Question:
Where do I start?

I am 5'7 about 245 lbs. I have asked my dr. about surgery she has always told me my bmi was not high enough. I have now been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and am on a cpap at night. Where do I go from here?    — chemo_mom (posted on July 20, 2009)

July 20, 2009
what you will need to do is locate a surgeon in your area, preferably one who accepts your insurance and get a referral for a consultation with that surgeon. your doctor needs to provide you with this referral even if she doesn't think you are heavy enough for the surgery-- since she is not a provider of bariatric services she should refer you out with no issues. you will be assessed by the bariatric physician and they will let you know what your options are. good luck!
   — greenpunchbuggie

July 20, 2009
I am mirror to your stats I got the referal and have gone to an informative session ,, I then went on to make an appointment with a bariatric surgeon on aug 31 ,,,, My insurance is bcbs and I beleive I will have no issue because of sleep apnea.. Your Insurance carrier is an important part to this whole puzzle check thier website
   — up4it

July 21, 2009
When you do get the referral from your insurance company they might tell you that they don't cover weight loss services. But they alway have an exclusion; unless deemed medically necessary. So make sure you have your doctor submit all of your issues and co morbidites, find a bariatric surgeon, you can find one on this website in your area and call them and see if they take your insurance. That is the main part right now, is finding a wl center that takes your ins. because your doctor will submit the info to the center you pick and the center will then submit all of your information to the insurance company. If you get denied, just ask the bariatric center to send in an appeal. Once they have the approved, then you will set up a surgery date, of course somewhere in here you will have already seen and met the surgeon. If the center is good, it shouldn't take long for the process. Mine from start to finish was about 6 months. I had already been on a supervised diet most ins co want a 6 month supervised diet, that meaning weight watchers, jenny craig, nutrisystem, etc. If you have proof of that then you are good to go. That is usually what delays most people in the circle and hoops they have to go through is the supervised diet. A lot have to start from scratch but i am sure most of us have been to a weight loss center at one point in our lives and try to get the center to write a letter on your behalf, I did that with Jenny Craig. Best wishes to you.
   — Kristy

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