Hello, I'm a newbie!

Hello Ya'll, I am new to the board and thought I'd introduce myself and ask some questions too.  My name is Kellie, I'm a 43 yr. old mom of 4(2 of my own and 2 of my hubby's), soon to be a first time grandma, and I am as they say morbidly obese at 304lbs. I hate that title terrible bad and to be truthful I had accepted my weight and that I would probably be fat the rest of my life. I've had life altering sicknesses since 1999 which has caused me to gain more than 100lbs. and as I said I accepted I would be fat because of this forever. Recent changes in my life have caused me to realize how short my life could be if I stay this way and for the first time in a long, long time a doctor gave me hope that I too could have surgery to loose weight. I was recently in the hospital for 9 days, the first 5 of those at Sts. Mary & Elizabeths(horrible hospital) and then they transferred me to Jewish. Sts. M&E had no clue what was wrong with me and I thought I might die there, finally admitting they had no clue how to treat me they sent me to Jewish to a Dr. Davis who immediately diagnosised me with Lymphedema which had been complicated by an onset of Cellulitis which I've had for years now off and on. I don't remember alot of my visit to the hospital but the thing the one thing/hope that sticks in my mind is Dr. Davis saying, "don't worry, your going to be ok and were going to help you with all your health issues and get you surgery so you can loose weight".  That statement is one that gave me hope I had not had in a long time because of my health. I suffer from gout which affects most of my body now, cellulitis off and on, sleep apenea, carpal tunnel, thorasic outlet compression, High blood pressure, depression, asthma, bad knees and back among other things I am sure I am forgetting. Recently I have begun to realize that I will not be on this earth long in my current situation and weight. Today for example I can barely walk, my left knee has given out on me because I have been favoring my right leg since the onset of the Lymphedema. It seems like as each day goes by I get more homebound, more stuck to this house, I have no life it seems and have secluded myself from my friends because I don't want them to see how sick I really am. It's terrible as I am sure so many of you can relate to, to watch your childs life pass you by without much involvement from you because you can't do the things your kids want to do...I am tired of this life and I want to live! I want to be able to go and do things with my daughter, I want my life back. Ok, sorry so long....so my questions are for you folks who have had the surgery or are scheduled.... I have medicare a & b and Dr. Davis says they will cover it, do they cover it and if so in its entirety? It is my understanding He is suppose to be scheduling me with a Dr. Kaddy which is under Dr. Larson and University Surgical Associates but I have yet to hear of an appointment. One of the Medical Assistants in his office said that the doctors don't have a clue on how this is done and that I must schedule myself an appointment with the Norton's Bariatrics Center which I have done for the Sept 25th meeting. Does this make sense to you all or can a doctor outright schedule me with another doctor? Is anyone scheduled to go to the seminar at an earlier date? I was told I could call in for cancellations. The person who schedule me for the seminar said that there is a long wait to have this done, is that true? I think that is all my questions for now. Again I apologize for the long post. I have been trying to read the stories on here and the ones I have read so far have been an inspiration to me. Thank you for sharing with me! Kellie

Kelly, I am sorry I can't answer your questions but I just wanted to say "WELCOME".  I hope everything works out.  The process can't happen fast enough when we finally make our decision, but be patient.  All things will work out.   Good luck, Jane

Hi Jane, Thank you for the welcome and words of encouragement its much appreciated. I do believe that it will all work out its just a matter of time and the whole process. For me I am basically working in steps I guess you could say. When I went into the hospital I was told that I also had an anyeresum in the artery leading to my spleen which has to be repaired and I also have cysts in my uterus and one on my ovary so I am looking at having a hysterectomy. So this is the way I am looking at it....step 1 - surgery for the anyeresum - this is schedule for Thursday (prayers would be appreciated), next step 2 - see my gynocologist to see what I need to do about the cysts. Step 3 - the bariatric seminar and the whole process....etc... etc... etc... I know that I need to take care of these things in order to get to this new life and I am willing.  I don't know all the processes concerned with the bariactric surgery but I am reading alot on here and am learning so much this website is a huge help to me and I'm sure many others! Thanks again and I look forward to getting to know you and everyone! Kellie

Hi and welcome to the group, Kellie. I am from northern Kentucky so I don't know much about the programs where you're at. But I still want to welcome you and let you know this is a great bunch of folks. I'm 6 months out today and down 135 pounds. I had my own set of health issues (like almost everyone else here does or did) so you aren't alone. I hope you find your answers and I look forward to seeing you on the boards! ~Katrina

hi kellie,  welcome to the board, this is a good place to ask questions, and get to know some very nice people who will always be glad to help in anyway they can.    i also  have medicare a&b, and medicaid as my secondary. 

so i have included the medicare criteria for weight loss surgery for you. if you have any more questions, i will be glad to help the best i can, but you can also call the number on your medicare card and get some answers .  if they don't answer what you are asking, keep asking for someone till you get what you want to know.   but also the insurance people of what ever doctor you decide on are a very good source for answers.   not matter where you decide to go,  you research, research research. the one suggestion that i will make to you, if you have no records of a documented doctor supervised 6 month diet,  start one now, because you must have one.  it is part of the medicare criteria as you can see below.   and make sure that your doctor documents exactly what they ask for.   i made the mistake of not doing that and only went in to weigh every month, with incomplete documentation,  thinking i had completed this requirement in june,  i was thrilled that i had made it and it may not be long until surgery,  but i was wrong and now find myself having to start all over.     so get all your ducks in a row, and don't rely on anyone to get all your info together but yourself.   medicare and medicaid together will pay for every bit of my surgery, doctor,  hospital... with the exception of the psych exam.  that was out of pocket.  but it may not be where you choose to go.       it won't happen over night,  be patient,  but once is starts it will be fast. all i have to do now is finish the diet, and i will be all set for a date. Good luck, and take care of yourself. Belinda. Medicare

 

   ·   BMI of 35 or greater with one of the following life-threatening or disabling co-morbid conditions: poorly controlled type II diabetes, poorly controlled hypertension, poorly controlled dyslipidemia, severe cardiopulmonary disease (e.g. coronary disease, CHF, asthma, COPD, pulmonary hypertension), obstructive sleep apnea, severe arthropathy of weight bearing joints or pseudotumor cerebri

 

·        Surgery is medically appropriate for the patient

 

·        There is documented evidence of repeated failure of multiple attempts (usually 3) to lose weight on a supervised non-surgical management weight loss program (e.g., diet, exercise or drugs).  It would be expected that a weight loss program would consist of compliance with a physician directed program for at least a consecutive 6 month period without significant gaps.  Monthly documentation of the beneficiary’s compliance should include: **vital signs to include weight, current dietary program, physical activity/exercise program, behavioral interventions, consideration of or use of pharmacotherapy with FDA- approved medication, if appropriate       

 

·        Psychological evaluation (and counseling)

 

·        Treatable metabolic causes for obesity (e.g., adrenal, pituitary or thyroid disorders) have been ruled out or if present have been maximally clinically treated if present

 

·        Surgery performed at ASBS Center of Excellence

 

 

 

**All documentation must be written in the medical record monthly (diet, exercise and behavioral interventions)

 

 

 

 

 

hello & welcome to the boards this site is the best for all the help you need ,can not answer your question but just wanted to say hi & welcome ,

Hello again. Thank you Kat, Belinda, and RJolly for the warm welcome, I look forward to getting to know ya'll. Belinda - Thank you for the Medicare information! I have been on diets in the past but they were not documented monthly so it looks like I am going to have to make that effort in the next 6 mos. Of course now my problem would be more that exercising is near impossible with my medical problems. My doctor did give me a weight loss program to follow months ago but she did not require me to come in monthly. I was also on Xenical a few years back but again I was not documented monthly.  I'm sorry you have to go through the 6 mos. of documenting all over again, that must be truly frustrating for you to get to this point and find out you have to wait another 6mos. Will they not use the time in which you have had documentation or is it they want to see it all in one straight 6 mos. period? I look forward to sharing this life changing adventure we all are going through! Thank you! Kellie