Question:
How did you deal with the wait

I have a bad feeling that I will be denied (but doesn't everyone?) How did you deal with the waiting? And how do I deal with a possible rejection? I don't have much time to time appeal...any thoughts? Thanks so much!    — [Anonymous] (posted on February 15, 2002)

February 15, 2002
I have been denied twice, it is now going to an independant review board.......They are hung up with the no follow up or official support group (I consider family, friends, coworkers, a BIG part of the support network!) after I did the Biometrics program.....I am looking at it like this, if it doesn't happen, then it wasn't meant to be..They have already told me they (insurance co) changed their policy to no longer allow policy holders to go to BTC for this surgery--effective Jan 1, 2002....hmmm (plan year changes in APRIL), but why they didn't tell me that LAST year I don't know, M$O$N$E$Y$. I am disgusted, but I will wait it out....I guess everything happens for a reason. Keep the Faith!
   — Mandie

February 15, 2002
I dealt with it by preparing my appeal letter beforehand. Had it all typed, printed out, attachments ready to go. This helped me feel like I was doing something useful, and had I been denied, I could have filed my appeal the same day I received notice. I ended up being approved, so didn't need the letter. -Kate-
   — kateseidel

February 16, 2002
I agree with Kate. I waited 2 months just for a consult (which was last Thursday!) and I spent my time writing letters and letters and also printing out any information to attach that I could. It seemed to make the time go faster and I was doing something extremely important. My surgeon has the PCP write a certain letter and the psych before he goes to insurance. He has had very little rejections, too. Good luck!
   — emilyfink

February 18, 2002
I also had to wait quite awhile to get to the initial appointment and for each step of the process (just received a surgery date after 10 months of waiting). Waiting is terrible. But we don't expect the WLS to cure all our ills. It will help out greatly, but will not solve all our problems. MO is a very complex disease, physically and mentally. Just losing a larger amount of weight will not necessarily fulfill all of our expectations. Even while we are waiting, there are things we can do to help ourselves feel better about life in general. And no, i don't mean just the diet and exercise i hear from my doc all the time! As a MO person, i have a lot of physical/health limitations, but i can still make changes and take baby steps. As an example, i have found it helpful to talk to a councelor about some marrital problems that had nothing to do with my MO. I also went to a orthopedic specialist to help with some foot problems so that i can exercise after surgery. I also started collected pamphlets/ info on some activities I would like to do after weight loss allows me more physical movement and have started a savings to pay for these activities. I also started doing some volunteer work (time is limiting, I know when you are a working mom)-this allows me to more clearly appreciate the bleesings I have in my life. I won't go on any more - but there are things you can do and you are not alone in this.
   — 123456