NEWBY

Hey everyone, so the time has come where i went and searched out a forum to find others who struggle with weight loss issues. Its VERY hard to find support in my community of friends and family and i'm hoping i can find some here. I guess ill start with the raw facts... My names Dustin, i've been right around the range of 250-260 for the past year or two and im about 5'11.  When i come to any of my friends that im depressed about my weight and im looking for help they always say "oh youre normal enough"  which really makes me just want to slap them lol. Anyway, i know im not morbidly obese, but i'm still large enough where ive got stretch marks and it totally hampers even being able to go to a beach without turning red with embarassment.  I'm 23 years old and thats about all my group of friends want out of me is to be a beach bum and it hurts my friendships to always say no to them... Everyone tells me im crazy to even consider weight loss surgery at my weight... are they telling me the truth?? Its pretty much impossible for me to do something at weigh****chers, atleast at this point in time because im barely making enough money for rent right now.  However this week i began jogging down my street in the mornings, id say its nearly a mile?  I get SUPER winded and get jelly legs by the time i get back home but im trying to move in the right direction here. I've began running and lifting weights and my goal is to hit around 185.  Some help and tips here would really help me light a fire under my butt. -Dustin PS: I'm pretty sure that i could get mainecare, id just have to add a few more hours at work to qualify... however do you think I would be approved for WLS with a 36.2 bmi or would i need something like diebites to classify for that?

Welcome to the maine board Dustin,

The first place you need to go is to your regular primary care physician. They are the one that will recommend you to a surgeon. Many things enter in if maine care will pay or not. Do you have high blood pressure, high sugars, arthritc joints from weight etc ?????

Have you tried sincerely to loose on your own before. They look at all the factors.

I weighed 200 lbs in the 6th grade so being orver weight has always been a part of my life. I do understand the problems of being young and big.

I just had my surgery a year ago Sept 26th and I have lost 163 lbs. I wish I could have had it when I was young instead of at 59 years old. BUT the surgery was not perfected then and for some reason it was meant for mwe to have it later in life. I am glad i did have it.

Let us know how you are doing in your quest for the surgery or information.

Pam

Hey there pam, I have tried and AM trying right now to lose weight, ive been active on the atkins diet and tried other diets over the past years and i just seem to fail miserably, sadly. Also i have pretty bad knees so i do try to jog every other morning but my knees kill me afterwards, one knee was broken from a wrestling injury and the other had a torn PCL from a fight years back.  Neither knees seemed to heal correctly and it really hampers my exercise.

Hi, I have never joined any chat or forum groups of any topic or arena.  I am not certain I am doing this correctly......but I am in need for information that may be known out there. I have begun the march towards roux-en-y .  I originally went into the surgeon's office desiring the lapband procedure and though they do this procedure he and his staff are definately bent more towards the roux-en-y.  I have a BMI of 41.  I have no other diagnosed morbid obesity related issues.  I have yet to do the  sleep apnea testing  or the herds tests.  But I do know my joints are  in great pain.....and high blood pressure and diabetes runs in my family.  I too was a large weight of 190lbs in sixth grade and though I have had years of ideal body weight the past ten have been obese.  I have tried all things out there.....everything ....I think.....so here I am ready to do this!  My biggest question out there is to those that know about Maine Care's  requirements to pass the surgery?  Also I will be losing Maine Care in January and will be picking up Blue Cross  or  Anthem or Dirigo.....my question is to anyone that may know about any problems switching insurances like this ?  Can it still be covered?  This is my biggest concern......that and losing the 27ponds they are looking for me to lose prior to surgery.  I would appreciate any input.  Thank you

Hi RonnyLou,     I had an RNY in August.  I started the process last August (06) with a BMI of 41.2 and with MaineCare insurance, but was denied twice by them because my co-morbidities didn't fall under their co-morbidity requirements.  In June we picked up my husband's insurance which is BC/BS of MA, but goes through BC Anthem here in Maine.  I was approved in 1 day after they submitted my app. to them.  They have been a wonderful insurance company throughout my surgery process.  The only thing I had to do was get a new referral from my PCP dated when my new insurance started.  All my testing was still valid because it was less than a year old.  Neither my surgeon or BC-Anthem required me to lose weight before my RNY, but I did lose a few pounds anyway.       I posted the MaineCare requirements for the surgery above in Dustin's note.  MaineCare's rules for having the surgery DO NOT follow the Bariatric Association's guidelines.  They have their own qualifying rules.      Good Luck with your WLS journey.  This is a great message board and I'm sure you'll find alot of answers to your questions here.  Research is great, but hearing real life experiences is even better! Blessings, Yvonne   

Hi Dustin,    Congratulations on taking the first step to a new you!  Acknowledging the severity of your weight issue, gathering information and making a plan is all part of the process of getting on the right track to a healthier you!   The good thing is that your young enough to bypass alot of the long-term effects that weight can leave behind.       As a tool to help you along the way, I would recommend Dr. Phil's book, The Ultimate Weight Solution.  Check the library for a copy, or if your a member of Paperbackswap.com, you should be able to find a copy and the final cost is only $3.75 for a book credit.   Dr. Phil's book approaches more than just the food issue of weight loss.  It also tells you how to deal with head hunger, emotional hang-ups, etc.  It's a great tool for your weight loss journey.     Weight Loss Surgery of any sort is also only a tool.  It only works if you stick to the guidelines.  Like any diet, weight loss surgery can fail too, if your not doing what you need to....eating the right foods, exercising, etc.       As for MaineCare qualifications, they require the surgeries to be medically necessary, especially since your BMI is under 40.   Their requirements are that you must have " a illness or condition caused by or aggravated by the obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, heart disease or respiritory disease." (word for word from my 1st denial letter).  They DO NOT follow the Baratric Association's Guidelines for meeting medical necessity.      Good Luck on your journey to weight loss Dustin!  This is a great group  and there's a wealth of information here.  Welcome Aboard! Blessings, Yvonne