I'm new and I have a TON of questions....please help!

I am new to trying to learn about WLS. I am on title xix (full time student and single mom). I tried to talk to my doctor about it over a year ago, and at the time i was having an episode of high blood pressure, but when that went away on my own they said there wasnt much they could do. Now, I have been seeing a specialist since september of '08 for severe reflux, and had several upper GI scopes done, concluding in "it's probably because you need to lose weight, we really cant find any other reason for the inflammation". I am also seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis for lower back pain due to my weight, and was told by another doctor that my intermittent knee pain was due to my weight.
I was wondering if anyone else in iowa on title xix has had this surgery done and what exactly I should do to get this started. Is it even possible to get this approved through them? And are there any surgeons in the lemars/sioux city area that accept title xix for this?
Any help would be great.
thanks so much

Hi Sarah!!
I am from Sioux City and I am in the process of getting my surery hopefully very soon, before kids get out of school.  And yes you can get this with title 19.  I am getting mine done with title 19.  I will pm you with more nformantion.

Title 19 in Iowa does cover the surgery but has several requirements to meet.  I do not have it, but I know a  couple people who have had the RNY surgery using it in Iowa.  They do require a 6 month physician supervised diet as part of their pre-approval process so I would get started on that NOW!

Sarah,
Can you tell I haven't been here in awhile? I would have answered sooner. I'm on title xix, and had my surgery in January. Kari is right, they do require a 6 month doctor supervised diet. If your primary care doctor isn't on board with you having surgery, see if you can go to someone else. That's is where you start. Then you will need to go to the seminar that the bariatrtic center does. From there you pick a surgeon and have an initial consultant with them, that really gets the ball rolling!

When I did my 6 monthn diet, I didn't lose any weight, so don't stress about that. I had to have a pulmonary clearance, cardiology, psych, and a sleep study. But reverything was good, they submitted my stuff, and heard that I was approved in like 3 days.

If I can be anymore help, just email me....
Nancy

You are in the perfect place!  Those are some great questions, and I don't have the answer to the insurance question!!  We all have lots of questions as newbies!!

When I submitted to ins. (just  a couple of weeks ago) I had a letter from my PCP and my chiro stating that WLS would be beneficial for me and the reasons why.  So hopefully when it comes time both of your will be willing to do that for you!

Have you decided on the type of surgery you want to have?