ok. i'm sooooo mad....i j...

ok. i'm sooooo mad....i just got a call from Carla, the bariatric nurse in Vicksburg...she said my insurance requires a 6 month, monitered by a doctor, diet plan prior to my request for surgery......they never mentioned this at UMC and i've been going through all this for a year!!....she said i'll have to go back and re-do all my tests and doctor visits cos 6 months from now in April, none of that will be any good....even my psyche test and everything!>.....all that money, time, and effort wasted!....had to go through that dreaded blood gas test for NOTHING!....i am so depressed...i had even talked to our insurance rep before starting all this and SHE didn't mention this....i'm thinking i should just give up....don't know what else to do......

Oh Lori, I'm so sorry! Do you have any documentation where you talked weight issues with your PCP? My insurance required it also. Another friend of mines did also - she was able to just use posts from an Atkins site she had used. My medical diet was 4 years ago, and they accepted my word for it. I never had to send them anything. Just a thought. Call the insurance people and find out for yourself exactly what they need. HUGS Kimberly

Hey Kimberly!...yes, one of my doctors told them in his written letter stating that i needed this surgery that he had had me on diets, diet pills, etc. and that i had not been able to lose the weight..in fact, i gained!....i also was a Weigh****cher's reject..haha...i put that in my info too....along with the fact that i'd tried so many other diet plans....I'm waiting on my insurance rep to call me back....i'm praying that she says i won't have to do this since i have 2 doctors saying i need this surgery and have tried to lose on my own...you just never know with insurances...i just don't want to have to go through all those tests again......too much money and time.....i'm praying i wont' have to! HUGS BACK!..ha LORI

Lori, I check the boards periodically. I saw your post regarding the 6 month supervised program. Unfortunately, many insurance companies are requiring this now. Over the last 3-4 months, many insurance carriers have jumped on that wagon. Vicksburg (or UMC, or us for that matter) didn't know this would be required when you started your journey. This is a life changing event, and should not be looked upon as anything lightly. We, as Bariatric Coordinators, understand that when a patient decides to go through with surgery, you are ready NOW. But we all are trying to offer each patient a safe surgery and a safe journey. That is the reason for all the hoops you have to jump through to get to your final destination (surgery- and beyond). Just know, you may have to take part in a 6 month supervised weight management program, but your surgery is still out there. It took months or years to get to the point to have surgery, a few more months is a small price to pay to get a FULL LIFE.

Hi Adam!....i wouldn't be complaining so had i known this in the beginning...i could have already gotten that done during the year that i feel that i've wasted.....i've already spent so much out of pocket with all these tests that i just don't have that kind of money to do it all again....it's not that i mind waiting 6 more months; well i do mind but i could handle that.....the money thing is a total different ballgame though....i realize that this is a lifechanging operation; i've prayed earnestly and done alot of soul searching; believe me....it's a last resort...in the beginning i prayed that if this wasn't what God wanted me to do, he'd put roadblocks up to stop me....maybe this is a BIG roadblock....i'm just tired of being in constant pain with my back and joints from all this blubber i'm carrying around....but, i'm just gonna take one day at a time and keep praying.... LORI

Hey Lori, I wish I knew what to say. I'm sorry about all your problems getting approved & all. Maybe you should think about stepping back & re-thinking everything. With as much things being thrown up in your way, that could be a sign not to have. I just don't know. I know that isn't what you want to hear I'm sure. But, I would sure think about stepping back & just re-think about it all out of fear for it all being a sign from God. Let me say, if there is any way or any thing that you can do to lose any weight without surgery PLEASE DO IT. Make sure this surgery is the last resort. Be sure that you love yourself no matter what. We all get so caught up in what "The World" says that we should look like, that we really don't love ourselves the way we should. The surgery will not make you love yourself any more than what you do now. If any thing, you will hate yourself a little to a lot more !!! TRUST ME on that. If I had the miracle, I would have used it myself. But I'm telling you this now, cause hind sight in 20/20. I'm getting better everyday, but I'm still not to the point of saying that this surgery was worth it. That will take a while. But I am getting better. And that in it self is a BIG IMPROVEMENT for me. I just don't want you or anyone else making the same mistakes that I've made. I'm looking forward to the day that I feel as tho having this surgery wasn't a BIG mistake. I'm on my way there (should be there in a few years at this rate), but boy what a trip it is & it has been so far. I love ya & only want the very best for you my friend, Tammy

aww Tammy!>...i love you too girl!...and i thank you for caring enough to tell me these things....i'm just so thankful that you are doing better!....you know, i am a grammaw and i've said from the beginning my days of trying to impress folks was long gone...lol.....but, this darn hurting all the time is for the birds!....i'm in constant pain with my back and my ankles and now even my hips.....and it's all from weight!....i have tried everything to lose....nothing worked....this was a last resort for me; believe me...i have have enough surgeries in my life....i'm just desperate...but, like you said, this may be a sign from God that it's not what he had in mind for me...if so, he'll open another door i know....that's a lesson i've had a hard time in learning......Not MY will but THINE......so, i'm gonna keep praying and take one day at a time...that's all i can do....if it's meant to be; it will...if not.....I"M GONNA CRYYYYY!!! rofl...no, i'll just keep on keepin on....thanks again for your support...it means the world to me!... Love, LORI

Lori, Did you ever go to the doctor and get medication for weight loss? Or go to Weigh****chers? You can submit these as proof. Also your GP can write a letter saying that you have been under his care and have been monitored for weight loss especially if he gave you a diet to follow and you returned every month or so to monitor your weight. If you have high blood pressure, bone pain, diabetes, and other problems these can be documented as co-morbidities. Usually this qualifies as a supervised plan. You can also document membership at a place like Curves, if you have gone there, and if they have some records of your progress. In fact, if you can get multiples of these to submit to the insurance, then they should accept them. They just need evidence that you have been struggling with your weight and have tried everything to get it off. Surgery is not a quick fix, it is a life long change in your eating habits. Hope that this helps you to get over this barrier!!! Cheryl

Hey Sue!....i have gone to a doctor and he put me on diets, pills, etc....also went to Weigh****chers and "flunked"...i do have many co-morbidities...i have 2 doctors who have written letters to this affect and said i need this surgery....but, the bariatric nurse said that i'll STILL have to have the 6 month documentation of where i go EVERY month for 6 months CONSECUTIVELY.....so, i'm waiting to hear tomorrow from my insurance rep....she may can tell me more....i just don't want to have to go back and have everything done again....but, i know i'll have to do what has to be done....i'm praying that i'll get good news tomorrow....thanks for your help.... LORI

Don't give up! Sometimes God is saying "it's not the right time for you." Sometimes He is saying "no" and sometimes He is teaching you patience. You will know in your own heart which one He means for you. That disclaimer said, Now call your PCP and have him put together a letter indiciating all the diets, etc you have been on at his suggestion along with dates and times and pray it will pass muster. If not, then use the next 6 months to eat healthy and get healthier so that if you do have this surgery, it will not be as hard on you as it would have been. I do not regret my surgery at all. Tho I came out of surgery saying "what have i done, and why did ya'll let me do this!" At 10 months, I'd go thru it all over again to get to this same place. Smoochies Arlies