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Post by kennyk on Jul 14, 2013 8:25:28 GMT -5
If i had a Lasso of any kind I think I would try and grab fried chickens by the legs! sorry first meeting with a trainer this morning and I guess I am hungry, better go have a shake!
BTW Diana, my insurance company gave me no grief at all, but I can't get over what a resource you have been to so many here with this all. you really rock!
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Post by Girlrocker on Jul 14, 2013 11:54:24 GMT -5
Wow, I just read this entire thread from start to finish- and bookmarked- since insurance appeals are way out of my realm of knowledge, and this is an amazing wealth of information. I've known about the expertise here but still knocks me out to see it in detailed print. My heart goes out to you, but you have more strength than you realize, you are amazingly eloquent, funny and clear in your ability to write this here; do NOT give up, take no for an answer. I had an RNY in 2002, a miserable experience full of complications, lost my job, remained obese at 'best'. I felt like I was dying too, until I contemplated the thought of a revision and found out it was doable, revised to DS in 2011. Beyond grateful to have had insurance approval (was completely shocked), smooth, complication free surgery and getting not only my life back, but one I didn't really know I can have. I'm 52, and I wantd to curl up in a ball over all the years I lost struggling with morbid obesity. But I will tell you the same thing I had to tell myself - there is no time/age limit on a quality of life. I have no doubt this is all consuming for you, and you are doing the right things - support here, therapy and yes, even some anti-depressant support for what might be short-term transition while you slog your way through this.
Do NOT give up, keeping thinking with your head when it comes to battling, I believe you will persevere, and you and your wife will get past this!
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Post by shiftedsanity on Jul 14, 2013 11:58:52 GMT -5
just found this ..was a video clip .. found the transcript interesting as well as inspirational for overcoming the feeling of WLS failure
Hi, I’m Dr Mitchell Roslin, Chief of Bariatric Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in NY and Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt Kisco, NY. The title of this talk is, “Revisions – Does the Patient Fail the Procedure or Does the Procedure Fail the Patient?” This is a copy of a talk that I gave at the ASMBS in Orlando in 2011 and I was asked by many of the attendees at the session to see if I could record the talk and place it online.
The purpose of the talk is to try to explain some of the physiology behind bariatric procedures and weight regain or inadequate weight loss following bariatric surgery.
When I started doing bariatric surgery 17 years ago I really thought it was simple. I thought when we did a gastric bypass what we did is that we made the stomach smaller so that people were forced to eat less. Then we added an intestinal bypass so that some of what was eaten was passed into the fecal stream. I now know that bariatric surgery is far more complex. The stomach is far more than just a storage organ, it actually produces certain hormones that regulate hunger and satiety. As a result I think concepts like restriction (making the stomach small) or malabsorption (bypassing part of the intestine) are rather simplistic and instead we need to think of bariatric surgery as gastric and intestinal. What I’ve learned is that one of the major aspects of the gastric part of the operation is suppression of hunger, especially through the reduction of the hormone gherlin. In addition, instead of a malabsorptive component probably what the intestinal component of the operation does is it increases the work of digestion therefore increasing the metabolic rate.
Frequently, patients who haven’t done well with the various bariatric procedures have been labeled as non compliant, or not following directions. One of the things we have to realize is that if it were simple to follow eating directions nobody would have ever required bariatric surgery. Another thing that we have to realize is that obesity is not a single disease. Obesity occurs where there is inadequate regulation or inadequate balance between the amount of energy taken in and the amount of energy that is expended. As a result, the defect can be anywhere in the process, so that any no two patients that we see may have the same defect, yet we all treat them similarly. So when somebody doesn’t do well with an operation we tend to say that it’s because they haven’t followed the directions, or they’re noncompliant. An alternative explanation is that the operation doesn’t change or alter the physiology that caused their obesity and is not effective in their particular case. I think that if we’re going to take credit for bariatric surgery causing weight loss and being the most effective treatment of obesity, when patients regain weight the operation also has to be a part of the burden. We have to realize that there may be a physiological reason for weight regain, not just behavioral changes and lack of compliance. The purpose of this talk is to try to explain what we’ve seen in the two most common procedures performed in bariatric surgery – laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and gastric bypass.
As mentioned, obesity occurs when there is any breakdown in the negative feedback system that controls energy balance. Human energy intake is mainly controlled by hormonal factors There are several key hormones that control hungry, satiety, as well as early energy and long term energy requirements. Ghrelin which is produced primarily in the stomach is considered the hunger hormone. PYY which is produced mainly in the intestine is considered the satiety or fullness hormone. Insulin is the short term energy hormone and it works along with GLP. Leptin is the long term energy hormone and is mainly produced in fat cells. But even this is relatively simplistic and leptin and insulin actually complete sometimes for binding in the hypothalamus of the brain. As a result a lot of patients who are insulin resistant also have excess leptin but leptin cant tell the brain that you already have too much fat tissue. So there is a breakdown in that regulation. As opposed to the input for energy intake which is mainly hormonal, the output is mainly through the nervous system. When the body wants to conserve energy it increases the tone of the parasympathetic system, reducing the heart rate and the metabolic rate. And this is what occurs when people try to reduce their caloric intake. When the body wants to produce more energy it activates the sympathetic system. The bottom line is that energy balance is a rather complex process and a deficit anywhere either in the input or the output or the afferent or efferent system or as well as in the brain or central nervous system and the hypothalamus can cause obesity because of the energy imbalance.
**Video clip of Jassira, an OH'er talking about her LapBand and DS revision
After watching the previous video of the patient who struggled with the Lap Adjustable Gastric Band, and has done so well with the Duodenal Switch, it’s obvious that there different physiologic factors that occur following the bariatric surgical procedures As mentioned the input for human energy intake is mainly hormonal. Laparoscopic adjustable bands don’t reduce ghrelin or increase PYY thus its not surprising that a number of patients are still hungry following lap adjustible banding. Thus instead of giving patients labels like noncompliant, or suggesting that the patient failed the operation because they didn’t work hard enough we need to understand the physiologic differences that our operations cause. And in addition we need to begin to gain insight into why the particular patient is obese and what their particular deficit is in energy imbalance. Unfortunately we’re not able to do that at the present time and we continue to treat patients with these broad operations. But it’s really important to realize that failing one bariatric procedure doesn’t mean that you’re going to fail another bariatric procedure, and there is a lot more than just restriction and malabsorption. The most important thing that we can offer our patients in bariatric surgery is hunger suppression.
While Lap Band appears to be an attractive alternative for many patients it also has many limitations. The advantage of banding is the fact that the operation is relatively simple. The complications and the risk of serious early complications are lower than other bariatric or stapling procedures. The disadvantage of lap adjustable banding is the results are more variable and approximately 20-25% of patients, if not higher, will be dissatisfied with their weight loss. A major reason is because that while can always increase the work of eating, making you chew more and eat slower, it frequently doesn’t make patients less hungry. I often say a lapband is a diet with a seatbelt, and what I mean by this is that the band doesn’t affect ghrelin levels, doesn’t increase PYY hormone or PYY levels, and as a result really functions similar to a diet accompanied by a restrictive device. Many patients do well with the band and patients who are most likely to do well are also those that are most likely to do reasonably well on a diet. They’re younger, they’re more active, and they have lower BMI’s, or are in the lower part of the morbid obesity scale. Patients that seem to do less well with LapBands include older patients, patients that have a BMI that approaches or above super morbid obesity, and there is now a suggestion from George Washington University that there may be ethnic differences, and African Americans seem to have lower overall weight loss as well as a higher failure rate. Thus patients that are determining what bariatric procedure they want to undergo need to understand the probability that they have a higher chance of having inadequate weight loss with a Lapband or a realize band, as well as a higher chance of requiring reoperation and extraction of the band. This is offset by a lower early serious complication rate. But people have to understand that not all patients that have a Lapband have hunger suppression and in fact a significant amount never ever have any reduction in hunger, or for that matter, satiety.
Thus the major issue with Lap Adjustable Banding is inadequate weight loss. Another thing that frequently occurs s that we make the band tighter hoping to achieve restriction and force a smaller amount to be eaten and patients to be less hungry. And what we’re successful in doing is creating a high pressure zone where patients don’t get hunger suppression and they continue to eat and we see dilation in the esophagus and changes in the motility of the esophagus itself. So when you look at the Xray on the left side of this diagram you see tremendous dilatation of the esophagus above the level of the band. When fluid is removed you can see that the esophagus becomes smaller and the band wide open but there are still these scalloping figures in the esophagus which is a signal of a motility disservice. What you realize is that when you make the band tighter you make it harder to eat, you also make the esophagus work harder and you take the risk of having permanent motility disorders to the esophagus, but you don’t necessarily make patients less hungry. The patient in this picture here actually came to me with the picture on the left because he started to regain weight because he was storing food in that large esophagus. So it’s very, very important to understand the role of fills in Lap Adjustable Banding. The role of fills is to create some level of restriction but if that pressure gets greater than what the esophagus can pump, then there can only be harmful side effects to the esophagus. And just making bands tighter does not make all patients less hungry. Frequently on the internet we see something called the Green Zone, which is a place where people who have bands eat less and are less hungry. Unfortunately, on diagrams the Green Zone always exists, but clinically it’s often very, very difficult tot find a therapeutic window where patients eat less, are less hungry, and where we don’t create a high pressure system that has an adverse effect on the esophagus.
Whereas inadequate weight loss or extraction are the main problems of Lap Adjustable Banding, gastric bypass is an outstanding weight loss operation. What I’m not convinced of is that it’s a great operation for the maintenance of weight loss. An increasing problem in bariatric surgery is the number of gastric bypass patients that have regained weight 3-10 years following the operation. We’ve done an awful lot of research on this topic and are beginning to form an understanding of why we believe this occurs. Over the course of time what we see happening is food, or in this case contrast as shown in this diagram, passing immediately from the esophagus into the small gastric pouch, and then going straight into the intestines. The food doesn’t remain in the pouch long because there is no restriction left between the gastric attachment and the intestinal bypass that was created. As a result as soon as the patient eats the food goes into the intestine. With this you get a rise in satiety factors followed by a rapid fall. Thus what we believe happens following gastric bypass is there’s a return of inter-meal hunger so that when you actually question patients what you find is that while they can still eat less than they did prior to the operation but the problem is that they’re hungry one to two hours after eating. If they eat foods that are higher in the glycemic index, or simple carbohyrdrates what happens is they have a very rapid insulin response followed by a low sugar, and this makes patients develop a maladaptive eating pattern. So what we are seeing is numerous patients with gastric bypass that have lost a considerable amount of weight, but approximately 30% of our post bypass patients we’re seeing regain a significant amount of the weight that was originally lost.
Thus we believe the major problem in gastric bypass surgery is weight regain with a return of inter-meal hunger. As a result it’s been our hypotheses that better bariatric procedures would have a valve at the end of the gastric pouch. And we believe that the best vale is the pyloric valve which is the normal valve of the stomach which controls emptying of food in the normal stomach. There are two operations that now exist that allow us to preserve the pyloric valve. They’re the Sleeve gastrectomy and the Duodenal Switch. In order to test this hypothesis we have designed a prospective trial that we received grant for that examines the weight loss as well as response to glucose challenge in sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch. This is the first 6 month data from that perspective trial. And you can see that all of the operations cause effective weight loss, with duodenal switch causing the most weigh loss in the first six months.
The purpose of the study though, was to compare the effects of a glucose challenge on the various operations that we perform. This shows data when glucose is given both preoperatively, as well as 6 months following from surgery. And what we do following the glucose challenge is we measure the insulin levels. What we can see is a vast difference between the different operations. With gastric bypass what happens at six months is that the insulin level goes down, but when challenged with glucose the insulin level actually goes up so high that it exceeds its preoperative value at six months. We don’t see this in sleeve gastrectomy and duodenal switch. When you get such a rapid rise in insulin what happens next is a rapid fall in the sugar. And we believe this rapid rise in insulin followed by the rapid reduction in sugar glucose level leads to inter-meal hunger. Because we know when people become hypoglycemic in order to relieve the symptoms of the low sugar they become hungry and forced to eat. So we believe what is happening in gastric bypass is that since there is no valve there’s rapid emptying and when there is rapid emptying there s rapid rise in the factors that determine fullness such as insulin as well as the other gut hormones, followed by a rapid fall. And when that rapid fall occurs patients become hungry. What is really fascinating is that we don’t see the same response in duodenal switch which also has an intestinal bypass.
This diagram shows the 6 month results for insulin levels. You can see that all the operations cause a reduction in fasting insulin level, which is very important and demonstrates an improvement in metabolic function. However, gastric bypass causes a rapid rise when stimulated with glucose, much greater than sleeve gastrectomy or duodenal switch. We believe that this rapid rise in insulin is a hallmark of a rapid emptying of food as well as the rapid distribution of nutrients to the intestine, and that this rapid emptying then leads to a rapid fall in glucose level and causes the inter-meal hunger that we think is responsible for a significant amount of weight regain following gastric bypass.
This diagram shows results that were determined in the RESTORE trial. The RESTORE trial was the first multi-center trial to look at endoscopic treatment for weight regain following gastric bypass. The idea was to try to reduce the anastomatic size so that patients could regain restriction. Unfortunately to date none of the endoscopic trials have been shown to be effective to provide long term weight loss. There are some suggestions that short term weight loss could be achieved. When we went back and looked at all of the data from patients that were eligible for the trial, and this means by definition that they have to have normal pouch following gastic bypass, no evidence of fistula, and an anastomatic size that was >2CM, which we estimated approximately 70% of post bypass patients would have. We found that the most significant factor that would determine weight regain was the time from surgery.. Thus we felt that this was evident that the weight regain was physiologic, and was steady and progressive over time, especially in patients that have an anastomatic size >2CM. When surgery is first done the anastomosis is made approximately 1.5CM, or slightly less. Unfortunately what we’re finding in time is that in time the anastomosis spreads to a greater size. What we found looking at the data from the RESTORE trial is that once it got to 2CM, it didn’t make a difference if it was 2CM or 3CM, there was already a loss of restriction and weight gain was steady and progressive. We believe that means that this is going to be very, very difficult to treat by an endoscopic procedure.
While weight regain following gastric bypass is becoming a much more common clinical problem, with the average patient regaining approximately 30% of the weight they lost and approximately 20-30% regaining a significant amount more, the options for patients remain limited.
They include
1) obviously dietary adjustments but many patients feel that we’re kind of like Indian Givers, because at one point in time they had no hunger, they had early satiety and now they’re hungry all the time.
2) An increasingly investigated option is endoscopic suturing but there is no long term data.
3) Band over bypass works for certain patients, but has many of the same problems that primary banding has
4) the most aggressive option is to convert the operation to a Duodenal Switch but this is a rather large operation, requires multiple anastomosis, and is an option that we reserve to patients that have considerable problems because of their weight regain.
Thus it’s important to realize that…
1.Our operations have limitations and that inadequate weight loss and weight regain cant just be blamed on the patient. 2.Bands have no effect on Ghrelin, PYY, or GLP. 3.Gastric bypass has no valve and this can lead to inter-meal hunger. 4.The fact that the weight gain is steady and progressive over time I think is indicative that it is physiologic 5.We believe that increased insulin secretions after glucose challenge in bypass is indicative of the rapid emptying that occurs and the cause of inter-meal hunger. 6.Additionally, failing one operation should not preclude consideration for another bariatric procedure. 7.Obesity is a chronic disease and therefore we’re going to have to be prepared to treat our patients on a long term basis and realize that bariatric surgery is not a cure for obesity but merely a control mechanism. 8.We need to critically analyze our procedures 9.My opinion is that pyloric preserving procedures such as the sleeve gastrectomy and especially the duodenal switch, and maybe future varations of these procedures will replace gastric bypass as standard.
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Post by shiftedsanity on Jul 14, 2013 12:02:14 GMT -5
if you prefer to view it
thanks for your kind words girlrocker... i am "truckin" for sure
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Post by Girlrocker on Jul 14, 2013 17:01:35 GMT -5
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Post by shiftedsanity on Jul 14, 2013 21:10:28 GMT -5
Wow....after i posted it I saw a comment from wonder woman two..or one....still think they are some how a tag team that is so fearlessly active its all becomes a blurrrrrr..but was not this site well maybe. ...ummmm??? Twas couple years marinating .. so might have prematurely posted..... so much great info out the innarweb ....i get a little excited when I see an ace on the flop......note to self....pokerface
Ok...update....I cornered my union steward.....showed him what information I have been collecting. ..expressed that fact that it could be resolved by HR..how I was three steps from a full on meltdown....how I have done what was asked and how they being a "human resource" and me being a human (excluding weight haters)...it was time to appeal to their boundless humanity ....with all I have on my plate. ...maybe they should take a big bite... .(I think its like that macaroni salad at the picnic....not well received when its been on table and hot.... or in my case....my CASE)
maybe it will give me a better understanding of their biggest concern. ...my health and safety...or their bottom line... .meeting to he scheduled. .. post to be continued
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2013 21:29:56 GMT -5
Great stuff in this post. I truly hope you are able to get these fools to look at facts and that you will get your DS sooner than later. As you have seen from many on this board, it has changed so many lives for the better and is a life saver for some. Good luck to you and keep your head up....it took me 9 months to get to the point where I am finally approved....you will eventually get your DS if you just stay with it. I hate to sound corny but good does eventually triumph over bad!
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Post by shiftedsanity on Jul 14, 2013 23:00:24 GMT -5
Thanks illinids...it helps to have all this positive feedback
..why do I feel the head of HR...maybe 170 and 6'2" doesn't have a clue of the battle if fight with my body everyday
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Post by Girlrocker on Jul 15, 2013 14:43:33 GMT -5
Thanks illinids...it helps to have all this positive feedback ..why do I feel the head of HR...maybe 170 and 6'2" doesn't have a clue of the battle if fight with my body everyday Dear, because he completely doesn't! And you know what, the hell with him, and everyone else for that matter who doesn't get it. So many people equate obesity with being fat/lazy, never treat it as the disease/illness it really is, especially when you're at this phase considering/vying for surgical intervention. Except for family and those close to you that you have to find your way with, don't worry about what other people think or if they get it; some come around, others never do. Focus on the facts of your case and getting the treatment you are entitled to and DESERVE. As for the keynote, please, no apologies! It's not a bad thing to have on this thread by any means. It was a very cool thing arranged by Joanne on here, one of our veterans and his patient, and unbelievably invaulable. There has been hope to get other vetted surgeons to do the same.
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Post by shiftedsanity on Jul 15, 2013 15:54:04 GMT -5
What my momma said...long long ago...."it's not always cream floating to the top".....hmmm? Wonder if she was referring to some Department Heads? Thanks GirlRocker....I am so dumbfounded by people that think this choice is "the Easy.way out".....like we wake up one morning and do this as if it was like getting haircut.....climb on the table and all your problems end....lazy way out...I read many posts....this option demands vigilance. ...life long commitment monitoring food,vitamins,ect ...the biggest difference I can see between living with the DS and and all it requires and a diet. ....at my stage of obesity a diet will never get me to a healthy sustainable BMl......knowing the DS has for so many....make the sacrifice and risk pale in comparison to the continuation of fighting this problem with diet alone.....if I am going to beat this.....I need a bigass CLUB....I don't want to spar. ...I want to beat it like it owes me money....DS me please
I talked to my Doctors office manager (husband) and he is writing an appesl letter now
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Post by larra on Jul 15, 2013 17:22:28 GMT -5
OMG, what has Diana been smoking - I do NOT look like Wonder Woman! There is no amount of plastics that could make me look like her. It would take something more drastic like, say, reincarnation.
And Shifted, you hit on one of my pet peeves too. That "taking the easy way out" crap. It's not easy, and it's the only way out.
Keep on fighting. Don't give up. Somehow, some time, things WILL work out for you.
Larra
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Post by shiftedsanity on Jul 15, 2013 17:59:31 GMT -5
LOL.....well I am sure in many minds eye you appear exactly that way....keep rescuing the many needing help....the suit fits you and Diana perfectly (as well as other DSers)....for the many in here I have found beauty beyond that picture ....just not sure I will be a frequent flyer in your invisible plane....but the lasso of truth....bring it on Many thanks
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Post by shiftedsanity on Jul 15, 2013 19:43:15 GMT -5
I did already Diana.... he was in a hurry telling me what he thought the 3rd level outside should go on....that no matter what...RBSOI sited the studies I brought forward were not based as ...ummm.well I was not hearing as fast as he could talk so asked to review his draft...also wanted a letter from me...basically he wants to focus on the "only good option" due to scarring....but was under impression if investigational is not solved I am at an impass. ....so working at getting more info on what he is thinking...you will be in the loop for sure. ...pm me your email please
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Post by shiftedsanity on Sept 18, 2013 21:24:18 GMT -5
Update..... I am still fighting for approval. While back I was told by RBC of Idaho that I was on my third appeal and it would be handled outside of the insurance company. I submitted an appeal and was informed in the letter stating it was received that it was in fact my second level and would be reviewed by a "panel" of Regence medical staff and answered inside of 15 days. I was again denied. So now it will get to third level. This is the most mentally challenging situations I can remember in a long time. I feel like a hostage neing held
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Post by shiftedsanity on Sept 18, 2013 21:44:25 GMT -5
Update..... I am still fighting for approval. While back I was told by RBC of Idaho that I was on my third appeal and it would be handled outside of the insurance company. That my surgeon had submitted two appeals. I submitted an appeal and was informed in the letter stating it was received that it was in fact my second level and would be reviewed by a "panel" of Regence medical staff and answered inside of 15 days. If I would have known this I would have sent a half-assed attempt prepairing the next for the impartial "panel" in the third step. As expected I was again denied. So now it will get to third level.
This is the most mentally challenging situations I can remember in a long time. I feel like a hostage begging for help from the unseen faces of the people in control. Then feeling angry for being misinformed. This is completely draining me mentally. next step three.........keep your fingers crossed
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Post by shiftedsanity on Dec 12, 2013 15:55:21 GMT -5
The 3rd appeal denied...1 more with company HR
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Post by shiftedsanity on Jan 4, 2014 12:17:45 GMT -5
Thank you for the information. I'm on outside edge of starting down this path. Have yet to sit down with either union rep or the union lawyer.
Still in healing mode from negative action from BCBSoI..
here is my next concern... The company has replaced them with another insurance. I am not sure what applies at this point. I should get some information before next Friday. Thank so much again. I am mentally Drained from all of this and your support is priceless.
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Post by Girlrocker on Jan 18, 2014 13:21:11 GMT -5
Checking in on you, let us know how things are going, and feel free to also drop in and just VENT for support, you can't over-bend our ear!
Sharyl
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Post by shiftedsanity on Apr 14, 2014 22:18:20 GMT -5
Ok.....I go see the same surgeon and pay for same test to get approval for the same issue. It's a new insurance company called premiera......hopefully I can get this train back on track. Thank you for all your support and I'll get back to you after I find out what's going on....wish me luck he has an opening next month
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Post by melanie74 on Apr 14, 2014 23:14:34 GMT -5
It doesn't just depend on the insurance carrier -- it's the employer's plan. Premera may cover bariatric surgery, but your employer may not opt to carry it in their plan … it's kind of like us buying car insurance. Some of us pay more to have extra services covered, like towing or rental cars -- where as other people opt for a cheaper plan without those features. You can always get a copy of your exact plan from your HR department. My plan with BC/BS Anthem (was premera, but changed) had a specific exclusion for WLS. I fought for a year - through all appeal levels -- and lost. It was a real bummer… had to pay out of pocket … but i know that isn't an option for everyone (I applied for a personal loan).
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Post by Taterweight on Apr 15, 2014 0:15:39 GMT -5
Good luck with the new plan! If you end up like I did and have to self-pay, ditch Oakley and go to Keshishian in California - it's worth the plane ticket. (and a helluvalot cheaper!)
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Post by Girlrocker on Apr 15, 2014 8:00:57 GMT -5
Ok.....I go see the same surgeon and pay for same test to get approval for the same issue. It's a new insurance company called premiera......hopefully I can get this train back on track. Thank you for all your support and I'll get back to you after I find out what's going on....wish me luck he has an opening next month Good to hear from you, and fingers crossed that this time is the winner. Melanie brought up some very helpful suggestions, and please keep us posted and HANG in there!
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Post by shiftedsanity on Apr 16, 2014 10:41:24 GMT -5
OMG. .. ..The insurance companies have perfected the shell game. I have been trying to guess what perfect piece of information is hidden In what stack or pile of paperwork I have sent them and now I have to go through the whole pre-approval testing process again (Adding more piles and taking more money..life...Mental stability from me) I guess there waiting for me to go broke, Insane, or die. ....All the while fighting with my other insurance company trying to Prove my mental breakdown (that put me out of work) was due to the inability to get help for my physical issues ....and....because they don't cover Mental problems (created by this disease that some people Feel is just Darwin's way of ridding the world stupid fat lazy people) I am adding Financial instability to my list of problems....I have to keep telling myself hang in there and believe that song... "I'm not crazy I'm just a little unwell"
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Post by melanie74 on Apr 17, 2014 20:54:42 GMT -5
I feel for you!! I know the insurance battle well. Even with documented research and my conditions.... At the end of the battle for me they were still able to just say "so? We aren't covering it" - they don't even have to defend their decisions. I do think it's easier for then if we just die - horrible isn't it? It's still okay to discriminate against fat people - I will never understand it. I just hope it gets better one day. I think people who have amazing insurance plans that allow WLS aren't always aware of just how fortunate they are!
I hope your battle gets better!!
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Post by Girlrocker on Apr 17, 2014 22:15:43 GMT -5
I soooo feel for you. And of course, they put people through these hoops because they DO think they will wear us down and we will go away. Don't stop until you get the surgery you deserve. Please keep us posted, let us know how we can help.
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Post by shiftedsanity on Jun 4, 2014 17:51:23 GMT -5
Approve approved approved the three nicest words I've heard in a long time. The company I work for change the insurance To premera and it only took one time to get this surgery approved. I do have to finish testing and all that is required pre surgery.I have so many thanks for all the support and kind words that come my way through this Board.
If I get all my testing done, It could be and as soon as the end of July or the beginning of August for the surgery.
I'm thinking of starting a video blog and doing weekly updates. As I was looking through my surgery options I found several of these video blogs to be very helpful and inspirational.
So thank you again all. I plan on starting up a new post now that I have been approved for the surgery. So this post will finally end on a good note of approval but not through the original insurance company And breaks my heart for all those out there fighting the battle that I could not win with the Regence.
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Post by Girlrocker on Jun 4, 2014 19:35:59 GMT -5
Approve approved approved the three nicest words I've heard in a long time. The company I work for change the insurance To premera and it only took one time to get this surgery approved. I do have to finish testing and all that is required pre surgery.I have so many thanks for all the support and kind words that come my way through this Board. If I get all my testing done, It could be and as soon as the end of July or the beginning of August for the surgery. I'm thinking of starting a video blog and doing weekly updates. As I was looking through my surgery options I found several of these video blogs to be very helpful and inspirational. So thank you again all. I plan on starting up a new post now that I have been approved for the surgery. So this post will finally end on a good note of approval but not through the original insurance company And breaks my heart for all those out there fighting the battle that I could not win with the Regence. Oh my goodness, HOORAY!!! I'm so happy for you, doing all kinds of happy dance! Congrats, you've done an amazing job of hanging in; I think the video blog is a great idea, you go girl! Looking forward to your updates, and ready to cheer you on!
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Post by MsVee on Jun 5, 2014 9:32:53 GMT -5
Congratulations! I am so happy your persistence paid off.
MsVee
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Post by nursemelanie on Jun 6, 2014 1:11:36 GMT -5
Awesome!!
VSG to DS 7-01-14/ Dr Boyce in Knoxville /Age 40/5'8"/HW 287/CW 282
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Post by shiftedsanity on Jun 9, 2014 14:50:26 GMT -5
Op set 7/22/14....look for new thread. ...I will the One whining, crying, bragging, confused, and All the other things you have heard b4.... I will be the first to admit it. ....lol
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