2 steps foreward...26 WEEKS back

well, I got a call from OSU... 5 weeks after sending in my application. and am scheduled for my Psych and dietary consult next week... then before I was done celebrating.. i got a packet of information from them that included paperwork stating I have to be on a 12 to 26 WEEK supervised diet with weekly meetings and weigh ins... with the expection that I lose .5 to 2 lbs a wk or 5% total body weight. Well that would put me as borderline for my insurance to accept me for WLS... Great motivation to do well at a diet.... not to mention that I have already done every diet known to man and they do not work... then the icing on the cake... the diet will NOT be covered by my insurance... I am soooooo frustrated.........another miserable fat summer for me.... hiding in an air conditioned room

Hi Diane, Try to hang in there. I had surgery with Dr. Needleman in July and was in the same situation. I did the 12 week Living Well program with OSU. It was a great program and will actually help you in the long run. The way Shannon at OSU explained it to me is that they still submit to insurance with your starting weight. Usually, it isn't Dr. Needleman's office that requires that. It is actually your insrurance company. I would be happy to tell you all about the program and my experience. I don't know who your insurance is with but I could tell you about my experience with Aetna. Feel free to call me anytime. My number is 560-7014. Good luck! Shellie

i understood that my insurance did not require a supervised diet but that this was a requirement of OSU....I understand that any diet and life style change class would be helpfull if i had not already taken them all !! I have done W****chers.. jenny Craig.. a Dr supervised clinic.. worked with a dietition 2 different times and I am a nurse so I have soem dietart classes under my belt. i kknow what I have to do i Just need help in doing it.

Diana, I understand your feelings completely, I felt the same way, but when your info is submitted to insurance I'm pretty sure it will show your higher weight....you should call Shannon and talk to her about this. I did the 12 month supervised meetings at OSU and they were truely a god sent...at the time it didn't seem like it but it really helps you in the long run. I even had to drive over an hour each way to OSU from Lima Ohio to the classes but it was worth it, you will meet people that will also help you along the way and some that you will stay in contact with forever, I still talk to a few from my class and we help each other with support!!! I don't know who your insurance is with because you don't have it listed in your profile but I had Aetna and my BMI before the classes was 44 then after the classes because I lost 12-15 pounds was 40 or 41. As I can remember it was submitted that my bmi was 44. OSU don't require these classes, but they do know exactly what your insurance company requires and if you do what they say you are almost guarenteed to get approved....they do this everyday!! Just hold out the faith and keep your head up...definetly call Shannon tomorrow and ask about your BMI being under the 40 if you loose the required amount(which I was told that even if you don't loose the 5% as long as you try which is documented then most insurances will still approve you)...also let me know how this turns out and if I can do anything else for you!! Good luck!! I know it seems like forever getting to surgery, but after it time flies and its all totally worth it!! Luv, Tabitha 189 pounds!

Hi Diane! I went thru OSU also and hd Dr Needleman. My insurance required the supervised diet along with the Psych eval and dietary consult. I went thru the 3 month multi disaplinarian meetings. It was shorter and I learned alot that I still use today. I had to pay for the classes myself,too. I learned so much stuff I was amazed. Hang in there you've got light at the end of the tunnel. You can do this, just a little farther and you're home. Denise 398/379/304

I had my RNY surgery on November 29th 2005 and I too had to complete the 12 week "Learn" program at OSU. I was frustrated too that I had to complete another leaning behavior class to be eligible for wls, BUT without that program I would not be looking at food the same way. OSU is wonderful at preparing you for wls and they want us to be successful. This program really got me thinking in a healthier way. We are worth all the hoops we have to jump through to get this surgery. Hang in their OSU wants you to be successful at the wls.

I know you are really upset about this now, but I had to do the same thing... It was totally worth it... I gained so much knowledge about the surgery and life after the surgery... I was border line afterwards too, but if I am not mistaken they go on your weight when you first start the process... I have had friends that didnt go through the program and they was lost afterwards... It does truly help... Keep your head up... you didnt get heavy overnight... the end results will be WELL worth it...

I went through OSU and for some reason they allowed me to skip their Program and do nutritional counseling through my local hospital. I had to show documented weight loss during this 4 week period and did well. But I admit that as soon as the class was over and I had 3 weeks to wait before surgery I slipped into Last Supper Syndrome and gained back my weight I had lost. I figured I might just as well eat everything I wanted to make up for all I was gonna miss. Bad IDEA!!!! Now I regret doing that, it just gave me more to lose and it was too much of a shock to me emotionally at first when I had to eat right. So get into those good habits now.. Best of luck to you Laura

Well if you dont want to wait or go through all that why dont you go to barix. Dr Viglianco is a very good dr there and has done my surgery and two other people I know and they are very satisfied too

My insurance.. Tricare, is not accepted at Barix... OSU is my only choice in the Columbus area....My sister is going thru the Barix clinic and is soooooo far ahead of me. She started thinking about this way after I did and she is already approved by insurance and ready to schedule her WLS !