Question?

May 11, 2003

Love leslies videos. Easy, Simple, and works.

NH

Mommy to Abby Liz 10-25-94

Mommy to Anne 7-1-99

May 23, 2003

You never know. You may be lucky enough to never see pimples on your skin

ever but then again maybe not. I know some people who never had acne when they

were teens now get them as adults. Or maybe in the next yr or 2 you'll have a

major breakout. In any case don't worry about it. It's part of life.

HTH,

Tabitha

In a message dated 5/23/2003 9:48:15 AM Central Daylight Time,

cool_jewel89@... writes:

> Hi, I am 14 years old.. I do not wear make-up and my hair is usually

> braided/in a ponytail/outta my face. i apply aloe vera daily, and my

> face is actually quite clear. i have never had problems with

> acne/pimples. will i continue with this luck with good skin or is the

> worst yet to come??!! i rarely try facials during sleepovers with my

> friends (home-made, of course [consisting of oatmeal, aloe, etc]!!)

> which is a once-in-a-year thing.. opinions anyone???

>

July 7, 2003

Hi Katharine!

Welcome! I think they know pretty much what the insurance companies will and

will not accept. Perhaps your insurance is one of the " easy " ones! They'll

let you know if they need more information, I believe. Or, you could call

Ariana back and tell her you are concerned that the heart condition wasn't

included. I wish you the best of luck!

Hugs and blessings, Ann

July 7, 2003

On Tue, 08 Jul 2003 03:54:12 -0000, Katharine wrote:

>I called to make my consultation appt. today with Dr. K and group. I

>have had this question on my mind all day and if I could have stopped

>between patients I probably would have just called them back. Didn't

>get the chance so I'm throwing it out to you all. Ariana (I believe

>it was) took my personal information..my insurance etc over the

>phone..asked me some questions about my weight, hieght, any bowel

>issues/ bleeding problems etc. (basic medical history) and then told

>me to fax my insurance information in. She said after I get approved

>by my insurance company they would call me back to set up an appt.

>Here's the question..if my BMI is less then 40 but over 35..and she

>didn't ask about any OTHER comorbidities then on the list (I only had

>one listed)..how in the world am I going to get my insurance to

>approve my surgery? My BMI is 37 but I have a heart condition, among

>other things, that I didn't get a chance to tell her about. Im a bit

>worried I will be denied at my current BMI.

>Katharine

>

Katharine,

The basic NIH standard is BMI of 40 OR BMI of 35 and at least one

comorbidity. If you have more than the one mentioned, you may want to

include those on the cover sheet when you fax Arianna your insurance info,

but I'd bet you can get the procedure approved right now with what you've

posted here.

Jerry

July 7, 2003

Thanks for the response..you all are awesome. I don't know if having

IBS (irritable bowel) is quit enough. I guess I should make time

tomorrow to call. Ive started calling my doctors and getting my

records collected to take down there with me. Im a mess so I have

a " few " records to collect from a " few " doctors LOL. You know..there

is some peace of mind just having made the decision to do this. Im

amazingly excited and not nervous. Guess a year and a half was long

enough for me to make the decision..or maybe it was my cardiologist a

few weeks ago that scared me enough to make me get out of denial.

Katharine

>

> >I called to make my consultation appt. today with Dr. K and group.

I

> >have had this question on my mind all day and if I could have

stopped

> >between patients I probably would have just called them back.

Didn't

> >get the chance so I'm throwing it out to you all. Ariana (I

believe

> >it was) took my personal information..my insurance etc over the

> >phone..asked me some questions about my weight, hieght, any bowel

> >issues/ bleeding problems etc. (basic medical history) and then

told

> >me to fax my insurance information in. She said after I get

approved

> >by my insurance company they would call me back to set up an appt.

> >Here's the question..if my BMI is less then 40 but over 35..and

she

> >didn't ask about any OTHER comorbidities then on the list (I only

had

> >one listed)..how in the world am I going to get my insurance to

> >approve my surgery? My BMI is 37 but I have a heart condition,

among

> >other things, that I didn't get a chance to tell her about. Im a

bit

> >worried I will be denied at my current BMI.

> >Katharine

> >

> Katharine,

>

> The basic NIH standard is BMI of 40 OR BMI of 35 and at least one

> comorbidity. If you have more than the one mentioned, you may want

to

> include those on the cover sheet when you fax Arianna your

insurance info,

> but I'd bet you can get the procedure approved right now with what

you've

> posted here.

>

> Jerry

>

July 7, 2003

Katharine

First...Welcome to our world!

To answer your question as best I can...At this time Ariana is only

concerned with getting insurance approval for a consultation. First

steps first. If she finds she needs more info for that approval she

will be calling you.

At the consultation they will be doing an exam and gathering

information to submit to the insurance co. Also Dr. K will be

deciding if you are a canidate for surgery and if any additional

testing needs to be done before that can be determined.

The rule of thumb for qualifying for surgery is...a bmi of 40 (or

greater)... or... a bmi of 35(or greater)with co-morbids. You fit

within those parameters. So the question then becomes...Just how

picky is your insurance for approvals...IF...they approve the DS at

all.

I would suggest that you start taking notes NOW to take to your

consultation. Write down any questions you have and Note anything

that you think will help you get approval. If you don't have it

wrote down I guarantee you will walk out of the consultation

forgetting 1/2 of what you wanted to say or ask.

One step at a time...we are here to hold your hand through the

process, the fears and the joys.

Jo

July 7, 2003

Thanks Jo,

That makes so much more sense. I know that my insurance covers the

sugery and approves fast...or has for others. I know because I have

several friends whom have had the surgery that have the same carrier.

I guess what bothers me, and will until I meet with Dr. K, is whether

HE will ok it. I hear all the time...NO WAY You are #235! I've had to

get on a scale a few times to prove it. And yet I remember being

under 140 in my adult hood so I know just HOW Much is excess LOL. I

would like to thank the moderator that replied to me for making me

feel comfortable and telling me there are other " lightweights " that

have had surgery for the same reasons. Me a " lightweight " ..there's a

laugh and a half!

I love you all already! LOL I'm just happy

Kat

Ok bedtime..330 am comes early!!

> One step at a time...we are here to hold your hand through the

> process, the fears and the joys.

>

> Jo

July 8, 2003

> I guess what bothers me, and will until I meet with Dr. K, is

whether

> HE will ok it.

======================

Your weight won't be a problem with Dr. K for approval. You

qualify. However, there might be something else going on with you

that he may feel will be contradicated for surgery. And just to

forwarn you...Dr. K often plays devils advocate with patients and

challenges them about having the surgery. If you really want the

surgery, and are willing to take the surgical risk...then just stand

your ground. When he sees you understand what your doing then he

will be behind you all the way....lol....but asking you right up to

the last min. if your sure you want to go through with it....Don't

let this throw you for a loop.

Jo

July 11, 2003

Go do that emergency department thing. The idea that things will get better if I just wait it out is the biggest mistake we can make. So, the sooner the better.

Good luck.

Go, Scat, move, get going!

from Willie Country

July 11, 2003

TURK GO TO THE HOSPITAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> Hello Everyone:

> Here is a question. I had a weird episode tonight. I am rather

embarrassed to say this but when I was over exerting myself my

heartbeat went up to about 165 I think(first for the past two years.

Highest before was about 100). For the past couple of weeks or so I

feel something different. When I am walking(I don't dare run since

the ICD), with every step it feels like my stomach is expanding or

about to blow up to a point where it is painful. I am trying to see

if anyone had something like this. I am trying to remember when I had

CHF, the only difference is my ankles are not swelling, my tummy is

though. I have ulcers as well so I am baffled and the new doc I am

supposed to see is on vacation until July 25th. Should I be

concerned? I am thinking about going to the hospitals outpatient's

unit tomorrow. It has been about 3 months or so the last time I

checked the blood and the ICD. What do you think. Thanks again for

the millionth time. Love TURK

July 11, 2003

Turk,

I hope I’m

writing this message while you are getting your symptoms checked out. Hope everything’s OK.

Norm

-----Original

Message-----