So I had my first appointment with my doctor yesterday. I absolutely love him! He's very blunt and to the point, which I found hilarious. I brought my mom with me because she was not supportive of this surgery at all. She thinks I can just diet and lose it on my own, but I have tried dieting for 3 years now, and I always fall back into gaining weight. I am 24 (25 in a few weeks) and I'm sick of wasting my young life being overweight.

My surgeon got straight to the point and said, "This surgery has a 90% success rate of keeping the weight off for the next 10 years. Without this surgery, you will most likely gain the weight back." My mom asked him questions about my Pseudotumor cerebri and he said, "This surgery will absolutely help." He also said it will probably cure my PCOS. That conversation convinced my mom that this surgery is probably my last hope. I am so pleased because now she is no longer rolling her eyes at me every time I bring it up. She's actually saying that my sister probably needs it, too.

Now about the requirements that BCBS has given me... They are pretty stupid. Even my surgeon agrees. He said that BCBS gives us these requirements because they think we will give up trying to get everything together, because they don't want to pay. That is believable.

1. I have to get records together proving that I have had a BMI over 40 for the last 3 years. (This one isn't so bad. Since I have been overweight for the last 7-8 years, this should be fairly easy to obtain.)

2. I have to be put on a diet by a DOCTOR for 4 months. (That means, the 4 months that I have been put on a diet by a Nutritionist are worthless in this situation.)

3. I have to have a Cardiac Evaluation. (This is understandable. They have to make sure my heart is strong enough to handle the operation.)

4. I have to have a sleep Disorder Test. (Also understandable. I'm having one July 29th. They said there's a possibility that I may have Narcolepsy. Let's hope it's just sleep apnea.)

5. I have to have a clearance letter written by a doctor. (This one is kinda stupid. I'm pretty sure my surgeon is more than able to know I need the surgery. I'm worried my doctor may charge me to write this letter.)

6. Psychological Evaluation (This is bogus, too. But I guess it's also understandable. They must want to make sure I'm not an emotional eater. I can already tell that's not the case. I'm just hungry, dang it! Lol. The oral steroids they put me on years ago started this.)

7. I have to see a Nutritionist. (I hope the one I'm seeing is good enough. They are so against me getting this surgery, though. I know it's because they're worried about losing me as a customer. Those scumbags...)

8. I have to schedule a 4 hour nutrition class. (I guess this won't be so bad.)


I have 7 months to do all of this. I really wanted to have the surgery before next year, but I guess it's worth the wait.

Wow! Look at all these Birmingham peeps! Nice to meet you all. It would be cool if we all kept in touch and were each others' support system.

I had my Cardiac Evaluation today. It went very well! I was surprised that the bike test wasn't as hard as I expected. The hardest part is the last 2 minutes. How is everyone in B'ham doing so far?

I'm just counting down the days until the 18th. That's my last PCP appt. Then I wait for my insurance approval. And in the middle of all of this, we are trying to sell our house. As much as I want to sell it, I sure hope I'm not packing boxes while trying to recover from surgery!

Wow! Look at all these Birmingham peeps! Nice to meet you all. It would be cool if we all kept in touch and were each others' support system.

I had my Cardiac Evaluation today. It went very well! I was surprised that the bike test wasn't as hard as I expected. The hardest part is the last 2 minutes. How is everyone in B'ham doing so far?

I'm just counting down the days until the 18th. That's my last PCP appt. Then I wait for my insurance approval. And in the middle of all of this, we are trying to sell our house. As much as I want to sell it, I sure hope I'm not packing boxes while trying to recover from surgery!

Yay! Come on, July 18th! Oh, wow... Selling a house can be stressful. I hope you're not over-working yourself.

I'm trying to find a new car. So far, I'm not having very good luck. My tag hasn't come in yet, so Driver's Way won't write be a check for my old car. My blood pressure was 122/86 yesterday, which is good, but it's high for me. My BP is usually between 97/76 - 110-80. So, I know I'm stressed. x_x

Wow! Look at all these Birmingham peeps! Nice to meet you all. It would be cool if we all kept in touch and were each others' support system.

I had my Cardiac Evaluation today. It went very well! I was surprised that the bike test wasn't as hard as I expected. The hardest part is the last 2 minutes. How is everyone in B'ham doing so far?

I'm just counting down the days until the 18th. That's my last PCP appt. Then I wait for my insurance approval. And in the middle of all of this, we are trying to sell our house. As much as I want to sell it, I sure hope I'm not packing boxes while trying to recover from surgery!

Yay! Come on, July 18th! Oh, wow... Selling a house can be stressful. I hope you're not over-working yourself.

I'm trying to find a new car. So far, I'm not having very good luck. My tag hasn't come in yet, so Driver's Way won't write be a check for my old car. My blood pressure was 122/86 yesterday, which is good, but it's high for me. My BP is usually between 97/76 - 110-80. So, I know I'm stressed. x_x

Nah, I try not to get too stressed. I just try to think ahead to post-surgery day when I will be sipping my meals from the little cups that my salad dressing used to come in!

Wow! Look at all these Birmingham peeps! Nice to meet you all. It would be cool if we all kept in touch and were each others' support system.

I had my Cardiac Evaluation today. It went very well! I was surprised that the bike test wasn't as hard as I expected. The hardest part is the last 2 minutes. How is everyone in B'ham doing so far?

I'm just counting down the days until the 18th. That's my last PCP appt. Then I wait for my insurance approval. And in the middle of all of this, we are trying to sell our house. As much as I want to sell it, I sure hope I'm not packing boxes while trying to recover from surgery!

Yay! Come on, July 18th! Oh, wow... Selling a house can be stressful. I hope you're not over-working yourself.

I'm trying to find a new car. So far, I'm not having very good luck. My tag hasn't come in yet, so Driver's Way won't write be a check for my old car. My blood pressure was 122/86 yesterday, which is good, but it's high for me. My BP is usually between 97/76 - 110-80. So, I know I'm stressed. x_x

Nah, I try not to get too stressed. I just try to think ahead to post-surgery day when I will be sipping my meals from the little cups that my salad dressing used to come in!

Right?! I can't wait until I'm satisfied by tiny meals, lol! There are times when I see eating as a chore, and then by dinner time, I'm starving! I'm so excited to get this under control!

I'm seeing Dr Miles at AWLS too! Just gotta get my cardiac clearance and then get a surgery date. My consult was June 27, anyone else that day, too?

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I'm seeing Dr Miles at AWLS too! Just gotta get my cardiac clearance and then get a surgery date. My consult was June 27, anyone else that day, too?

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Mine was that day!

How cool! We're you sitting in a corner by chance? I was along the wall near the column in the lobby. I got my cardiac clearance this afternoon. Just waiting for the word to reach the office and hopefully a date soon after! How are you doing? Good news back after Dr made the call for you?

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Just wanted to shout out as another Miles patient! I went for the first time in September of last year, found out after getting all of my pre-op done that I also needed 6 month weight loss study, so I just finished that a couple of weeks ago and should get everything sent in to them Monday or Tuesday, then off to insurance! I plan to pester the shit out of Sonny until everything gets submitted! So cool to find so many other folks using AWLS and Dr. Miles!

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I'm just waiting g on my pcm to send my clearance letter. Woohoooty!

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How cool! We're you sitting in a corner by chance? I was along the wall near the column in the lobby. I got my cardiac clearance this afternoon. Just waiting for the word to reach the office and hopefully a date soon after! How are you doing? Good news back after Dr made the call for you?

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Yes I was! I was the short girl with the red t-shirt asking all the questions, lol! I was with my mom. She came with me because she was so against the surgery at first. After we left, she was convinced that I needed it. I think I remember you. We're you with your husband? I think I saw you sitting next to the wall closest to the entrance door of the room. I remember you smiling at me.

Congrats on your cardiac clearance! I got my surgery date very soon. They actually got me approved 8 days after that first appointment. I am now on my 3rd day of the liquid diet. So far, it's not as hard as I expected. I'm obviously hungry, but I'm not completely miserable. My surgery date is August 4th.

How are you doing?

Just wanted to shout out as another Miles patient! I went for the first time in September of last year, found out after getting all of my pre-op done that I also needed 6 month weight loss study, so I just finished that a couple of weeks ago and should get everything sent in to them Monday or Tuesday, then off to insurance! I plan to pester the **** out of Sonny until everything gets submitted! So cool to find so many other folks using AWLS and Dr. Miles!

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This is too cool! I'm meeting so many people who are using him. What made you all start using this site? I was just needing a support forum of some sort, and I stumbled upon this site.

Kind of the same. I just finished my weight loss study and decided to do some more serious research on insurance approval stories. Mostly it gives me stress. I have a great support system in my family and husband, but it's so nice to read things from people who have already had surgery, and provide support to folks who are just starting. I honestly wish that I had found this forum 6 months ago so maybe I would have done better in my study. I kind of botched it, went up and down 3 lbs over and over again, followed my docs instructions but the weight just wouldn't come off. I'm super nervous my insurance is going to deny me again.

Anyway, I'm very glad that I DID find this site, it's been very therapeutic knowing I'm not the only person who has gone through this, and that some people actually have more trouble than I have ????

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Kind of the same. I just finished my weight loss study and decided to do some more serious research on insurance approval stories. Mostly it gives me stress. I have a great support system in my family and husband, but it's so nice to read things from people who have already had surgery, and provide support to folks who are just starting. I honestly wish that I had found this forum 6 months ago so maybe I would have done better in my study. I kind of botched it, went up and down 3 lbs over and over again, followed my docs instructions but the weight just wouldn't come off. I'm super nervous my insurance is going to deny me again.

Anyway, I'm very glad that I DID find this site, it's been very therapeutic knowing I'm not the only person who has gone through this, and that some people actually have more trouble than I have

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Why would your insurance not approve you for the way you did on your weight loss study? I thought you just had to see a doctor about your weight for several months regardless of how much you lose. Every insurance is probably different in that aspect.

Me too! This site has been so helpful!

Some people say that (depending on insurance) if you don't lose, they will deny you. Generally my insurance BCBSIL doesn't require a weight loss study at all, but my specific plan, through my dad's employer, does. I haven't been able to get any hard info on what they're requirements are. My doc said that they just want to see you try and see if you will drop out of wanting surgery. I'm just afraid that they will say that I DIDN'T try and deny me. It's been giving me a lot of stress since I'm already done with it and there's nothing I can do about it now. I just don't want to have to do all of my appointments again and another study. I think I would seriously cry for days.

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How cool! We're you sitting in a corner by chance? I was along the wall near the column in the lobby. I got my cardiac clearance this afternoon. Just waiting for the word to reach the office and hopefully a date soon after! How are you doing? Good news back after Dr made the call for you?

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Yes I was! I was the short girl with the red t-shirt asking all the questions, lol! I was with my mom. She came with me because she was so against the surgery at first. After we left, she was convinced that I needed it. I think I remember you. We're you with your husband? I think I saw you sitting next to the wall closest to the entrance door of the room. I remember you smiling at me.

Congrats on your cardiac clearance! I got my surgery date very soon. They actually got me approved 8 days after that first appointment. I am now on my 3rd day of the liquid diet. So far, it's not as hard as I expected. I'm obviously hungry, but I'm not completely miserable. My surgery date is August 4th.

How are you doing?

Yes, that was me. I dragged my hub to the appt with me so he'd hear for himself what support I would need without a debate later. I remember feeling like I was in a room full of people that could understand me, whereas often times I am not. That was an unexpected but pleasant surprise for me. I remember seeing you reading the binder and saying to your mom "..this is why I have to have this surgery..". I understood you were making your case to someone who wasn't sure about it even though you were. It was refreshing to see your confidence facing a major life event. Honestly, when I doubt myself I think back to that moment and remind myself of all the reasons why I have to have this surgery. I am so happy you're mom learned a bit more about it and came around! And so happy for you that Dr Miles moved it along to help save your sight. My sis in TX had hers early this month. She's doing great and she pointed me to this group.

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