Where do I start

Okay so I went through the process for disability. I was just notified that I will have Medicare starting in May of this year. I am above weight on most scales. Last time nurse just guessed at 692. I have trouble walking and breathing. Also sick to my stomach and have serious lower back pain and arthritis. I say all that to say I need this surgery. I need to know how to start now so I am ready to hopefully have surgery by this summer. I read all the Medicare rules about a 6 month program. How does that work? Also any suggestions for how to find a good dr. In Birmingham, AL?

Any good advice or plan would be appreciated. I am desperate for a plan.

HI and great start!  First get ALL your doctors on board with your plan.  they can wrote letters, get you documentation you need.  Also your doctors will have any co/morbidity documented for you.  There is hope!  I weighed 345 lbs in 2009 before my surgery and today I weigh 133lbs!  Had sleep apnea, diabetes, and a host of other problems.  ALL gone and I am no spring chicken!  I am 62!

There is hope!

Bella Lunacy

Thank you Bella and Kathy for your advice. I think I am going to make an appointment with my regular doctor and get her input as well. I don't think co morbidity will be an issue since I had to prove that for disability. I think my main concern will be waiting while I do the 6 months of wls program. That is why I want to start now. I don't want to end up with surgery in the winter. I guess I need to be patient and not ru**** will give me time to save for the 20 percent that Medicare won't cover. 

Congratulations on taking control of your life and your weight loss journey.   ​

We suggest you research all your options for WLS and OH is the right place for that.  Once you have reviewed your options surgery wise and decide on one then your next step is to find a surgeon.  We can help you with that.     ​​

Links that will be helpful in your research.​​

• POPULAR TOPICS

• RNY Gastric Bypass
• LAP-BAND® System
• Duodenal Switch
• Vertical Sleeve
• Realize-Band

Here is a link to a list of surgeons in Birmingham, AL.  What insurance type they accept can change daily so once you read the profiles and reviews, if you like that surgeon call the office to verify they take your insurance.  Make sure the surgeon you choose has a detailed pre-op and post-op program, including a support group.  

List of surgeons in Birmingham, AL  

Once you decide what surgery type you want, be sure and reach out and post on that forum to reach out to those that are having the same surgery as you.  

Let us know if you need anything else.

Medicare does cover wls, and even the duodenal switch!  Right now, start learning all you can about the different procedures and compare them to what you know about yourself and how your body reacts to your weight loss attempts.  It's important to educate yourself because wls is NOT one-size-fits-all, and if you don't take these factors into consideration and choose the most convenient/least scary/one that your neighbors cousin got, you may wind up needing another procedure later due to poor results.

As soon as May comes around and you are covered, see what they require for you to complete in order to get pre-approved, or maybe you can get started now, especially if they require a 6 month supervised diet. 

Glad you have started this process. It was so hard for me to get to this point.

I am 4 days post op.

The scales at my baratrics clinic you just walk forward, and can calculate even if in a wheelchair or other device.

What I did was tried to learn something every day & work towards goals every day. My clinic & insurance, Medicaid, requiring 10 percent weight loss. It was stinkin hard!

I aslo had to see someone at my primary care clinic monthly, psychological evaluation, a swallow study, current sleep study, multiple dietitian appointments.

I assume mobility is very difficult for you. Ask each person you work with to help you set up a game plan for getting to your appointments successfully 

Best wishes

Congratulations on your successful surgery. I wish you a safe and steady recovery. I think I have to undergo pretty much same as you with Medicare. I am going to ask my reg doctor if there is someone she normally works with. Actually may need to change doctors if she doesn't take Medicare. I will make phone calls tomorrow. If I wait for Medicare to kick in to start everything, I figure I can still have it by end of year. I hope my doctor has scales like yours. Those itty bitty scales are ridiculous in some office. Even if they do go high enough, they are too narrow for an obese person to stand on.

btw do you know if it's true Medicare won't pay for wls if you have certain digestive problems? I am afraid to see a gastroenterologist for fear of being diagnosed with chrons or something but I know I have a problem.

I know that some conditions can rule out surgery for safety reasons. If you do have to deal with that than continue making a towards good healthy choices & if you slip than have a talk to yourself & move forward to the next good choice.

I don't see how it rules you out. In my opinion, I am so sick now that I'm not sure how surgery can make it worse. I stop talking to doctors about it because there doesn't seem to be much they can do. More pills make me sicker. My primary doctor basically told me I have to get the weight off to start alleviating any of these problems. I will just stay as I am for now. as they say, patience is a virtue.

I am 66 years old and on Medicare.  I was not required to do a 6 month program.  I saw my surgeon the first time on Oct 23 and had my surgery on Dec 29th.  The surgeons office did all the paperwork and submitted it to Medicare and all was approved within a couple of weeks.  

Good luck to you, I am so glad I made this decision.