Guest guest Posted April 8, 2001 Report Share Posted April 8, 2001 I was already approved with my insurance before I went to my consult with Dr. Hess. The very fact that my insurance approved it under medical necessity and I was sitting in his office with a BMI 50.6 was proof enough that I needed this surgery. He does Videotape the interview. He will ask about your diet history and what your expectations of surgery are, what your biggest weight was. In my interview I told him I found him on the web and that I belong to this group and have emailed and spoken to many others who have had this surgery. I also showed him a copy of his own study and patient care pamphlet that I pulled off the web. I told him I have been obese all my life, the diets I went on weight losses. I told him where I was in my life; 40 years old, not planning any more children, health concerns, don't want to become disabled by obesity. I also told him I thought surgery is a tool and that I had realistic expectation of what this surgery will do and how much weight I will lose. He also explains the surgery and what he will be doing. He calculated and lets you know about what you should end up weighing. My interview was interrupted several times so I don't remember all the questions. Then he has this giant calendar on his wall where he asks you when you want the surgery done, he pencils you in. Have a list of question about the procedure you want to ask, but the interview was pretty relaxed and informal. My insurance was something else. I had some strict criteria I needed to meet. A BMI of 40 or higher, and 100 or more pounds overweight, 5 year diet history, physician assisted weight loss program (like PhenFen), Psychological evaluation, and serious co-morbidities (insulin dependent diabetes type 2, or uncontrolled hypertension). I used my hospital medical records to prove my diet-history, emergency room visits(dizzy from high blood pressure, Dx. Morbid obesity & hypertension) also doctor visit notes which recorded dates, weights, diets, diagnoses. I proved 11 years of weight loss including quotes to my doctor, like " attends OA has lost 65 pounds, 1200-1400 cal/day and walking " . These records are diet history gold, an undisputable record of failure. You can also use photos to help tell your story. I had picutures of fat Teri with 6 month old, skinny Teri with 3 year old, fat Teri with 7 year old. I hope this helps. Teri Hess 2/5/01 Weight 287 2/4/01 Weight 247 4/5/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2001 Report Share Posted April 8, 2001 I was already approved with my insurance before I went to my consult with Dr. Hess. The very fact that my insurance approved it under medical necessity and I was sitting in his office with a BMI 50.6 was proof enough that I needed this surgery. He does Videotape the interview. He will ask about your diet history and what your expectations of surgery are, what your biggest weight was. In my interview I told him I found him on the web and that I belong to this group and have emailed and spoken to many others who have had this surgery. I also showed him a copy of his own study and patient care pamphlet that I pulled off the web. I told him I have been obese all my life, the diets I went on weight losses. I told him where I was in my life; 40 years old, not planning any more children, health concerns, don't want to become disabled by obesity. I also told him I thought surgery is a tool and that I had realistic expectation of what this surgery will do and how much weight I will lose. He also explains the surgery and what he will be doing. He calculated and lets you know about what you should end up weighing. My interview was interrupted several times so I don't remember all the questions. Then he has this giant calendar on his wall where he asks you when you want the surgery done, he pencils you in. Have a list of question about the procedure you want to ask, but the interview was pretty relaxed and informal. My insurance was something else. I had some strict criteria I needed to meet. A BMI of 40 or higher, and 100 or more pounds overweight, 5 year diet history, physician assisted weight loss program (like PhenFen), Psychological evaluation, and serious co-morbidities (insulin dependent diabetes type 2, or uncontrolled hypertension). I used my hospital medical records to prove my diet-history, emergency room visits(dizzy from high blood pressure, Dx. Morbid obesity & hypertension) also doctor visit notes which recorded dates, weights, diets, diagnoses. I proved 11 years of weight loss including quotes to my doctor, like " attends OA has lost 65 pounds, 1200-1400 cal/day and walking " . These records are diet history gold, an undisputable record of failure. You can also use photos to help tell your story. I had picutures of fat Teri with 6 month old, skinny Teri with 3 year old, fat Teri with 7 year old. I hope this helps. Teri Hess 2/5/01 Weight 287 2/4/01 Weight 247 4/5/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2001 Report Share Posted April 8, 2001 I was already approved with my insurance before I went to my consult with Dr. Hess. The very fact that my insurance approved it under medical necessity and I was sitting in his office with a BMI 50.6 was proof enough that I needed this surgery. He does Videotape the interview. He will ask about your diet history and what your expectations of surgery are, what your biggest weight was. In my interview I told him I found him on the web and that I belong to this group and have emailed and spoken to many others who have had this surgery. I also showed him a copy of his own study and patient care pamphlet that I pulled off the web. I told him I have been obese all my life, the diets I went on weight losses. I told him where I was in my life; 40 years old, not planning any more children, health concerns, don't want to become disabled by obesity. I also told him I thought surgery is a tool and that I had realistic expectation of what this surgery will do and how much weight I will lose. He also explains the surgery and what he will be doing. He calculated and lets you know about what you should end up weighing. My interview was interrupted several times so I don't remember all the questions. Then he has this giant calendar on his wall where he asks you when you want the surgery done, he pencils you in. Have a list of question about the procedure you want to ask, but the interview was pretty relaxed and informal. My insurance was something else. I had some strict criteria I needed to meet. A BMI of 40 or higher, and 100 or more pounds overweight, 5 year diet history, physician assisted weight loss program (like PhenFen), Psychological evaluation, and serious co-morbidities (insulin dependent diabetes type 2, or uncontrolled hypertension). I used my hospital medical records to prove my diet-history, emergency room visits(dizzy from high blood pressure, Dx. Morbid obesity & hypertension) also doctor visit notes which recorded dates, weights, diets, diagnoses. I proved 11 years of weight loss including quotes to my doctor, like " attends OA has lost 65 pounds, 1200-1400 cal/day and walking " . These records are diet history gold, an undisputable record of failure. You can also use photos to help tell your story. I had picutures of fat Teri with 6 month old, skinny Teri with 3 year old, fat Teri with 7 year old. I hope this helps. Teri Hess 2/5/01 Weight 287 2/4/01 Weight 247 4/5/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2001 Report Share Posted April 8, 2001 Bless you, Teri;I go for my psych consult tomorrow and was terrified that I'd blow it! Reading your letter confirms that I'm classic. Overweight since at least 9yrs. old (136 lb.), BMI 54, yoyo dieting all my life (I'm 54), and really want to start losing weight so I can exercise and lose weight! > Re: just curious > > > I was already approved with my insurance before I went to my consult > with Dr. Hess. The very fact that my insurance approved it under > medical necessity and I was sitting in his office with a BMI 50.6 was > proof enough that I needed this surgery. He does Videotape the > interview. He will ask about your diet history and what your > expectations of surgery are, what your biggest weight was. In my > interview I told him I found him on the web and that I belong to this > group and have emailed and spoken to many others who have had this > surgery. I also showed him a copy of his own study and patient care > pamphlet that I pulled off the web. I told him I have been obese all > my life, the diets I went on weight losses. I told him where I was > in my life; 40 years old, not planning any more children, health > concerns, don't want to become disabled by obesity. I also told him > I thought surgery is a tool and that I had realistic expectation of > what this surgery will do and how much weight I will lose. > > He also explains the surgery and what he will be doing. He > calculated and lets you know about what you should end up weighing. > My interview was interrupted several times so I don't remember all > the questions. Then he has this giant calendar on his wall where he > asks you when you want the surgery done, he pencils you in. Have a > list of question about the procedure you want to ask, but the > interview was pretty relaxed and informal. > > My insurance was something else. I had some strict criteria I needed > to meet. A BMI of 40 or higher, and 100 or more pounds overweight, 5 > year diet history, physician assisted weight loss program (like > PhenFen), Psychological evaluation, and serious co-morbidities > (insulin dependent diabetes type 2, or uncontrolled hypertension). I > used my hospital medical records to prove my diet-history, emergency > room visits(dizzy from high blood pressure, Dx. Morbid obesity & > hypertension) also doctor visit notes which recorded dates, weights, > diets, diagnoses. I proved 11 years of weight loss including quotes > to my doctor, like " attends OA has lost 65 pounds, 1200-1400 cal/day > and walking " . These records are diet history gold, an undisputable > record of failure. You can also use photos to help tell your story. > I had picutures of fat Teri with 6 month old, skinny Teri with 3 year > old, fat Teri with 7 year old. > > I hope this helps. > > Teri > > Hess 2/5/01 > Weight 287 2/4/01 > Weight 247 4/5/01 > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2001 Report Share Posted April 8, 2001 Bless you, Teri;I go for my psych consult tomorrow and was terrified that I'd blow it! Reading your letter confirms that I'm classic. Overweight since at least 9yrs. old (136 lb.), BMI 54, yoyo dieting all my life (I'm 54), and really want to start losing weight so I can exercise and lose weight! > Re: just curious > > > I was already approved with my insurance before I went to my consult > with Dr. Hess. The very fact that my insurance approved it under > medical necessity and I was sitting in his office with a BMI 50.6 was > proof enough that I needed this surgery. He does Videotape the > interview. He will ask about your diet history and what your > expectations of surgery are, what your biggest weight was. In my > interview I told him I found him on the web and that I belong to this > group and have emailed and spoken to many others who have had this > surgery. I also showed him a copy of his own study and patient care > pamphlet that I pulled off the web. I told him I have been obese all > my life, the diets I went on weight losses. I told him where I was > in my life; 40 years old, not planning any more children, health > concerns, don't want to become disabled by obesity. I also told him > I thought surgery is a tool and that I had realistic expectation of > what this surgery will do and how much weight I will lose. > > He also explains the surgery and what he will be doing. He > calculated and lets you know about what you should end up weighing. > My interview was interrupted several times so I don't remember all > the questions. Then he has this giant calendar on his wall where he > asks you when you want the surgery done, he pencils you in. Have a > list of question about the procedure you want to ask, but the > interview was pretty relaxed and informal. > > My insurance was something else. I had some strict criteria I needed > to meet. A BMI of 40 or higher, and 100 or more pounds overweight, 5 > year diet history, physician assisted weight loss program (like > PhenFen), Psychological evaluation, and serious co-morbidities > (insulin dependent diabetes type 2, or uncontrolled hypertension). I > used my hospital medical records to prove my diet-history, emergency > room visits(dizzy from high blood pressure, Dx. Morbid obesity & > hypertension) also doctor visit notes which recorded dates, weights, > diets, diagnoses. I proved 11 years of weight loss including quotes > to my doctor, like " attends OA has lost 65 pounds, 1200-1400 cal/day > and walking " . These records are diet history gold, an undisputable > record of failure. You can also use photos to help tell your story. > I had picutures of fat Teri with 6 month old, skinny Teri with 3 year > old, fat Teri with 7 year old. > > I hope this helps. > > Teri > > Hess 2/5/01 > Weight 287 2/4/01 > Weight 247 4/5/01 > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2001 Report Share Posted April 8, 2001 Bless you, Teri;I go for my psych consult tomorrow and was terrified that I'd blow it! Reading your letter confirms that I'm classic. Overweight since at least 9yrs. old (136 lb.), BMI 54, yoyo dieting all my life (I'm 54), and really want to start losing weight so I can exercise and lose weight! > Re: just curious > > > I was already approved with my insurance before I went to my consult > with Dr. Hess. The very fact that my insurance approved it under > medical necessity and I was sitting in his office with a BMI 50.6 was > proof enough that I needed this surgery. He does Videotape the > interview. He will ask about your diet history and what your > expectations of surgery are, what your biggest weight was. In my > interview I told him I found him on the web and that I belong to this > group and have emailed and spoken to many others who have had this > surgery. I also showed him a copy of his own study and patient care > pamphlet that I pulled off the web. I told him I have been obese all > my life, the diets I went on weight losses. I told him where I was > in my life; 40 years old, not planning any more children, health > concerns, don't want to become disabled by obesity. I also told him > I thought surgery is a tool and that I had realistic expectation of > what this surgery will do and how much weight I will lose. > > He also explains the surgery and what he will be doing. He > calculated and lets you know about what you should end up weighing. > My interview was interrupted several times so I don't remember all > the questions. Then he has this giant calendar on his wall where he > asks you when you want the surgery done, he pencils you in. Have a > list of question about the procedure you want to ask, but the > interview was pretty relaxed and informal. > > My insurance was something else. I had some strict criteria I needed > to meet. A BMI of 40 or higher, and 100 or more pounds overweight, 5 > year diet history, physician assisted weight loss program (like > PhenFen), Psychological evaluation, and serious co-morbidities > (insulin dependent diabetes type 2, or uncontrolled hypertension). I > used my hospital medical records to prove my diet-history, emergency > room visits(dizzy from high blood pressure, Dx. Morbid obesity & > hypertension) also doctor visit notes which recorded dates, weights, > diets, diagnoses. I proved 11 years of weight loss including quotes > to my doctor, like " attends OA has lost 65 pounds, 1200-1400 cal/day > and walking " . These records are diet history gold, an undisputable > record of failure. You can also use photos to help tell your story. > I had picutures of fat Teri with 6 month old, skinny Teri with 3 year > old, fat Teri with 7 year old. > > I hope this helps. > > Teri > > Hess 2/5/01 > Weight 287 2/4/01 > Weight 247 4/5/01 > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 How many of the ladies on here are graduates? I am really excited about this procedure. It gives me hope. I am one of those people who obsess about EVERYTHING!!;-) If you look at the weekly update that Shona does, all the grads are listed at the bottom! We're a growing number and it has to be encouraging to those of you who are TTC, thinking about TTC or pg. Kateri graduate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 How many of the ladies on here are graduates? I am really excited about this procedure. It gives me hope. I am one of those people who obsess about EVERYTHING!!;-) If you look at the weekly update that Shona does, all the grads are listed at the bottom! We're a growing number and it has to be encouraging to those of you who are TTC, thinking about TTC or pg. Kateri graduate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 How many of the ladies on here are graduates? I am really excited about this procedure. It gives me hope. I am one of those people who obsess about EVERYTHING!!;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 We have 29 graduates and 21 who are in various stages of their pregnancies right now. I too obsess about everything. My cerclage got me through my pregnancy and I hope it will get me through at least one more! Always, Kara Graduate Will born 2/11/03 > How many of the ladies on here are graduates? I am really excited > about this procedure. It gives me hope. I am one of those people > who obsess about EVERYTHING!!;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 We have 29 graduates and 21 who are in various stages of their pregnancies right now. I too obsess about everything. My cerclage got me through my pregnancy and I hope it will get me through at least one more! Always, Kara Graduate Will born 2/11/03 > How many of the ladies on here are graduates? I am really excited > about this procedure. It gives me hope. I am one of those people > who obsess about EVERYTHING!!;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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