Remind me about a pre-op requirement

I have a friend who expressed interest in getting WLS. She has the whole insurance thing to investigate. I know that MOST require some version of a six month supervised diet. Remind me....is the best way to provide that documentation to make regular visits to your PCP and formally have it be about an effort to lose weight. Is it six months of supervised effort - acceptable whether you fail or succeed? Aren't Weigh****chers, Jenny Craig, etc. not considered "medically supervised". This requirement always is such a big one as far as making it seem so far away and impossible. The best thing is to just get that one going on your record, because while you are doing your other stuff the six months passes anyways. Also, she gave birth three months ago. She isn't breastfeeding. Is there a needed time for the body to recouperate after childbirth before doing something like WLS? Patty

Hi Patty, I hope that your friend gets the info she needs. My surgery was done in California, so I don't know if the requirements are the same. Kaiser asked my doctor if I had 6 months documentation. My doctor told me that, because we had been talking about my weight for 6 months, she would say "yes". I think I lucked out! Anyway, I saw you here and wanted to say "hi". Hope we can get together soon! Joy

Hi Joy. How are you doing? We missed you at lunch last week. How is your DH doing? Peg

Hi Peg, Yes, I missed seeing all of you, too! Hopefully, we can do it again soon. Joe is okay, but they are continuing to do tests on him, trying to figure out why he has chest pains and numbness in his arm. Everything points to heart problems, but they can't find anything. That, along with his Diabetes, is keeping us busy. And they say these are the golden years??? HAH! I believe it's more like the "rusty years"! Joy

It really depends on her insurance coverage, her doc's willingness to play ball or not, etc. I kinda lucked out - I ended up being self-pay (after denial by two *wonderful* - yeah, not - insurance companies) and just got to side step the whole thing. I chose my surgeon after a lot of research - and established a diaglogue with him - whi*****luded discussing my history of morbid obesity. For him, seeing my medical history, the long history of morbid obesity, and the many co-morbidities and my super high BMI - well, he felt the sooner he could get my surgery over with, the better! As to being post-partum - that is a call for the surgeon to make. My general surgeon did opine to me at one point in time that he felt it takes a woman a full year to recover from c-section - if she had a vaginal birth, then I'd think 6 to 9 months would be adequate. As usual - it really just depends on her health, her BMI, her co-morbidities, her insurance coverage, her PCP, her surgeon, choice of surgery, etc. No variables at all, aye?! LOL! Please pass along my best wishes to her. Blessings, dina

My insurance required the 6 month Dr. supervised diet so I am attending Weigh****chers and have an appointment with my PCP every month. You can use any diet but you must see a healthcare professional monthly. It doesn't matter if you fail or suceed, just that you are weighing in and discussing issues with your healthcare provider.

You are lucky if you can use what your PCP has done.. I have been being followed by my PCP for weight loss for over 18 months. In December our insurance allowed the surgery.. I have been waiting since December to hear from OHSU.. Finally called my insurance to see where else I could go.. and the only place available to us is Legacy Good Sam.. and the stuff that I have done already.. don;t count.. I am starting out at square one... We are required a 6 month phys controlled diet.. along with all the other tests that are required for every one else..

Hi Patty! How are you? I'm doing great and all is well. When it comes to insurance (mine is BC/BS Federal), mine had no requirements for supervised dieting. My doctor said that if they did, she would write a letter with my history of dieting and my inability to lose weight for any length of time. So I suggest she look at her plan and then make a list of her policies' requirements. Try not to worry in advance. I was thinking about you tonight because I went to the board and couldn't help but read Ronda's ? letter stating that they are looking for before and after photos of women for OH Magazine and commercials. I thought about you right away. Your transformation, personality and attitude is just what they are looking for (I'll bet!). Think about it. Oh, I just found out today from my PCP that my Vitamin D is low......she said that it is common for the bariatric patient. What is the best supplement for me? Got any ideas or should I ask Dr. Patterson's office. Hope all is well with you! Your far away friend, Rose

Patty, Is that you??? HOLY COW!!! You LOOK FABULOUS! I haven't been on the board much lately. Seems life does get back to normal and you sometimes forget where it all started. I have been in touch with Mary from Hillsboro area and talked about doing another get together sometime here soon. And I also would like to attend a post-op meeting at some point. Anyhow, just wanted to say Hi....and you look great. Hope all is well. Nadine 213/110 7/19/2004