Just starting this journey

Hi, My name is Faith. I'm 36, mom of 2, live in NC. I'm 260 currently. Have high cholesterol and high triglycerides and potentially fatty liver (haven't gotten tested yet), and stress incontinence. I have two friends who have had two different types of WLS. One had Gastric Sleeve, the other RNY. I kept being in denial over my weight saying, I don't get winded after 2 flights of stairs. I'm not diabetic. I don't have high blood pressure. My friend said, "You should put the word YET at the end of each of those statements." That scared me. Tomorrow night I go to a WLS Seminar at Duke University to begin this journey.

I'm less scared about the surgery and its risks and benefits. I'm afraid insurance will say no, or my PCP will say no. I probably won't believe anything is happening until I'm laying on the operating table. 

Anyone else more worried about being approved for surgery?

Are there any questions that I should ask tonight? I've been educating myself on the internet and books. Is there something that people should ask but wouldn't think to ask because they haven't had the surgery yet?

Many thanks.

Faith 

First thing:  confirm your insurance coverage.  You can call or look at your policy on-line.  Also, if it is covered, check on the insurance company's requirements.  Generally BMI of 35 with co-morbidities, or BMI of 40.  Many companies require a six month "supervised diet".  One of point:  if your insurance is through your employer or your husband's employer, make sure they have not added an exclusion on their policy.  Many employers do this to reduce premiums.

At the top of your screen, on the blue bar, you will see "Resources"  - click on that and then click on "About Weight Loss Surgery" -- it provides a lot of helpful information.

Good luck to you!!

Thank you Mary. I really appreciate this!

Ask about your particular surgeon's morbidity (death) rate; also, if they do gastric sleeve what is their leak rate?  Basically, how often do they have to go back in and fix leaks after the initial surgery.  Ask what their patient's average excess weight loss is.  These are all things they should be tracking.

And I would personally ask the surgeon how many of these particular procedures they have done:  how many RNY's, how many VSGs.  The more, the better.   

HOw soon after you get the go ahead from physicians/insurance approval, weight loss program (6 months) do you have the surgery on average?

You can call your insurance company right now and ask if it's a benefit and what all you need to do before you submit to pre-qualify.  There will be some hoops to jump through.

I'm currently in the middle of a benefits change.

It is my husband's insurance as I have NO benefits where I work.

Their paperwork says they do cover Bariatric surgery (which seems encouraging).

I had Medcost until now. On June 1st we have CIGNA.

Not sure if I can pre-qualify just yet.