Question:
I have no serious life threating co- morbs. BUT I HAVE A PLAN......
I KNOW THIS WILL SOUND VERY BAD WHEN i ASK THIS BUT I no choice!!! I am desparate !!! I requested to have blood work done to see if I have diabetes. I plan on eating a few chocolate bars through the night but I afraid to overdo it because I don't want my blood sugar shoot up too high off the charts breaking world records for bein still alive. How much chocolate or donuts should I eat.!!!!! also, My blood pressure is very good 120/80/. How can I raise my blood pressure ?? When I was sick once I was taking nighttime nyquill and that boosted my blood pressure to 160/100 I think. My bmi is 47. Any suggestions out there....thanks !!! — [Anonymous] (posted on October 2, 2001)
October 2, 2001
I would not do that at all!!! You are going to cause you doctor to put you
on medicine to treat those things you don't have...ie. blood presure meds
with will cause to actually have too low presure with can cause other
problems. I think you BMI is high enough to be approved, maybe not? Don't
try to TRICK anyone!!
— [Anonymous]
October 2, 2001
Your BMI is high enough for you to be approved without any life threatening
comorbidities! Like the previous post states, doing the things you suggest
is not a good idea. A BMI of 40+ is sufficient to be approved with
comorbidities.
— Gina E.
October 2, 2001
Your BMI qualifies you for the surgery without and co-moribidities. Mine
was 43 when I had my surgery and the only problems I had was the usual
painful knees, ankles, and back. My insurance approved right away. I
wouldn't try to do anything that would possibly jeopardize your surgery if
your surgeon and/or insurance company found out you tried to trick them.
Good luck! ((((HUGS)))) Pat
— nealp
October 2, 2001
The standards for surgery are a BMI between 35 and 40 with comorbidities or
a BMI of 40 and over without any comorbidities. You are well within those
quidelines with a BMI of 47 and no comorbs. It is not necessary for you to
falsely influence your tests, nor is it a very good idea.
— [Anonymous]
October 2, 2001
I also was approved with a bmi of 43 and no serious comorbids. I did have
high cholesterol--but only 220 or so. I would stick with what you do have.
Most of us have one or two things related to our weight that would go away
if the weight did. I have problems with my joints. How about back pain?
Reflux? All that stuff counts. You will probably be approved anyway, so I
wouldn't pad the results.
— ctyst
October 2, 2001
I would not do that. Let's say your plan to seem diabetic works...that
will hinder the process of getting wls. First, they'll teach you to give
yourself shots with insulin you don't need, which could be harmful in
itself. Diabetics are less likely to heal as well...so your doctor would
have to evaluate you, hence even more waiting time.
I'm 15 days post op. I qualified through my insurance company in 6 days
and the only problem i have is morbid obesity--a BMI of 48. No breathing
problems, no sleep apnea, no joint problems and no diabetes. If you do it
the right way you can be assured that your doctors know your full health
picture and you'll come out of it just fine. If you fudge any test results
you're putting yourself in danger. I wish you luck! You'll do it and
you'll be fine.~
— Kristin R.
October 2, 2001
You say you don't have *any co-morbidities? The reason I ask is because I
didn't think I did, either. However, when I talked to my sugeon, I found
out that I have a few minor co-morbordies, after all. There are lots of
things besides diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea that qualify
as a co-morbidy. For instance: Irregular periods, back pain, hip pain,
depression, carpal tunnel (sometimes), acid reflux and heartburn, and pain
in your joints can all be considered co-morbid conditions. I'm only 24, so
I don't have a lot of the "higher" problems... but, when I walked
around for awhile, I did get back and hip pain. I also was put on birth
control for irregular periods... so, right there were my co-morbidities.
But whatever you do, don't lie. You need to be completely honest with your
surgeon to ensure he'll use the right medication and anethesia (etc) for
you. This is your life you're playing with if you fib.
— FireJewel
October 2, 2001
I agree with most everyone" DON'T LIE ABOUT THE DIABETES"
You probably have others you don't know about but your BMI will definately
help, sore joints,depression, all of those will count,part of the reason
that our insurance problem is the way it is,is because to many people cry
wolf too many times and the rest of us who are honest have to pay the
price. My personal feeling is if it is meant to be everything will fall
into place for it to happenjustput it it in God's hands that is what he is
there for.But be honest with the Dr. and above all be honest with yourself.
— Jennie D.
October 2, 2001
In a nutshell, ( generally speaking) you already qualify for the surgery,
most require BMI 40 or 35 w/ co-morbids
— Cindee A.
October 2, 2001
Please do not 'trick' the system. So many people on this site are having to
fight insurance companies for approval. When someone comes right out an
posts about doing something to deceive a doctor in order to gain approval
for surgery, it's like slapping all of us who truly do have these problems
in the face. Actions like your plan are the reason that more and more
insurance companies are picking apart requests so mercilessly. It would be
horrific if your insurace found out and combined with similar actions from
others applied an exlusion for EVERYONE in your plan wouldn't it? Please
let's not any of us do something that could possible hinder all of us. As
the other posters have said, it sounds to me like you may qualify already.
Honesty is always the best policy. Good luck.
— [Anonymous]
October 3, 2001
If your trick your body into a high glucose reading, you doc wll
send you for fasting blood glucose test. And you won't be able to
trick your way around that one. Personally. I think you should forge
about wls because you don't have the maturity for it.
— [Anonymous]
October 3, 2001
I have a couple of pieces of advice for you on this. #1. What you are
proposing is fraud. Pure and simple. The fact that you tried to get advice
from others on how to committ this act of fraud is not in your favor. #2.
One high blood sugar result will not get you a surgery. Doctors do fairly
careful and repetitive evaluation that will screen out any anomalies and
reveal your true state of health.
I suggest you either switch insurance to one that is more amiable to WLS,
or perhaps look into other ways of petitioning or perhaps self-paying. Be
persistent, but be wise. It is not worth jail time for insurance fraud to
save a few thousand on a surgery. I was a self pay, and did not have tons
of money, and we managed. I also have a friend who sold her house to raise
the money, and several other friends who have switched doctors or
insurances with good success. Good Luck to you.
— Cara S.
October 4, 2001
I was approved with no comorbidities, except shortness of breath after
minimal exertion, and I think that's something anyone carrying extra weight
has. Don't jump out on a limb yet, wait and see if you get approved, your
BMI alone is probably high enough to get approved. They also look at what
could happen. You may be relatively healthy right now, but sooner or later
it will catch up with you and you are at a higher risk for heart disease
among other things. Insurance companies may rather pay for WLS now than a
triple bypass down the road. Good Luck and keep us posted!
— Deborah W.
October 4, 2001
This is for everyone who responded to the above question THANK YOU !!!
Desparate people do desparate things. The person who asked the question
feels really bad for writing it and for actually even thinking such a crazy
thing.That person is not like that. So everybody can relax. To the people
who answered who ended their answers kindly with compassion an extra THANK
YOU TO YOU. Sometimes a person just needs alittle reassurance from people
during their waiting for approval. Its unbearable at times and sometimes
people just panic !!!! Hope you can understand and please forgive. Please
don't be mad anymore. TRULY SORRY.....
— [Anonymous]
October 5, 2001
Okay, Anonymous question poster....I understand exactly how you feel. I,
too, would have done almost anything to get approved for surgery. When I
was told at first that I didn't qualify, I felt completely desperate and
considered lots of crazy schemes. If you would like to Email me privately,
I will tell you methods other members of this site told me try...and what
works. Now, Anonymous nasty post answerer...put your name on the nasty,
mean spirited things you post on this board! I wish Eric would ban posting
anonymously. You say hurtful, degrading things to people then run away and
hide. You are a coward and a bully!
— Anne G.
October 6, 2001
Keep in mind there is a test called a hemoglobin A1C that can be done to
test your average blood sugar over a longer period of time (?three months,
I believe). Depending on the percentage, they will be able to see if you
have had a high blood sugar for quite some time, and your candy bar eating
will have no bearing on your true diagnosis of "diabetes" you are
looking for. Mind you, not something anyone in their right mind would hope
for.
— [Anonymous]
August 29, 2003
You don't have to have any co morbs. Your BMI puts you at risk for
developing major medical problems. The main point of having the surgery is
to avoid ever developing medical problems because of your uncontrollable
weight.
(FYI... you cannot fake diabetes)
— Kim D.
November 9, 2003
I agree! If you post anonymously it is like being politically apathetic.
You really have no voice that counts.
— Danyelle K.
November 9, 2003
I am right there with you. Most people considering WLS are most certainly
desperate. I am one of those people who don't go to the doctor for every
little ache and pain because I am obese and I don't like feeling
humiliated. I think this is the main reason why many obesity sufferers
have little or no documentation of comorbids or diet attempts--because just
like eating, we diet in secret also.
— Danyelle K.
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