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Cheating the consultation scale...

msjoy83

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kitten22996    36

kitten22996
Posted

I was approved for surgery with only a BMI of 35 because I have PCOS. Do you have any comorbidities? Diabetes? sleep apnea? etc. If so, you can qualify with a BMI under 40. Otherwise, if you are an otherwise "healthy" chunky person, 40 is the major number!

I'm one of those healthy fat people. Awesome blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar so I have to make sure I'm at least 40. That's why it's horrible, but I'm trying to gain a little extra just encase.

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msjoy83    42

msjoy83
Posted

I'm one of those healthy fat people. Awesome blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar so I have to make sure I'm at least 40. That's why it's horrible, but I'm trying to gain a little extra just encase.

Yea that would be me also healthy aside from the thyroids...which is not a comobidity

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msjoy83    42

msjoy83
Posted

Just an update went to my consultation and actually gained the 3 extra lbs I wanted to be a point over my borderline bmi...probably cuz of the 3 beenie bag weights in my bra and leaving my Uggs on lol. But hey 3 lbs is nothing when you're trying to lose at least 80lbs.

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rensterness    375

rensterness
Posted

I've read time and time again how some of us have had to resort to gaining an extra 5-10lbs in order to reach our bmi for insurance requirements. Maybe one day insurance companies will open their eyes and see just how much changes need to be made to their policy for wls approval...but until then let's share our ways of cheating the consultation scale. My bmi is directly borderline, my consultation is March 13th. So yes I may need a way to grab an extra 3-5lbs by then....

My doctors does not do a gown. Put rolls of quarters in your pocket and if gown is required place the rolls of quarters underneath your breast in a bra. There's my two cents lol

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karensdRN    13

karensdRN
Posted

I was actually told ti make pockets heavy. Bmi of 37 with mild sleep apnea. I got weighed once a month for six months. Gained a few myself but by the last weigh in had 2 two pound weights in my jacket pocket. Was approved. Surgery on April 4th!

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SnohoGal98296    371

SnohoGal98296
Posted

I am so on board for the "why do our insurance companies not get it?" question, driving the need for people to gain weight for insurance acceptance!

Being in the middle of the scale, the "don't gain any weight or your surgery will have to be in a hospital" area, I just wish all health insurance covered the surgery especially since it is acknowledged that this procedure saves the insurance companies money in the long run.

Hopefully they catch on soon!

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shaylab0    0

shaylab0
Posted

Thank you all for these posts very helpful :) but I have a question....I see other people posting on threads that insurance companies want your past weights from as far back as 5 years?! is this true? Do any of you know if insurance companies want past weight records?? If so, I am worried I wont qualify, my BMI is just over 43 now but in the past it has been a little lower because I have lost weight on my own then gained, lost and gained...you get it....help :(

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Seela    1,187

Seela
Posted

Thank you all for these posts very helpful :) but I have a question....I see other people posting on threads that insurance companies want your past weights from as far back as 5 years?! is this true? Do any of you know if insurance companies want past weight records?? If so, I am worried I wont qualify, my BMI is just over 43 now but in the past it has been a little lower because I have lost weight on my own then gained, lost and gained...you get it....help :(

Me too. My insurance wanted a history of weight loss attempts but I don't think they actually looked into it. For me I put weight watchers, lost 40 lbs, gained it back. HerbalLife, lost 43lbs, gained it back, Jenny Craig, lost 10 measly lbs, gained back 15 lbs... seemed to be all they needed

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leimua    7

leimua
Posted

I was approved for surgery with only a BMI of 35 because I have PCOS. Do you have any comorbidities? Diabetes? sleep apnea? etc. If so, you can qualify with a BMI under 40. Otherwise, if you are an otherwise "healthy" chunky person, 40 is the major number!

I'm one of those healthy fat people. Awesome blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar so I have to make sure I'm at least 40. That's why it's horrible, but I'm trying to gain a little extra just encase.

. This is me!! My BMI right now is 39. I've been eating to much to gain about 5 lbs to ensure my 49 BMI. I'm actually getting disgusted lol and everyday I weigh my self I'm not gaining a single pound!!! Two weeks of eating real crap and nothing. Lol such a conspiracy!! When I want to lose I gain, when I actually want to gain to stay even. What the heck lol

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leimua    7

leimua
Posted

I was approved for surgery with only a BMI of 35 because I have PCOS. Do you have any comorbidities? Diabetes? sleep apnea? etc. If so, you can qualify with a BMI under 40. Otherwise, if you are an otherwise "healthy" chunky person, 40 is the major number!

I'm one of those healthy fat people. Awesome blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar so I have to make sure I'm at least 40. That's why it's horrible, but I'm trying to gain a little extra just encase.

. This is me!! My BMI right now is 39. I've been eating to much to gain about 5 lbs to ensure my 49 BMI. I'm actually getting disgusted lol and everyday I weigh my self I'm not gaining a single pound!!! Two weeks of eating real crap and nothing. Lol such a conspiracy!! When I want to lose I gain, when I actually want to gain to stay even. What the heck lol
. 40 not 49!

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Bufflehead    6,358

Bufflehead
Posted

@@shaylab0 insurance companies and plans really vary in their requirements. My insurance company required a one year history on BMI, not five years. You should have a written booklet (or .pdf) with "Member Benefits" or something like that as a title, and it should spell out all the requirements for bariatric surgery under your specific plan. If it doesn't, get in touch with your insurance company and request a copy of the requirements for your specific plan in writing.

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leimua    7

leimua
Posted

I actually had some good news. I called my surgeons office and the nurse said if I reach the 40 BMI they can use that for the packet to send to insurance. I was at 38.96 at consult. A 4 lb gain puts me at 40. I'm glad. I was thinking I would have to gain the 4lbs and start at another office. Sucks you gotta gain to make a point and a half difference on a BMI to qualify. Insurance games : /

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CrazyJaney    775

CrazyJaney
Posted

You could always take your lead from a drugs mule... Strap flat packets filled with lead filings around your middle with an ace bandage. Flat, form fitting, effective. Or, depending on your <coughs> crevices, you could always wrap a load of lead filings into a couple of condoms and shove it where the sun doesn't shine?! LOL and I am seriously joking about that! :blink:

I almost spit my Protein Drink out!! I love your posts Madame! Makes me wonder what EXACTLY you do for a living! :)

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • KeeWee

      KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
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    • Aunty Mamo

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      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. 
       
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    • 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.
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    • 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! 🤣
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    • 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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