Question:
I need to gain 20 lbs for approval. Am I crazy?
My BMI is not quite as high as it has to be to get insurance approval. I would have to gain about 20 lbs to qualify. Everyone thinks this would be fun and encourages me to do it (including my doctor.) I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone and it makes no sense to gain in order to lose. Am I crazy for considering to gain 20 in order to lose 140? — weluvtv (posted on January 9, 2004)
January 9, 2004
Some slouch a bit when getting their height checked. Others carry rolls of
quarters heavy clothes, and wear high heels to guarantee they get measured
in bare feet. Then of course there is Ben and Jerrys:) Some combo of this
can likely help you. Whats your BMI? Since your profile is private. Anyway
welcome and know others have had this trouble. Sometimes BMIs under 40 get
approved if you have other health troubles.
— Sam J.
January 9, 2004
Have you checked with your insurance? What is your BMI? I qualified for
surgery when my BMI was only 34.4.
— Mini Gadget
January 9, 2004
Hi! Well since no one else here has said it; to gain weight for the sole
purpose of qualifying for this surgery is insurance fraud. See if you
qualify with a lower BMI, which you may, if you have co-morbidities.
Please remember, if found out, insurance fraud is punishable by fines,
imprisonment, and restitution to the insurance company. Not to mention the
fact: What if you gain the weight and are not approved? That is that much
more weight you will need to lose.
— SherryWeber
January 9, 2004
If you have 140 to lose, I can't see how you wouldn't qualify.. USUALLY,
though not always.. its BMI of 40 and/or 100 pounds overweight.. and then
there are the co-morbids as people have said. Are you crazy? I don't
know. I think its crazy to gain 20 pounds to qualify. What happens if
your insurance still denies you? That won't be fun, will it?
— Lisa C.
January 9, 2004
FUN------ No way is having a life changing, body altering surgery is fun.
I can't even believe someone would consider doing this for "fun".
Thank God for the psych evals we have to have before surgery. Insurance
fraud_______ Yes.
— Delores S.
January 9, 2004
Are you NUTS!!!!! Where is you, your doctor's and others heads? This is
serious surgery. It is very dangerous for a morbidly obese person to go
under anesthsia and you are planning to gain more to qualify? Why would you
have to be 160# overweight to qualify? 100# over one's ideal weight is
considered medically necessary. You better do more research and so should
your doctor.
— ChristineB
January 9, 2004
Im sorry to say this, but its people like you, who make it harder for the
people who really and truely need it to get approval from the insurance
companies. This is why alot of them are not covring the WLS anymore, and
make much harder for people to get approvals. That said, maybe you are
qualified with the weight you are without having to gain.
— Chefswife (.
January 9, 2004
I think you would be crazy to either gain wieght in order to have surgery
or try to defraud the insurance company by lying about your height or
making your weight seem to be more than it is. My husband's BMI was 38 when
he had surgery. Our insurance company required a BMI of 40 or over to
quallify for surgery.He was denied, and we submitted a well wriiten appeal
letter, which not only got him approved, but also got the insurance company
to change the criteria to include people whose BMI is between 35-40! E-mail
me if you would like for me to send you his appeal letter. (By the way, a
panel of 9 doctors reviewed his appeal, and one wanted to know if an
attorney wrote the letter! Nope - just me!) (Also, losing 140 lbs if your
BMI is 38.4 might be a tad unrealistic)
— koogy
January 9, 2004
Yes, you would be crazy - and it would be fraud - and thus ILLEGAL!! I
feel very passionate about this! I agree with the last couple of posters.
I had to fight for over a year to get this surgery and I weighed 366
POUNDS!!! People who are gaining weight to get this surgery are taking
away options for those who are truly SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE who and are
DYING! I say, fight fair and square with your insurance company. If it
does not work out - God has other plans for you and will REWARD you for
your honesty!
— MissKimberly
January 10, 2004
WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY????? YOU WANT TO GAIN WEIGHT TO HAVE SURGERY???????????
WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS A TEA PARTY??
YOU THINK THIS IS A JOKE? YOUR DOCTOR THINKS THIS WOULD BE FUN?? WELL IF
THATS THE CASE I WOULD RUN AS FAST AS I COULD TO THE MEDICAL BOARD TO BRING
CHARGES ON THIS FOOL! FUN YOU THINK GOING IN FOR MAJOR SURGERY IS FUN? YOU
ARE A FOOL! I AM SO MAD, YOU SHOULD THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS I DON'T KNOW
YOU. THOSE OF US THAT TRULY NEED THIS SURGERY ARE THE ONES THAT PEOPLE LIKE
YOU HURT. OUR CHANCES OF GETTING INSURANCE TO COVER THE SURGERY GETS HARDER
AND HARDER. HOW ABOUT THE POOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SURGERY AND HAVE
DIED. HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THEM? THIS IS NOT THE EASY WEIGHT LOSS
PLAN!!!! THIS IS SOMETHING FOR THOSE OF US THAT CAN NOT LOSE THE WEIGHT
THROUGH CONVENTIONAL METHODS. I THINK YOU SHOULD SERIOUSLY RETHINK YOUR
SITUATION. AND ABOVE ALL FIND A NEW DOCTOR!!!
— CATHYSDAN
January 10, 2004
AMOS MOD HERE. Please lets not call anyone crazy:) Even if they suggest it
first. All of us were once 80 pounds overweight! Its hard to loose 100, but
nearly as hard to loose 80 pounds. Without knowing her specific co
morbidities lets not pass judgement on what one might do to possibly save
their life. Honestly docs flirt with bending insurance rules for their
patients safety all the time. My surgeon said he wanted a treadmill test
before surgery. My PCP did some creative thinking to justify it so I could
have surgery safely. I was OK, thankgod but if I had heart disease that
test might have saved my life. Insurance fraud for profit is stealing, but
for your saftety? Well thats a individual decision.
— bob-haller
January 10, 2004
How an AMOS MOD can condone and encourage insurance fraud is beyond me! I'm
surprised and disappointed to read that response. Each insurance has
criteria in place, either you qualify or you don't. If you don't, you have
avenues of appeal or you can contact a lawyer. Insurance fraud is not the
answer. Fraud is part of why our insurance costs are astronomical as it is.
— Shayna T.
January 10, 2004
I never condoned insurance fraud. I merely said that everyone has to live
with their own decisions. Before we pass judgement on the person perhaps we
should live in their shoes, and face their co morbidities? Diabetes can
largely be resolved by major weight loss. Its a terrible disease my step
father was killed by it after being blind, incontenient, and a double
amputee. His date of death? He doied slowly over a period of manyt
years...... Faxced with such a situation what would the average person do.
If dieting had failed? Anyhow my surgeon reports doing some folks with BMIs
under 35 in limited conditions and remarked about this at the last support
group meeting. Just curious. Is doing the supervised diet thing and not
following it EXACTLY insurance fraud? How many have done that?
— bob-haller
January 10, 2004
Te, i am inclined to agree with you. As far as the AMOS MOD HERE stuff
that Bob likes to flaunt, it is my understanding that there are no AMOS
mods anymore. Some people just like titles they confer on themselves.
— Delores S.
January 10, 2004
I say SHAME ON A FEW OF YOU
— Lynette B.
January 10, 2004
I say SHAME ON A FEW OF YOU who have responded to this post. It does not
matter what the circumstances are, if you are a mod or not, if you have or
haven't bent the rules before, or anything else for that matter. This
person was merely asking a question and many of you jumped on her like she
was a rotten dishonest person. She hasn't done anything yet. In fact,
some of you are more wrong than her in judging her as if she'd done
something rather than just ask an innocent question. And who are you to
judge ANYONE for ANYTHING for that matter? It is my understanding that
there's only one being who has the right to judge another human. I was
always taught that it's no body elses business to judge someone else. To
the original poster.....there are many good points that were made below.
Please do your research and do what's right for you....and don't get
discouraged by the the lack of support that you were seeking. Good luck!
— Lynette B.
January 10, 2004
In answer to your question... I think that you are crazy. If you are not MO
then try any way you can and loose 20 lbs instead of gaining. To the folks
who said be kind or don't judge... The person posting this question asked
to be judged. In a forum of this size people get all kinds of feedback.
That is why one posts here. If you agree with her then suppot her position.
Likewise if you disagree let her know. Life is not all beer and skittles.
Bob
— Robert L.
January 10, 2004
she asked an honest questions. and i'm going to give "MY" honest
answer. is the weight you are at right now your highest weight or do you
keep yo-yoing only to regain more over and over? do you think you can lose
enough weight on your own to ease your current health problems? wls should
be the last thing you want to do, but.....if my health problems were bad
enough that my quality of life just too much to deal with day to day and i
couldn't lose weight to a normal range.......i would gain 20 pounds. how is
it fraud if she really gained 20 pounds? i can understand if she lied and
really didn't weight 20 pounds more. what about alot of us who are waiting
to get approved after their first appointment and do the "last supper
thing and gain 30 pounds?" are you committing fraud? ok...let's say
she doesn't put on the 20 extra pounds and diets on her own. would it be
fraud if she gained all the weight back the next year plus more and then
qualify for the surgery? if she "truely" did gain 20 pounds it
wouldn't be fraud, but if she and her doctor lied and said she did and she
really didn't gain...that would be fraud. wls is very serious and not to be
taken lightly. and i am by no means saying everyone should gain just to
lose this way...that is just insane. but untill we know all that is going
on with this person we shouldn't point any fingers. i'm wondering how many
of you had a bmi on the border and gained 1 pound to qualify. i'm not
trying to be PC here...just my honest answer.
— franbvan
January 10, 2004
Delores, I am still here and remain a mod. I always prefered and cared for
Q&A and personally had little to do with the message board. Now that
board became unmoderated, at least for the most part. But myself and
perhaps 2 others still care for here. We approve all the questions, and I
try to prevent anyone from getting hurt by others. I never asked to be a
mod, I was asked to do it. I decided to be a public mod so this place
wouldnt be so impersonal. Most mods werent known by anyone other than the
team. I only agreed to give something back to the site that helped me so
much espically pre op. I worked hard to get the rules loosened here to
allow repeat questions too. For awhile many questions were getting rejected
and posters told to go look in the library. People look for more than
answers here they look for support. Frankly I know firsthand the
desperation some of come here with, when our health is failing. Since that
was honestly the case for ME! So I dont judge others who are looking for
answers that might well save their life. I will NOT tell them to lie, but I
will try to keep them from being attacked for asking. I actually HATE
putting up the AMOS MOD HERE, but sometimes its necessary:( Delores since
you think I am self appoined take a look at my profile, see the member
services volunteer team? Look I do this to HELP THE MEMBERS thats the only
reason!
— bob-haller
January 10, 2004
Hi Tammy: Which doctor said to gain the weight? Was that the bariatric
surgeon or your PCP? If you need to lose 120 pounds of excess weight and
have any co morbidities you probably qualify at your present BMI and don't
need to gain those last 20 pounds. I've answered this exact same question
before and I'll say again: I don't understand why people get so hostile
towards people asking a question about borderline BMI. If you've had
problems with your insurance, then that's who you should direct your anger
towards. Someone gaining the last bit of weight to get to a 40 BMI isn't
stealing anything from anyone. Whether they purposely do it, or let it
happen naturally over time it's the same thing really. They do legally
meet the requirements and it is not insurance fraud. It doesn't hurt
people to refrain from making nasty comments, but it does indeed hurt
people to read them. Why can't we please try and be nicer? Sure, give
your honest opinion, but phase it in a respectful way. Remember what goes
around, comes around, and I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of
calling someone crazy. JMHO :o)
— sherry hedgecock
January 10, 2004
I don't understand why you need to gain 20 if you're already 140 lbs
overweight. You only need to be 100 lbs overweight to qualify.
— susanje
January 10, 2004
Hey, keep in mind her BMI is 38.4 she's pretty close to 40, if she already
has co-morbs she could qualify without gaining. Without even
intentionally trying to gain weight she could probably easily gain 20 lbs
by just trying not to lose weight. I gained 16 lbs during the 4 month
process (from info meeting to surgery) -- 10 from quitting smoking and
another 6 from 3 months of no dieting. <br><br>
But I wouldn't describe WLS as fun, it's a major operation. It's very
serious, and a major decision, there are risks involved.
I also wouldn't advocate insurance fraud. if you were caught you could be
in some serious trouble and have a huge bill to pay (if they had paid for
the surgery, they can make you reimburse them) If you wait 6 months or a
year you might easily qualify on weight alone, if you have gained weight.
Wait and try then.
— Patricia T.
January 10, 2004
I can't quite follow your number system here, with 140 to lose somewhere. I
can tell you I met someone the other night with comorbs: severe, not yet
controlled diabetes, sleep apnea, anemia, pernicious anemia, high BP,
raging high cholesterol, fatigue, joint pain, shortness of breath--sounds
like he has 300# to lose, right? No. BMI 33, only about 75# to lose, on
paper, yet nearer death than I was myself. I have met people with lower
BMI's who had surgery based on their comorbs. If your reasons for losing
weight are based on health, please pursue your goal. I'm not saying to
commmit fraud, yet I do not see that you need to in order to reach that
magic "hundred over" mark. (100# over OR double your wt,
actually). Is it fair for my friend's husband to die of his cormorbs
because his BMI is 2 pts below "ok"?
— vitalady
January 10, 2004
Tammy, please disregard the rude responses of some here! Many people don't
understand that lightweights can and do have as many health-related issues
as heavyweights. That's why NIH included a bmi of 35-39 gray area for
justification of WLS. My bmi is 38-39, and unless I'm sitting or lying down
I'm in incredible pain. I have friends who are much heavier than I am who
are also much healthier. IMHO, bmi is just a magic number that gets tossed
around to establish a cut-off. That being said my insurance has denied me 4
times (and I even tried Susan Kennedy's wonderful letter). For those of you
who were so rude, I hope you go to my profile, and read it carefully and I
hope you're happy that I've been denied, and that I won't be contributing
to your higher insurance premiums. Now I guess you can throw all your anger
in the fact that I'm still going to take up precious space and air on the
surgeon's table, and in his office, and in his support group
meetings...because I'm self-paying, and I'll be on the losing side on
2/4/04.
— Le P.
January 10, 2004
Tammy, have you tried to get insurance approval yet? If you do have
co-morbidities, inform your doc that a bmi of 38 with the co-morbidities
usually gets you qualified. I, too, like the others are confused over your
#s of 120 pounds now or 140 after gaining 20?? Whichever, if you are 100
over per insurance charts, you qualify...as for the comments, even the
negative ones, when someone comes to the board for help, they have to
understand that they are getting people's opinions, and that will include
the supportive and the not so supportive-its peoples opinions-they vary. I
agree with the poster that said we should try to phrase our opinions in a
respectful way, however, it makes no sense for us to flame the posters we
disagree with. Just give your opinion and move on. The question asker can
embrace what they want to and ignore the rest... Bob, AMOS MOD HERE, I
love ya!! We appreciate your volunteering!
— Cindy R.
January 10, 2004
Hi Tammy! I can completely understand your dilemma. I was borderline in
qualifying for the surgery, weighing 235 and standing 5'2". My BMI
was over 40 but there were also other factors that my insurance considers
such as length of time on medically supervised diets, other methods used to
try to lose weight, number of years being MO, etc. I had several co-morbs
and met the other criteria but since my surgery, my insurer has gotten
tougher on requirements and many other insurers are following suit. There
was an article in the Wall Street Journal not too long ago about this very
subject - desperate people wanting the surgery but not qualifying, so they
were going out and gaining weight. From what I read, it's a very dangerous
thing to do and very hard on your body, especially on your liver. Not only
that, but insurers are getting wise to people who do it. So it's a risky
thing to do no matter how you look at it ... it's bad for your health and
even if you gain the weight you may still not be approved. Then what?
That having been said though, it seems to me like you would qualify at your
current weight and I don't understand why you would be advised by any
ethical physician to GAIN weight! If it were me, I would see another
physician and get another opinion and I certainly would not return to any
physician who would advise me to gain weight! JMHO, but what kind of
doctor would give a patient such unhealthy advice?? Please get another
opinion, and from someone who is more familiar with the requirements for
WLS. I wouldn't be surprised if you get approved without having to gain
another ounce! Good luck to you!
— MomBear2Cubs
January 10, 2004
You need to check the requirements of your insurance company. Aetna
requires a 5 year history of morbid obesity. I'm 7 weeks post op. I wish I
could have lost the weight on my own, as this is MAJOR surgery.
— greg17
January 11, 2004
Here is my opinion..... First of all...I don't think her doctor meant that
the surgery will be fun but that gaining the weight and not worrying about
what she was eating would be fun. For health reasons, I would not promote
gaining weight in order to qualify for this surgery. I'm 7 months out from
wls. A few years ago I looked into surgery but didn't qualify weight wise
for the surgery.But a year later my weight had steadily risen on its own
anyway,as well as my health problems and then I did qualify. I think this
is probably the case with quite a few people. Even if the original poster
does not intentionally gain weight she will most likely end up gaining the
weight in the future anyway, as its been proven that diets do not work.As
far as all of this talk about insurance fraud give me a break...With all of
the hoops that they make us jump through and as many games as the insurance
companies play I have no sympathy for them at all. For example..When I
finally did qualify for the surgery weightwise they wanted me to complete a
6 month diet requirement.Well since I barely qualified with my BMI I
couldn't afford to lose any weight because if I did, then I wouldn't
qualify weightwise anymore.But if I didn't do the diet I wouldn't qualify
either so it was a catch 22. My doc even said that it was bullcrap...I had
to say that I was dieting and check in with my doc once a month for a
weight check.She knew that I wasn't dieting and I knew it.It was a big
waste of time.
— jennifer A.
January 12, 2004
HI Tammy
I was in a similar situation. I had a BMI of 38 when I originally applied
for ins. coverage and they denied me so I went on all kinds of diets trying
to lose the weight, but as I suspected, I ended up gaining the little back
that I had a lost and a few more. Then low and behold a year and a half
later my BMI became a 43. Most of us have been on a steady uphill gain for
a long time. Don't risk your health by trying to gain 20 lbs. in a couple
of weeks, but eventually you will probably just gain it anyway. Good Luck!
— Tara J.
January 12, 2004
Thank you all for responding to my question. Even those that are so
evidently angry at the world.
Maybe this is my fault for the wording of my question. Everyone thinks it
would be "fun" gaining-not the surgery. I, on the other hand,
find nothing fun about putting more weight on my already stressed body. My
doctor is not encouraging this but said quite frankly that he would do it
in a heart beat.
To answer some quetions: I would think that being 120 lbs overweight would
be significant enough as well, but the insurance policies are to consider
BMI only. I am 3 points below qualifying. I have no descernable
comorbities. I DO have joint pain, shortness of breath and havent slept
through the night in 7 years. I have 2 flights of stairs in my home and
more and more frequently find myself asking my 12 year old to check on my 3
year old because I catch my breath after climbing them. My face is beat red
most of the time and often strangers ask me if I'm ok. I had insulin
dependent diabetes while pregnant with my last child.
I know it's only a matter of time before I do have the other problems that
some of you seem to be wishing on me. That is why I am considering this
procedure in the first place. (I've had 2 cesearen sections and DO realize
how dangerous and painful this can be.)
I understand the point of insurance fraud. With 5 years of law enforcement
and degreeded in Criminal Justice, fraud is the last thing I want to do.
Consider this: Each and everyday and with each and every bite of food, I am
making an unconscious and seeminly uncontrollable effort to gain weight.
Those of you who said I would gain the 20 pounds naturally, I'm sure were
right. My question shouldve been better worded. What I meant by gaining 20
lbs to qualify was for me not to struggle so hard to NOT gain the weight.
What I did NOT mean was to sit and drink beer and eat Skittles freely as
someone suggested. FYI-I dont do either!
I have been on Phentermeine, Redux, Meridian, Xenical and Pondimun, three
different times. Yes, Ive lost-at the most 52 lbs. Just to gain it all
back.
Thanks again for each and everyone of you.
— weluvtv
January 12, 2004
Tammy its sad how some treated you here. Did you look at what slouching
does to your BMI? Just 2 inches shorter on height measurement should make
you qualify. Look doctors work the numbers for the benefit of their
patients all the time, for the patients own good. If thats insurance fraud
then lots of friends of mine all belong behind bars, rather than being sick
and dying from weight they are out living life to the fullest being
productive and paying taxes, rather than being a drag on the insurance
company for things like diabetes. I wish you only the best and am embarased
by some of the uncaring resposes here.
— Sam J.
January 12, 2004
I've learned that I'm only 11 pounds "underweight" to qualify.
Out of pure curiosity, I wonder if that changes anyone's opinion here?
— weluvtv
January 12, 2004
I think if you have serious medical problems you probably would qualify, I
would suggest that you try for it if this is your last resort. Good Luck To
You!
Keep us updated please.
OPEN RNY 9/25/2004 - 78.5 lbs......:)
— Saxbyd
January 15, 2004
Hi Tammy. I'm sorry so many here are opposed. I have noticed on this
website that those who had BMI's over 45-50 are much more critical of the
'lightweights'. My BMI is very similar to yours. I'm not sure what
insurance company you have, but mine requires 100 lb. over ideal WITH a
comorbic condition that is NOT treatable with medication, however it took
three phone calls and 5 months to get this information. When I talk to
medical professionals, they agree that it is just as hard to lose 70 as it
is to lose 100, it's just that every insurance company has different
requirements for payment. I'm sure that a surgeon will perform the surgery
on you with your current BMI, you may just have to work with your insurance
company and find out EXACTLY what they require, and work with your doctors
to get approval. I appreciate your situation and wish you all the best. I
wouldn't necessarily gain any weight, but I would find out the specifics of
your insurance coverage. This may take a few phone calls, and you may not
know exactly what to ask until you know more, but keep with it.
— Linn D.
January 15, 2004
I don't generally post on here, but I feel strongly that if a person has to
lose 140 pounds the people on this website should be more supportive than
critical.
— Delilah C.
January 15, 2004
Tammy,
I'm sorry that some people were so demeaning and unsupportive. I started
off with a BMI of about 40 and was set for surgery and decided to wait and
try to diet "one last time" as I wanted this to be my last resort
and I ended up with a BMI of 45+. I didn't do this on purpose, it just
happened. I think what Bob said is accurate, we all had a BMI of 38 at
some point and did any of us try to gain more weight? Ofcourse not!!!
That's the cycle of dieting, we lose and then gain it all back plus 20
more!! I can understand why people with SMO wouldn't understand how a
"lightweight" would want this surgery when in the very end, they
may end up with a BMI of 35-40; however, I ask this question to someone who
opposes a lightweight having surgery: Were you trying to have a BMI of
50,60+? I seriously doubt it and therefore, you should know how hard it is
to diet and lose weight even if you "only" have 100lbs to lose.
If it is so easy for someone to diet and lose the weight at 100 lbs
overweight, than how did most of us end up with such high BMI's? Just my
thought. I also understand that your friends and Dr. weren't saying that
having surgery would be fun; rather that not trying to lose weight for the
first time in your life might be fun. Although, I have to say, that
anytime you gain weight, it isn't fun, just heartbreaking and unhealthy. I
would suggest trying with appeals and letters to try and get approval and
if that doesn't work, let nature take it's course because I seriously doubt
that you will stay at this exact weight for very long, you will either
diet, lose the weight on your own (which is a great thing) or naturally
gain the weight you need to qualify. Best of luck to you and please
understand that some people here don't understand that there is a
difference between stating your oppinion and being down right mean.
Denise
280/150/145
— denisel
January 15, 2004
I also have a lower BMI and I am also at the higher end for age...so I have
been as cooperative as I can with my doctors so far to help get the
insurance approval. Actually at 37 BMI I am in all the right criteria and
it is considered obese over 30 so I don't know why insurances would not
recognize that. If you have co-morbidities then it is the same as raising
the BMI. For anyone who is having a problem with us
"lightweights" wanting surgery too, think about the long road
back as you were losing the weight. If you had 150 lbs to lose and had
only lost 75 didn't you still need to keep going? You weren't happy to
stop there...so we just joined up with you at that point...that's all.
Everyone still has the same goals.
My PCP told me not to GAIN weight, but said to forget about dieting over
the Holiday and just relax. So I did, and I ate just like everyone else
who has no weight problems, and enjoyed myself and only gained 4 lbs...if I
had tried to maintain or lose I would have enjoyed the Holidays less and
probably still gained 4 or maybe 5 lbs! Go figure.
— tealady41
January 22, 2004
Tammy, you are no crazy. some of the people posting here are mean as hell
tho. Different insurance companies have different requirements tho. Mine
for example required 100 % over weight which was a BMI more like 50 than
40. Unfortunately I met that and exceeded it. I really wish I had never
gotten to the point I had to have surgery. BUT , since I did ~ thank GOD
every day that I was able to get this life saving / life changing surgery.
It has given my life back. My only regret is the years I spent not living
my life the way I wanted to because my weight was holding me back. You do
what you have to to make your life better, Hey WE all know that diets work
less than 5% of the time. If it was all easy to just go on a diet and
exercise the meanies posted below would not have needed surgery to lose
weight either. They have for gotten what it is like to suffer with this
life threatening disease.
— **willow**
January 22, 2004
Hi Tammy! Welcome to AMOS! lol..OMG, I can "not" believe how you
have been flamed! When did AMOS beging standing for "A$$'$ Mouthing
Off Stupidities"? I'm sorry, I don't wish to be rude, but how could
anyone have the audacity to come to this board and pass judgement on
someone else? How inconsiderate and counter-productive. This is a SUPPORT
group, not a board on which to place someone for stoning, which about 6 of
you have done a pretty good job of! And folks, for the record... someone
gaining weight is NOT a fraudulant issue! An insurance fraud/scam would be
something along the lines of going into surgery for a hernia repair, and
having a "tuck" here and there at the same time so the insurance
company will cover it!! Mmmm...I wonder how many have thought about doing
THAT? This woman came to us with a simple question, one which should have
been answered with the compassion and understanding that this board was
once all about..not the negativity and asinine remarks that some of you
decided would help her make an informed and intellegent choice..... my
suggestion to you 6, "get a life"! You have done nothing but
caused another person pain! Tammy, I wish you much luck on your journey,
and I hope if you have further questions, you won't let a few ignorant
remarks hinder your posting again! As for Bob, our MOD...good job!!!! Love
and light, Lisa
— medium
January 22, 2004
Willo and Lisa... Kudos to you It is ridiculous that all these posties are
high and mighty now that they have had there surgery.. HMMMMMM I am sure
they weren't desperate as a pre op...Puleeeeeez. I don't ask questions
here anymore because of all the self appointed queens of moral high
ground.. do what you have to do.. don't listen to these lovely people that
are so willing to offer support..lol
— hillafb U.
January 22, 2004
Hell, I gained 15 pounds after being approved for surgery trying to get in
all the foods I loved before not being able to eat them again :o).
If you're that close, I don't really see a problem with it. Mainly because
chances are your next dieting attempt will result in a loss, with a regain
of even more. In a few years you'd be there anyway (if your history is
like the majority of us) so get you some Ben & Jerry's and go for it.
Just make sure you stay active and don't hurt yourself.
This may sound over simplistic or ignorant, but I guess that's just too
bad!
This site is all about SUPPORT, remember people?
DOESN'T ANYONE REMEMBER FEELING DESPERATE? I'm only 6 weeks post, and I
remember it like it was yesterday!
GOod luck, sweetie.
— ScottieB86
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