Scheduled my VSG appointment!!!

Sep 28, 2009

28 September 2009

I did it!! I booked my surgery in Mexico!!!   I'm so excited!!!  HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!

THREE MONTHS FROM TODAY I'LL BE SLEEVED!!!!!!!

Last Friday, 25 Sep 2009, I just flat gave up on the idea of fighting my company for a waiver to their insurance exclusion for WLS coverage, when HR informed me that (1) the Maryland WLS law didn't apply to them cuz the policy was written in Virginia (even tho our office is in Maryland, and I live and work in Maryland), and (2) the Virginia law on WLS applies to insurance companies (they must OFFER WLS), but not to employers (who can decline or "exclude" the offer of coverage - which my employer did in their brand new policy;  which just went into place on 1 June 2009).  I further worried that fighting with my company might cause me to lose my job - Maryland being an "at will" State.

(Note: I'd emailed the team at http://obesitylaw.com twice, but never received any response - which annoys me no end.  I don't know what experiences others have had, but I simply cannot recommend them at all.)

Even if they granted me a waiver, the bottom line is I barely fall into the "35 BMI with co-morbidity" range of eligiblilty.  My BP had been quite elevated for the past several years - about 10 months ago I stopped adding salt to anything whatsoever, cut out eating pre-salted stuff almost entirely, and started eating a bowl of oatmeal 5 days a week (at work). Results: my BP and cholesterol have dropped significantly. My docs are very happy.  My weight increased a bit (5 pounds), but since I started researching WLS, I've dropped back down - this morning I was at 199.  So while I have minor co-morbids... nothing that is truly over the top. 

The fact that my family's history of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, and etc. is downright scary to me... no doubt would do little or nothing to sway an insurance adjuster to approve me for the procedure.

The fact that I've been on every diet under the sun, have lost hundreds of pounds, have been an aerobics instructor, have spent tens of thousands of dollars on product and equipment and classes, have struggled every dam' day with that inner "I'm sooo hungry, feed me NOW!!!"  voice since my early teens... none of that would sway an adjuster, either, I'm quite certain.

If I've larnt one thang in the past 35 years it is:  Diets. Don't. Work.

And so:  self-pay.  We have tickets to Nevada for Christmas - my girls will stay with my family there. On 27 Dec 2009 I head for Mexico. Not sure who will come with me - I'm fine going alone, but suspect that won't fly with my Mom.  Surgery is 28 December!!!  Back to USA on 30 December!!!  Then, home on 1 January.  Thanks goodness I booked non-stops across the country.  I plan to be back to work on 4 January.

After 7 straight weeks of research on physicians and insurance and law, I'm moving on to the preparation mode: taste-testing various protein drinks and powders, updating my will and guardianship papers, finding a pet sitter for 12 days, and selling stuff on eBay to offset some of the costs of the procedure!!  Drinking water. Taking measurements. yada yada.

Wheeee!!!!!!!!  Can't WAIT!!!

Sheri

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May 18, 2008
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