new here, need advice, just starting!

Hello everyone....I am from Charlotte and have not even picked a starting point (a doctor). I am looking into Carolina Surgical Clinic Dr. Melkonian.....does anyone from this area have other recommendations? Advice?  I looked into this a long time ago and found that I had the worst insurance ever - they were not going to help with the costs at all....so I waited. Now I have BC/BS NC. They don't have the exclusions that the others have so I am hoping that I can qualify.

This seems like such a big forum, I am hoping to find support and advice here. I am a pretty good listener as well....   I haven't told any of my friends or family about this yet I am afraid of things falling through again.

I am 37 years old, 250 pounds and 5'2".  I have the following medical issues: acid reflux, polycystic ovarian disease (controlled with birth control), high blood pressure, headaches, high chol., depression.

So, any advice? Any recommended doctors? Thanks so much for your assistance and support....the pics I have seen so far are fantastic!!

Welcome to the NC board - a lot of info and support here.  I live closer to Hickory and had my surgery there.  But there are a lot of folks that live in the Charlotte area.  Someone will come thru for ya....

Good luck,
Shelia

Welcome to the NC forum. Things are sorta quiet on here today but some of the Charlotte folks should see this tonight and help you out.

Start by calling BCBS and finding out which Doctors are in their centers of excellence (so that way you'll know they'll pay) and if there are any particulars to your policy that need to be addressed before consulting the surgeon. (CIGNA & some of the others require a 6 month or longer physian supervised program - not sure of BCBS requirements).

Look for a local support group in your area - it may be through a hospital or surgeon but you'll gain a ton of info from these meet ups.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Iris 

Because of your weight to height ratio, you'll more than meet the BMI criteria. Generally, BCBSNC is very good about coverage and about getting the approval done fairly quickly. You can also cross post to the Insurance forum and to specific surgery forums to get more feedback.

I think you will find a number of people here from the Charlotte area and I'm sure a number will chime in and give you their impression of their Dr's. You might also find out if any are on BCBSNC's Center of Excellence list. When a program is a COE, they generally have a very comprehensive, multi-faceted program that addresses things such a diet, psych, and even physical activity. It helps to have a program that has a support group that meets regularly. While this website and the forums on it are a fabulous resource, it also helps to have others that you meet with face to face as well.

Remember that this will be a huge life-change. They will rework your gut, but you'll have to work to rework your thought processes so that you make the most of the opportunity to not only lose the excess weight, but to keep it off. I'm just 20 months post op. I've gotten the weight off and now I'm working to keep it off. While it's not always 'easy,' so far I've found it doable.

I wish you every success as you make this incredible, life-changing journey.

Welcome Daydreamer to the NC forum.
We are a very friendly bunch here.
I have BCBSNC and I cant even begin to tell you how great they have been with my wls.
From my point of view my wls has been the best thing I have ever done in my life.
                                      Annie
BTW love your screen name

Thanks guys, for your info. I forgot to tell you my name is Heather!
I checked and the place I am looking at is a BCBS COE.
I know I qualify - I called my insurance. They don't reqire the lengthy supervised wieght loss program. I have called my doc and left a message for medical records. Next I need to schedule a psych visit and get my labs done...then I can go to see the surgeon. They have all this on the website saying to get it all done before coming to see the surgeon....so I guess I am doing things right. I am SO EXCITED!
I had a long talk with my husband last night and he actually agreed with me about this. I thought he was going to fight me on it but he was very supportive.
Sorry to ramble I am an open book and tend to tell too much and not know when to shut up!!!
Thanks again!
Heather

I went to Southeast Bariatrics. They were great. They are extremely busy, but always take the time to listen to my concern and issues. Good Luck with your journey, it can be a long one, but well worth it in the end!!!

Heather,

You might want to go ahead and contact the clinic and ask for the information packet. Some programs want you to go to a information session and then call them and they will send you all the information. The reason I say this is the clinics usually want you to complete a packet and then have you work on the psych appointment and labs. There are only certain Psych clinics that will do the bariatric evaluation.


Tamara

Thanks Tamara!! I actually printed the packet from their website already...it says to go ahead and get everything ready.....and gave a list of psych clinics.....my appt is next week. My labs will be done tomorrow. My medical records will be ready for me tomorrow. All I lack at this point is the appt with the surgeon...and I have called them and left a message. There is paperwork to fill out but it is for the initial appt with the surgeon and the dietician. My insurance said they only take a few days to pre-auth. Seems to be going pretty smooth so far. I sure hope it stays that way.