Brand new here, need help!!! (also... anyone in NJ?)

hi everyone... for the past few months or so I've been looking into this surgery. i've come here after yet another failed attempt at losing it on my own, i feel disgusting and horribly depressed... ihave a feeling you all know how i feel. i'm 19, 5'9" and about 320ish pounds. i have been obese, (not just overweight) since literally as far back as i can remember. I'm talking... not just the biggest kid in class, one of the biggest in school. now that i'm at college, it appears the pattern is continuing. basically, I'm trying to figure out how to get the ball rolling here? I have a few co-morbidties such as back pain ( i also have severe scoliosis... had surgery when I was 11 years old... my obesity can't be helping that) and depression since I was 13. Lately i keep getting flare ups of skin infections on random places on my body, so I had some blood tests this past weekend. I think if the tests indicate even more problems (I was tested for diabetes, which in my family runs rampent, among other things) then it might be time to seriously consider this option. Where do I start? do I talk to my PCP? am I too young to be approved? I am also curious if any of you h appen to be in new jersey... anddd if you also happen to have horizon BCBS =) thank youu, Justine S. I am sorry to attack you all with questions. I feel lost and depressed...

First of all i know exactly how you feel, being the biggest kid in the school, and just continuing to get bigger, failed attempts at weight loss, but thats why we're here :D Basically to get the ball rolling, you gotta take a look over at the types of surgeries page here ( obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/m-surgerytypes.phtml ) and see what kinda surgery you want, what kind will help you the most and fits your life style. then you wanna find a doctor that does that surgery WITH A GOOD REPUTATION AND TRACK RECORD!!!! i cant stress that enough, a good place to start looking for the doctor is right here on this site, check out their "find a doc" section ( obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/showdocs.phtml ) Then, after you find the doc, goto your PCP and tell him/her that your interested in the surgery and you need a referral to the doctor you found, and then go and see the surgeon, after that your surgeon will probably send you for a bunch of pre op testing which ussually include an upper GI series, ekg, echo cardio gram, phyc evaluation, and maybe a few others, this sounds like hell but honestly its for your own good :D after all your tests are done your gunna get submitted for approval, and atleast for me, i also have horizon bcbs, it didnt take much time at all for you to get approval. and im in NJ :D I hope all that helps ya out :D im gunna warn ya, it does take a lil while, for me, it took 2 years but thats because i had a hard time finding a surgeon that would operate on me at my size. but i would deffinitly do it all over again :D Good luck, _mike PS if you need to talk you can email me or IM me on AIM, my sn is artisticdork

Hey there, Like the others said, I think the first step is to look at the different surgeries and see what you think is right for you. On this forum under Communities (upper left) there is a forum for each of the different surgeries. Anyhow, after that I'd probably call your insurance and see what they say about covering the surgery you want, and then go to your PCP for a referral. I was self pay, so I don't know alot about the insurance process, but that's the order I would start in. Sarah

You're in NJ, so I don't imagine you'll have much problem finding a surgeon. You don't necessarily have to go to your PCP for a referral. I didn't. You can just find a surgeon's office, call them and ask if they have any public seminars. As for insurance...I was 19 when I was approved, and I didn't have any problem at all, but a lot of it depends on your insurance company. On this website, check out this link and look for your insurance company to see others' experiences: http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgery+insurers+in+new+jersey.html I know with my surgeon's office, they had people on staff who deal with the insurance companies every day (bless them), and when you go to the seminar, they'll be able to tell you what they think about the possibilities. Be prepared for whoever you choose to be your surgeon to be more cautious with you because of your age. My surgeon did additional tests and meetings with other doctors with me, especially with psychologists and a general doctor who specialized in obesity. And I know exactly how you feel. When I made my decision to have surgery, I was at one of the lowest points in my life. In between making the decision and having the surgery, I prepared mentally for it, and have been a happier person ever since I made the decision. It seems like you've made that decision...and there's only up from here. It's a struggle sometimes, dealing with the surgery, with lots of ups and downs...but I know that I will be better in the end. And so will you. Best wishes- Lauren 330/262/150