Want2get_banded

Hi everyone! I am in unfamiliar territory here, so be nice :welldoneclap: . I have done a LOT of research on the Lap Band procedure, and have heard only a few stories of low BMI patients being insurance approved for the band. I am currently 4'11 and i weight roughly 168-170 pounds (depending on what time of the month i weigh in) and my BMI is currently 35.3 & I want to get banded. I have struggled with my weight for 8 years now and at a recent dr's appt, i was warned that If i keep gaining weight at the rate i am ( about 6 to 7 pounds per month) i risk developing diabetes. I have contacted Dr. Carter who's practice is in Arlington, Tx to see if he thinks i am good candidate for the band. There are asking for LOADS and LOADS of information and documentation in order for me to get approval. #1 problem, I do not have a PCP i usually use my ob/gyn as my primary health care provider, and i usually only see her once or twice a year. She has never truly monitored my weight nor has she supervised any of the numerous diets i have attempted. Is there any other way for approval that you guys may know of? I am getting down right desperate here as i don't want to have to wait another 6 months to a year to have my op. :help:

Hey ladies & Gents, I've been on the VLCD ( very low calorie diet) eating between 600- 750 calories per day for 1 week now.....and i have lost 9 pds....yaay i was so excited when i stepped on that scale, even better news though............:clap2: I WAS APPROVED FOR FINANCING MY BAND!!! I spoke with the lender medicare earlier today, the rep i spoke with stts that she already spoken with Dr Carter's office to let them know and op is scheduled for june 24th....i am too excited. wish me luck.....i'm going to stick to this VLCD until surgery for the added weight loss boost.

Yes i am truly disappointed. but i am going to stay focused and positive. I applied last night around 8 pm for a loan to have the procedure done, i should hopefully know something by monday afternoon _ tuesday at the latest. i have fairly decent credit, the only thing that i am concerned about it is that i'm a divorcee and that factor has kept me from being approved from a LOT of things. i'll just keep my fingers crossed and continue to pray for a miracle. And to all of you i just want to say that you guys are all excellent, there is so much love and support here, and people like me really need that at times. Especially times like this, when i am feeling so depressed and disappointed. I will surely keep you posted on how the outcome is with the financing. --Nikki

Hello everybody, sadly i was not approved by insurance for the band so i am in the process of trying to get financing for it. as of right now my doctor has me on a VLCD (very low calorie diet) meaning i too am on liquids and can only consume 500 calories a day which i think is totally crazy but at this point trying anything, i hope i can stick to it. she says it has the same effect as the band BUT the only difference is you can feel restriction with the band and you're not constantly hungry, which is what i think is going to be my worst problem, i am ALWAYS hungry. i'm on this for 4 weeks now, and according to the doc it has an average of 3-5 pounds lost a week. does this sound healthy to anyone else, it just sounds like a little too much weight is being lost with this program. i mean i'm all for losing th weight of course but i want to still live in order to enjoy it.

I have BCBS Tx and yes they will cover with a BMI of 40 or 35 with at least 3 co-morbs, this is what they require: i HAVE to see a nutritionist, have a physc exam, i need 2 letters of recommendation, my 5 YEAR weight history and i have to be on a 6 month supervised diet. i have that part down (the co-morb) hypertension, high cholesterol and sleep apnea. the only thing that i am truly concerned with the letter of recommendation by my MD (which i do not have, i NEVER see a doctor), and a 5 year weight history from my MD, (which again i don't have). everything else will be quite simple. I can't afford to self-pay (wish i could) i have even thought about financing the procedure, which might not be such a bad idea except i don't think my spouse would approve of that route. I'm just at my wits end. I'm tired of stressing over it, shoot i've lost about 7 pounds just over being worried about being approved.

Hi everyone! I am in unfamiliar territory here, so be nice . I have done a LOT of research on the Lap Band procedure, and have heard only a few stories of low BMI patients being insurance approved for the band. I am currently 4'11 and i weight roughly 168-170 pounds (depending on what time of the month i weigh in) and my BMI is currently 35.3 & I want to get banded. I have struggled with my weight for 8 years now and at a recent dr's appt, i was warned that If i keep gaining weight at the rate i am ( about 6 to 7 pounds per month) i risk developing diabetes. I have contacted Dr. Carter who's practice is in Arlington, Tx to see if he thinks i am good candidate for the band. There are asking for LOADS and LOADS of information and documentation in order for me to get approval. #1 problem, I do not have a PCP i usually use my ob/gyn as my primary health care provider, and i usually only see her once or twice a year. She has never truly monitored my weight nor has she supervised any of the numerous diets i have attempted. Is there any other way for approval that you guys may know of? I am getting down right desperate here as i don't want to have to wait another 6 months to a year to have my op. :help: P.S. does anyone here have bluecross blueshield insurance, and if so were you approved for this op even with a low bmi? <!-- / message -->

FaithMd, You are so right, after I've calmed down and thought about it (and got a stern talking to from my fiance ) I realized it, I am just very thankful that I did not show her how upset i really was. That would have been a huge apology i would have owed.....i just - i don't know, seem to get so tense, frustrated and irritable so easily these days and i have no clue where it's coming from. I'm guessing fear of the unknown. i try not to think about it for fear that this band will run my life, but it just consumes me. When i tell people i'm considering this surgery they all look at me like i'm crazy and say things like "That's too extreme" or "you don't need that just diet" .... well if i could "just diet" i wouldn't be considering this in the first place. No i may not be as obese as many others who have gotten this surgery but that's where I am trying not to go (hope i haven't offended anyone here). i have my blood work scheduled for this coming up wednesday and my initial consultation with aigb thursday. everything seems to be in order, i was able to get a letter of recommendation from my ob/gyn (even though she doesn't think i need it, she basically did it for me b/c she saw i was so determined and she wants the best for me....luv her) which is really great. I must say that this forum has been so much help to me, i have gotten a LOT of good information.

SGDODGE06 WOW!! You really did have your ducks in a row. That's the kind of organization I need in my life...lol. I did finally talk to my ob/gyn (whom i have been going to since i was like 12) so she has all of my weight history, which is great. this past 1 1/2 i have been maintaining a weight around 168-170 but she states my highest was 202 in 2004. she says that this may make it a bit harder for my approval b/c the insurance company will look at it like "yes we know she is able to take off the weight and maintain it if she quits stuffing twinkies in her mouth when she's bored" which honestly is sooo true. she "GASP" thought that i should probably GAIN weight over the next six months and then get serious about the Lap Band. Since she has so much history on me and i've been seeing her for so long I was somehow able to keep my feet in the stirrups and not swing them around to her chin :clap2: but in the back of my mind I'm thinking.....is this woman crazy or what? I refuse to gain weight for this surgery. I'm already unhappy enough with this weight, why would i intentionally gain more?? would rather self-pay than gain weight. Does anyone else think that this was inappropriate health advise??? Due to that comment I am thinking about throwing away a medical relationship over a decade long!

Thank you both so much, i feel alot better knowing what i'm in store for. i am truly hoping that with my families medical history all will be good.....i will update regularly as to what progress has been made..... who knows i just may have good news to report. Good Night All, and thank you for replying to my thread!

Skinnyjeans, That's exactly who I'm going thru, AIGB in Hurst. I am so glad to hear you say that's who you are going through. Yaay!! A huge weight has been lifted now because i was not sure what to expect from them. If you don't mind may i ask what insurance compnay you have? What type of studies or test did they perform on you, and exaclty how may visits did you have to schedule? I know this is alot of questions at one time but i am trying to make sure i am well informed, so i know what to expect. Thank you so much all of you for the help and support.

FaithMd, Thank you soo much for all of that information. I am still in the beginning stages of getting everything in place and it has been a nightmare. I have my first consultation on Mar 29th, the surgeons office referred me to a great PCP who says that due to my family's history of heart disease, type I & II Diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, hypertension.....etc that I am a very good candidate even with the lower BMI. I am staying hopeful, and am wiling to jump thru the hoops to have my approval, i am detrmined to stop at nothing, and as a very last option will try to finance the procedure. I have pretty good credit so that shouldn't be so hard. Even though this may sound crazy, my insurance company has denied me for EVERYTHING, even my infertility treatments so i want them to pay for SOMETHING otherwise there is no point in me even having insurance if everything is going to be paid out-of-pocket....is that a horrible way to feel? Regardless I am going to stay focused and do what i need to do for this approval, I will keep you posted.....again thanks for all the info. p.s. how long does this process usually take between inital consultations, approval and getting banded? Have a great day!! Hopeful bandster