Hi all,

I saw the link to this group on the Evansville Cafe site so I thought
I would check it out. I have been with St. Mary's Gastric Bypass
since April of this year trying to get my insurance to approve the
surgery. My BMI is 38, but I have co-morbidities of Diabetes and
Hypertension. The Hypertension was recently diagnosed, so they turned
me down because my diabetes isn't "severe" enough. I'm now at the
Level 2 appeal process, meaning it's a phone conference with my doctor
and myself pleading my case to team from Anthem. Hopefully with the
new diagnoses of hypertension they will approve it.

It's been a very emotional roller coaster for me. I'm 46 and have 3
sons, ages 23, 20 and 4. Yes, I said 4!! My husband and had tried to
have another one, but we made the decision if we weren't pregnant by
45 we would stop trying and I would go with the surgery so I would be
alive and healthy for my youngest and all the grand-babies coming
along. A couple of months ago I discovered I was pregnant... a lapse
after a my 2nd denial from the insurance company. I was in a panic and
very scared of having a baby at 46 with all my complications. But i
figured God doesn't give you anything you can't handle so I accepted
it, then miscarried!! I was a wreck. On top of it all, I went to a
high risk pregnancy doctor at Deaconess and she was more concerned
with my weight then with the loss of the baby. She had lost 100 pounds
doing weight watchers and very determined to get me into it again. She
had me sobbing and feeling worse about my weight then anyone in my
entire life. I have never felt so low and worthless as I did in her
office.

Anyways... now I'm back on track and waiting for the Level 2 appeal
with Anthem to go through, hoping the hypertension will get me the
surgery. Today I start my exercise routine. We have weights and a
semi working tread mill in the basement, so once my son is at
preschool I get to work. Wish me luck!!

I'm really glad I found this group. If I'm approved I'm sure I'm going
to need the support of people that have been through it. Even though
they have given me a list of people to call, I think it will be easier
doing it online and getting to know people this way.

Judy Peters