Newbie With Questions

Hi, I've been watching the DE Message Board and was hoping someone out there can answer some question. I got an approval from BC/BS of DE POS for 1 visit with Dr. Isaias Irgau (which I though was a victory in itself). My visti is on 6/2 and now I'm not sure I will qualify for the surgery. I am 44 years old, weigh in at 215 lbs. and 5'4 or 5'5 (it's always different), my BMI is 36 or 37 and have recently been diagnost with "mild" sleep apnea (my numbers don't qualify for the cpac), asthma, shortness of breath, GERD, high cholestrol and triglyserides (even with meds it is still high), edema, depression (who wouldn't be??), cervical disk degeneration, migrains, and a bunch of other "little things" that seemed to have crept up on me. I have track my weight history back over 30 years (which really made me sad to relive all the failures) and I have documented numerous medicall supervised weight loss attempts using phentermine and xenical (is xenical a diet drug??). So I guess my question are...is mild sleep apnea considered a co-morbity? Even though I have documentation of a lot of diet attempts none of them are for this year. Will they still count if they was 12 straight month but in 1998 and 2003 (with other documented attempts in between)? They said my GERD is "moderate". My doctor says that is significant, is it? And my joint aches and pains aren't documented as arthitis but I was give perscription arthitis meds for it, will that count? OK, I've gone on long enough. I appreciate your help in anyway.

Hi Lisa, It all depends on what the insurance company decides. I can tell you that they (BC/BC PPO) accepted documented WL from 1998 & 2001 from LA Weight Loss for me. I did weigh more than you (almost at 100 LBS over weight), had PCOD and that was it. I hope all works out for you! Best of Luck, Jennifer

Thanks Jennifer, I want this surgery sooooo bad that I think I'm second guessing myself on everything. I haven't even had my appointment with the surgeon yet and I'm already working on an appeal...just in case.

Hi Lisa!!!!! I have B/BS PPO. I and my primary dr. kept a log from bak to 1996 with my weight loss tries. I have high blood pressure, high holesterol, and I am 100 pounds overweight. My BMI is 48. They agreed to everything and I am almost three weeks post op from surgery. Good Luk to you. You have more than enough to be approved. Just work with your primary Dr. Hope all is well. Smiles!!!! Julie

Thanks, Julie!! My Primary Care Doctor is all for this, she was so interested in what I had to say about the surgery and wants me to keep her posted on every step of the way. So I guess her encouragement is a good thing.