Still new here (intro 93650)

[Guest guest]

I hope I have found a good place to come for info, despite the current controversies. I am still planning on getting a ds with whatever surgeon thinks they can get my insurance approval. I have a pretty good insurance just no documented health history or PCP. While I am preparing all my "documents" what else should I gather? I only want to apply once and not need them to request more.

First -- what is going on this weekend is hardly controversy -- it is debate -- at least the stuff between Tom, and Nick. (fair warning, two of them are lawyers). And it usually is a pretty good place for information.

I may have missed it, but where are you, who are you looking at for a surgeon, who is your ins co, and do you have a first name?

I did not take anything except my backside and my filled out medical history form to my first consult with Dr. Anthone. , his program admin, took the verbal history from me, and Dr. A inquired more. I have no documentation to prove I was in an Optifast program 11 years ago, or that my parents had me on one of those rainbow colored pill doctor supervised diets at age 13. and I am afraid I fibbed when I said I had been in Weight Watchers-- I have used the diet several times, but I have avoided the formal revival meetings because I am basically a curmudgeon and suffer strong desires to hit cheerleader types.

Dr. A must have written a swell report. I have blue cross of Ca ppo and I was approved instantly. I did not even need a letter of medical necessity from my PMD. (I did to get my RX for Vioxx out of the pharmacy program, but that is another story)

Nan E., 386, 5'2", BMI 71 and pre-op panni with Dr A. at USC 6/13/01 and 49 years old.

[Guest guest]

I hope I have found a good place to come for info, despite the

current controversies. I am still planning on getting a ds with

whatever surgeon thinks they can get my insurance approval. I have a

pretty good insurance just no documented health history or PCP. While

I am preparing all my " documents " what else should I gather? I only

want to apply once and not need them to request more.

Anyone have ideas on how much hotel time I should save up money

for? One or four weeks? I would be traveling for this surgery and

want to stay near surgeon until I am out of the woods and back at

work.

[Guest guest]

Hi Danine. I'm from the East Coast so I can't help you with choice of

surgeons, however, while you're searching, why don't you at least get the

prescription " filled " for the Zenecal or Meredia that the PCP suggested so

that it will be documented? Just a suggestion. As far as you BMI goes,

most info. that I read states BMI of 40 or 35 with comorbities, so you

stand a good chance of being o-k there. Have you written up your previous

weight loss history yet? They'll want to know what you tried, how long,

how much you lost, how long you kept it off and how much you gained back.

Include all you can think of. Best wishes to you and keep posting as to

your progress.

--- daninenilsson@... wrote:

> I hope I have found a good place to come for info, despite the

> current controversies. I am still planning on getting a ds with

> whatever surgeon thinks they can get my insurance approval. I have a

> pretty good insurance just no documented health history or PCP. While

> I am preparing all my " documents " what else should I gather? I only

> want to apply once and not need them to request more.

> Anyone have ideas on how much hotel time I should save up money

> for? One or four weeks? I would be traveling for this surgery and

> want to stay near surgeon until I am out of the woods and back at

> work.

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

> I hope I have found a good place to come for info, despite the

> current controversies. I am still planning on getting a ds with

> whatever surgeon thinks they can get my insurance approval. I have

a

> pretty good insurance just no documented health history or PCP.

While

> I am preparing all my " documents " what else should I gather? I only

> want to apply once and not need them to request more.

> Anyone have ideas on how much hotel time I should save up

money

> for? One or four weeks? I would be traveling for this surgery and

> want to stay near surgeon until I am out of the woods and back at

> work.

Okay-- finally found your first post-- Calif is closer to AZ than NY--

Try Dr. Anthone, he got my approval with no sweat from BC of CA whth

only his own report documenting my history ( see previous response to

this post for details) LA is a big town and inexpensive motels with

kitchenettes are all over the place-- will you be comming alone or

with a care taker? There is also the Doc up in Delano, where room

rates are probably even cheaper. Sooner or later the traveling

patients will fill you in on their experiences. As to a good PMD who

is familiar with ds issues-- you may get to do some educating there--

but I'd go with a doc who is willing to be educated-- and that is

easy to find out in a phone conversation with said doc. Someone

posted recently about doing a e-mail or phone canvass of local docs

and picking one from those who responded positively. Good Luck! Nan

E. pre-op in LA, Dr Anthone/USC

[Guest guest]

Hi, I want to try to have my surgery done with Dr A. I have three little ones and need help so Im hoping my insurance will understand. I had lap for my gall bladder and it was easier than going to the dentist.