Anyone having/had surgery at OSU?

I finally found OSU's website for bariatric surgery last night and I found the application that I'll have to fill out and submit. I have some questions about that. First, I can't remember all the diets that I've done throughout my life and certainly not the details (age at start of diet, weight at start of diet, pounds lost on diet) that they're asking for. How detrimental will that be to my chances of being approved? Also, I already have to stall because my insurance simply WILL NOT cover the surgery under ANY condition, so I have to wait until I have other insurance. Once that's in place, I have to submit an APPLICATION to have the surgery and hope that it's approved?!?! How difficult is it to get your application approved if your BMI is above 40 and you have comorbid conditions? Is the application and review process just a formality or is it another hoop to jump through? Any comments would be appreciated.

Welcome Andrea! I had surgery at OSU and I am 13 months post op and down -128lbs. I was considered a light weight WLS person (if you can believe that!) My BMI was 44 when I started and I had some comordid condictions. I was surprised after I read some comorbid conditons that I had so many. OSU was wonderful....and very helpful. The more data you can supply the better! Just document anything and everything about weight loss attemps and any problems you have had RE: your weight like sore feet, bad knees, shortness of breath from walking, excessive sweating, diabetes etc... I am a ObestiyHelp support group leader and we will be having our first support meeting Thursday Feb 24 from 6:30-7:30pm which will be at the Public Library in Circleville if you are interested in attending. If you have any questions please feel free to email me. Karie

Hi Andrea, I am responding to your questions based on my opinion and personal experience in dealing with OSU. It is very important that you remember as many diets and diet programs (medically or unmedically supervised) that you have participated in to prove that you have made every attempt possible to lose weight on your own. In a lot of cases if you can't document a diet history you will have to create one by being on a medically supervised diet program before you are considered for approval. Since you have to wait for the transition in your insurance ... this would be a good time to talk to a nutritionist to begin a medically supervised program. I was approved by OSU based on proof that diets failed, BMI 105, several co-morbities and Insurance to cover the surgery. The application and review process is not just a formality ... its the beginning proceedure in the process to determine if you would benefit from WLS. What you put in that application will determine your approval into the program. The one thing I learned during my journey with OSU is that they have an excellent program and everyone from the office managers, nurses to the surgeon take this process very seriously and you will not move forward until each step is finalized. Getting through each step of the process is hard work. My full cooperation was necessary in order for me to actually get a date for surgery. Every precautionary measure was taken to make sure that I will be as safe and complication free as possible. I hope this information will help in some way. Georgeann

Hi Andrea! I had Lap Band surgery at OSU on 12/2. One thing that helped me a lot was my records from my PCP. I have seen the same Dr. for the past 6 years and they take my weight each time I go. I was able to confirm dates of my weight loss attempts by looking at my records to see it going up and down over the past 6 years! For the attempts prior to that I knew roughly what year it was, but had no idea what my weight was or how much I lost. I did know roughly what size I was when I started and when I was done, so I put that in. Just be as thorough as possible - it really does make a difference to getting your approval right away or having to do an additional weigh loss attempt before being considered. Best of luck to you! Pam

Hi Andrea...I am currently going through the process at OSU... They are all wonderful... The best advice I can have for you is to have patience and everything they ask from you is a needed process to get you on your way to a new life... I will be done with the Living Well Class on February 1 and then I will hopefully be able to turn everything into my insurance... Good luck in your journey... God Bless !!

Hi Andrea! Wow, we are neighbors! I live in Grove City too. I also had my surgery at OSU, and I work there! Did you pull the app off of the web or did someone mail an info packet to you? Just curious. The more information you can fill out the better, and since you are waiting on insurance changes that will give you some time to gather up what you need. They are looking primarily at whether you have attempted anything in the past and have not been totally successful. There are many components to the application process. You will feel like you are jumping through hoops, but it in the long run, it is worth it. We have information sessions at OSU that address some of the questions you have. They are the first Thursday of every month. I can send you some information on that if you would like. Just email me with your email address or mail address and I will get it to you asap. Take care and good luck! If there's anything else I can help with let me know and I will do my best! Hugs, Valerie