open season.

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I am going to Dr. Garcia on May 7th and it is a good decision for you so don't worry about what one jerk says.

thanks ladies!!!

I am thinking of changing to something else as well. The only reason I havent changed yet was because of the kids. I love the one stop shopping with them. But after this fiasco that I have gone through with them, I will just put up with going here and there with them.

I wish the fed government had a mid year open enrollment lol because I would change now if I could

What is the BMI requirement? How long would you have had to be at that BMI? I would eat all day at Pizza Hut to get to a 40 just so I would qualify for the surgery and get it free.

I thought of the same thing about getting my BMI up but decided it would be too uncomfortable. For my local BCBS doesn't approve the sleeve unless your BMI is 50. I am self paying because I am afraid to go to Mexico.

What is the BMI requirement? How long would you have had to be at that BMI? I would eat all day at pizza Hut to get to a 40 just so I would qualify for the surgery and get it free.

The BMi requirement is 35-39 for two years but you have to have two things wrong with you... Like diabetes and joint issues. To qualify outright you have to have a BMi of 40 for two years even of you have no other issues.

I thought of doing that but that's just too much for me. My knees are killing me from the weight I have on me now. To add more weight would kill me... So forget kaiser I'm going to Mexico