Good Place to Start

[Sandi73 15]

My name is Sandi and I'm a few days away from 43. Today is the beginning for me. My first appointment with Dr Slayden at St Lukes is in an hour. Journaling the process here seems like a good idea for reasons of accountability and support. I've read so many stories already and I can't wait to get started.

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[JamieLogical 8,727]

Welcome! Know that you are not alone. This community is fantastic for getting info, asking questions, sharing concerns, and just generally venting to. Please feel free to post if you have any questions after your appointment today.

[Muted_Tummy 29]

My name is Sandi and I'm a few days away from 43. Today is the beginning for me. My first appointment with Dr Slayden at St Lukes is in an hour. Journaling the process here seems like a good idea for reasons of accountability and support. I've read so many stories already and I can't wait to get started.

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As in St Lukes NB?

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[Sandi73 15]

Thank you for the welcome. My appointment didn't go well. My insurance covers the surgery, but I have a $1000 deductible, $7000 out of pocket requirement, and then have to pay 20% of everything thereafter. From the paperwork they gave me, I have to pay $6000 before I am allowed to have surgery and then I'll have a payment plan for another approximately $4000. I can't even come close to paying that. I have no resources from which to draw the money and my son and I already live a very stripped down no frills life, so there aren't things to give up to save money. I am at a loss. I also need a hysterectomy and was hoping to fit both surgeries in this year in order to not have to meet deductibles twice, but the surgeon said the three months will really be about six months which doesn't give me time to get the hysterectomy in by the end of the year after healing and acclimating to the sleeve even if I magically find thousands of dollars. I can't describe the disappointment .

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[JamieLogical 8,727]

I am so so sorry. My insurance wouldn't cover WLS at all and I ended up being self-pay. Fortunately, I was in a position that I could borrow money against my retirement account and basically just pay myself back with a very low interest rate. And I traveled to Mexico for my surgery, where it was considerably cheaper. I would have been devastated if I didn't have any options at all to be able to afford it. My heart goes out to you.

[Sandi73 15]

It does seem as though it would actually be less expensive to go the Mexico route than to use my insurance here. I don't think I can come up with the money for that either though. I've decided to go along as if I will somehow be able to pay and go to all of the appointments. I'll work as much overtime as I can and just see what happens. My weight at my first appointment was 274.5 bmi 42.4 fat % 49.9 my height is 5'7.5"

My big step so far since the appointment is that I haven't had soda in 2 days. I love Dr Pepper. Mad love. It has been difficult, but I can't stand diet soda, so it just has to go. I've also started tracking again with MFP and have stayed under calories and met the Protein requirement both days.

I'm still upset about the cost being so high and mostly being due before the surgery, but I have to try to make this happen somehow.

Thanks for replying and empathizing with my disappointment. Hopefully I'll be in your shoes some time this year and be on the post-op side of this.

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[JamieLogical 8,727]

I think it's great that you have decided to at least stick to the pre-op plan and lose some weight that way. At worst, it means you might lose some weight (at least avoid gaining anymore) while you wait for things to fall into place. Much better than giving up and wallowing in despair and self pity! I hope you are able to figure out how to make this happen!

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Welcome.

I am so sorry to hear that even with insurance it will be cost prohibitive. It is great to hear that you are still committed though.

My insurance didn't cover my surgery at all, so I had to do some exploration myself. Because I am on disability, I was able to find a program through our State's vocational rehab program that paid for the surgery. I had to pay for some of my pre-op testing, etc. myself (some covered my my insurance and some not), but it was a big help.

If you are in danger of losing your job due to your health or even underemployed because of it, it might be an option for you.

[Sandi73 15]

Thank you both for the encouragement. As for my job and the possibility of vocational rehab, I do have a good job that I love, it's just that as a single-income household, the money doesn't go even close to far enough. I am a contract writer and mostly work from home which is great. My job is wonderful, but the insurance is terrible. I owe so much in student loans that there is no way I can get financed for surgery. I'm just going to have to hope that somehow I can get this done.

I have been doing really well staying under calories since my appointment, but today was my birthday and I caved. I felt disgusting after I ate the ice cream cookie, so I don't think I'll have a problem getting back to what's right tomorrow. I've been consuming more Protein than I ever have between Protein shakes and lean meats. I really need this before it's too late.

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[Sandi73 15]

I've been doing well sticking to low carb and high Protein, so all is good on that front. Exercise is another story altogether. Two years ago, I dieted and exercised like mad and got down to 198. I swam laps for 90 minutes 5 times per week and I could easily walk 3-5 miles. Since that time, I gained, of course, and switched to a much better, but 100% sedentary job. I was swimming laps for 60 minutes 4 times per week as recently as January, but fell off the exercise wagon yet again in February. I finally went to the walking track at the local hospital last night and it took me 35 minutes to walk 1 mile and I felt like I might die. When I sat down in my car to leave, my face tingled and went numb. I was huffing and puffing from the first few steps. How can my cardiovascular system decline so rapidly? It scares me to think that I could be in such bad shape after just a month and a half of not swimming.

This realization has made it feel even more imperative that I have this surgery. I've purchased a food scale, a body mass scale, and scheduled all of the appointments I need for approvals. I just still don't know where the money is going to come from. This process is so stressful, but I'm afraid this is my only hope.

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[2goldengirl 2,076]

I'm so sorry to hear that even with insurance, the surgery will be so cost prohibitive. I don't know what your solution will be, but I applaud your efforts to do what you can to take back your health. Hang in there!

[JamieLogical 8,727]

I am so inspired by your determination to push forward and pursue surgery even with the obstacles you've faced. I feel like you are trying to make it happen through sheer stubbornness and force of will and I admire that so much! I really really hope it works out for the best and in the mean time, at least you are making some positive changes that you can carry forward, surgery or not. I am rooting for you!

[Christinamo7 4,042]

I had a hysterectomy last August and sleeve in February. (they hysterectomy was urgent and not planned) so I believe the could both be safely fit in the same year.

It is a toss up which surgery is my favorite, or changed my life more. I am delighted with both and pray you find a way forward.

[Sandi73 15]

Thank you all for the support. It really does help. I am seriously hoping that stubbornness is the key. The hysterectomy will be amazing and I can't wait not to have to deal with the insane periods I have endured for more than a decade.

So, I went to the psych today and left not knowing if I'll be cleared. I had to answer conversational questions for more than an hour and then had to take 4 paper tests. I was told by the receptionist that I won't know for a month if I passed.

The therapist said she doesn't think insurance will approve because I have no comorbitities, and because I've never done anything like weight watchers. I hate group cheerleading type environments and I am intelligent enough with the skills to research diet and nutrition myself. It's frustrating that I may be forced to do something I don't need in order to gain approval. I can create and follow a perfect diet, but never for more than 3 months. I know what and how much I should eat. I just can't force myself to do it long term and always regain. I truly need a tool that will make it impossible to give up 3 months in. With the sleeve, I won't be able to give in at that point and I'll have a chance to get beyond it and really make a permanent change.

I also feel that I've been teetering on the edge of several comorbitities for quite some time. My BMI was 42 at my first appointment with the surgeon. I need to figure out if my insurance company looks at the beginning BMI or the BMI at the time my paperwork will be submitted. From what I've read here, it differs based upon the plan. I've lost 5 pounds since my visit with the surgeon on the 9th, so my BMI will easily fall under 40 before I can get to the point of submitting for approval.

Back to work for me. I need every minute of overtime I can get. Thanks again for the supportive responses.

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[Sandi73 15]

Today has been rough. I had several mini chocolates while filling Easter eggs and then had coconut cake at my sister's BBQ. I haven't had chocolate since my birthday on the 14th and I'm worried I've opened a flood gate.

I've been saving all of my receipts for medical visits for both my son and myself. Do copays go toward deductibles or OOP? If so, I could end up having at least the deductible covered by the end of the 3 month process. My son has been going to multiple appointments per week lately and I've spent a couple hundred in office visits this month alone.

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