mussakka

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Ron, living in Raleigh, NC. I've been seriously considering GBP surgery for about a month now. My partner and I had been on the South Beach diet for about 3 years, but since the New Year, it's all gone to pot. I lost weight pretty well initially, losing over 100 lbs., but then I plateaued and no matter what I did, the weight remained. Just like on every other diet, I grew frustrated and began eating crap again. I still follow most of my eating habits from SBD, but now I sometimes binge with a candy bar or sweets. Now I'm near 450 lbs., up from a post-diet low of about 380.

My insurance policy lists weight loss surgery among its exclusions, but I'm going to see what can be done. I have an appointment in a couple of days for an introductory seminar with the doctor and I have plenty of questions for him!

Anyway, just wanted to say hello to everyone!

__________________
Visit my flickr or my blog

Current: 450 / Goal: 175
Status: Seriously looking into lap RNY GBS
Former South Beach babe

coptergirl

Hi Ron - and welcme to our little forum family I wish you the very bestof luck on your journey

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Blessings,

Whitney
272/243/123.5/135
Highest/Pre-op/Current/Goal

GBS 3/7/06
Dr. Stanley Klein -Torrance, CA

Hernia Repair/Tummy Tuck 3/9/07!!!!

148.5 pounds and 64.5 inches gone forever!!

GOAL REACHED 2/6/07!!!

Ducksack Member#3! And TTBear Blondbear!!
www.myspace.com/horsegalwhit

LyndasRoom

Hi Ron,
Best of luck. If you have the option, you may wish to change insurance, unless there are exceptions to the exclusion!

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Lynda
July 11,2006
Dr. Callery
309/197/150
Century 6/1/2007
Onederland 8/26/2007

Dyann

Welcome....I hope you find the right solution for you. The right and the difficult road are usually the same direction. Good Luck and we are here.

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DYANN

Lap RNY 1/4/06....
46/19.8/23.5 BMI's 167.9 pounds gone forever as of 9/12/07 116.3%to goal

294.4/126.5/150
5' 7''
Jupiter, Florida
Dr. Jefferson Vaughan: GBP
Dr. P Duddly Giles: Plastic surgeon TT/BL 03.20.2007

Icing

__________________
Always
Icing

pre-op /-255
current / -175
GOAL / 125

If you failed and succeeded, which have you done?


http:// cams808.tripod.com

BMI(Body mass index): 43.5 Ideal BMI: 18.5 - 24
Your body fat: 61 % ¶ Ideal body fat: 26 - 31 %
Your weight: 255 lbs Ideal weight: 108-121 lbs


Surgery Date JULY 19th,2006
Dr.Vitello (Chicago,Illinois)


http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt...QA9/weight.png

Shauna

Hi Ron, my insurance policy (BCBS) also has weight loss exclusions and does not cover anything related to weight loss treatments. But some of us have found - thankfully - that our insurance covers surgery for acid reflux treatment. The surgery IS gastric bypass, which treats acid reflux, and therefore, they cover the procedure. The doctor provides the same two medical codes as he would for anyone else having the procedure but states that it's for acid reflux treatment rather than weight loss.

So, you may want to see if your doctor would do the same. I found that a large bariactric center would not write the letter unless they specified that it's for WLS, but as in my case, an individual doctor may.

Good Luck!

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Shauna

Open RNY + Removal of Gallbladder, 07/28/2006
Dr. Kenneth Jones, Shreveport, LA at Christus Schumpert St. Mary's

Total Weight Loss: 148 lbs.

5'6" 342 .|. 169 .|. 180 .|. 150

Highest .|. Current (03/15/2009) .|. Doctor's Goal .|. Personal Goal

mussakka

That's really good information, Shauna. Thanks!

__________________
Visit my flickr or my blog

Current: 450 / Goal: 175
Status: Seriously looking into lap RNY GBS
Former South Beach babe

Mavisavis

Welcome to the board.....this is the best group of folks on the planet! Good luck on the process.....this whole thing is really a journey. I hope yours is as smooth as possible.

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Marty

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts--Winston Churchill

Lap RNY 9-7-05
Dr. Ben-Meir
Cleveland Center for Bariatric Surgery
235/135/135
pre/now/goal

LisaM

Glad you're here! You'll find more support here than anywhere...at least in my humble opinion.

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Lisa M

Lap RNY - 9/26/05
surgery/lowest/goal
Weight: 303/137/150
BMI: 56/25.1/27.4
Now in maintenance stage, with desired weight range: 150-153 pounds
Current weight: 139 Updated 10/21/08

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." Harvey Fierstein

TabFox

I'm in Virginia. I agree that this is the best support forum online. At the beginning of my gut re-plumbing 2 yrs ago, I stumbled upon this site and it was the best thing I've done. The group has grown by leaps and bounds. My initial insurance policy had an exclusion also, so I was able to change from an HMO to PPO and they approved it the same day. There are always ways around the insurance red tape, including hiring a weight loss lawyer who can coerce the insurance company to cover the surgery.
Don't feel that any question is silly or far-fetched. Nobody will laugh or degrade you on here. This group is made up of angels. They are awesome!

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Tabitha
Open 5/26/04
321/171/Passed Goal!