Question:
wanting to know anyone who has had wls with no comorbs with bmi of 47

I've heard so many horror stories about kaiser and don't want to give up. I'm doing everything they ask and I've heard that you have to have a life threating illness, and then I've heard that you just have to have a bmi of 40 and beyond. I have a strond family history of illneses. but I don't have diabeties or sleep apnea. I have adema, hypothyriodism, and severe back pain do to my big breast. and acid refux. I need some hope, anyone who knows the truth. m doing everthing    — [Anonymous] (posted on November 12, 2001)

November 12, 2001
Don't give up! I had no real co-morbidities -- blood pressure was excellent; didn't have sleep apnea -- was just fat. Turned out I had a hiatal hernia and problems with gallbladder, but they didn't know that until they opened me up for the RNY! Good luck!
   — robinkc

November 12, 2001
My BMI was like 43,but i didn't have any c0-morbitities. I just knew that if I kept it up the way I was going I was going to run into problems.Starting wt-270- date was 4-9-01 and today I am 177!!!!!!!!
   — colette W.

November 12, 2001
I too am in the same boat as you are! I have Kaiser So. California with a BMI of 43.7. So far I have been diagnosed with arthritus of the knees and ankles, heel spurs and lower back problems and I have to be tested for stress incontinence (not too happy about that), but just like you my BP is fine and I dont have Diabetis or sleep apnea so Im afraid I wont qualify either. I am just hoping that my family medical history and my other medical problems will get me approved. I wish that you would have posted your name so that we could have kept in touch..maybe we could of helped eachother through the "Kaiser Ringer". Well good luck anyways..just keep those fingers crossed and anything else you can cross for that matter..SMILE!
   — mastrnservnt

November 13, 2001
I personally work for Blue Cross/Blue Shield and I can tell you that as long as you have a BMI of 45 or more or have at least 3 co-morbids you will be approved. This is of course as long as you dont have a secific exclusion for WLS, then you might have to fight. Otherwise call (procedure code 43946) (diagnosis 278.01) try these codes when you call, most likely they will say it needs medical approval. If they do this then there is no exclusion.
   — [Anonymous]