Questions galore! new person needs surgery
Hello Everyone
I am overweight by 70 pounds and have yo-yo'd all my life. I can easily go to 300 pounds at 5 foot six thiis a lot.
To be eligible how much do I have to weigh? is it a percentage over ideal? I really do not want to have to pack it on just to be eligible.
Also, if one has issues with bulimia or complusive eating do they disqualify you?
Thanks for any help
Theswan
I am overweight by 70 pounds and have yo-yo'd all my life. I can easily go to 300 pounds at 5 foot six thiis a lot.
To be eligible how much do I have to weigh? is it a percentage over ideal? I really do not want to have to pack it on just to be eligible.
Also, if one has issues with bulimia or complusive eating do they disqualify you?
Thanks for any help
Theswan
most insurances say a BMI of 35-39 with comorbidities (diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure) OR a BMI over 40 without any other health issues....
First I would contact your insurance and see what their requirements are, and ask for specifics about what is covered. Many say you have to have a 5 year history, OR you have to do a 6 month doctor supervised diet, or any number of other requirements...
after you find out your individual coverage, start researching doctors in your network OR see if your insurance will take an out of network doctor with a referal from your PCP.
Contact the surgeons office and find out what type of services they offer.
These are the steps I took when I really started to investigate. I am still very new in the process, so others might have other suggestions that I missed/didn't know about...
GOOD LUCK!
First I would contact your insurance and see what their requirements are, and ask for specifics about what is covered. Many say you have to have a 5 year history, OR you have to do a 6 month doctor supervised diet, or any number of other requirements...
after you find out your individual coverage, start researching doctors in your network OR see if your insurance will take an out of network doctor with a referal from your PCP.
Contact the surgeons office and find out what type of services they offer.
These are the steps I took when I really started to investigate. I am still very new in the process, so others might have other suggestions that I missed/didn't know about...
GOOD LUCK!
Just a little to add, when you go through initial paperwork and dr workups there will be a psych eval. Depending on how you do there that dr may recommend additional steps before having surgery if you have had or have an eating disorder. I think that it wouldn't hurt to have it addressed. Surgery changes your anatomy, it doesn't change your head. You still have to deal with that to be successful.
Thanks for the info
I kinda find it odd that "eating" disorders has to be addressed. Not to be scarstic but the fact that I (we) end up so heavy and try so many ways to get thinner is that not an indication of a "disorder" I suppose there are levels of disorder but I'd guess that most if not all extreme overweight folks have a pathology.
This of course scares me that due to my relationship with food, I may not be able to get what I need to live.
I am so sick of being sick
I kinda find it odd that "eating" disorders has to be addressed. Not to be scarstic but the fact that I (we) end up so heavy and try so many ways to get thinner is that not an indication of a "disorder" I suppose there are levels of disorder but I'd guess that most if not all extreme overweight folks have a pathology.
This of course scares me that due to my relationship with food, I may not be able to get what I need to live.
I am so sick of being sick
Hey there!
The thing about our disorders. Most of us overweight folk have a food addiction. Sometimes there is a genetic component. Sometimes there is a neurological component.
If you have been binging and purging within the last 2-3 years you will probably not be approved for surgery. The 2-3 year mark, depending on the opinion of the doc, puts you at full sustained remission meaning they no longer consider it a problem. The psych eval is very detailed with good reason. After surgery it is so easy to switch addictions. When I had my psych eval the Psycholgist asked me if i have ever been drunk. My response to this was "im 22 what do you think?" Almost everyone has been drunk at least once in their life. Based on this answer she assumed i might switch from a food addiction to an alcohol addiction. We all switch addictions. Some switch frm binging to anorexia, some to alcohol or drugs, some to shopping, some to working out. If you have had some kind of compulsive behavior other than eating too much it raises a red flag and you may have to jump through some extra hoops to have your surgery.
Also, if you have no co-morbidities, you need to be at least 100lbs overweight, but as everyone suggested you should speak to your ins company.
I wish you all the success in the world with your journey. please keep us updated!
Rachel
The thing about our disorders. Most of us overweight folk have a food addiction. Sometimes there is a genetic component. Sometimes there is a neurological component.
If you have been binging and purging within the last 2-3 years you will probably not be approved for surgery. The 2-3 year mark, depending on the opinion of the doc, puts you at full sustained remission meaning they no longer consider it a problem. The psych eval is very detailed with good reason. After surgery it is so easy to switch addictions. When I had my psych eval the Psycholgist asked me if i have ever been drunk. My response to this was "im 22 what do you think?" Almost everyone has been drunk at least once in their life. Based on this answer she assumed i might switch from a food addiction to an alcohol addiction. We all switch addictions. Some switch frm binging to anorexia, some to alcohol or drugs, some to shopping, some to working out. If you have had some kind of compulsive behavior other than eating too much it raises a red flag and you may have to jump through some extra hoops to have your surgery.
Also, if you have no co-morbidities, you need to be at least 100lbs overweight, but as everyone suggested you should speak to your ins company.
I wish you all the success in the world with your journey. please keep us updated!
Rachel
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First of all good luck with this journey.
My gut reaction is that if issues of Bulimia or compulsive eating are under control, they should not disqualify you for surgery. I would think the concern would be that binging / purging and over eating can result in life threatening complications. The idea of having WLS is to improve your health, if your medical history has something that could end up having a negative effect on your health it would be irresponsible of a physician to perform the surgery.
My personal experience has been that there are so many psychological changes after WLS that the more you have well controled the easier it will be in the long run. Remember that WLS is a life long commitment, make sure you can live this life.
I hope that Jamie will see this thread, she is very knowledgeable about the psychology of WLS (and general life). I am sure she could express how these eating disorders would effect you post surgery.
Jim
My gut reaction is that if issues of Bulimia or compulsive eating are under control, they should not disqualify you for surgery. I would think the concern would be that binging / purging and over eating can result in life threatening complications. The idea of having WLS is to improve your health, if your medical history has something that could end up having a negative effect on your health it would be irresponsible of a physician to perform the surgery.
My personal experience has been that there are so many psychological changes after WLS that the more you have well controled the easier it will be in the long run. Remember that WLS is a life long commitment, make sure you can live this life.
I hope that Jamie will see this thread, she is very knowledgeable about the psychology of WLS (and general life). I am sure she could express how these eating disorders would effect you post surgery.
Jim
Thanks Folks
My health issues are related to my weight. My joints are all achey and my nback is effected. My bowels have a major issue as well.
I am having second thoughts as I do not wantto put on weight just to be big enough for the surgery. My faith is also telling me to trust God for a spiritual solution. My faith does however wane as it has been such a life long struggle.
I do not throw up as a rule except upon an exceptional meal (binge) I guess this alone may be enough to disqualify me.
My health issues are related to my weight. My joints are all achey and my nback is effected. My bowels have a major issue as well.
I am having second thoughts as I do not wantto put on weight just to be big enough for the surgery. My faith is also telling me to trust God for a spiritual solution. My faith does however wane as it has been such a life long struggle.
I do not throw up as a rule except upon an exceptional meal (binge) I guess this alone may be enough to disqualify me.
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