Checking out WLS

Congrats to all of you who have done so well with your surgeries . I am soon to be 52 and have had weight problems since age 10 ... now I am 150 pounds over what I should be and am miserable. I am seriously hoping to have surgery in 2006, but am curious how long I will be off work and am scared to death about dealing with the insurance (jumping through hoops) and how much out of pocket $$$$$ is involved. I am in Columbus OH and was told by my Dr. to check out OSU bariatric clinic. Can anyone help me out with some words of wisdom? thanks

How long you are off work depends on several factors: First, it depends on what surgery you are having. If you are contemplating the Roux-en-Y surgery, the length of time you will need to be off work will vary whether you have an open surgery or have it done laparoscopically. Second, it depends on what kind of work you do. If you have a desk job, you will be able to go back sooner than if you have a more physically demanding job. Another factor is "you" -- how motivated you are to get back to work, and also how well you do or don't do with eating and being able to follow the plan after surgery. In my case, I had lap RNY at age 46, and I knew I was going to go with a high school marching band to Florida one month after my surgery. I was really motivated to follow my postop plan to the letter, and I got my butt moving ASAP - walking and building my endurance, and I started the day after I got home from the hospital!(And, yes, I made the trip just fine, and I ran circles around some of the other parents that went!) As far as jumping through the insurance hoops, not always is it the insurance company, but the surgeon, who makes you jump through the hoops. The reason for this is that they want to make sure you are highly motivated to have surgery, as it is a permanent, life-altering, irreversible surgery and you MUST be ready and willing to make the lifestyle changes the surgery warrants. People who are unwilling to "do whatever it takes" to get to surgery probably lack the necessary motivation. Also, there are a lot of tests that need to be done before you get the "go" for surgery. Being morbidly obese already makes us high risk when it comes to weight loss surgery, or any other surgery, for that matter. The surgeon wants to make absolutely sure you are cleared for surgery so that the outcome is optimal - in other words, he wants to make as sure as possible you won't die from something unforeseen! The first step is to READ your insurance plan and find out if the surgery is covered, what facilities and surgeons are in your network (if you have one), and what criteria you have to meet in order to be approved for the surgery. If you read your plan, you will probably also find out what is covered, from the $$$ standpoint. Good luck on beginning your journey! Sue

Thanks for all the info Sue. My DR. is not much help. All she said was for me to contact OSU. I really don't feel she is very supportive. Of course she is young and thin ... lol. I am tired of the way people look at me and treat me. Being obese is miserable in so many ways. It has been 23 years since I saw my weight below 200!!! And even when I was in the 170-180 range people made rude remarks. Now, I am more than 2x that size!!!! Yes, I am serious about this. My body is telling me that it is tired of the weight. I just can't miss a lot of work or afford to put out a lot of my own money on this. I understand that this is permanent and that there are risks. I maybe only have 20 years left and I do not want to live them in a wheelchair or worse. I have started checking into this seriously but cannot have anything done until at least July 2006. I wanted to be prepared for the journey, cause once I start down this road there is no looking back I have a desk job. Thanks again Sue. Much appreciated.

Thanks for the great info Sue. Seems like I have a lot of homework to do? I have been reading the posts and info about WLS and have ordered info. Like I said, my DR does not seem supportive. I guess I assumed that she would offer more than just telling me to contact OSU. I am so proud of all of you and want to thank you all for your help and support. I quit having pics taken of me years ago because it was too depressing to see them . Perhaps I should go ahead and start counseling? I have a cruise to Alaska scheduled May 10th (never been on a cruise or out to the N'west even) and that is going to be my last big hurrah. After that, I want to get this WLS scheduled and get my life back. I seem to be older than most of you, so I hope that my results will still be good. Thanks again Susan

Wow! Sue that was an awesome post! I agree with Sue. I too am in Columbus and I will tell you that it took me 5 months from the time my PCP told me I had to get the surgery until the day I was on the table. I fought my battle with my husbands insurance company and refused to back down when they came back with negative input. Your Dr. gave you very wise advice regarding where to go in Columbus, OH. I started elsewhere and ended up being sent to OSU and I certainly wasn't the first person that happened to. Regardless, I got home on Sunday and if I had a "real job" to go back to, I'd be there next Monday. I too started my walking program the day after I got home. I'm doing 30 minutes of walking, I just split it up into an AM and PM routine. When I am cleared and able I will begin the more intense workouts. One thing I learned through all of my dealings with the insurance company etc. No negative talk. I made up my mind I wasn't going to die and that I WAS going to have the surgery and that I would NOT accept NO from my insurance company. I will tell you too that the previous center I started with told me $3000 to get on their table. At OSU they bill it through your insurance and you only pay a hospital copay if it is part of your plan and you don't pay anything else until after they submit and deduct the contractual rate. So far I've paid $250 out of pocket to the hospital. My situation being different and such a rush after having to switch surgeons at the very last minute I also had to pay out of pocket for my private nutrition classes as well as my last minute do it all in one day psychological eval/counseling session (only a portion of it did I pay). I think I'm out of pocket about $600 and that's because I was put in to a sticky situation by the former clinic. I don't care about the money. I'm now on the road to being able to return to my true career of massage therapy. I'll make more money to cover what I spent out. But now I have hope for a better, healthier life. Free from all of the health concerns that plagued me and threatened to let me live less than 10 more years. Please contact me via e-mail if you want any furthur communication. Once you are truly ready to run towards the goal, let nothing stop you. I also read a lot of books, both of Carnie Wilson's books, Susan Maria's book, WLS for Dummies

Hi Jacquelyn, this is Bobye. I see you've had your surgery. How are you doing? The first week or two were the worst as far as pain for me. I'm sure you're just taking it easy right now. That's what you need to do. I'm back at work, feeling pretty good. A little nausaus, but that goes with the territory, so I'm told. I went to the OSU support group last night and Dr. Needleman was the host. He answered alot of good questions. I hope to meet you at the support group, I think we all need it. There was about 50 people there at different stages of their wls journey. I was really encouraged. I'm feeling defeated and scared the weight I will lose will creep back on. I hope to be a good friend and support for you and I need all the support I can get. I'm not getting much at home. But that was expected. But I did hope for more. Anyway, I hope you're feeling better real soon. Write and let me know how your getting along.

Thanks Jacquelyn J Where I work, we were given $15 gift certs for Amazon.com and I am ordering one of the books you suggested now.

Hi Susan, I'm Dianna and I live in Lancaster. I have been working on this since around February of 2005. My insureance required 6 months documented medical supervison and a psychological. I didn't immediately complete the psychological recommendations of counseling so that held it up another 3 months. I received a denial in Oct/November because of that. I am now in counseling (one of the best things I have done) and I am working getting everyting resubmitted again. I have found that the dr.'s office is doing all the insurance hassle stuff. I am going to the biartric clinic in Groveport. I really liike them and have heard good things. You may want to also visit them and than make a choice. They are doing all the insurance work. It has been a long process but I have been very slow and careful. I wasn't sure I wanted to have the surgery. Good luck to you. Dianna

Groveport cost 50000.00 or more for the surgery. If she has to pay a co pay she should look else where, Thats what I had to do.

Hi Dianna. WOW ... sounds like you are really going through a lot of waiting. Sorry to hear that. I am considering starting the couseling on my own. My self esteem is really shot I am still reading and considering my options. I feel like lack of support from my PCP is going to slow things down for me too. I wish you the best and hope that it all works out. Thanks for your help.