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[moosedrul]

Hi all....  I'm in the process of getting started.  I'm on the medically supervised diet now, one month into it so I have time to go.  My Dr's were ready to go September or October, but the insurance co. decided otherwise.  So, I'm starting from almost zero, however disappointed, but not discouraged.  Its peddle to the metal at this point.  Now all I have to do is learn the rules of the insurance game so I can win in the end. 

Reading all your encourging remarks keeps me strong through this time. 

Craig

[aonesister]

Good luck, Craig
We'll be polishing the bench.

[MelissaAletha]

Your day will be here before you know it.  Take this time to learn as much as you can.

Good luck!

[Mo-Mik]

craig-I started the process last November and didn't know how long it would take.  I thought I would die before the date got here, but now I can't believe it is tomorrow.  Hang in there-you can do it.  Welcome to the best little freaky forum ever!

[aonesister]

Mo-Mik, hey best wishes tomorrow and I'll keep you in my prayers.

[shepkatt]

Hey Craig.. Welcome to BTV.. Yep at this point you just have to figure out what the insurance wants and do it... Don't drop out due to the obstacles.. that's what they want.   

Please 'splain your forum name.. Moosedrul...  As in Moose Drool?  :-)

[baka]

Craig as others have stated the time will fly by even though it seems so far off atm.

I would do a little research if I were you on what your insurance company usually requires to approve the surgery..... fire up google and see what comes up.

I've heard stories of some insurance companies who have patients who are borderline ie.... they are 100+lbs overweight but not suffering any other major health concerns so they require them to be on a 6 month diet and hey presto they drop below 100lbs after six months and do not qualify for the surgery......

[T2Nashville]

Welcome, Craig! We'll look forward to following you on your journey.

[moosedrul]

Hi all and shepkatt....  Thank you so much for your encouragment in this process and yes, i'm hanging on like a pit bull.  I have about 200 to loose so I don't think I'm on the borderline.  As I type I'm on hold at my insuranse company to get a copy of the requirements.  I can play any game as long as I know the rules.  I see my primory care doc tomorrow to get our game plan down and I wanted to make sure we don't have any suprises down the road.  She is a huge fan of me getting this done.  She told me whatever she had to do to get it done, she would do.   

Shepkatt, moosedrul is a take off of Moose Drool.  I use it for several of my sign-in names cause I'm sure not many people will have it spelled that way.  We have moose running around our farm as well as elk, turkey and whitetail deer.  Moose has always been my favorite animal.   

One of my concerns is that we go south for the winter to El Center, Ca.  The way the Dr's had it setup we would be able to leve in November with the RNY complete.  We get about 4-5 feet of snow here in the winter so and I'd really like to be out of here before I have to start plowing snow with my dozer.  So about the last 2 months of the 6 month medically supervised diet would mean I either have to stay here of figure out a way to finish that part down there.  Suggestions??

Once again, thinks so much for the warm welcome and I'll be asking questions as we go along.  Mo-Mik what a blessing you have to look forward to or maybe already have. 

[moosedrul]

One more questions, I have seen more than one person at weight watchers meetings.  does this seam to be acceptable to most insurance company's as long as your under a physician's care?  I do have to see a dietitian so maybe its best to wait until I do that and go from there.  I'm trying to figure out where the starting line is, when you see the dr or the dietitian or what.  I'm guessing surgery will be sometime this coming spring. 

[kchopp]

Hi Moose,
 Welcome to the site. I have heard that some insurance companies accept weight watchers along with Dr supervision. I would find out from your individual insurance co to be sure. Like you said, any game can be played if you know the rules. My insurance co required 6 months of a medically supervised diet, but they would only accept the HMR program which was also offered at my surgeons office.
The good news for me was that 2 days after finishing my 6 months, I got the insurance approval
Good luck, and keep up posted on your progress.

[ttowe]

Hey Craig...

Welcome aboard.

sounds like you are a snowbird...Where do you stay in El Centro? Mike and I go camping...a lot during the winter out near Gordon Wells. 

Can't wait for desert season to start again.

I used my On-line WW account to show 3 years of dieting. 

Toni

[McNee]

Hey Craig... welcome.

I did monthly visits with my doctor where he noted my weight change, etc. The meal plan I got from the nutritionist at my Surgeon's office.

I was discouraged by the wait at first, but in retrospect (and I practically preach this now) I'm glad for it.

I lost 55 pounds in the four-five months before surgery and even contemplated not needing it. Course, I'd lost that same 50 pounds how many times in the past? But what it finally did for me this time is lay the groundwork for the changes in my eating that I need to stick with the rest of my life.

The surgery has given me THE tool I've been needing to get it all off, and keep it off.

So make use of this time to start making those changes without worrying too much.. cause there will be ups and down....  and there will be days you feel like you totally blow it... but keep the overall goal in mind, and in the end it will work out.

It's been better than I could have imagined just six months ago.

[moosedrul]

Thanks Rob and all.  I think the diet is a good idea, not just because the insurance, but for the surgery itself. 

Yes, I am a snowbird in the winter.  Beats 3-5 feet of snow in Northern Washington Sate in the winter.  Other than shoveling snow, not much other exercise in our area.  No, no malls here to walk in or pool to swim in.  Yes, life in the bush... 

Kchopp, what is the HMR program?

[kchopp]

Thanks Rob and all.  I think the diet is a good idea, not just because the insurance, but for the surgery itself. 

Yes, I am a snowbird in the winter.  Beats 3-5 feet of snow in Northern Washington Sate in the winter.  Other than shoveling snow, not much other exercise in our area.  No, no malls here to walk in or pool to swim in.  Yes, life in the bush... 

Kchopp, what is the HMR program?

I think it stands for health management resources. It's kinda like a combo between optifast and nutrasystem. You have shakes & entrees, but it's dr supervised with weekly weigh ins, classes, and scheduled dr visits and labs. Pretty expensive, but it was a hoop that I had to jump through. I survived