Kinda gross question...

Thanks Deb!  I am a teacher, but since I teach in Texas I have BCBS.  I told Denise the story last night about my experience.  I had been turned down three times by my insurance but the doctors kept coding it as adominoplasty.  Insurance very rarely pays for adominoplatsy.  When I went to see my gyn. for my yearly exam, I saw a new nurse practitioner, and she told me that insurance is obligated to cover the cost of that.  Well I really just blew it off, knowing I'd been through so much disappointment already, but she got me to thinking.  So I made an appointment with a plastic surgeon at Baylor in Dallas.  I went to see him on Monday of our Thanksgiving break, and he kind of laughed at me when I mentioned insurance.  However, he was so compassionate with me and made me feel so good, that I decided even if  I had to get a loan and pay it out, I was going to do it.  I asked him to contact the insurance anyway, and he coded it as a panniculectomy.  He told me that was all he would do because I wasn't ready for a full tummy tuck at the that point.  I came home and started researching medical credit companies, and was ready to submit my request.  On Monday after Christmas break when I got home and got my mail I had a letter from BCBS.  I just knew it was a rejection since it came so quickly.  I was scared to open it, but excited at the same time.  They approved it. I had to call to find out that it was really an approval, and I wasn't reading it wrong.  I had surgery on Wednesday before our Spring Break, went back to work walking very slowly and wearing pajama pants after Spring Break.  I work with some wonderful people and they sure took good care of me.  I cannot tell you what a difference it made in my self-esteem.  Thirteen pounds of skin, and all he did was lift it up and cut it off, so you can imagine how big it was.  I went down two pant sizes when all the swelling finally went away.  My legs are still deformed looking to me, just because they're indented in where my tummy hung down on them.

My advice to you all, is get your medical doctors, gynecologists, and your bariatric doctors in on it together. I met a lady this weekend who'd lost 190 lbs. after RNY and her insurance paid for her to get the skin removed....she was wearing a bikini and looked really good!  I'd have never guessed she'd ever been obese.  

Hugs,
Marsha

Thanks for the information Marsha.  I have started down the path to all my doctors doing to documentation for me.  I just don't fee one bit positive about the possible outcome since my insurance totally excluded ALL WLS for any reason.  I am going to give it a darn good try though,  I'm worth it I think!!!  LOL  No bikinis for me though even with it.

Well, I'm not there yet to where this is a problem...but let me say, I am so thankful to have this board to run to so I can ask these kind of questions when I do get there !

 I'm with you, Holli Tamale. I'm just hoping and praying to have some of that dangling, hangy-down skin to stuff someplace someday. And, now I know where I'll stuff it.  Thanks all. 

I wondered who that was clapping for me everytime I started jogging at the gym!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!  Underarmour is our friend!! 

I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but I am almost 5 weeks out from my 360 abdominoplasty and it is the greatest thing next to my RNY.  I am 40 today and I have never in 40 years felt comfortable taking my shirt off in public and my wife tells me now to quit showing everybody my new abs.  So for those considering tummy tucks my advice is even if insurance won't pay, there is always options and the benefits are tremendous both medically and emotionally.  So everyone keep your heads held high for all that you have accomplished and wear your spandex with pride until you can get your little friend removed.  (I know that I did!!!) 

Russell

Russell:

Glad you are doing well after the PS... Was wondering how you faired...but pretty much knew you were up and at it ... probably made you STAY DOWN for a couple days at least...  even though you didn't want to..

Keep up the good work... 

Ruth

Boomer Sooner  (I had too ya know!)

Hey Ruth,

I was back at work a week after surgery, even though I wasn't really supposed to be.  I was really expecting the worst and it wasn't near as painful as I expected but I think that part of that is do to an excellent Dr (Dr. Sawan) and a wonderful Hospital and staff at Foundation.  They give the best care ever and I really  enjoy stopping by and seeing all my people there. 

Russell