New here! Can you explain it to me like I'm a 6 year old?

Hello everyone!!
  I am new to this board and to all things wls related. 

  Truth be told I don't know where to start.
Do I look for a dr first? Check my insurance first? Talk to my pcp first?

  I have Medicare and a 40.2 bmi.
I also have severe arthritis and the onset of diabetes.
My birthday is just around the corner and i will be 33.

   Would someone please walk me through the process so I can get started on changing my life?
               Thank you so much!

Hi,

Everyone's situation is different so you will have to find out what works for you.

I would start with your insurance first.  Check with medicare to see if bariatric surgery is  covered and what their guidelines are.  You may need to have six month of recorded dieting with your PCP.  If that's the case you will need to make an appt. with your PCP to get the ball rolling.  Medicare may also require a letter from your PCP showing that the surgery is medically necessary.

Next I would find a qualified surgeon, talk to freinds and family for a recommendation or check with your PCP for a referral.  When you locate a surgeon see if their office offers a free seminar.  If so go and listen to the surgeon, they will explain all the different surgeries that they perform(also ask if they take medicare).  This way you can make an informative decision as to which surgery you will want to have done.  Once you have gotten to this point the surgeons office will tell you what the next steps are.

I hope that this may have helped you.  Good Luck on the begining of your journey.  I can honestly say that this is one of the best decision that I have ever made.

Keep me posted.

Donna

I have medicare.  Where are you located in FL?  If you're near Naples, Ft Myers or Hollywood I know of a good surgeon that does the band, sleeve and rny.  He takes Medicare and the hospital he performs surgery at is a hospital of excellence.  You will need a surgeon that deals with places of excellence with mediare.  you don't need preapproval from medicar, but a you do need a letter from your primary doc stating why you need this surgery, what you've gone through being obese etc.

Good luck!!