Need a little pep talk!

I have been going through the various motions that I must go through to have any hope of my insurance company approving me getting banded. I'm just growing a tad bit weary! I'm in month four of the mandatory six months in a row BS the insurance company requires in terms of seeing my PCP for records. Nevermind he has a good seven years of history on me, and I've been overweight all of my life. Nevermind they approved all of the testing I need to have done knowing that it is in preparation for WLS. I've dragged my heels a bit in setting my appointments because of some other things that are going on in my life, a few major changes. But I guess I need to hop to it. I'm just feeling a tad discouraged that I may go through all of this and have waited six months to get help, and face the prospect of NOT getting it in the end. The only good thing is that I've been losing a small amount of weight on my own, and trying to develop new habits, like ditching the straws, and eating and drinking at different times. (not together) The bad part is that I've lost weight on my own before, and if it were something I could do and KEEP OFF, I wouldn't be looking at surgery! I just want to get to the point where feeling like a loser is a GOOD thing! I want a WOW moment!! I'm finished whining now!

Sorry you are getting discouraged. Keep the faith. Just know that this is your decision. Alot of ins co require that too make sure you will stick to it after it is done. This is very important. I am going thru alot of struggles myself right now and trying to make myself do the right things. It is really hard. I did not come this far to give up now. Love and Hugs, Shannon

Dawn, Look at how far you have come towards this process . Unfortunatly the insurance companies make you go thru hoops .. hoping you will give up .. I can see you are not going to do this .. while it feels like it will never happen .. trust me there are so many here on the Va Boards .. that will tell you .. they did the 6 mos diet .. and are now loosers ... it will happen .. you will get those WOW moments . The surgery is your tool .. and while we all have lost weight but not kept it off.. the surgery works .. what ever kind you get .. Band .. RNY .. it all works .. Just stay focused .. do not give up.. and soon you will be on your way to becoming a looser ..posting your wow moments... and enjoying your new life . If there is ever anything I can do .. let me know . Hugs .. Natalie

Keep at it, girly! It took me over a year to get approval and I was denied two times before they finally approved my RNY. I told my doc that the ins co was waiting for me to either give up or drop dead! Believe me, it was worth all of the effort and jumping through hoops. You can do it!! JoAnn

Just hang in there, you are not alone. There are many people who went through what you did, hopefully they will respond. Just keep doing what you are doing and watch that weight drop. Pretty soon you'll be approved and you'll drop more. If they see you are serious, they will get serious. We'll be praying for you!!! Amber

Hi Dawn, I am in the same boat - playing the insurance company's game (Aetna - btw, does nayone know if they are difficult to work with or if they approve easily and quickly?)and waiting on my surgeon. I don't have my consult until September 26th with Dr. Wohlgemuth. Then they tell me it is basically a minimum of 16 weeks from that point because of all the pre-op stuff and that's IF I get approved. I am keeping the faith, and I know you will too! Hopefully we'll both be on the other side soon! I will pray for you and keep my fingers crossed too! Just know that if you persevere, you will thru all of these hoops they make us jump through. Maybe there's a method to their madness - anybody who makes it thru all the hoops is bound to be succesful, right? Good luck and keep us posted on your progress! Take Care, Robin

Robin- I have Aetna. Once I played their game (read: Jumped through appropriate hoops), they seemed to be fairly easy. Now, this could be because I was such a good candidate for the surgery, because my surgeon's office knew how to play the game, or because they were just easy to work with...not sure. BUT, be encouraged. You can see I started in Oct. '04 and didn't get approved until May....then I made the choice when to have my surgery (to make it easy on my boss and other life events). Be patient! Christina S

Thanks so much, Christina! I spoke with Aetna today to see about setting a date before approval. They said it was fine to do that, but I may have to reschedule if my date comes and I have not goten the approval. I think I will go a head and schedule a date (if my surgeon will allow it) when I go for the initial consult. I am fairly sure that I will be approved because of my weight and high blood pressure - I am making sure that I have dotted all of my i's and crossed all of my t's. I just hope the surgeon's office will do the same - LOL. I also printed out a checklist of sorts from the aetna website to make sure I truly have done everything. I've read your profile, too! You are doing great, and I am very happy for you. Keep it up! Thanks again! Robin

Dawn- If you read my profile long about December/January I think you'll find an entry in there where I had similar thoughts. Be encouraged that it's worth it...you do your part and you will be rewarded.....maybe not in YOUR exact timing, or in the EXACT way you're hoping for, but it will happen. Stick to your process and it will work for you. Have faith! Christina S

Dawn dont give up as the rest have said they want u to give up, I know I had to fight 4 years and I did almost die last Aug, I was in a wheelchair and oxygen 24/7 Aug 2005 and today Im 150 pounds lighter no wheelchair and Oxygen only at night w/ cpap. So hang in there and be strong it will happen and God will see to that. Best of luck read my profile you will see what I went threw.