New Member

[Guest guest]

Hi,everyone!

I don't know where to start. First I want to thank all of you for

this group. It has been so helpful to me.

I am 30 years old, a few month shy of 31. I weigh (my heaviest)326

lbs. I am 5ft, 5in tall with a BMI of 52. I suffer from clinical

depression. I was diagnosed in 1994 and have been on medication

since. I have been obese for as long as I can remember. I was

resigned to deal with it.

I have been to various doctors who link my weight and my lack of self

confidence to my weight--surprise! I felt I have no reason to either

live or die. This past Saturday, I was severely depressed. I

convinced myself that I will do what I have to just to live. I felt

no joy in life. I was just going to survive until it was time to die.

And I prayed that God would not make me wait forever.

Then on Sunday, at work, an old friend came in. We stood there

catching up on the past five years. I told her she looked wonderful.

She was thin when I knew her back in the day, but I had heard she

gained a lot of weight, and now she looked so good. She told me about

this operation BPD/DS. It was like hope smacked me right in the head.

I was so interested, so happy. I could not wait to do everything I

needed to. I wanted to start researching right away. Everything was

going fine until today I hit hurdle number one. I need the input from

all of you on how to proceed so that one day I am reporting from a

much smaller body.

My employer, Hay Group has a third party administered health insurance

plan. Amerihealth is our plan adminstrator. Hay Group's plan policy

specifically says they do not cover any treatment of obesity. I spoke

to our benefits specialist in HR and asked her to explain this third

party stuff. She explained that Hay funds their plan, and that

Amerihealth just administrates it. She said that the Hay Group tells

Amerihealth what can and cannot be covered. Does this mean that Hay

Group will have to approve this operation for me? Does it mean that

Amerihealth has no say? Do I stop here--that there is no hope for me?

Is there anyone out there who either works/ed for Hay, has/had

Amerihealth or this type of health plan?

I don't even know where to begin. Please any information would help

me. After talking to the benefits girl, I was so upset. I was shot

down before I even started. Where should I start in my quest to get

the operation done. I have researched it day and night since Sunday.

I am sure it is the answer for me. I need to start the ball rolling.

Tell me how--please! I live in Philadelphia and would go to NYC, Mt.

Sinai to have it done (I want it done LAP.)

I appreciate any help! Also, if you guys can give me an idea of how

long the hospital stay is, that would be great!