Can someone PLEASE help me???

Hi Everyone, My name is Tammie and I live here in West Virginia and I am in DESPERATE need of WLS.. I have WV Medicaid and I have been to UVA in Virginia "Feb 06"had all the tests done"Went to UVA becausde no one accepted medicaid here in WV for WLS at that time" I did my 6 mth diet had a physc evaluation I have several health condition that WLS would either eliminate or help to improve dramaticly. My Dr is 100% in favor of me having WLS. but,I didnt even submit to get approval because I was told that WV Medicaid is one of if, not the WORST insurance to deal with that there is when it comes to WLS..I am 45 yrs old and I would give anything to get this surgery..I have a 22 yr old Daughter that is going to have my second grandbaby in june a boy and a 12 yr old Son and I am adopting my 18 mth old grandaughter and, with my weight being what it is and my health problems its so HARD to get by day to day. I want to be able to play with her and be there for my Son and the new grandbaby. I DESPERATLY need help and the WLS would provide this help and would GREATLY IMPROVE my quality of life and just give me a life PERIOD because now I DO NOT have one.Ive been told that You have to have diabetes and be on a walker or wheel chair ...basicly be practicly dead before West Virginia Medicaid will approve You for WLS..I was told this by a person in a Dr's office here in WVand that there was no use trying to get medicaid to aprove me because they wouldnt...I have numerous health conditions I have been diagnosed with MS in 1991 but not sure?I have GERD extreemly BAD,a Hietal Hernia that my weight makes even worse,severe bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome which I have had 2 surgeries for and have to have an even more complicated one for now on both hands in Morgantown,I have IBS,Hernrated discs in my back,Degenerative disc disease in my back,Arthritis in my spine even tiny hair line fractures in my spine,I have severe pain from Fibromyalgia and Myofacial Pain syndrome,I just had Hernia surgery on my belly I had a hernia right inside my belly button where i had a c-cectioin almost 13 yrs ago and because of my weight it weakend that area and caused me to get a hernia there and its been really rough healing from the surgery because of my weight..I have TMJ so bad that the discs in my jaw had slipped out.. Im sorry.. Im not trying to sound all whiney and have a pitty party for myself its just I want and NEED this surgery so bad and I just want to know if theres ANYONE out there that can help me and tell me what I need to do,What hoops I need to jump through to get approval from Medicaid for this surgery..I only have my Medicaid for 6 mths..I had to meet a spin down of over $5,000 in order to get it for 6 mths..I have been aproved for my disabilty "SSI"but because my Husband receives his SSDI I CANNOT get mine because we are married"go figure" hes a severe diabetic..it keeps him form working..Hes on an insulin pump . He gets Medicare but I dont get anything unless I meet a spindown which is hard to do because it has to be upaid medical bills over $5,000. I have done everything that I know of that Medicaid requires for approval except i dont have diabeties and i am not on a walker..If ANYONE reading this has had WLS on WV Medicaid and was not a diabetic on a walker or in a wheel chair would You PLEASE let me know how You got approval. They say where theres a will theres a way so Im still HOPING and PRAYING that this will happen for me SOON before I lose my insurance.. Im really SORRY to have written so much..I just need to talk to someone that can help me..Thanks to everyone for reading my post..Tammie

Have you tried Dr, Nease, he is a excellant surgeon, in Huntington, WV

Hi..No I havent tried there yet..I havent tried anywhere in WV because Ive been told so many times that Medicaid wouldnt cover the WLS because I wasnt a diabetic and wasnt using a walker..I went to UVA in Feb 06 and had all the pre op testing done all I needed to do was get a Dr supervised diet from my primary care Dr and I did that for 6 mths..but ive never submitted any thing because They told me in Virginia it was almost impossibe to get WV medicaid to cover WLS especially out of the state of WV.But Im NOT gonna give up there has to be a way for me to get this done and save my life before its too late..Thanks for replying to me and giving me Dr Nease's name...Do You know anyone that has WV Medicaid and got the WLS approved and wasnt a diabetic?Maybe someone reading this will be the person I need to talk to..Thanks again..I didnt think any one was even gonna read my post..I GREATLY appreciate anyones help that listens to me...

I would suggest call them and talk to them , THEY ARE WONDERFUL !!!!

Hello, My name is Jennifer and I live in WV too I am seeing Dr. Rossi in Charleston and he accepts medicaid and he acts like everything is going to go smoothy you may want to give him a call. He told me that I should have my surgery in about 2months. You can email anytime at [email protected] Jennifer

Hi Jennifer..Thanks for the info..If You dont mind me asking what are Your health problems b/c Ive been told that I have to have so many things its rediculous.I have a whole page of criteria I have to meet before Medicaid will pay..well WV Medicaid anyway..The other states DONT have near as many problems getting them to approve...I called Dr Nease's office and Dr Shin's too and was told that I have to have Diabetes,Be on a walker or in a wheel chair..These 2 are a MUST before WV Medicaid will approve,Must be renterd disabled b/c of my weight,Have to have a 12 mth Dr supervised failed diet attempt and why it failed"I have done this"Have to have a 5 yr record of Height and Weight, Have to have a Physc evaluation"which I have done"Cardiologists sign off on surgery.."I understand this"also have a sleep study done to check for sleep apnea  .Seems like they would want to prevent Diabetes ,Disability,or  being in a Wheel Chair..I have several health conditions and my weight greatly increases my problems..but I dont have Diabetes and Im not in a Wheel Chair but I am Disabled...Please remember me  in Your Prayers I DESPERATLY need this Surgery I feel its my only HOPE of being around to watch my grandbabies grow up or even be able to be here for my 12 yr old son        I DONT wanna die this wayI DONT want to be an even bigger embarrasment in death to my family. Thanks for taking time to give me the info.. Tammie

Hi Tammy I know how you feel. I have been trying for over 5 years to get weight loss surgery as well.. Wv medicaid requires that you have diabetes which now I have, be either on a walker, wheelchair or cane which I am now. I was on a diet with my doctor took adipex for 6 months and gained it back when I ended up in the hospital for a month while I got the lovely steroids. I called the customer service on the back of the card and broke down on them~ I now have pickwiccan syndrome due to being obese. I go back in the hospital for the second part of my sleep study. So yea it does get trying but girl hang in there. I called dr shin first and they cancelled my seminar he had to go out of town now that is set up for July 12th. All of my drs cardiologist and pulmonary and family doctor told me that if  I didn't get this done soon I would die and you would think that the state would like me being healthy again trust me I made more money working then what I get on disabilty. So, I understand what you are going thru. We have to believe that miracles do happen and that we are special cause don't make junk.. Take care !

Hi and thanks for the words of encouragement..Im still trying to hang in there Im waiting on an apt with Dr Shin right now and I DO BELEIVE in miricles,,PLEASE remember me in your prayers and I will You also..GOD can open all those SHUT doors...Take Care...Tammie