Still working on it

Mar 26, 2008

Its been nearly three months since I got super interested in wls. I have hit a few bumps in the road but feel like I am moving forward slow as it may be. I initially found out that my insurance was not likely to cover lap band which was the procedure I was hoping for. My next option was to go down to Mexico as we live relatively close, however I got discouraged because I do not have the financial means to pay for it out of pocket, and since my credit has a few bruises I don't think I could get financed.

So I continued to work toward a referral from my dr., instead they sent me to a nutritionist which took two months between waiting for the approval and getting my appt. After about 3 days on the strict diet from the nutritionist (which I have been trying to stick to, but which is extremely difficult with my schedule) I started aggressively trying to get a straight answer on my insurance coverage in regards to lap band. I discovered that it is quite likely my insurance will cover it with the right steps taken, so I went to my first informational meeting last night and am now waiting for a consultation with the dr.

I know from this point on it will be at least 6 months as my insurance requires that time on a nutritional program, and although I wish it could happen faster, I am super excited to know that it will happen before I know it. The only frustrating part is that my BMI is teetering on the line for approval so I fear that if I lose any weight in the next 6 months I could lose the opportunity to move forward. I don't want to intentionally gain or hold on to lbs for ANY reason, but I can't imagine losing my approval for a few lbs when I have so many troubles as a result of my weight.

Update: After meeting with the nurtritionist for the first time and going through the 6 month monitored diet, my Dr. wanted a food diary showing everything I had eaten for the previous 6 months. I brought this to her only to have her tell me I would have to start over because I needed to do the supervised diet specifically through my medical group not just through the referral she had given me to the nutritionist. She had expressed her thoughts very frankly multiple times on WLS and how she was very against it so even though I had wasted the last 10 months with her, I worked up the nerve to change medical groups and start commuting to see a Dr. who was interested in helping me rather than judging me. I also learned that the 6 month diet is not required in Califonia. Almost 18 months after my initial research began for weightloss surgery, multiple attempts for a referral, and an appeal I finally got my lap-band. Whew what a journey it has been.

Thanks for stopping by.

0 Comments