new to the board and considered a lightweight

 My name is Kim and I am just starting my WLS journey.  I had to wait over 6 months just to be able to go to the Seminar and support group.  I went to that on Nov. 5th.  After being on the waiting list just to get to that point I just found out that my insurance is now requiring a 6 month dr supervised diet/ exercise program.  I am pretty frustrated because I could have been doing that while I was waiting to get into the Seminar.  My PCP did go a head and have me do my sleep study test and my pulmonary test  so that is done.  I did see my pcp in Sept and Oct so I am hoping when I see my PCP on Tuesday that we can say we started back in Sept.  We did discuss my weight and what I was doing for excerise and so I am hoping we can count those months.  I do have my first appointments on Dec. 1st at the WLS  center.  I am really hoping to have my surgery before the summer because I work at a campground and there is no way I can be laid up that time of the year. My weight bounces from 215 to 217 I am 5'4 and I have hypertension, hypothyriodism, mild to moderate sleep apnea, asthma, type 2 diabetes, PCOS and the list goes on and on.  I am looking forward to meeting others that are considered lightweights.

Welcome!  You are going to love it here!  I would be so frustrated in I were you, but I have heard of others going through similar experiences.  Every insurance is different!  I started my process in October last year, had to do a 3 month supervised diet and exercise counseling.  I also had to prove my BMI for 2 years.  I got approval in February and had my surgery March 15th.  It has changed my life and it will change yours too!  It is great to start here first because you learn so much and make good friends along the way!
Sandi

Hi Kim. Welcome aboard!

I sure hope you can start counting some of those months with your PCP. This just doesn't seem right to have to wait so long. Hang tough and use this time to research, research, research.

--gina

 Thank you.  I think my PCP will let me use the last couple of months since she is the one that has been pressing me for the last 3 years to have  wls.  She says Kim you are a 37 year old woman with health problems of an 80 year old.  She says my health problems perplex her. LOL  I am like geeh thanks.  My insurance does require proof of a BMI over 35 for the last 3 years which my dr's office gathered that info and sent it to the WLS Center.  I just keep plugging away and hoping for the best.  I just feel that since I had already started my WLS stuff with the WLS Center that it should be grandfathered or something.  Its fine if they change things and it effects the new people coming in but not for someone who already started.. :(  

Welcome Kim.
i had an exclusion to weight loss surgery and had to self pay in Mx. Keep on keeping on with the requirements and time will pass quickly and you will be approved and on your way.

These last 9 months have been amoung the very best of my entire life.
Holly

Welcome, Kim.  I didn't have to do the 6 month part but had to do 12 classes with my Dr group before they would schedule then 4 week optifast before surgery, so it still took quite a while to make it to surgery.  All Drs are different but you will find this board the most supportive in all of OH.  Feel free to ask any questions, let us know your thoughts. 

 Thank you Price, I was really happy to see a lightweight forum.  I am on a couple of other forums on other sites and some of the people on there felt that I was a lightweight and that I should just loose weight on my own instead of having WLS.   If I could loose weight on my own I would not be at the weight that I am.  A friend that I met on another board suggested I join this forum, she too is considered a lightweight.  Thanks for having me.

I'm glad you've found us, Kim.  

And I do hope they'll take the former visits.  Something similar happened with me and that worked just fine.  

Good luck, and I look forward to hearing more!

 I Just noticed your stats how on earth did you grow 2 inches post op? LOL  Hey if I am 5'4 now maybe I will be 5'6 post opp now wouldn't that be something awesome. I have always wanted to be taller.  LOL  Has this happened with other post ops?

LOL.  I asked about this a while ago, and a few people saw a 1/2 inch or so growth.  Something about the spine being less compressed from the weight.  No one else we polled on the lws board had gained quite as much height.  But especially for the folks who started around 4'11, many popped on up to that enviable 5'0 mark, which makes a big deal for them!

For me, I was happy to get to 5'4 because I had always thought of 5'2 as short, but 5'4 seems very normal to me.  If I could only get to 5'6...but alas...

:)