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A glimmer of hope



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It seems that my surgeon's office has confidence that if I were to change insurance carriers there'd be an excellent chance of approval for a new band to replace the one removed in April. So I'm going to change effective July 1 (assuming I can talk my bosses into it, which I think I can). I was thinking about doing it anyway, since my docs are dropping out of my current network in August and with an HMO I have no out-of-network benefits. So today I'm going to be talking with my bosses about making the switch.

(Turns out there is one very good thing about being an insurance broker!! I believe in karma, and though I don't love this career I took on in 2000, if I'd done anything else I'm 100% sure I'd still be morbidly obese. In 2003 I was able to take the appeal process to the end because of my inside knowledge of the system, and since then this will be the second time I've changed carriers to follow my doctors.)

Thanks for all your support, and I'll definitely keep y'all updated!! :clap2:

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Hi Alex, That is good news. You really need this new band, it is not negotiable. I feel sorry for you all in America re the insurance situation. Here I just pay my annual premium, and I paid my surgeon $3,500 (his once off fee) and that is it. I am covered for life for fills, and any and all possible revisional surgery/replacement of the band etc, no questions asked.

Good luck with it, and work the system.:) Susannah

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Great news! Looking forward to hearing your progress on this new angle. And I'm sure we will also learn some things about dealing with insurance companies.

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Good Luck Alexandra! You are such an inspiration!

shelli

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This morning I told my bosses that I really want to switch to Horizon...the conversation has begun! I'm confident that it will happen effective 7/1, and then we start the request for precert all over again.

Now I just have to get through the next month or two without GAINING!!!

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Hey Alexandra, If you really keep up your exercise it will keep the pounds at bay while you wait on the insurance issue to resolve. Susannah

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Good job finding other paths to get to your desired goal--good luck! July looks like your lucky month. Karen

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I will be praying for you and keep us all posted. You are a real trooper and seeing how you push through things encourages me when I begin to fatler in my thinking. Thank you and good luck to ya!!!!

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Thanks, y'all!! I've talked to my bosses and it seems a sure thing that I'll be changing carriers in July. So I called my surgeon's office to let them know, and to see if I can get on the schedule for sometime this summer. My NEW tentative surgery date is...August 13! This is exactly one week shy of four years from my original band placement.

Now the next hurdle is, once again, insurance approval. First I have to do the paperwork to change carriers, get it approved and get ID numbers, then have my doctor submit the request for precertification. Whew!

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August will be here before you know it--especially with all you have to do before then. Congrats on new possibilities--it looks like much more than a glimmer of hope now. Good luck! Karen

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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