Next Step: New Patient Seminar at UHC

Jun 05, 2013

Well, Today I attended the new patient seminar at University Hospital Cleveland.

This is about the fifth different Seminar I have attended since 2005. A couple in Michigan, The VA, and once at Cleveland Clinic, and now at UH. Each of the previous attempts at getting the surgery were interupted by complications. Loss of Insurance, CHF, Flesh-Eating Disease, New Insurance company...

The Seminar was pretty standard. UH does 3 different procedures. The Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleave, and Lap Band. They described each procedure quite well. Going into process, expectations and results.

I have pretty much determined that the Gastric Bypass is the best procedure for myself. With the number of Co-morbidities, and the amount of weight I need to lose, it should provide the best results. Also, my wife had the procedure almost 10 years ago, and she will be great support and help. As she has a lot of experience. 

I turned in my paperwork, and will be following up with my PCP, Surgeon, Psychologist, and Insurance company tommorrow in preperation for the return call from the UH Bariatric department.

I spoke to my Insurance the other day, and they told me that with my plan, and a BMI > 50 there is no required Medical Weight Loss Program. I have already been through over 9 months of seeing my PCP, but being not a requirement, will be nice. It should be able to cut down my time to surgery by several months.

I will tell you all tommorrow what Insurance says, afterall Health Insurance pretty much determines what we can and cannot do anymore these days. Unless you are very wealthy.

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