Question:
WHERE DO I START????
I am looking into WLS and I am getting ready to start the process/ Can anyone give me pointers on what to do? Please!!! I will appreciate any info at all....thanks shaughnessy — shaughnessyd (posted on January 3, 2006)
January 3, 2006
First, read the profiles of people from your area and try to narrow the
list of surgeons you would like to speak with about your surgical options.
Secondly, and you might want to do this first, talk to your benefits person
regarding your health insurance to see what your carrier will require.
Third, because you will usually need a referral from your primary care
physician, talk to your PCP.
Fourth, attend support group meetings in your area where you can meet
people who have had the surgery you choose and with whom you can discuss
the specific concerns you might have.
— SteveColarossi
January 3, 2006
Well you have a lot of reading and learning to do, there are three sugary
types that are at the top of the common list being done currently , each
has it unique benefits, cost factors, risk, and life requirement post op,
along with different success rates that vary with the individual. general
patterns do fit by the larger numbers in different groups. as with all
statistical equations.
you will want to visit the Lap band forum, and read the descriptions of
the surgery, and the message board, the Main forum, this one, is
representative of the Gastric Bypass, or RNY in general as it is the most
performed, and provided by insurance wls . and then my choice,(not really
option, cant have rny, incompatible with my one of my comorbids,and my prev
bariatric surgery,) The DS, visit the DS forum, ask about it, and where to
get, fewer doctors are qualified to do it. cost twice as much, harder to
get paid for my insurance but different success rates.
— walter A.
January 3, 2006
On the obesity site, if you cilck on insurers and then click on MD, it will
take you to an alphabetized list of the insurance companies and insured
persons have posted their experiences there. I'm in MD also but I have
CIGNA PPO.
Congrats on your decision. One tip, start seeing your PCP and talking with
them about the surgery.
— the7thdean
January 3, 2006
Shaughnessy,
Provided that you don't fall under small group insurance or self employed
(the two MD stipulations) you have a very good chance for BC/BS of MD to
approve the surgery. You should look into the various surgeons before you
make your decision. Come post on the MD board and you will get lots of
answers to your questions. I know that St. Agnes has a support group
meeting tonight at 7 pm and it's a great way to get all the answers that
you can about the surgery, and to meet others that are both looking into
the process as well as who have had the surgery. We get into the nitty
gritty so it is an excellent place to get information. AS for BC/BS my
sister in law used them 4 months ago and they were very easy to approve the
surgery with the basics. Good luck on your journey feel free to email me
if you have any other questions.
— dlryanoates
January 4, 2006
The first thing i suggest you do is to call or go on your insurance's
website and find out what their policy is for covering the procedure. That
way, if they require you to have six month dr. documented weight attempt,
you can begin that while looking for your doctor. Then you should find a
cdoctor (I actually found mine at Obesity Help) and go set a date. If your
insurance says a six months as I said before, then you should set the
surgery date for seven months from the time youstarted. That gives you
time to get approved and all.
Good luck!
— Novashannon
January 5, 2006
Do lots of research on the best surgeon who has performed over a thousand
operations. I went with Dr. Kurian in New York City because I was afraid
of having a botched operation on Long Island. I was in the hospital away
from my family for 4 days, but it was totally worth it. I have no problems
today after losing 119 pounds in one year.
— dbyalick
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