All Hope is Not Lost

I am newly encouraged. I have had so many disappointments in my quest for the WLS. Being on Medicare, I have had various surgeon's offices tell me different things. I called Medicare and it seems none of those things that were told to me are true. They told me that I needed to get a letter of medical necessity from my family doctor and send it to Medicare. This should approve me right away. At least this is what I am hoping and praying for. I am not giving up. I see my doctor in 2 wks and will talk to him about it. He is very supportive of this decision and he knows that I need this surgery desperatly. He will do whatever he needs to do to help me. I am confident of that. Once I get the approval, I will have to find a surgeon. Im hoping that will be easier once I have the approval letter. Time will tell......but let me tell you...I am really excited, but Im also going into this with my eyes wide open. Further disappointments may come, but I dont think they will affect me like that have in the past.... I want to thank everyone here who has offered support and advice. Its greatly appreciated Lisa

I hope and pray that this approach is successful for you! Keep us posted. Joy

Have you looked in the Vocational Rehab program. Their program is designed to get you off disability and get you back to work. I have heard of several people that they accomplished this by providing WLS for patients. Good luck. Dawna

until I get the WLS and lose this weight..i cant get off disability. If I can ever get this weight off, I have a career to go back to.. but thanks Lisa

Hi Lisa, let me know how it goes finding a surgeon. When I talked to Medicare on several occasions they told me that all I needed was a letter of medical necessity from my Dr, I even told them that the surgeons office told me that medicare required 2 years documented failed diet attempts, and they told me that a letter from my dr was all I needed. They also told me that they do not pre-approve, either you are approved or your not. Keep in touch with me, as I am fighting the same battle here as well. My Dr even told me that there was no sense in having to wait 2 years that I needed the surgery now, due to my lungs declining.

Hey Lisa, how is everything going for you? Did you find a surgeon to do the surgery? Please keep me updated!