Hi, I just found this board

Hello out there! I've been posting/lurking in some other boards, but I found this one and I thought, here's where I need to be! My BMI is 58, and sometimes I think I'll never reach my goal and even after my surgery I'll be "over weight" or "fat".

I do not have a surgery date yet, but on January 22, I will have my final pre-op visit with my PCP and he will write my letter of medical neccessity, which are the last two pieces I need for my surgeon to submit to my insurance for approval. I'm starting to get nervous because the last six months have gone by so fast, and I've only lost 14 pounds. I'm always preparing for the worst (i.e. insurance won't approve me) and hoping for the best (RNY in early February).

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and maybe find some friends with similar stats and keep myself motivated.

Happy Christmas and New Year!

WELCOME!!

I had the same concerns you did. I started out with a BMI of 60.

I only had to lose 8 pounds for my doctor before he would submit the referral to the surgeon. I think I lost 12 during my 6 month diet. Don't worry about it!! My doctor knew enough about my insurance to know that they weren't going to require 10 percent weight loss or something like that (which I think is totally ridiculous for anyone with a BMI over 50).

I hope your appointment goes well. But don't regain anything.

((HUGS))

Welcome you found a great board.  Best of luck to you, I know all those feelings you are going through. 

Welcome to the BMI over 50 board.  We all have a long way to go here, but with the support and encouragement of this awesome group we all can make it to where we want to be, just gonna take some time.  But you will be amazed along the way how all along the journey you will notice so many changes.  Around here, it is best to try to not dwell on the scale too much.  Just about everyone around here can relate to things like the first time they got in the car and realized they could get their seatbelt on without being strangled and their stomach did not touch the steering wheel etc etc.  We have much along the way to celebrate. 

Thank you all so much for your warm welcome! I'm very much looking forward to having many "firsts" and "agains" after surgery. I'm excited can't wait for those two little words from my insurnace company: "you're approved!"

Welcome and good luck being approved! This is a great board because we all understand what it's like to have so much to lose. Hang in there!

Welcome and thanks for posting. I think I started with a BMI of 59. My insurance required a 10 percent loss. Took me a while, but I made it. Learn all you can while you are waiting for approval. There's lots on the web and library books and much to be learned from the folks here. We look forward to gettng to know you better.

Thank you! My insurance policy doesn't state anything about a pre-operative loss, but I'd like to be able to submit my records showing the commitment I have to my health and the process through the work I'm doing now.

Getting the approval should only take a few days once I submit as I understand from a coworker who used the same insurance and surgeon, barring any complications of course. So the reseach part  was mostly done before my decision and during the past 5 months.

This website has been a fabulous resource because almost any time I have a question I just do a search and find all sorts of threads about it and I can find out anything! I'm so glad to be in the company of experieced, supportive people who don't mind sharing honestly and openly just about everything related to their journeys. From relationships to mental issues to saggy skin, I feel I'm in very good hands with all of you!