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IT'S MORE THAN JUST WEIGHT GAIN!!!
joiousone's Blog
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My Story 6-16-07 Hello! It's more than just weight gain, it's my health and appearance too. I have been battling weight since 1999, when I discovered I had high blood pressure and acid reflux disease. I had an ulcer in 1999. I wonder if it could possibly be the medication I am taking for my high blood pressure and acid reflux disease that may make me gain weight. Back then I was a size 12 and now I am a size 18/20. I am miserable and depressed and this has a major impact on my life. I also have sleep apnea along with gallbladder & urology problems, as well. I have been single for the last 6 years. I have tried many different things to lose weight. I have done everything there is possible to lose weight. I have been trying to lose weight for over 6 years now. In the past I have been to a thyroid specialist to try and discover why such a rapid weight gain and nothing was ever resolved. I have been on 2 different prescription diet pills that cost me a fortune and ONLY lost 6 pounds after several months and spending allot of money. I have worked out/exercise (stepper & bike for 30 minutes, 4 nights a week) for 8 weeks in the past and did not lose a pound. I want to do something dramastic about my weight. I am interested in considering surgery to help assist me in losing weight if there is a way it could be covered by my health insurance. I feel I have to do something and I need to do something soon. I think that surgery could benefit me and my health conditions. I want to feel better about myself and my appearance. October 2006 I weight the most I have ever weight at 229! :-( In March 2007 (5 months later) I weight 220! Some how I lost 9 pounds without even trying. I did change jobs in October 2006 and am much happier at the job I am currently at now. I did have allot of stress at my previous job. I know stress can cause weight gain. Now that I do not have as much stress, maybe that caused me to shed a couple pounds. Again, I am making another attempt to lose weight. This is a record breaker for me. As of 4-14-07, I have been working out/exercising again. I am using the treadmill (15 minutes), bike (15 minutes) and ab press (4 sets of 20 of 20 pounds) now. I periodically increase the level or pounds when it no longer seems to be a challebge for me. I am working out/exercise 4 days a week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). On Saturday & Sunday I do 30 minutes on the treatdmill. I basically do the treadmill for cardio (my high blood pressue). I also have changed my eating habits a great deal and this is the strictest I have ever been. I do NOT consider myself on a diet, becuase I do not deprive my body of anything it is craving. However, I eat different than I was and I also eat smaller portions. This is the hardest I have ever tried. I eat allot of salads, cottage cheese, fruits and vegatables. I hardly ever cook, so I don't eat allot of meat, unless for lunch or going out to dinner with my family. I cut out soda and drink allot of water and a little bit of juice (diluted with water) and milk. This time I have ONLY lost 5 pounds in 9 weeks. :-( Why is it so hard for me to lose weight? I am currently learning about my options and how it may be covered under my health insurance. My Cobra health insurance runs out Feb. 2008. I live alone and pay my bills on my own with no help from anyone. I barely live paycheck to paycheck. I am very serious about considering surgery, but would only consider it if it could all be taken care of by my health insurance. I am undecided at this time if I will actually go through with the surgery or not. I am strongly leaning towards it, but I am scared to death. I guess that is only natural, considering I have never had any major surgery. FRIENDS & FAMILY: I need your support more than anything now!!! I do NOT need any negativity PLEASE!!! I beg of you. THANKS for taking the time to review my profile. I appreciate it. Take care and be safe. Updates: 6-18-07: Requested medical records from all my physicians and pharmacies. 6-19-07: I weight 214, since 4-14-07 I have lost a total of 6 pounds My PCP mailed me a prescription dated 6-20-07 to see a nutritionist. I did not request that. However, I am excited and eager to see how a nutritionist can possible help me. I think the education and knowledge from a nutritionist would do me some good. It's worth a try. The prescription was orginally for Wellington (about 30 to 45 minutes away), so I ask their recommendation for someone closer to me, and they did give me a suggestion for a place in Jupiter (about 15 minutes away). Musch better. I called there and spoke to a nice lady, she took all my information. She then called me back and notified me that I have a $500 deductible that has not yet been met this year. I was surprised. I have a HMO policy. I pay for my insurance 100% out of my own pocket and that is now $415 a month, as the premium recently increased. There is no way I can pay $415 monthly premium and a $500 deductible at the same time or within the same month. Therefore, I had to deny the treatment. 6-26-07: I weigh 217, some how I gained 3 pounds back. :-( 7-3-07: I weigh 212, since 4-14-07 I have lost a total of 8 pounds. It's been almost 3 months. This is depressing. 7-10-07: I weigh 210. I actually lost 10 pounds. It is taking forever. 7-17-07: I weigh 213, some how I gained 3 pounds back. There has been allot of family birthdays that come with CAKE!!! Dr. Avni sent a letter of "predetermination" to UHC for me to be treated by a nutritionist. 7-24-07: I weigh 212. This is ridiculous, as I am on week 15 of dieting and exercising. Why is it so hard for me to lose weight? 7-29-07: I asked my mom to please put together a list of the family's medical history and background for her and dad along with their parents. I also asked my uncle in MI to do this, as well. 7-31-07: I weigh 213. What's going on here? 8-5-07: I sent letters to certain selected physicians asking them to write letters of "medical necessity" for me to get bariatric surgery. 8-7-07: I weigh 215. Ok, I am really getting the urge to want to discontinue my diet and exercise. It is obvious it is not working. I will continue to work out, but I am NOT sticking to my diet any longer. This is just nonsense. However, I some what enjoy working out. 8-8-07: Received letter from UHC denying treatment with the nutritionist, becuase it is an EXCLUSION on my policy. Since this is denied, I can almost bet on bariatric surgery being denied. Received "medical necessity" letter for bariatric surgery from Dr. Mason (in referenece to my sleep apnea). I am excited, nervous and scared all at the same time now. 8-9-07: Both my urologist state that my urology problems are not related to my weight and will not write a medical necessity letter for bariatric surgery. :-( I found out today that my endocrinologist moved to GA last year and the doctor that took over for her is not willing to write me a medical necessity letter (based on my medical records) even if I were to see him/her. I am so depressed. :-( 8-14-07: I weigh 215. 8-17-07: I received a letter from my therapist (due to my depression about my weight) that she recommedns I get bariatric surgery. :-) It does not specify medically necessary. Maybe it will be helpful. 8-21-07: I weigh 214. 8-25-07: I appealed my denial to see a nutrtionist. I believe it was previously denied due to "morbid obesity" being the original primary diagnosis. Obesity and morbid obesity always require another diagnosis as primary. 8-28-07: I weigh 215. 9-1-07 to 9-9-07: VACATION!!! NO WORK!!! NO EXERCISE!!! NO DIET!!! LOL!!! 9-11-07: I weigh 215. No weight gain from vacation. That's great, especially since I am not eating exactly right. 9-25-07: I weigh 219. Thanks to a patient making home made fudge and bringing it to my work place. LOL 10-30-07: Last day! STOPPED exercise and dieting. My job too hectic due to season. My COMPUTER CRASHED!!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING. REMEMBER WHAT THE DAY IS ALL ABOUT AND CELEBRATE THE TRUE MEANING. MERRY CHRISTMAS. REMEBER WHAT THE DAY IS ALL ABOUT AND CELEBRATE THE TRUE MEANING. HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! 1-1-08: I have new insurance. I have insurance through my employer now. YEAH!!! I have BC/BS now. I only pay $150 a month now instead of $415. BIG difference. However, my copays are higher, but only have to pay them as I need to go to the doctor. 2-5-08: Called BC/BS to see if it was covered to see a nutritionist and/or have bariatric surgery. I was informed thay are exclusions on the policy. 3-13-08: My Gastro MD wrote a medical necessity letter for me to have surgery. I'm still working on getting a letter from my PCP. 4-1-08: My boss asked me about what my plans were for vacation this year. He kept pressuring me, so I was honest and told him I am hoping to have bariatric surgery this summer. 4-3-08: BOTH my bosses consulted me and grilled me with a million and one questions about my decision to have surgery. That was personal and made me feel very uncomfortable. However, I do understand the concern on behalf of the company and business. 4-12-08: I FAXED ALL MY STUFF TO BC/BS!!!! I sent my 2 page letter to ask for approval to have bariatric surgery along with sending my 3 letters from health care professionals recommending I have the surgery, my medical records, family history, exercise tracking log, my prescription list, my diagnoses and etc. They will probably receive it on Monday, 4-14-08. I am also going to put copies of everything I faxed in the mail to BC/BS, just in case. I really wanted a letter from my PCP and I kept putting off sending the information, due to wanting a letter from my PCP, but with what occurred at my job last week, I felt it necessary I get the information out as soon as possible. WISH ME LUCK!!!! PRAY FOR ME!!!! 4-13-08: Since my company is small. I contacted the insurance agent that sold my company the insurance plan. I consulted her and asked her if there's any way possible that I can get batiatric surgery covered under insurance. She replied 4-14-08 and I am extremely depressed now. She stated "BCBS does not pay for such surgery now.. Just recently most carriers have done away with it. I know that when they were covering it...there was alot the patient had to try first to make sure other avenues wouldn't work. BCBS has discount programs for weight loss through Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem if you are interested, go to www.bcbsfl.com and click on discount programs...then look under weight mnanagement. That might help in one area. I am looking to see if there is an exception under BCBS but don't hold your breath! Talk to you soon!". What a bummer. I do not WANT the surgery, I NEED the surgery due to my health conditions. I am so depressed. 4-16-08: I spoke to my insurance agent (the person that sold the BC/BS policy to my company I work for) and she had bad news. She stated that since about 2005 no insurance polices, especially small group policies will cover bariatric surgery. It is not a covered benefit under any circumstances, there are no mentioned exceptions in the policy contract. She stated even if a BC/BS participating doctor prusued it, that it would not get authorized. She stated almost all nsurance companies did away with covering bariatric surgery now (since 2005). She stated that most carries did away with it, but there may be a couple large group plans out there on old plans and contracts that may accept it. I have tried so much stuff to lose weight and have been unsucessful. I felt this was my only option. I am so bummed out and depressed. This really upsets me. 4-17-08: I need this surgery so bad that I can taste it. My mouth is watering for it. It is a NEED, not a WANT!!!! I need this surgery to prolong my life and to be healthier. *** If you would like to get to know me on a more personal level. I request that you please visit me at http://www.myspace.com/joiousone or contact me at joi2b@bellsouth.net. THANKS. ***
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