ObesityHelp

I have had my surgery.  I didn't have it with the original surgeon I spoke with.  Many things happened after that first call.  My PCP wasn't as cooperative as I needed.  My insurance company changed, and I ended up getting a referral from an orthopedic surgeon that I had gone to for hip pain. 

It took 2 full years, but I had my surgery on Aug 23, 2010.  I weighed 380 at my highest, in Oct of 09.  I weigh 286 now.  I have an appointment today with that same orthopedic surgeon about the same hip.  He had said he wouldn't do anything for me until I took off 100 lbs.  I am 4 lbs shy of that.  I'm excited :)

I called Dr Harris' office yesterday and was given an explanation of what I need to do in order to be eligable for surgery.  I have to have 3 years of records that I have had a bmi of over 50, which I'm not sure I have, will have to ask the dr when I go back to her.  I have to have 6 consecutive months of dieting under dr supervision with good records.  I have to have been cigarette free for 3 full months.  With this criteria (insurance is the reason) it will be at the very least 6.5 months before I can have the surgery.  On Monday (as long as hurricane ike doesn't show up) I will be setting an appointment (as soon as possible) with my pcp to start the diet process.  I can not see the surgeon until i have not smoked for 3 solid months.  Once I start with the surgeon I will be able to get the majority of the other required proceedures done while waiting for the 6 months to be up.  I must have bmi UNDER 60 before I can have the surgery too.