Hi ...I'm a Newbie to this forum

Hi everyone.
I have been lurking in all the forums looking for a place to call home. I am sure I have found it now.. I'm so impressed with the kindness and the encouraging I see on this forum. I can really relate to the posts and I am sure everyone will relate to me too. I started out my weight loss journey at a BMI of 63.3. I weighed 303lb at only 4'10' tall.. that was the heaviest I have ever been. I couldn't drive because I didn't fit behind the wheel and my feet reach the pedals. I couldn't clean myself after going to the bathroom.. how embarrassing when your out and have to go. At home I had to get in the bathtub and use the handheld shower to get clean.( I think that was the straw that broke the camels back)...I had to use drive carts or a wheelchair to shop. I have not been able to wear my wedding rings in years..and I mean years.. I have a big whirlpool tub so fitting in a tub was only a problem when I visited someone or traveled. I was in too much pain to stand for a shower and too big to sit in the tubs. It was like stuffing the sardines into a can. Well I had made up my mind to go for the weight loss surgery again. I tried 5 years ago and was denied because of an exclusion. Now after my husband has switched 4 jobs in 5 years trying to get the surgery for me we finally are with one that it is not an exclusion. We started with them on October 1st of 2008. I went to the surgeon for the surgery consult in November. I had to jump through hoops for this insurance. BCBS of IL. Now I have met all the requirements even with a 6 month supervised diet and providing proof of morbid obesity for the last 5 years and a psych eval and a nutritionist appointment they have to have too. I have hit many roadblocks along the way, I lost my original surgeon because of some personal issues he had and he was suspended from practicing for 90 days. I am now with a great surgeon in St. Louis,. a little farther to drive, 4 hours,  but I am impressed with the doctor and the hospital. Now I got a letter stating the insurance  wont pay for the nut or the last two months of Dr visits because I am subject to pre-existing condition. Yep I have been obese for many many years..wasn't that one of their requirement to prove that.. but I have not been treated for obesity for a long time because it was just useless. After being at my last wits when I got turned down for the surgery 5 years ago, my PCP quit trying to do anything for the obesity and started just treating the co morbities. We both knew how it was a waste of time to try to treat the obesity without the surgery. Well now since I have jumped through all the hoops for the insurance, now they wont pay the nutritionist unless it was to learn about diabetes. They are not paying for the psych eval or the last PCP visits for diet.
I am really worried now.. I am really just waiting for an appointment with my new surgeon and then he will turn everything in to the insurance. I am so anxious over this.... OK if worse comes to worse I'll have to wait until October 1st to get the surgery. That is not TOO far away.. but it is pushing it toward that 1 year date that my test will no longer be good and I ll have to start all over with them.  Now I am worried because this past week I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The psychiatrist says it wont keep me from having surgery.but I don't trust the insurance... I sure keep running into the road blocks. I am so glad that reading the posts in this forum has kept me encouraged to not give up..    Insurances......aren't they just great to deal with.. I am trying to keep a positive attitude through all this.  Many times just coming on this forum to read what you were posting and what I could learn from you and for the encouragement. You have all been so inspiring to me...it has helped me to just hang in there. Thank all of you for that. I plan to be on here as much as i can. I hope I am welcomed into your family of BMI over 50. Even with the 50 lbs lost on the pre op diet I am still over BMI of 50. I am at 53.9 now.. so I hope I fit in here like I think I will.   Sorry this was so long but I hope it lets everyone get a grasp on what is happening in my search for weight loss surgery.

Hi Teresa,

I hope things go a little easier for you.  I had to fight for my surgery too, so I know what your going thru!!  hang in there, you can do it!!!

Good Luck,

Welcome to a great forum

Caroline

Thank you for the encouragement and welcoming me to the forum. I intend to fight al these road blocks will everything I have. I will hang in there.

greetings teresa, and welcome to bmi over 50!

as you've found out, it's a nice place to hang out. i'm 4 and half  years out from surgery, so when i first started coming to OH, bmi over 50 hadn't yet been created. i was so happy when this forum started up -- to find people with the same issues with which i was dealing was a wonderful thing!

i'm sorry to hear of all the problems you're dealing with in your insurance battle. sounds like a real hassle. my insurance turned me down, and i didn't pursue it. i was able to withdraw the money for surgery from my 401k plan -- it was a risk, as if i had encountered surgical complications, i don't know how i'd have paid for them -- but luckily for me, i've been complication-free. and then there's the thought that i spent my retirement money, but i didn't feel like i was going to make it to retirement...so all in all, i feel it was money well spent!

things have gone wonderfully for me. only minor problems since surgery, and my bmi has gone from 66 to 23. i feel wonderful!

so, i just wanted to say welcome, hang in there, and keep fighting. from my perspective, it's been well worth while.

all the best to you!

deb

Hi Deb,

Thank you for such great encouraging words. I have been on here for 5 years since I first applied with surgery before. I guess you are right I dont remember half of these forums being on here. This site just keeps changing for the better. Yes I love this forum and all the people seem to really want to help and support each other. I am so glad the BMI over 50 is here and I am so happy to become a part of this family of people. Thanks for the welcome.

You seem to have made the right decision using the 401K. You may have never made it to retirement to have that money anyway. I also know of so many people that lost a lot of their 401K during this recent financial mess. So your decision was right on..

Congratulations on being 4 1/2 years out and maintaining the weight loss. Wow from 66 to 23.. That is such a great accomplishment and really something to be proud of. I will remember that as I take my journey to skinny town and use that for encouragement that it is possible..

Teresa

Hi Teresa!

Welcome to the OH Family... and the over 50 forum!  I love my OH family! We have the best people here! This web site is one of the best tools that we have to get through the tough times!

Keep pressing on! You can do it! All good things take lots of effort!
When you reach the goal of having the surgery it will be a sweet victory! 

Do everything you can to make yourself as ready as possible... eating right, exercising    and preparing your body for the changes and then you will be in such an awesome position for a most excellent outcome!

Chin to the wind! 

Marcia (Your OH Sister!) 

Thank you for taking the time to write to me. I am trying so hard to keep a stiff upper lip through all this.. I did get some real good news while on the phone with the insurance this morning. I am under preexisting condition but it is not for the obesity. They said the doctors have the codes for more than the obesity that is what they are denying not the obesity and the better news is that my pre existing ends on 7-22-09. I know it will be after that before we send the predetermination letter for surgery to them.  I was so excited and relieved..
Yesterday the weight loss center my surgeon works out of called me and they are missing tests so today I am trying to track them down. You are right I will be dancing a jig when I get an approval for the surgery. I have worked so long and hard on this.
I have been on a diet since February and I have lost 50 lbs. I am now trying to maintain that loss until surgery. I am able to walk now so that helps.

Thanks so much for the encouraging words. I feel very privileged to have found this home of BMI over 50.Everyone seems so nice here.  Thanks for welcoming me in as a sister...
God Bless You

Teresa S

I just wanted to tell you to keep your chin up. Before you know it you'll be on your way. I am scheduled for surgery on Aug. 14th but I started my journey in Sept. of 2006 then found out i was pregnant.  I wouldn't take my pregnancy back I lovemy little girl but I sure do wish I had been healthier for her. Gestational diabetes made her 11 lbs. when she was born.
Anyway, I have been pretty lucky with my insurance and I have BCBS but its Federal. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and I hope you get your approval soon.

I am so glad you have a surgery date.. That is wonderful. I'd be jumping for joy. Not very high jumps but still jumping.....August 14th is not too far away..

I want to say I am sorry you didn't get the surgery in 06.. But girl.. you got something SO much better. It is such a blessing to have a baby. Many people that are so obese can not have a baby. They have to get this weight off before they can get pregnant. So that makes me say what a miracle of life. I bet you did have a hard time,and WHEW an 11 pound baby... Can't even fathom that. My daughter just delivered my first grandson in February.. He was 8lbs 11 ounces. She had him normal birth..She had a very hard time.She is very short like me she is right on the 5' mark. Wish I was that tall I am only 4'10". I was blessed to be able to be in on the delivery of my grandson with mom and dad. Bryce is 5 months old today. He weighed in at 19 lbs.12 oz. and 25 inches long..  He is going to be a hoss. His daddy is a big guy. not all fat just big boned and structure..  I dont have to worry about babies anymore I just turned 50.. It is time to be grandma now..

I am so glad that you got approved with BCBS that is great. I am glad they are such a great insurance for you.. I guess it depends on what the employer has chosen for a type of policy..
I have heard of many people getting a fast approval . I am praying every day that I get an approval so easily..  It would be about time for something to go right. I'll just be so happy for them to finally send off that predetermination letter to see if I get approved.

I finally think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel..  I just have to keep chuging along until I  get there. 

Thanking you keeping fingers crossed for me.  I certainly will post when they send off for approval and what happens..
Teresa s

Oh my your grandson sounds healthy and that's the most important thing. I had to have a c-section. They put me completely out because of my size and I hated that I didn't get to see my daughter right after birth.
Still have my fingers crossed for your approval. I just wish they'd realize that by getting the surgery and losing the weight is better than being treated for disease after disease.