Just wondering
I'm sitting here at 3:00 in the morning solving the worlds problems 
and wondering what you all think about something.....let me give you a little background......
Recently, I ran into an aquaintance that I've known for 15 years or so. Throughout the time I've known her, her weight has always fluxuated (much like mine has). I had heard that she'd had WLS and had severe complications. Well, when I ran into her she proceded to tell me the story of her WLS.......She 'only' weighed 215 pounds in December of last year when she had her initial consultation and therefore did not qualify for surgery. By March, she had intentionally gained 40 pounds (keep in mind I heard this first hand....so it's not hearsay) went back to the Surgeon, got her approval and had surgery a few weeks later. She had severe pain the night after her surgery and when they did her leak test the next morning, found that she had over 7 liters of blood in her abdomen and was rushed to emergency surgery to repair the leak. She has had problems with her recovery, needless to say. She told me that she wishes she'd never had surgery and that she would not recommend it to anyone.
Ok.....here's what I'm wondering. In the past few months, it seems that I am hearing increasingly that people are intentionally gaining weight to qualify for WLS. Do you think it's wrong to intentionally gain weight to have WLS? I know that in the five years that I researched WLS, as my weight 'yoyo'd', at times I didn't qualify for surgery and was even denied once 2 years into the process. I did end up gaining weight (and many more health problems) but it was NOT intentional. Also, do you think that the segment of people that WOULD intentionally gain weight to qualify are somewhat responsible for the insurance companies becoming so much stricter on their guidelines for getting people qualified?
I think about my friend Janet's daughter who is 22 years old and weighs over 450 pounds. For 3 years, she's been denied for WLS. She was on her first Physician supervised diet at 4 years old......so that's 18 years of 'doctor supervised diets' ....... yet she is still being denied by BC/BS. I think about all that Joni and so many other's went through to have this life saving procedure and it almost makes me feel guilty because I got approved so easily and I 'only weighed' 270 pounds.
I hope ya'll don't blast me.........I'm not judging anyone......just asking for your opinions.
Kim
and wondering what you all think about something.....let me give you a little background......
Recently, I ran into an aquaintance that I've known for 15 years or so. Throughout the time I've known her, her weight has always fluxuated (much like mine has). I had heard that she'd had WLS and had severe complications. Well, when I ran into her she proceded to tell me the story of her WLS.......She 'only' weighed 215 pounds in December of last year when she had her initial consultation and therefore did not qualify for surgery. By March, she had intentionally gained 40 pounds (keep in mind I heard this first hand....so it's not hearsay) went back to the Surgeon, got her approval and had surgery a few weeks later. She had severe pain the night after her surgery and when they did her leak test the next morning, found that she had over 7 liters of blood in her abdomen and was rushed to emergency surgery to repair the leak. She has had problems with her recovery, needless to say. She told me that she wishes she'd never had surgery and that she would not recommend it to anyone.
Ok.....here's what I'm wondering. In the past few months, it seems that I am hearing increasingly that people are intentionally gaining weight to qualify for WLS. Do you think it's wrong to intentionally gain weight to have WLS? I know that in the five years that I researched WLS, as my weight 'yoyo'd', at times I didn't qualify for surgery and was even denied once 2 years into the process. I did end up gaining weight (and many more health problems) but it was NOT intentional. Also, do you think that the segment of people that WOULD intentionally gain weight to qualify are somewhat responsible for the insurance companies becoming so much stricter on their guidelines for getting people qualified?
I think about my friend Janet's daughter who is 22 years old and weighs over 450 pounds. For 3 years, she's been denied for WLS. She was on her first Physician supervised diet at 4 years old......so that's 18 years of 'doctor supervised diets' ....... yet she is still being denied by BC/BS. I think about all that Joni and so many other's went through to have this life saving procedure and it almost makes me feel guilty because I got approved so easily and I 'only weighed' 270 pounds.
I hope ya'll don't blast me.........I'm not judging anyone......just asking for your opinions.
Kim 
Hey Kim,
I have to agree that people who intentionally gain weight for surgery are wrong. This surgery is a last resort for me. I have been overweight for almost 20 years and morbidly obese for 13 years. I am fighting tooth and nail to have this surgery because I want my quality of life back. I want my health. I am so scared that something else will delay my surgery. My doctor resubmitted on Sept. 1st for approval and now I am just playing the WAIT game. I DO think that people who have intentionally gained weight and/or abused surgery priveledges have made it hard on those of us *****ally deserve and should have no problem with approval for surgery. I only hope that I will be approved soon. I am so scared that if I don't have surgery and lose this weight that I am not going to be able to continue to work as a nurse. My back is absolutely killing me and has since I reinjured it with my FIL when I had to lift him. My epidural pain block isn't working and my doc called in Darvocet yesterday. I hate taking all this medicine just so I can cope. I am hoping that I can have surgery and the weight loss will help with my back also.
I am not jealous because you got approval quickly, there are still a lot of people who are able to gain quick approval...just not with BCBS or Aetna. I am happy that you didn't have to go through what so many of us have had to. Just please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I wait for approval.
Love ya,
Beth G
OK, you guys, don't blast me.
I have struggled with my weight my entire life. In my twenties, I weight over 300 pounds. I lost 100 pounds just by divorcing my husband and learning to care about me. However, I could not seem to get below 200 pounds. Most times my weight fluctuate between 200 and 240.
Last summer, my weight was 235. I went on Slimfast and lost down to 200. Could not get any lower. That would be a BMI of 35.4. I became sick with pneumonia twice and the doctor put me on steroids. I gained some of the weight back. This has been my life.
When I talked to the first doctor about weight-loss surgery, he told me I did not weight enough, I had to have a BMI over 40. I thought, "I can fix that." Never once did he take in consideration co-morbidities and, at that time, I did not know about them being considered by insurance companies.
I ate until I was back to 238 then I went to another doctor and asked about weight-loss surgery. This doctor told me that with my heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, GERD, fibromyalgia, back pain, probable sleep apnea, and weight, I more than qualified.
NOW, I could have had the surgery at 200 pounds because my BMI was over 34; however, I did not know that at the time. So, I guess I am one of those who ate until they felt they qualified for the surgery. You must understand, though, I was desperate, this has been my life history, and I wanted to be healthy. I was not concerned about appearance as much as I was about my health.
Just the other side of the coin.
Most Active
Recent Topics
