joianya
My name is Joi, I am 37 years old and have struggled with my weight since I was 6 years old. I remember always being the "fat girl" in class. I remember the painful teasing and name calling I endured. Kids can be so cruel. I recall in gym class in 5th grade, during "Physical Fitness" week which was an annual event in our school district, having to be weighed on the scale in front of the entire class. I was horrified and dreaded that day every year. The gym coach would call each kid up in alphabetical order, my named ended in W so I sat there watching the smaller "slightly chunky" kids get called names and looking embarrassed.
When my name was called, I must have been beet red before I ever got to the scales. As my weight was called out loud, just as all the other kids before me, tears would form in my eyes. I tried to fight back those tears as I heard snickers and remarks of "pig" and "she needs to stop eating so much" followed by inevitable giggles.
Once I got to the 9th grade, I guess I became a little rebellious, I stopped dressing out in the (too) short-shorts and tight fitting t-shirts that were the required uniform in gym class. I began sitting gym class out on the bleachers with the trouble makers. My parents couldn't understand why I would refuse to dress out, why I would rather make an F in gym.
That was just one of the many painful memories that I recall from my school years. If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't!
When I first heard about Gastric Bypass surgery, and the success that patients were having, I wanted on-board badly. Unfortunately my insurance wouldn't cover it. I changed jobs (and insurance), so I decided to try my luck with the insurance company. After being told that Gastric Bypass surgery was not a covered benefit under our plan, I talked to a contact at Dr. Tichansky's office who told me what to ask and how to ask it. Now armed with the right knowledge, I called the insurance company back and guess what???.....they DO cover the surgery in cases of "morbid obesity" which means your BMI must be 40 or higher. If I had know it was that simple I could have had the surgery years ago!
So if you insurance company tells you it's not a covered benefit, keep trying!!
About Me
Before & After
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