New here~Want to say Hi

My cousin told me about this site. She came onto it when she was trying to get her surgery. I looked here a few times but just decided to join the site recently. I have an appointment for Friday with my PCP to get a referral to the surgeon to do RNY, then I know I will have a long battle ahead of me with the Insurance company. The only thing I am worried about is my Insurance plan has an exclusion on it for weight loss (they say they won't cover anything). We have Blue Cross Blue Shiled preferred care Blue (PPO). I am having my husband call HR tomorrow at his work to find out if there is anyway we can get that changed. I have battled with my weight most of my life and just can't do it anymore. I am only 5 foot 4 inches tall and well over 200 pounds. I have 3 children that I feel are embarrassed of me when they go out in public with me and I can't stand to go shopping for clothes because I don't want to see myself in the mirror. I am terrified, just yesterday morning I heard on the news that a man died in a house fire while his kids were trying to get help for him but no one could get him out because he weighed 600 pounds. His children heard him screaming for help and could do nothing for him. I don't want that to be me in a few years.

Welcome..... The board used to be alot more active and is in the process of cycling through once again. I used to be a regular here (as were many) but we have had our surgeries and moved on (life gets WAY busy when there is less of you to tote around!) I'm on vacation now and have time to post more...which btw I AM DOING! I feel like I was the queen of denials when dealing with the insurance companies.... (read my profile) but I fought fought fought and WON! You are going to have to see just how the exclusion reads... and post that info. and we will see if we can help you out! Just to let you know that the fight IS worth the effort. I am down a total of (as of this morning) 147 lbs.! I am only 28lbs. from MY all time goal and I have already surpassed my surgeons goal that he set for me. I was one year out on September 23rd (just last month). My weight loss is alot slower since I am so close to goal but I am slowly but surely plugging along. Upping the protein and watching the carbs are really helping me out! Best of wishes to you sweetie...let us know if we can help! Elizabeth~

Welcome to the family. I am also pre-op and just waiting for one more test before my surgery date is set. We are here to support you in your decision and help out in any way possible. Congratulations on your decision and keep us posted. Wayne