singdeborah

Weird, paying for the port only. I know last year BCBS FEP said that they would pay for surgery and not anything else, but now they are paying. I waited two years for them to pay. I know it's not the same policy as you but you have my sympathy. We have to pay 10% whatever that will be. I'm just waiting now as I have mononucleosis and the physical therapist said I have to get my strength back or she won't approve me for surgery. I have passed everything else but that.

Don't feel bad. I went to the dr yesterday or the obesity center for surgery, and because I have infectious mono (4 months so far) the physical therapist says I need to regain my strength before surgery. Which she said could take a few months. She won't sign off for the surgery til I have more strength. I guess that's ok with me because I know I need more energy but I was hoping to be an April bandster. I could be a june or July or even later. I still will be though.

Where are you located flowergirl? I have not even heard that about bcbs fed. They took our insurance cards at the seminar and said immediately "no problem". Everyone seems to know my insurance and has said over and over again, "no problem". Perhaps there is another center in your state. You won't have to self-pay.

I had dinner with a friend the other night who actually works for bcbs and she acted like it would be a piece of cake. That approval wasn't that much of a problem anymore. She doesn't do the approving herself but is definitely involved in knowing how things go. She's been there about 20 years. She definitely gave me the opinion that it was not a problem.

Hey thanks for the info. Yes, I'm going to Legacy Good Samaritan Obesity Institute. Do they pay more if you go there or do we just pay less.

I can't seem to get onto the page on bcbs of Centers with distinction because when they go to a pdf acrobat reader file my computer sends an error message. I'll have to check it out on another computer to see if the one I'm going to is. I'm sure they probably are because they are one of the top bariatric surgrery centers in the country.

I am encouraged by your post. I am starting out now too, and am another over 40 person with little time left to make a really serious change, and nothing else has worked. I want to be off my meds!!!! And be able to keep of with my grandbabies. They are so cute and I don't want to be an old fuddy duddy. Anyhow, I'm looking forward to it. I'm not scheduled yet, but I feel it will be in April. Things are going smoothly so far and so....perhaps it'll be then. I have had my initial appt, and am working on getting all the other surgeries done. You know it's very interesting that I have to go through all these tests just to get this surgery, but other surgeries don't require that, like plastic surgery (which can be life changing), abortion, hysterectomy, ohhh a multitude of things, but we that are overweight have to get a battery of tests to see if we are sane enough to have this surgery. More money for the medical profession I presume?? I understand the sleep study and blood tests etc, but the psych eval?? I don't think they really ever turn anyone down do they?

Don't feel bad. I had to selectively tell friends and family because so many (thin ones) have the thought that you should just do it on your own. Well I'm 48 and I've been down that road a few times. I would love to "do it on my own", but I will be able to with the lap band as a tool. I still will have to watch my calorie intake. Most people will be supportive when they see what's happening with you and how you are doing with it. There are so many people that have given it a bad reputation because of changing one addiction for another. That is a risk, but it depends on the person. Good luck to you.

We have the exact same insurance. My husband is a fed employee also and group number 105. So at least I know what to expect. Thank you very much. I had a feeling it was going to be a lot easier than it was a couple of years ago. Good luck to you. I'm going ahead with it.

you can try Oregano oil. I use the pure 100% but that burns. I would try some capsules. You can get them on iherb.com. Oregano oil kills yeast. AS it kills the yeast you may feel a little ill. I tried it and I felt puny the first time. You can only do it for like two weeks at a time, but now when I do it I don't feel ill at all. Anyway, it's supposed to help. Also pro-biotics too. They counter the affects of yeast. That's a big problem.

I have known of several people who have lost weight via RNY and have turned to drug addiction or become very sexually active and left husbands etc. I think you really need to have a support group, strong values, and a good sense of who you are!!! These are dangerous pitfalls for anyone, and if you have been heavy for years and suddenly have people looking at you and noticing your figure, I guess that could be weird, flattering and confusing. I can't say, as I haven't lost the weight yet, but it's definitely something to think about.

I met with sleep dr yesterday and have to sleep in that room on the 16th. Things are moving fast. I have 8 appts in March. Including, eye, dental, ob/gyn not related to surgery. I go to the Obesity Center tomorrow for a ekg and a psych eval plus a blood test. I think I'm just going to tell them I'm nuts and see what they do! Kidding Havent' gotten anything scheduled, but they told me that if all goes as planned it could happen in 6 to 8 weeks from the seminar. So far so good and the seminar was in Feb....so it could definitely happen in April. The first of April is 6 weeks. However, I have mononucleosis, or am recovering from it. I hope that doesn't hinder me. My spleen was enlarged in January and perhaps some of February. But I can't feel it anymore. I think if I register positive for mono they may make me wait, but the "scheduler" said "no problem!". Of course, what kind of medical authority does the scheduler have???? Don't know. Good luck and Blessings to all April Bandsters!!!

I hope to be added to the April bandster list. I'm going for three appts. in the next two weeks and if all goes smoothly they said it could be in April. Hoping for April.

I hope to be added to the April bandster list. I'm going for three appts. in the next two weeks and if all goes smoothly they said it could be in April. Hoping for April.

I have Fed Employee BCBS and they said they cover now in 2007. I'm wondering what the co-pays wind up being?? Anyone know?? I know each plan is different but we have the higher option of the insurance. If you have it please let me know what to expect.

Walk as much as you can. this will help get the gas out. Walk around the dining table if you have to. But it will help. :guess

I went to the website to add it and couldn't find on my profile where to insert it??? Does anyone know??

Never mind I can see what I need to do!! :myscared:

You could always just take a doggie bag home with the rest of the meal and parcel it out over a few days. Or order Soup or some kind of small side. Most of my friends are dieters anyway, and their skinny!! (yuk), they are constantly eating light, so that won't be a problem. I'm just thinking of Thanksgiving dinner, what to do then. I guess I'd probably just eat a small amount and take home a care package for the next day too. Don't worry. People are more supportive than you think.

I think the thing that bugs me the most is when I loose weight I don't want anyone to tell me how horrible I used to look. I mean someone who is close and a "friend". Because I don't feel horrible now, and I may look better after I loose weight, but that's definitely a pet peeve of mine. I'm sure someone will do it but I'll be ready!!!!! LOL i will be banded in April

This really encourages me. I will be banded in April. Thanks.:myscared:

They tell me my insurance will cover it. I'm so glad. Everything seems to be going smooth. During the seminar the Lord zapped me and I knew that I knew that it was supposed to happen. I'm going for the psych eval this friday. Should be interesting. What fun!!!

They tell me my insurance will cover it. I'm so glad. Everything seems to be going smooth. During the seminar the Lord zapped me and I knew that I knew that it was supposed to happen. I'm going for the psych eval this friday. Should be interesting. What fun!!!

I'm a mom, grandma, and wife who has weighed over 250 for about 18 years. I'm 48 and now weigh 265. I chose that lap band because I don't want to be unhealthy when I loose weight. I want to continue getting all my nutrients from the things I consume. I have several co-morbidities such as, diabetic for the last 15 years, high blood pressure, proteinuria, probably sleep apnea, (haven't been tested yet), high cholesterol (when I don't take meds) to name a few. I'm really tired of taking meds and I realized that I could stroke out, or have a heart attack or something and I want to be around for my kids and my grandkids. So that is the gist of my reasoning for the surgery. I hope to loose at least 70 pounds. 80 or 90 would be great. I would jump for joy. I don't want that skin hanging thing though, but I'm 5-8 so perhaps it will be minimal with the exception of my tummy. I think that's unavoidable. However, I will do what I can to alleviate as much as I can. I don't care how fast I loose, except at first I would like to quickly knock off a chunk of my desired weight loss at least 40 of it, then 1 to 2 pounds a week would be wonderful. I'm going to try my best. I have mononucleosis right now so hope that won't hinder my surgery date. I'm pretty well over the main outbreak so I'm just weak and tired all the time. That slows your metabolism, and I can't exercise without getting a sore throat and fever. Weird I'm a music minister/Psalmist. The Lord gives me songs and I sing them all over the place. My music is on www.breadsite.org in the mp3 section. Free downloads. I need to loose some weight so I'm not so reluctant to go and sing places where they ask me. Most of the time right now I think, "I'm so tired". I want to be able to keep up and LIVE!!!!! Garden, decorate, paint, sing, pack my keyboard (musical) and go wherever, chase after my two toddler grandchildren!!!. That's my goal. More than numbers my goal is to LIVE! Blessings

I plan to go back to leading worship a week after surgery. Soooooo....hopefully I can do well.