Question???

Hi Ruth, I am sorry to hear that you have to go threw all of the waiting. I was not able to complete a regular stress test because of my size and I too had to see the cardiologist for clearance. I hope that all goes well with you on the 17th. Hang in there. Georgeann

Thank you Georgeann! I see the cardiologist this Wednesday. Hopefully he will shed some light on this! My surgeons office said I probably failed because of my size, not that there is necessarily anything 'wrong'. I sure hope they are right! Ruth

hi georgeann, I am pre-op. I have all of my pre-op testing done I have an appointment for a consult on august 23. I hope they dont make me wait too long. I havent been approved yet. How about you?

Willby ... you are almost there. I see that different programs have different procedures. I could not have my consult until I received insurance approval and all pre op testing was complete. I hope you don't have to wait long either for the approval and surgery date. Georgeann Surgery Date: 1/28/05 6.5 Months post op -115 lbs last time I weighted 240 lbs to go!

Hi there Georgie! I'm pretty new around here. I don't have a date for surgery yet. I have been referred by my PCP to a Dr. who is the director of the Weight Wise program for my medical group. I have to meet with him before being referred on to the surgeon, I believe. I'm still pretty in the dark about what the process is with my medical group. I'll be seeing this Dr. on Tuesday, so hopefully I will know more about the process then! Jacie

Hi Jacie, We're all new around here and geting to know each other so welcome aboard. We all have to start somewhere and you have taken the first step. I pray that the ball will start rolling for you on Tuesday. Georgeann

Hi Sister Georgie, I have completed all the criteria that my surgeon's office said that BCBS of Empire required of me. The paperwork went to the ins. co. and after a month of me calling the dr and ins. co......I was told my case was on hold due to lack of diet attempts! So I am on the last two months of the Med. supervised diet (that never was criteria) I am trying to be patient. If only I would had known.....Please, all pre-ops out there, Please document everything, even if you don't need it...it's better in the long run. God is teaching me paitence--and he's not finished with me yet. I don't have an angel...but would love it! Take care, Virginia

Virginia, I agree with you 100% ... DOCUMENTATION AND PREPARATION IS NECESSARY WHEN REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR WLS. Document every diet you have been on whether medically supervised or not. Also. keep record of all of your comorbities and Dr's including OBGYN who have treated you. Here is the information I provided that prevented me from having to be on a pre op supervised diet. All of them were not medically supervised, but it showed that I had some consistancy in trying. Diets Since 1979 to Present Dick Gregory Weight Loss Program (Liquid Diet)-1979 Shacklee Weight Loss Program (Liquid Diet)-1980 Medfast Liquid Diet (Medically Supervised)-1986 Richard Simmons Deal a Meal(1500 Calories) Sweatin to the Oldies Exercise Video-1987 Victory Fitness Center (Water Aerobics)-1988 to 1990 Jenny Craig (Semi Medically Supervised)-1989 Women at Large Exercise Video-1989 Food Addiction Online Support Group-1990 On and Off - 1500 cal. Diet-1990 to 1999 Riverside Family Practice Nutritionist (Medically Supervised) 2300 cal. diet - 1999 Xenical (Prescription) - 2000 Overeaters Anonymous Online Support Group - 2001 Weigh Down Diet (Christian Program) - 2002 Slim Fast and Ensure - 2003 2300 cal. Diet 2004

Hi Georgie!!! Thanks for your reply. I can't believe the diet history you did--wow! If I had shown that much documentation in my diet history in the first place. I probably wouldn't have to do this 6-month (non-criteria) joke of a diet. My MD made a comment to me about this insurance "run-around" at my last visit. He said that even though this so called med. supervised diet is a way of stalling, it is a tool to kinda "weed-out" the people who don't need the WLS. It's the more determined people who stick it out, that end up with the WLS in the end. It's really sad when people walk away because of the insurance "run-around" I'm more determined then ever to not go away. I'm going to jump through the hoops, and in the end...I win ....or I mean........I lose??? Thanks for the info. Have a great day! * Virginia

I have seen people go threw the ringer to get insurance approval. I was told that some insurance companies will automatically deny people on their first attempt for approval just to discourage them. You have the right attitude and no matter how long it takes hang in there. When times get rough come here to vent, hollar and scream them jump those hoops until you are approved. You'll be in my prayers Virginia. Georgeann