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BigOBoy, I am waiting for approval right now. I was told 3-5 days, then 7-10 days, and now I'm being told Thursday at the latest that there were higher priority cases (ie., cancer). I was told it looks good so far though, so I will update whenever I get word. I believe my program began in January of 2012 and went on for 4 months, but don't quote me on that. I know it was not right before I started the process or within 6 months of it! I hope that helps. My paperwork was submitted on a Friday afternoon. Since it is not a full day, I am not counting it toward the time frame this has taken for approval once all paperwork was submitted. Friday is 10 business days not counting Saturdays. Insurance is open on Saturdays, I think. If so, today is day 9 counting Saturdays.

I made several mini goals to help keep me focused and motivated. Some of these milestones are things I never thought I'd reach, so just having them as a possibility means a lot to me. I'm not banded yet, but here are my top 10 goals: Weight Loss Lose that first 10 lbs: Done! (pre-op diet) Get to "one"derland/Lose 20lbs (only a couple of lbs difference) No longer have a BMI in the obese range/Lose 50lbs/halfway point (only a couple of lbs difference) Make it to a healthy BMI/Lose 80lbs (only a couple of lbs difference) GOAL to be in the mid range for a healthy BMI (20.7-22.7 or 121-132lbs) due to my age and bone structure (91-102lbs total loss) so my current final goal is 130, but honestly, it is really just to be in this particular range. Fitness Be able to run 1/2 mile (I currently break out in hives!) Be able to run 1 mile Participate in a marathon Participate in a Spartan or Mud Run type of race with my husband! Clothing Be able to shop in any store for clothes!!! I would have added clothing size goals, but honestly, I have no clue the weight/clothing size ratio or what size I'd even be at goal, so I decided not to use that as a goal other than being able to shop at any store of my choice rather than special stores with plus size sections that go up into my size.

Thanks Dober. That was a worry of mine and I was scared to ask! They put me on sugar busters already because if the psych eval snag up didn't happen, I would have already been banded. I had a couple of tantrums having to wait because I wanted to have that "last meal" but like someone told me... that is the food addiction talking. I allowed myself to have one last treat a couple of days ago and ended up barely touching it (a cupcake) because it was too sweet! It was so not worth it! However, I had to figure that out on my own. After that, I have no desire for sweets. Plus, I've found healthy alternatives anyway. One example is that fruit tastes really sweet now!

I know how you feel. I've lost 14 lbs since going on sugar busters and am afraid I will lose too much. If I had to go on another 3 month diet, I know I'd be under the BMI requirement. We started at a similar weight, but your BMI is a little higher, so you must be a little shorter than I am, lol. Like the doctor said though, it isn't that I can't lose weight. It is that I cannot keep it off. What happens is I do really well, plateau, then gain it all back plus some! Now with the other health issues, it has gotten to the point that I have to do something long term for my health.

The program I had to go through was $115 a month, and also not covered. Isn't it funny how insurance works? They won't pay to help you lose weight without surgery, but will with it! Waiting sucks, but it is going to be worth it!

That sucks, Ladybug! Do you know why? Tomorrow to Friday should be when I hear back about being approved. *Crosses Fingers* I'm getting excited, but nervous!

Finally! I got my psych eval back. The thing was that my doctor's office called and was told another date again. So, I patiently waited while another date came and went. I called and they said they never said any of that, in regards to the time I'd get it back. They basically said my husband, myself, and my doctor's office all misheard the dates. Whatever! So, when I called and was told that, I called my doctor's office back. They called them AGAIN and was pushed off again with a new date NEXT week! I was like OH HECK NO! Anyway, long story short, after explaining what I was told and having them check my records, they saw the documented conversations with the psych people and called again to find out what was going on... this time armed with the conversations and got the fax within minutes! That just proves my theory that these people where just holding on to it! I have no clue why it was so hard to SIGN a paper, but oh well... it is done! :D They submitted my stuff to BCBS as of Friday afternoon, so I will let you all know how long it took from the last piece of paperwork to approval if that helps you all out!

I am also in Georgia. I don't know why mine is taking so long. The supervisor went out of town for a week though and now is holding it hostage! The doctor that did it said she's been done with it. We are just waiting for her supervisor to actually approve it. It is very frustrating and I would never recommend this place, but they took my insurance and the other one that did the evals did not take it. I had to do an interview, plus take the MMPI and PPI. I was told that once the doctors office gets the eval, I should be approved within 5 days. With the communication between the office, us, and BCBS, they think it won't even take 5 days. The waiting is frustrating because I was told it would be done Friday, then got the run around, then told Friday or Monday, then Tuesday they said this Friday at the latest but no one said Friday to start with... the thing is that my husband was there and heard the exact same thing! Once I get my results, I will be complaining on the supervisor who also talked about a patient on the phone while I was in the testing area. I heard details that I did not care to hear about the patient. Basically, I just think I went to an unethical place, but they do good mental health work. It is just the rest of it that is unethical. BTW, both the doctor's office and I have explained why we need it back like yesterday! They don't care and keep telling us both it will be this day or that and then saying they didn't say that. I told them band or no band, I need surgery soon for another condition and they are doing both procedures together. Oh well, all I can do is hurry up and wait! I was suppose to be having surgery already and even the doctor's office said they've never seen these issues, but said it does usually take longer than 1 week like I was told. I was told it usually takes 2 weeks to get them back. The biggest issue I have is that I know the evaluations can be done quicker, because they are done within 24 hours for many job evals that require the full psych eval. Also, I have taken psychology courses and know how these tests work. The hardest part is taking the computer's results and putting it with the interview results, but still if they did the work, it wouldn't take 3 weeks!!! The worst part is that I had to wait 2 weeks just to get in, so I have been held up 5 weeks by this one evaluation that was suppose to be done 2 weeks ago.

Thanks for all of the feedback. I know I didn't start the thread, but since I'm still in approval phase, all of the feedback is very helpful. I have IBS as well, but found that a diet for IBS and Probiotics work the best for me. Actually, my surgeon thinks that the band will be helpful for IBS rather than impact it negatively because of the dietary changes that go with it. Maybe this is because I did very well with a diet specifically for IBS and probiotics though. I also found out that I have some food intolerances that I did not know I had, like lactose. How can you be 29 and not know you cannot have lactose? Apparently, this girl can be! BTW, the drops in blood pressure, I hadn't heard of before with fibro, but I keep having blood pressure drops that come with me feeling rather light headed at times. I will have to look into that because none of the doctors on my team could explain it! The medication is the biggest worry that I have had so far. I wasn't sure which ones are allowed post-op but haven't had a chance to ask the doctor.

I have a preop that is not a liquid diet. The reason is to help shrink your liver and help transition better. I don't think it hurts if you don't do it, but helps the surgeon if you do. Does that make sense? I wouldn't be concerned though, especially if you trust your doctor. I see some are on a liquid diet. I would hate doing that before having the band, but didn't think twice about not having to do it either!

I do, but have not been banded yet. However, the pain is part of my comorbid conditions and I have been told by several doctors that losing weight helps with fibromyalgia, even though it won't cure it. All of the health benefits from the weight loss are worth the gamble with the fibromyalgia for me. I hope you get an answer from someone who has been through it and has fibro, but if not, hopefully I will be able to update you soon. I'm just waiting on one piece of paperwork before approval!

I had to meet with a registered nutritionist one time as part of the process. I haven't been approved yet, but they did not accept the counciling from my doctor through the weight loss clinic. It had to be a nutritionist with BCBS-Fed. If you call them, they are really helpful though. We've (my husband and I) have called them probably 10 times asking questions.

I just want to say if your gut instinct says to find another doctor, bail now! This is a life changes surgery, and you really need to be able to trust your surgeon through the journey.

It will be 6 weeks Friday from the seminar / information intake. I would have already been scheduled if the psych evaluation wasn't two weeks out from my appointment and they have held on to it for 3 weeks! More than likely, I will be at the end of the March. The psych paperwork should be in by Friday (but I've heard this for 3 weeks), then the paperwork should be approved by the 15th at the latest. My husband has to go out of town the following week, so my surgery can be scheduled the following week. I've been on the pre-op diet since my follow up with my doctor so that we don't have to wait 2 more weeks to schedule. Hopefully, I can update soon, but if things go as planned, it will be just over 8 weeks from seminar / intake to surgery.

I had one done by my gastro, the other done by the surgeon doing my lapband, but he also does gastro related surgeries. Other than that, I am not sure.

Oh, and from what I have read, you will only be off for a week unless your job description would require longer. That would be up to the doctor. I started the process at the end of January, and all I am waiting on, and have been waiting on, is the psych evaluation to come back. After that, I was told it only takes up to 5 days for approval from BCBS-fed.

BTW, the diets you have tried on your own and failed may be the 6 months of documentation. I am not sure on that, but I have done WW multiple times, went through my doctor's weight loss clinic, and tried various other diets. I didn't have to provide paperwork to show the diets I had tried. I just had to list them, the estimated dates, and how much I lost.

BCBS - fed requires 3 months of supervised weight loss, a nutritional assessment from a certified nutritionist, a psych evaluation, plus meet all of the requirements to get the lapband (40+ BMI or 35+ BMI and comorbid conditions) and have tried to lose weight on your own multiple (not specified as far as I know) times and failed or gained it back. I am stuck at the psych eval, but otherwise am done. The superviser at the psych clinic is holding on to my eval after going on vacation despite my calls and my doctor's calls. If you need any more information just let me know... I am going through the process myself and have called them many times and my doctor's office is great at keeping me in the loop with the process. I can even tell you what my copays have been so far.

I have had two and was put to sleep for both. I got an IV, was put on my side, my throat numbed, the bite gaurd put in, then knocked out. I woke up and it was done. Really simple and stress free. I was so nervous the first time as well. I will have to get them for life now (Barrett's esophagus) and won't stress about it after seeing how smoothly they go.

Have any of you, or are you, have both the anti reflux sugery and the lapband surgery done at the same time? I am curious on what I should expect. Online, I cannot find any information about both precedures being performed together, so that is no help. When I google the laparoscopic fundolipocation for GERD the results range from outpatient to a 1-3 day stay in the hospital. My doctor's office is saying it is outpatient when I call and ask, but it is cheaper on our insurance if I stay overnight. The normal stay seems to be overnight with just that procedure and I'm having that and the lapband. I have talked to two ladies on the phone with the doctor's office and they are telling me that this only adds like 15 minutes to the entire surgery and I'll go home the same day. I just want to hear from someone who is having both or has had both done to see what they have been told or have experienced. I'm sure it will be fine, but it is bugging me. Any ideas?

No, I mean the anti reflux surgery. I have a hernia as well, but the GERD is serious enough I have to have surgery for it no matter what elase I do.

I have to have surgery for reflux in addition to the lapband. Regardless of the lapband, I would have surgery which would result in a differnt style of eating, at least temporarily. Most people only know I am having surgery for reflux. Only my husband, children, inlaws, and 2 friends know that I will also be getting the lapband. We are on the fense about telling everyone. Part of me doesn't want anyone to know; the other part feels that I have nothing to hide. Luckily for me, or is that unluckily, I have another surgery to fall back on, so it would be easy to hide if I choose to hide it. Part of me wants to be ready emotionally before making the reveal, but the other part feels it would be easier just to announce it from the beginning. The biggest issue is that I know people who have not told others and those who have and the ones who don't are treated differently in rergards to their weightloss than the ones that do. I guess people assume it is an easy, quick fix, or cheat of some sort if you get the band. What they do not realize is that it is a tool that is only useful if you allow it to help you. I have seen people get it and GAIN weight by refusing to do what they are told, and they are miserable because of it. It takes hard work and life changes, but I sit here almost ashamed to say I needed help! It is intersting reading what others are feeling and doing in this situation as well. Thanks for bringing this topic up!

BCBS required medically suprvised weightloss program (3 month minimum) and an additional nutritional assessment from a certified nutritionist. You also had to have tried other diets and either failed or gained the weight back. You can try to find the information online for your plan, call the company, or talk to the office you are going through. Any of the three should point you in the right direction. Each insurance is different and what one may accept, another may not.

With my insurance, it could take several months. You have to be on a medically supervised weight loss program for at least 3 months. Additionally, you have to have a nutritional assessment and psych eval. Waiting on the paperwork can take a while as well. I had everything ready to go but the nutrional assessment and psych eval before going in for a consult. Even at this point, I have waited a month and have around 2 weeks more before approval. In other words, I'd say it could take up to 6 months on my insurance, but as little as a month depending on how fast the paperwork takes and how much of the preapproval steps you have to take. I hope that helps.

Hopefully, I will be joinging you all soon. I should have surgery by the end of the month, but we are waiting on one piece of paper before getting approval. I'm already on the pre-op diet.