The Journey Begins
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Hi, I have made the decision too and to go ahead with bypass. I was banded 4 years ago and needless to say that I will now have to revise to another source of weight loss. I should have done this before but I was just too afraid and my husband wasn't making it any easier for me. Anyway, I will start the process rolling in a couple of days. my first appt. will be with the nutritionist. My Dr.'s office said that insurance coverage look good and she can see no problems.
I, too, have made the decision to have the surgery. I just got home from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL; I live about 4 hours away - south of Tampa.
I had consultations with 4 different parts of the Bariatric Team. I recently had an Upper GI Endoscopy done (and a bonus colonoscopy), so that was taken care of. They did the Metabolic Testing the same day and sent me home with a script for lab work. They are testing for more things than I've ever had checked before - and I get frequent blood work for an autoimmune disease and the meds I have to take for it.
My insurance stress is a little different from yours. I know my current policy covers the surgery 100%. However, I just got a letter from BC/BS that they can't sell the policy any more because of Obama Care. We're getting a top tier plan from the Platinum plans, and while it specifically excludes bariatric surgery, BC/BS says no medically necessary procedure can be turned down. I asked if that meant that there might be exceptions for medically necessary bariatric surgery. BC/BS doesn't know. I'm so filled with confidence.
Mayo has said they will do everything they can to expedite the process so I can have it done before the end of the year. It helps that since I was first referred to the bariatric team by a GI doctor at Mayo, I've lost 13 lbs on my own. I've also done a lot of reading. The dietician said I know more than most people do as they are about to have the surgery. (I'm having the RNY, with luck and prayers.)
"Perseverance, secret of all triumphs." ~ Victor Hugo 
Highest weight: 290; Weight at Surgery: 231; Current Weight: 126 (as of most recent Sunday)
So I finally made the decision to go ahead and have surgery. I'm really excited about that but...also scared and overwhelmed. This week I had my first appointment with the surgeon and the team that will be helping me through this journey.
Aside from my concern when it comes to the surgery itself, I'm obsessing a little about insurance coverage. I have dual coverage and both companies cover bariatric surgery, and even though my BMI is 48%, what if they will not authorize the procedure? What if I don't have enough documentation on my attempts to lose weight? Or they don't think that I'm sick enough? I don't have diabetes or high blood pressure but it has become so difficult to just move that I would be so very disappointed if this did not work out.
For now I will start working on all the criteria items that were provided to my by the surgeon's office. One of my favorite sayings is hope for the best but prepare for the worse.
