Hi joejoe,

 

I have an appointment with Dr. Walton today, 04-01-13.  I'm going to see what the Restart Program is all about.

 

I will keep in touch!

 

 

I went to Weight Wise in Edmond, OK. I think Dr. Walton can help you. What have you got loose by going to a seminar? I can't say enough nice things about my experience with them. They have a comprehensive program. Dr. Walton and his team really care about what they are doing.........go and talk to them and see what you think...........

Thank you...I know no one can really give a direct connection to the health issues, but I want to gain a general consensus on how the surgery effects the health issues and if its for the better...I don't really have too many other options.

I am new to the site and just want to start getting some feedback to help with my decision to pursue WLS.  I am a 42-year-old male and have been fighting my weight since I was 17.  Because of the way my body reacted to eating and weightlifting growing up I was always considered obese by medical standards even though I was very muscular.  However, 4 years ago I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) and I lost my left kidney.  Prior to this I was already type II diabetic, had HBP, a-fib and a pvc, and severe sleep apnea.  Needless to say I am on an abundance of medications and supplements just basically to keep me alive.  I have tried dieting up the wazoo, gym memberships, personal trainers, nutritionists, etc and cannot lose any weight.  The probable reason is every med I am on has the side effect of weight gain!  I am so frustrated.  I can't come off the meds and the doctors keep telling me to lose weight and when I tell them I am trying, they just tell me to keep trying.  My family and two friends who have had gastric bypass tell me the surgery may be my salvation.  They came off their meds and lost the weight which gave them a quality of life I do not have right now.  Would this surgery truly help me? I have a 5-year-old son I want to see grow up, but I know right now, with the state of my health, I will be lucky to live another 10 years.  Any opinions or responses are welcome please.

OK.  I moved to Tulsa in December for a new job.  I'm a contract worker, so I'm not permanately employed and really have no idea how long I'm going to have a job.  I'm assuming I have several more months at this job at the least, but who knows.  I was planning on having my surgery in Mexico as I thought I'd be self pay.  Now I find out my BCBS of IL will cover the surgery, but I have an HSA so everything is going to be going to the deductible until I hit, I think, $3800, then 20% until I hit my out of pocket max.  My surgery in Mexico is currently scheduled for July 5th.  I figure the cost will be a bit less going with the insurance, but not by much.  I don't know what my insurance carrier will require of me, or how long it will take to get approved.

I just read in this forum that the 6 month pre surgery mandatory diet requirement has been done away with by the insurance company.  Does anyone know what else the insurance might require in order for them to approve the surgery?  If I can get approved right away and get the surgery right away, that would be better than having to wait until July.

So, basically asking what other requirements the insurance carrier might want of me that would take time to complete?

Thanks...sorry for the long post.

Jane