feeling defeated

That's what I was thinking too. About the reasons I would need the sleeve vs. RNY. I also have IBS and I am on plenty of meds that losing weight could eliminate. I've got to snap out of this and get in the game. Everyone's comments are definitely helping. 

Look at this as a test.  How bad do you want this?  If you're not willing to go to the appointment, are you sure you are ready for the intense lifestyle changes that come after surgery?  If you don't try, you'll never succeed!

If you really, really, really, want the sleeve, then you'll get the sleeve.  It may not happen when you think it should happen, but it will happen, whether through appeals or getting over your fear of traveling, saving the money, or taking out a loan.  

Get your head in the game - this could be a long fight, but it is a fight worth taking on.  The end result is so worth it!

You are right. I was in self pity mode earlier. I've got to fight for this!

I felt very defeated as well going thru medical weight management. The doctors and staff were too positive that it would be covered but I didn't want to live the rest of my life thinking what if. So I followed thru with the process, started in August, went for all my tests and I received my letter of approval the end of February and am scheduled march 24th! Id say keep it up, you never know what can happen. I wish you luck!

Weren't too positive**

Thank you for your story. I hope it all works out for me too!

I'd go as far as you can.  Worst case scenario they say no.  Even if they say no, you can appeal. 

Having a "no" will always better than having an "I wish I could have".  Don't give up!

You're right. It's better to know for sure than to not even try and always have a what if floating in my head.

You know, I want to tell you something from a position of caring and from a common experience that may not sound so nice. This is just my experience.   People I've spoken to (including myself) in your position are so hurt, so discouraged, so sad with where they are and how far they have to go that every hill is a mountain  and every stop sign is an insurmountable barrier. I put off the surgery for years and years because of this.  I was told no by my insurance company several times.  That's saying something for me- I worked for that company, and I helped design the benefits for the plan I was on, so it was a fight I felt particularly impotent to fight. 

So I understand how you feel.  I've felt that way too.

One of the hardest parts of this surgery isn't the surgery, the food, the rules, the exercise, or the recovery.  It's escaping the prison we've made in our own head.  Locked in by "I can't" we spend years looking out at the person we want to be, we could be, and should be.  It makes it even harder to carry on. There is no parole, nobody can let you out, and there you'll sit.

The only way out of our prison is to dig out.  To fight.  To escape by force of sheer will.  We have to decide one day that I will make this happen.  I will get out and stand in the light once more.  I will leave my prison behind and I will become that person I want to be.  The line I'm kind of known for professionally became my mantra through this process, and it continues to be as I make progress.  I've used this to begin relationships, to end them, and to take one more step when that one step seems impossible:

"I will be successful. I will not accept failure.  I will not give up. You can join me if you want, but if not I will go around you, over you, or if need be I'll go right through you if I have to in order to achieve success.  I won't accept that there is something I cannot do once I commit myself."

I promise you that once you've decided you can say those words and mean them, this gets easier. Alot easier. 

I don't think your post sounds not nice. It sounds like it's coming from the heart and I appreciate that. I agree with you also. I guess I just needed a push and a little bit of a wake up call from you all. Thank you.