Hi guys!

My Name is Steph, I recently started my journey to have gastric sleeve on December. My BMI is 35 so my doctor told me I can’t lose weight or my insurance will deny my surgery. This is so stressful. I tried to slowly cut off sugars to get started some how, but when I went for my visit (have to do 6 visits as per my insurance) I lost 4 pounds. December seems so far away. Any ideas to get started on my journey but maintaining my actual weight?

Edited August 22, 20196 yr by Stephycakes

I was the same 36/35 BMI. I ate salty food the night before MD appts and wore heavier clothes. I also made afternoon vs morning appointments. It’s crazy but if I had randomly lost 4-5 pounds per the scale at an early morning appointment then it would have messed up insurance. Everyone bounces around a few pounds all day long and I didn’t want to happen to be too close to the cut off when the doctor measured my weight knowing if he weighed me an hour later it would probably be up again. They did weigh me the morning of surgery and had warned me early on that if I slipped under 34.9 that my insurance wouldn’t cover it. My weight did fluctuate a few pounds during the 6 months but was always above 35 BMI.

Just now, 2Bsmaller18 said:

I was the same 36/35 BMI. I ate salty food the night before MD appts and wore heavier clothes. I also made afternoon vs morning appointments. It’s crazy but if I had randomly lost 4-5 pounds per the scale at an early morning appointment then it would have messed up insurance. Everyone bounces around a few pounds all day long and I didn’t want to happen to be too close to the cut off when the doctor measured my weight knowing if he weighed me an hour later it would probably be up again. They did weigh me the morning of surgery and had warned me early on that if I slipped under 34.9 that my insurance wouldn’t cover it. My weight did fluctuate a few pounds during the 6 months but was always above 35 BMI.

Yep. Great idea about afternoon appointments! Also eat a big carby meal the night before and the morning and lunch of the day of the appointments and drink a pint of water before too.

On 08/23/2019 at 14:14, FluffyChix said:

In your situation, I'd probably do that to. Find out from your RD if you gain 5lbs between now and then, will you get in trouble with insurance or the doctor?

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LOL, love this! I just checked and my bmi is currently 35.2 I think if I can stay there I will be alright

I’d call your insurance company and ask them what is the specific requirement, mine only submitted my starting weight

1 hour ago, NYJenn said:

I’d call your insurance company and ask them what is the specific requirement, mine only submitted my starting weight

I think I will do that, rather than worry or over eat!

19 hours ago, 2Bsmaller18 said:

I was the same 36/35 BMI. I ate salty food the night before MD appts and wore heavier clothes. I also made afternoon vs morning appointments. It’s crazy but if I had randomly lost 4-5 pounds per the scale at an early morning appointment then it would have messed up insurance. Everyone bounces around a few pounds all day long and I didn’t want to happen to be too close to the cut off when the doctor measured my weight knowing if he weighed me an hour later it would probably be up again. They did weigh me the morning of surgery and had warned me early on that if I slipped under 34.9 that my insurance wouldn’t cover it. My weight did fluctuate a few pounds during the 6 months but was always above 35 BMI.

This is a great idea!!!! Thank you!!!

1 hour ago, NYJenn said:

I’d call your insurance company and ask them what is the specific requirement, mine only submitted my starting weight

Thanks will do!

They told me the same. It made me to go into super drive of overeating and now I have gained. So they want you keep it off but not losing weight is, that is hard to find the balance.

I am in a similar place. I am just eating somewhat normally to maintain, then my dietitian told me to only do preop diet for 2 days before surgery.

On 8/23/2019 at 12:52 PM, mousecat88 said:

Use this time to enjoy some food funerals. Say goodbye with glee to your favorite junk. Probably terrible advice but hey, that's how I roll. lmao.

I had fun with my food funerals finally a time I didn't care I could just eat it..whatever however and enjoy it as is one last time.

Put rolls of quarters in your pockets, or ankle weights under boot cut jeans.

Me too!! My BMI is 42 but if I go below 40 I won’t be covered. My weight is measured at the last evaluation date- not the date of surgery.

My weight was going out of control at around 800 calories and less than 20 net carbs a day. I drank lots of water and got plenty of protein and fiber. The same things that had worked for some time just wasn’t working. My body didn’t seem to process fats the same. I kept begging doctors for answers and help. No one even would discuss it or why my abdomen gets so swollen. I was getting sick eating certain foods. At some point when my doctor said maybe I needed my gallbladder out, I decided to look into bariatric surgery.

I’ll admit the first surgeon I went to my height was 5’ my weight around 180 but was down a few lbs because I’d just had surgery and felt too sick to eat. My BMI was borderline for surgery coverage with comorbidities for my insurance to cover it. I have plenty, metabolic disorders, spine problems, joint problems, etc. etc. etc. but I never had high blood pressure just high cholesterol. Though my heart races like crazy from orthostatic intolerance. I have glucose intolerance but quit sugar years ago to try to prevent diabetes when I became prediabetic. I got so upset with the doctors appointment I had a meltdown. He talked at me, not to me, made assumptions, didn’t give me a chance to ask questions, said he would only do sleeve. The staff claimed they were going to help but yet I knew it wasn’t going to happen. They were not clear what I needed even though my insurance said it would be approved, the dr office didn’t believe me and wanted a big chunk of change for a down payment that I didn’t have.

I wanted to fight it while my weight was still not too high, I feared getting back to being over 200 lbs again. But despite everything my weight jumped another 20 lbs. I finally saw a second endocrinologist (I won’t say what happened with the first) and this doctor listened and understood why I couldn’t take the medications for my metabolic disorders. And she took the situation seriously. she recommended Cleveland clinic and how much easier the process was. She even wrote a letter for my insurance.

By then my weight went up to 208 lbs at a weigh in at my general practitioner. I weighed in at the surgeon and it was 203 lbs which was 39.6 BMI. For my insurance my BMI had to be 40 since they didn’t seem to accept my comorbidities. They told me to gain a few lbs. I explained that it was higher at 206 it was just above BMI 40. So they put that on record. I was too sick to eat much. I admit I did have a few small cheat meals, though I never did give in to fried chicken or pizza except a low carb pizza I used to make ... thankfully my insurance did come through. Even though My last weigh in was 203 lbs before surgery at a required nutrition class.

I did hate seeing the numbers on the scale get to over 200 lbs even though I was still fighting hard. It was painful really.

The tough part was my appointments were afternoon and I’m not a big morning water I always had a protein bar and coffee. The last few weeks I cheated and had a bowl of healthy cereal for breakfast. But oh my point was i have to get transportation to Cleveland clinic and the rides take hours to get me there.

It was frustrating and I spent every moment worrying that the surgery wouldn’t happen. Thankfully the doctor knew I needed gastric bypass surgery (especially due to severe GERD) and also was able to help with my gallbladder. I knew the risks of surgery given all my medical conditions and that it would make things worse in some ways but I also knew if I kept gaining that was even worse for me overall.

After the one week liquids my weight was 197 I think but after surgery it was back at 203.7 ... it is upsetting to have to go so far to just get help. But honestly, I was on the verge of just giving up. My body and mind wanted to call it quits.

I don’t know how to say anything without writing too much and exhausting myself in the process. If the surgery is important , do what it takes to get there. And fight to have the tools needed to get where you need to go.

You have been through so much and have a lot to deal with. I am so glad your hard work paid off for you!