Im about ready to quit....already
THis whole thing with my insurance is really getting to me. I could have to pay as much as $2000.00 deductable for it and I just cant afford that. Then I go in today for my first weigh in with Dr Hodge and ive GAINED 2 OUNCES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know ive cheated on my diet, but ive been eating MUCH better than before, and rarely have a pepsi EVER anymore. I do need to start excercising, but damn gaining 2 oucnes?! Now im so discouraged! I could take some from my tax return in the spring, but God thats alot of money that I need to put elsewhere....I just dont know what to do.
Tina,
I understand that you are discouraged. Many people had to fight their insurance companies for YEARS to get their surgery. You need to decide how important this is to you. I am going to give you a little bit of my story to try to help. I am 51 years old. I have been morbidly obese since I was 24 years old. I always thought I was a "Healthy" obese person. I was a nurse, I worked everyday, I didn't have diabetes, or back trouble or knee trouble. I didn't take any meds at all. But, my family doctor kept telling me the weight would kill me one day. I chose to ignore him. But, on my 40th birthday, I was diagnosed with diabetes. By the time I was 45, I had serious asthma and very serious knee problems. I caught everything that came along and could not heal from surgery. By last year, I got a major infection after sinus surgery that nearly killed me. And, my knee was getting worse and worse but the orthopedic surgeons didn't want to operate on it because of my weight-they said I would crack the concrete holding in the knee replacement and end up in a wheelchair for life. I was circling the drain if you know what I mean. At the suggestion of my surgeon and pulmonologist, I looked into gastric bypass. My insurance and my husband's insurance had an ironclad exclusion. So, no insurance coverage for me. My husband and I are not wealthy people. We make do and are able to put money in our 401k's every month and since our daughter graduated college have been able to save a little. I borrowed money from my 401K, took money out of savings and borrowed from www.CapitalOneHealthcareFinance.com for the remainder. I was that desperate. Now, back to my original statement, YOU have to decide how important this is to you. You are much younger than me, Do you know what I would give to have had this surgery 20 years ago? I know that $2000 is a lot of money, but if it means you will be able to hold and play with your grandchildren one day, is it worth it? I hope you will take this in the spirit that it is meant. I want to see you at peace with this, with whichever decision that you make. Surgery or not.
Marilyn
I understand that you are discouraged. Many people had to fight their insurance companies for YEARS to get their surgery. You need to decide how important this is to you. I am going to give you a little bit of my story to try to help. I am 51 years old. I have been morbidly obese since I was 24 years old. I always thought I was a "Healthy" obese person. I was a nurse, I worked everyday, I didn't have diabetes, or back trouble or knee trouble. I didn't take any meds at all. But, my family doctor kept telling me the weight would kill me one day. I chose to ignore him. But, on my 40th birthday, I was diagnosed with diabetes. By the time I was 45, I had serious asthma and very serious knee problems. I caught everything that came along and could not heal from surgery. By last year, I got a major infection after sinus surgery that nearly killed me. And, my knee was getting worse and worse but the orthopedic surgeons didn't want to operate on it because of my weight-they said I would crack the concrete holding in the knee replacement and end up in a wheelchair for life. I was circling the drain if you know what I mean. At the suggestion of my surgeon and pulmonologist, I looked into gastric bypass. My insurance and my husband's insurance had an ironclad exclusion. So, no insurance coverage for me. My husband and I are not wealthy people. We make do and are able to put money in our 401k's every month and since our daughter graduated college have been able to save a little. I borrowed money from my 401K, took money out of savings and borrowed from www.CapitalOneHealthcareFinance.com for the remainder. I was that desperate. Now, back to my original statement, YOU have to decide how important this is to you. You are much younger than me, Do you know what I would give to have had this surgery 20 years ago? I know that $2000 is a lot of money, but if it means you will be able to hold and play with your grandchildren one day, is it worth it? I hope you will take this in the spirit that it is meant. I want to see you at peace with this, with whichever decision that you make. Surgery or not.
Marilyn
Marilyn
Smoky Mountain Obesity and WLS Support Group
1/17 6:30 LeConte Medical Center
Tina
I am sorry to hear of your obstacles... but many of us too have had insurance denials, weight loss programs and insurance hoops to jump through and somehow we kept going... please continue to voice your struggles here because we know what you are going through... we may not have the answers to give you, but we can help keep you motivated and fighting... keep pressing on towards your goals and don't give up... sometimes insurance companies want to deny people so that they will not have to pay for the surgery. If a person gets discouraged, and does not get the surgery, then the insurance company has won. But, if we continue to fight and win our battle, then they have lost! And we have won more than just insurance battles, but our health. Keep pushing on, and don't give up!! Things will work out.
Don't get so discouraged.... you say that you "could have to pay as much as 2000.00" ... that doesn't sound like it is set in stone. Think positively :-) If this is what you truly want, then you'll find a way to get it!
Don't get so worked up over 2 ounces...that could be anything. Time of day, water, extra clothes, etc. It definitely sounds like you're doing good by watching what you eat and dropping the pepsi.... exercise will definitely help and you'll feel better about yourself afterwards. You can do it :-)
Don't get so worked up over 2 ounces...that could be anything. Time of day, water, extra clothes, etc. It definitely sounds like you're doing good by watching what you eat and dropping the pepsi.... exercise will definitely help and you'll feel better about yourself afterwards. You can do it :-)
All right, time for my answer to any problem...BREATHE!!!
Sometimes you have to step back, look at the big picture, and decide on a new route to get you around that obstacle! My wife had the same problem. $2000 up front before surgery could be scheduled. We borrowed the money, even though we could not afford too. It all worked out in the end.
If this is what you want to do, then hang in there and fight! We are here for you.
Scott
Sometimes you have to step back, look at the big picture, and decide on a new route to get you around that obstacle! My wife had the same problem. $2000 up front before surgery could be scheduled. We borrowed the money, even though we could not afford too. It all worked out in the end.
If this is what you want to do, then hang in there and fight! We are here for you.
Scott
Hey Tina,
Since the "group" has given you a lot of positive feedback, let me offer a little bit of "tough love"..
You stated...
"I know ive cheated on my diet.."
"Rarely have a pepsi EVER anymore.."
"I do need to start exercising.."
"Now Im so discouraged.."
Since my weight loss surgery almost 2 months ago, ive lost a substantial amount, and it was because i DONT cheat on my diet, i NEVER drink pepsi (cola free since 28April08), and I DO exercise. These were all the things I was told by my doctor, my dietician, and my exercise guru to do after weight loss surgery if i wanted to be successful.
If you want to be successful at this, follow the program!! The surgery itself isn't the solution, its just a tool to help you get there!! There's plenty of people on this forum that demonstrate the program works!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Hang in there!!!
Since the "group" has given you a lot of positive feedback, let me offer a little bit of "tough love"..
You stated...
"I know ive cheated on my diet.."
"Rarely have a pepsi EVER anymore.."
"I do need to start exercising.."
"Now Im so discouraged.."
Since my weight loss surgery almost 2 months ago, ive lost a substantial amount, and it was because i DONT cheat on my diet, i NEVER drink pepsi (cola free since 28April08), and I DO exercise. These were all the things I was told by my doctor, my dietician, and my exercise guru to do after weight loss surgery if i wanted to be successful.
If you want to be successful at this, follow the program!! The surgery itself isn't the solution, its just a tool to help you get there!! There's plenty of people on this forum that demonstrate the program works!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Hang in there!!!
John
Hang in there Tina. That is a lot of money. Have they told you for sure what you have to pay? I know my insurance had a $20,000 limit for the surgery so 2 weeks before my surgery date, I had to sign a paper with the hospital saying I would be responsible for any cost over this amount and it could be as much as $15,000. My husband was with me when they told me to sign it. I talked to him about it because I just knew there was no way I could ever afford to pay $15,000. But he told me to just sign it. I struggled with the decision and was stressed about it but knew that the door opened for me to get approved and have this surgery and there was no way I was going to not have the surgery over money. My health was way more important than money. So, I went through with it and never got 1 bill from the hospital. Not one extra penny! So, just make sure you know exactly what the $2000 is for and if you have to pay it or if it is just a possibility. And do not make any decisions on a "possibility". I know it is discouraging but just remember why you need to have this surgery and how important it is. And like Scott said, Breathe! You will figure it all out.
Misty
310(pre-surgery)
159 (current/post-pregnancy)
150 (Goal)
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