Hello Everyone

Hi! My name is Andrea, I'm 23 and have just made the decision to have WLS. After weighing all my options, I think this is the best option for me. I'm worried though. I have (or will have, I should say) insurance (BCBS of TN) effective June 1st. I honestly can't afford to finance the surgery myself without insurance approval. Can someone give me a realistic view of what I'm going to be up against?

hi, I am 23 also. It is good to see more people on here my age. When I first came I thought I was the youngest one on the site. I have since learned other wise. The first thing you need to do is call the insurance company and ask them if they cover wls and if so which ones and what exclusions do they have.

I've been online and gotten bcbst's policy for bariatric surgery...i think the only obstacle i'll have is the fact that i've not been to my pcp for 2 years...and with the ins., you have to been under a supervised weight prog. within the past two years. I have an appt. with my pcp on 6/14 and hopefully that will be enough. I mean, come on, I've been fat since I was four. I have med rec's from my pediatrician's office from the age of 4 where i was being counseled on eating correctly...and then on and then on. I've thought about re-joining weigh****chers too. Except for the fact, that I'll gain weight, get disappointed, and stop. Anyway, thanks for replying 'd.' tell me more about your situation..it's nice to talk to someone your own age.

Yeah, I haVE been fat FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER I was 12 wearing a grown womens bikini. I had th ebody of a 30 yeay old way back then. I mean I have so much boob and arm. THey are my real problem. I think If I have to have plastic surgerfy anywhere it will be a breast reduction and an arm tuck. MY upper body looks like that of a line backer. I look like I am wearing perminant shoulder pads. I have had a doctor supervised weightloss plan but it was in 1999 and my PCP has prescribed weightloss pills in the past 2 years, the bad thing is I only stayed on them for a month. It was Xenical and it made you have bowel leakage. JUst add that to being over weight and you have a major depression case on your hands. Good luck on your surgery! Which one are you having, Lap band or RNY I am hopefully having the band.

HEY EMAIL ME SOMETIME! [email protected] I will e-mail you back as soon as I can. I also have instant messaging. I gained the most weight after having my second child. My first appointment with Dr. Allen is 2 months away so I am going to go on an eightweek Dr. supervised weightloss plan. this way if it comes up I can say i am currently on one. also start keeping a weightloss journal. from this point on. thta will also help for the insURANCE PURPOSES. I keep my daily food intake and journal on line at www.fitday.com it really is very beneficial it keeps track of your weightloss and so on. It is totally free. Check it out.

Thanks! I'll have to look into that. Initially I thought I was going to choose the lap band, but now I'm looking more into everything. A friend of mine had VBG done in E-town in Aug 03. I think he's lost over 100 lbs now...probably more than that, to be honest. But it's almost like he's trying to talk me out of having any procedure done saying it's so hard and the pain is so much. That's why I decided not to talk with him as much about things. I don't need someone telling me not to, you know? I'm exploring my options, still I suppose. As much as I would like to have something done tomorrow, I'm thinking I'm going to wait until after the first of the year. That way I'd be able to use short term disability *hopefully*.

HEy I have checked into all of them and I am honestly not interested in anything except the band. The idea of it fits me best. I love the thought of being back to school and work in just a couple of weeks. I have had 2 c-sections and have no desire to hae my stomach reopened. It was painful and I am a big wimp so what can I do about that. Not much.