What to do first?

[Guest guest]

Hi peoples!!!

I am new here, I have spoken breifly with and

Dinah, but nobody else on here.

Let me give you all my rundown as I need all the

advice I can get. has already helped me some.

(Thanks!)

Ok,first. I am 31, married, very happy, except for my

weight. Been overweight since 4th grade. Currently

at a high of 288, 5'4 " , and I think my BMI is 48 or

so.'I have 2 small children that I feel suffer because

of my weight, very hard to do anything with them

without losing my breath. I won't go into all the

details, but at 31 I feel like I am 65 or 70. I have

fallen about 5 times in the last 6 years and have

broken bones everytime. Knee, ankle, shoulder,you

name it..

People don't say " Have a good time on your trip "

anymore they say " Well, just don't fall down " . LOL

Pitiful huh?

Anyway, I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of AL which

takes effect on Aug. 1. PPO. I have many questions. I

have a consultation appt on Aug 15th, but am learning

that I might need to cancel as BC/BS doesn't seem to

require this appt before approving. I don't know what

amount is covered under my policy (80% or 50%), I

don't know if the consultation is covered, etc.

I guess I just need all and any info, ie. letters,

contacts, when to schedule things, where to stay, what

to eat, what to expect, how to call my insurance

company and ask things about my coverage without

throwing up a red flag. It says in my policy that if

you currently have group coverage and are changing to

this policy that you don't have a pre-existing waiting

period. So do I go ahead and ask, or do I wait, or do

I not tell them who I am, or what? I am scared of not

doing everything the way I need to, in the right

order, or messing up my wording, or forgetting

something. I mean I am sure none of you know what I

am talking about. hehe I have tried to block my

weight out of my mind for so long, I have a hard time

remembering or accepting things pertaining to it. But

some of the things I have read here have jogged my

memeory, so thanks.

So if anyone has ANY advice or instruction, PLEASE

respond. You can email me privately at

kristi989@... if nobody wants the board clogged

up with it.

Thanks so much and I look foward to getting to know

you all! God Bless and be with each of you at whatever

point you are in your plight!

Kristi in AL

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristi,

Sorry you are feeling ignored, sweetie! I could only find 2 of your previous

posts, but sometimes I don't get them all (don't quite know how that works~

lol) Anyway, I usually leave those insurance questions alone if they are not

from my carrier. is the resident insurance guru, and I see she

responded to you. As for the rest, it IS very nerve-racking and frustrating

waiting for everything to come together, I know. There are a lot of new

people on here, though, so I think you will have lots of company as you go

throught this process. A lot of the " older " peeps have gone away for the

weekend and many, as you know, are heading to Durham for their dance with the

good doctor.

A lot of your questions can be answered on the website--it's amazing what all

is actually there once you start digging. I found it especially helpful to

" search " for topics that interested me. I spent hours (lol) reading old

stuff that I found using this method. I also read a lot of the old " emails

of the day, " and found a wealth of knowledge there. If you have any specific

questions still not answered, post them maybe in a shorter post, and I know

you will get answers. Also, keep in mind that just because you don't see an

answer to someone, it doesn't mean they haven't been answered. I send ALL

requests for insurance appeal letters privately.

Good luck to you, Kristi! I hear your frustration and certainly empathize!

Don't give up, your day will come, honestly it will!

>>HI,

This is Kristi again. I have posted 3 times in the

last few days and nobody will reply. (this does not

include Dinah & ). I have noticed how close you

all seem to be, but don't you have room for a few

more. I have noticed also that I am also not the only

new one here in the last week and I have seen no

responses to them either. Unless you replied

privately that is. Anyway, I am just curious, is

EVERYBODY heading out? If so, then I know you don't

want to talk about anything else right now, and I

TOTALLY understand that. If this is the case, just

write as soon as you get back, I am sure you will have

even MORE you can tell us then!

Thanks and Godspeed to all who are on the way to the

OTHER side.

Take care!

Kristi (wanting to talk to someone )<<

>>Hi peoples!!!

I am new here, I have spoken breifly with and

Dinah, but nobody else on here.

Let me give you all my rundown as I need all the

advice I can get. has already helped me some.

(Thanks!)

Ok,first. I am 31, married, very happy, except for my

weight. Been overweight since 4th grade. Currently

at a high of 288, 5'4 " , and I think my BMI is 48 or

so.'I have 2 small children that I feel suffer because

of my weight, very hard to do anything with them

without losing my breath. I won't go into all the

details, but at 31 I feel like I am 65 or 70. I have

fallen about 5 times in the last 6 years and have

broken bones everytime. Knee, ankle, shoulder,you

name it..

People don't say " Have a good time on your trip "

anymore they say " Well, just don't fall down " . LOL

Pitiful huh?

Anyway, I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of AL which

takes effect on Aug. 1. PPO. I have many questions. I

have a consultation appt on Aug 15th, but am learning

that I might need to cancel as BC/BS doesn't seem to

require this appt before approving. I don't know what

amount is covered under my policy (80% or 50%), I

don't know if the consultation is covered, etc.

I guess I just need all and any info, ie. letters,

contacts, when to schedule things, where to stay, what

to eat, what to expect, how to call my insurance

company and ask things about my coverage without

throwing up a red flag. It says in my policy that if

you currently have group coverage and are changing to

this policy that you don't have a pre-existing waiting

period. So do I go ahead and ask, or do I wait, or do

I not tell them who I am, or what? I am scared of not

doing everything the way I need to, in the right

order, or messing up my wording, or forgetting

something. I mean I am sure none of you know what I

am talking about. hehe I have tried to block my

weight out of my mind for so long, I have a hard time

remembering or accepting things pertaining to it. But

some of the things I have read here have jogged my

memeory, so thanks.

So if anyone has ANY advice or instruction, PLEASE

respond. You can email me privately at

kristi989@... if nobody wants the board clogged

up with it.

Thanks so much and I look foward to getting to know

you all! God Bless and be with each of you at whatever

point you are in your plight!

Kristi in AL<<

>>Hi everyone,

My name is Kristi, I am in AL, have Blue Cross of AL.

I am 5'4 " , 285 lb, and I think my BMI is 48. I have

my consultation with Dr. R at 1:00 on Aug. 15th. I

still have everything to do, could anyone give me a

place to start, help with insurance (I see some of you

have the same ins. as me and have been denied), and

any other advice would be great. I am also concerned

about how long I will be away from home. I have a one

year old and a five year old and hubby will be with

me. Any suggestions on what day of the week to

schedule the surgery and how long after to stay to be

safe?

Feel free to email me privately if you like, don't

want to clog up the list with personal stuff.

Thanks!

Kristi in AL<<