Hello to all! My name is Eli'sha Anderson. I'm 21, currently awaiting approval from insurance for my surgery. In forming this Forum, I am hoping to find others in similar situations as myself.  I'm so excited about having this surgery. I know I'm young, but I'd rather become healthy at a young age than to wait.  I've never been at a healthy weight, not even at birth!  This is going to be a life changing experience and I just wanted to find others like me!

Morbid obesity is a medical condition. If you didn't have a BMI of more than 40, they would consider heart disease, and these biggies: 

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus - metabolic disorder resulting from the body's inability to produce enough, or to properly use, insulin
• Obstructive sleep apnea - when a child stops breathing during periods of sleep
• Hypertension - higher than normal pressure inside the arterie
• Dyslipidemias - abnormal concentrations of lipids in the blood
• Weight-related arthropathies (joint diseases) which impair physical activity
  
  Everyone's list is a little different and there are some very real factors usually not considered in approving bariatric treatment -- depression, GERD, asthma, etc.
  
  I think of my original insurance company's list, I had all but eleviated lipids. I always had beautiful cholesterol levels.
  
  If you have progressed to classes and the psych evaluation, there must be enough documented need to proceed.
  
  Keep an open mind. We are all different and the surgery is a tool. You have to arm yourself to use it. We don't all have the same results -- you will be a factor in your success.
  
  Wishing you the world!
  Frances

Thank You Frances for all of your wisdom. It does help to talk with someone that not only has been through it but, have loads of experiences dealing with all this information. Im doing my nutritionists  classes now and have just passed my psych eval so im truly hoping I can get approved. I have tried looking up medicaid's conditions for approving someone for weight loss surgery and cant find it anywhere.

 

Off to bed night ladies!

Frances,

thank you so much. sometimes it takes hearing things from someone else who has already gone through things to get a better understanding.  

Again, I know the three of you are not asking for anyone else to join in here, but y'all are struggling for information, so I'll try to help.

Learning to eat the *right* things and right combinations are just as important as avoiding poor habits. Not all obese people have eating issues or emotional problems, but we all have relied on combinations that do not work *for us*. Sometimes it's not enough as well as possibly too much.

In our support group, people run into problems because they don't want to eat or they fear getting sick ... or they become a little anxious to lose too soon.

Success post-weight loss surgery is a very specific of combinations that are tailored to you. Not everyone needs 71 grams of protein. I only need 40-60 grams of protein. We all need a different amount of water and not getting it will make you very sick.

You are in charge of dealing with your bad habits. That's why the psych exams are important to see if you are ready to make this change. The nutrition classes are like boot camp and the prepared warrior. I hope if emotional support is needed, you all are hoping to get it in nutrition class. The good news is that those issues can be addressed and your team will be equipped to give you exactly what you need.

This is a very individual process. From what I  can see from you all is that you all have a great support system, but none of you is just alike. You have different backgrounds and might have different journeys.

Don't worry if you don't figure it all out right now... it will eventually fall into place.

Best,
Frances