Jennifur

Well, I was in the same place, work was ok but starting to get frustrated, with my appts, and 2 children with Asthma and just only a year back from maternity leave. I asked my pcp to fill out Family Leave Act paperwork for me, you can ask your HR dept for papers, and had them put for care and appts for me, then had children's dr complete forms for care of them and legally, I could not get in any trouble or penalized for taking time off for appts. If you don't have time to take you do not get paid, but on another note, it will cya when you are on disability as well. It is good for 1 year up to 12 weeks off total. Hope that helps

I agree, I only set the Ticker because that is where I want to be, if i get down to 200lbs I will be happy( I was there for a long time and happy with e at a size 14) 175 I will be more than happy but my surgeon said 140 is where I should be but probably wont get. So I figured to set my goal at 175 I was reaching for something great and reachable, and when I get there, who knows I might reset it. Just a personal thing to feel like I am accomplishing something and have something to work towards, but not set in stone! Teresita - I do understand and not discouraging at all, but 84lbs is a great accomplishment and I am sure you will figure it out. My dr requires regular visists to the nutritionist after and I think that is very important.

Teresita 84lbs is great, i've only lost 37 pre surgery as of this point and know how much better I am starting to feel, so you must feel great! I wish you the best of luck and you are so right, this is a great place for support and encouragement have a great day!

wow 210 in 2 years. that is so great, I love reading success stories like that and with little skin issues? did you work out with weights or do you think it was because it came off slower than the bypass where the weight just falls off. That concerns me because I can''t afford surgery but I keep telling myself that I am doing this to be healthy and either way, skin or no skin, I will be so much better off. which brings me to my personal opinion about the bypass, I do think it is right for some people and not against it, but personally, I want to absorb the nutrients I need from what I eat and not from pills for the rest of my life. I have been to both types of support groups and I can honestly say that for the most part - the banders looked so much healthier and not as drawn as the bypass people. I am not saying this to make anyone angry, just giving my opinion on both and why I choose the band. Good luck to everyone, and either way, everyone in here is a great inspiration and support group!

Morning Everyone Can I say what a great group of people with such a great sense of humor. I love reading these post. Anyway, I only walked 15 minutes yesterday because my son was sick with the stomach bug - does scrubbing my bathroom from top to bottom 5 times count towards anything? yuck I am waiting for my final preop test, I have met all other requirements but found out that I have more, not for insurance but to make sure I don't have gall stones or blood clots. That was kind of stressful since I have a surgery date. That is a great post op list, I did already see it but lost track of it so i printed it out this morning. I think that I like this forum so much because I am beginning to realize that other people feel the same way I do and feeling more at ease with some of my fears HAVE

I love walking but hate a treadmill. I can easily do 4 miles outside in the fresh air but can't do a mile on that stupid machine. I hate the way my legs feel like jello when i am on it and have always had feet issues so they hurt so badly when i'm done

That is absolutely horrible! I am so glad you are better and had the chance to pay for your surgery. That kind of scares me, I was working away at everything and didn't go to the nutritionist for 2 months for 2 reasons, 1. didn't know if i could afford cobra and didn't have insurance and 2. my boyfriend was in a horrible accident and i was absorbed by that. he is ok but i was mental for a while, weight up and down good days and bad. My surgeon is wonderful and has the same requirements if not more than the worst insurance company so that everyone knows it is a lifestyle change and to make sure if he gives his blessing that the insurance should not be an issue. I can't wait for the day i can say I'm down by 90lbs. I am waiting for insurance approval, anxiously, with BCBS and set for surgery on 4/16! I just need to say, this is the most wonderful forum and there is such great support and information here. THANK YOU ALL!

Good Morning Everyone, First, Welcome Jennifer -It is so very exciting Well today is March 1 and ready for the challange, my son is home sick with me so i might just have to turn on the clothes rack OH sorry I mean treadmill LOL.

Sara sounds good! So what 16 workouts for March which would equal out to 4 days a week? I am so excited, getting so close and need some motivation to get to the gym i pay for every month!

I guess that would be something to talk to surgeon about, I am in the same boat, and he let me go by a few lbs but did say not to gain back any or i'm in BIG trouble. lol I would have been there last fall but had some personal things happen that stopped the weight loss, and i'm glad now that I look back, Mentally, I am in such a better place and now ready and anxious!

I had to do that too, the packet of stuff. My dr required a 10% weight loss which has taken a while, but insurance required everything else. I think that is why they do it like that so they have documentation to avoid denials, I started with some proceedures last Feb (06) and was done in August with all labs and things other than my last bit of bloodwork i did last week. They are also doing a gall bladder ultrasound and ultrasound on my legs to check for blood clots as a preop requirement for the dr. only. The good thing is, if nothing else, i have changed my eating habits and think it will make it easier post surgery?! IT HAS BEEN A LONG YEAR!

Did I mention BCBS had the same huge list as my dr? Lots of test and evaluations. It took me about 5 months to get all of them done, which a lot of it was waiting for appointment dates, getting blood work and a bunch of silly other things that just took lots of time.

Our program that I choose was very strict and has a long list of stuff that must be done before we can even meet with the surgeon, including going to a nutritionist while loosing a certain set amount of weight. Because of that they will schedule date 4-6 weeks out so they have time to get insurance approval and fight it before surgery. They had everything together for the surgeon to approve or disapprove and then goes to insurance and in most cases is not an issue. I did have to write a personal letter for BCBS about who long my weight has been an issue (FOREVER!) and that I will not drink any alcohol for 1 year. The hospital told me last year to call the insurance co and let them know i was doing this and see what they require to make sure everyone was on the same page, which is why they don't anticipate problems. It does seem a little backwards doesn't it?

That is good to know, did they give you all the details of what they need? I had a huge list including a referral from my PCP recommending me for the surgery. I am holding my breath waiting for my approval from them, it seems like it is taking forever even though it has only been a week.

That is good to know, did they give you all the details of what they need? I had a huge list including a referral from my PCP recommending me for the surgery. I am holding my breath waiting for my approval from them, it seems like it is taking forever even though it has only been a week.

Maggie I am so there with you, the only difference is if I gain a lb they can cancel my date and start over. I want to lose another 15lbs before 4/16 but am just happy that after having a bad week I have not gained anything at this point.

That is good to know since my ins is BCBSRI and my paperwork has been submitted for approval. My primary did put in my referral letter that I have been a patient for many years and have struggled with my weight since i have been with them (since i was a teen) so hopefully that will help. I also had to write a letter of my weight history for an insurance requirement, but the girl who does that said everything seemed to be in order. I'll keep my fingers crossed but anticipate something. Good luck!

Hi all I am getting so excited about my date (4/16) and as it seems so far away, it is just around the corner. I just want to thank everyone here, this is such a great support system and all the questions answered has helped so much and I have learned so much more in the last couple of weeks. Since I met my pre-surgery weight loss and have actually changed my eating habits, I decided this weekend that I was going to they gym 5 days a week and encouraged from challanges posted on LBT. so lets see if that makes a difference. Anyway - GOOD LUCK and thanks to all

Welcome and Good Luck. This is a great group for support

Hi and welcome. This is a great place and I have had a lot of questions answered that i didn't even know I had. LOL Anyway, call BCBS and they will give you the list of things they require. I have BCBS of RI and that is what I did, lucky for me my Dr. had the same requirements, actually think they required more than insurace so I hope I am safe. I am waiting for their approval but have my date set. Personally, I am glad for the pre-reqs because I think I have learned a lot about myself and retrain myself prior to surgery. I don't think it is going to be easy but I do think I am much wiser about the choices I make when it comes to food. Good luck

Hi and welcome, I can see how that is frustrating but still a great job! I am somewhat new myself but find that this forum is very helpful and the people are full of support.

I was reading your post and thinking "did I write that?" I don't know if I need a 6 month supervised diet but I have been on one for 10 months now so I'm just waiting for Insurance approval. My date is set for April 16 because of a trip that was planned months ago. Good luck and welcome!

That is absolutely horrible, I just joined this LBT and think for the most part this is a great support system and from seeing the responses to your thread, there are many people who are just as upset. You are a saint for being able and wanting to help change someone's life and I hope you don't give up on the people here who are strong. You should be blessed!

You are wonderful, not only are you support for your wife, but for everyone here! There should be more DH's out there...LOL

WOW - that is fantastic, I can't even imagine being a size 6. I have gone from a 22/24 to a 18/20 and have decided to get rid of my work clothes that do not fit me anymore. I know I am not going back up and have met a someone who I talk to every day who came up with a great idea to pass clothes to others instead of spending money we don't have. So I have a home for clothes I won't wear and hopefully some day i'll have room in my closet for much smaller new ones.