jackie506

I am being banded July 23 and I would really be interested in seeing your doctors diet plan if you wouldn't mind. Would you please email it to me at jackie_435@yahoo.com. I would like to print it. Thank you

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa. Good luck to you also.

Chimboree calendar looks great. Looks even better since you were able to officially add me.

Thanks wasa. I am having surgery July 23 and just trying to start getting some of the things picked up so I have them here at home. I thing I am going to buy a few of the single packets of beneprotein off of ebay and try those. Right now they are 2.95 for 12 packets and 5.65 for shipping. I think I will just give them a try. Beneprotein is one of the few the nutrisionist suggested. She told me this one really had no tasts and she has used it but I agree with you. I need to try it myself before jumping right in and buying a case.

I am asking anyone who used beneprotein powder (no flavor) for their pre op diet if it honestly has no flavor. I will be mixing this in with my clear liquids and don't want it to make the liquids terrible to drink since I will have to do this for 4 weeks. Please give me some insight in to this. It is cheaper to buy this stuff by the case then individual cans so I want to make sure it is good before I buy a case. Thanks for you inputs

:update: Had to tell everyone I AM APPROVED!!!!!!! The paperwork was messed up so they approved me for the RouxenY but surgeons office resubmitted for lapband and BCBS said they would not tell 100% that I was approved but they would say 99.99% approved . They told me that is because they had to make sure my BMI was below 50 and it is. The review board just has to look at that and she said I would receive my letter of approval Monday or Tuesday. Surgery is scheduled for July 23!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so nervous, scared, doubtful, excited, anxious and about every other emotion you can think of all rolled into one!! 1 month from today I will become a bandster.:clap2::roll:

Hello everyone. I was just wondering if anyone else has blue cross blue shield of Iowa and if they had the surgery did you have to go through a lot of hoops to get it approved? Denials before approvals? I am just starting this journey. Done a 6 month diet with my family doc 2 others times and succeeded with them just gained all the weight and then some back. Surgeon at seminar said if it had been over 2 years I should start again. So here I am again going to the doc monthly and all that hoopla. I honestly think sometimes the reason for all of this is so that the insurance company can see how committed you are to pursuing this whole thing. Oh well......that is another complaint for another night. So I am now on weight watchers...yet again....and I am starving as I type. GRRRRRRRRRRR Please give me any feedback you have in regards to this insurance. I am so afraid that I am going to jump their hoops and they are going to shoot me down. :angry

Try to keep your mind on the prize. I haven't even been banded yet but on my pre op diet that I will be starting July 9 I can have ONLY clear liquids with 50mg of powdered whey protein a day. I am sooooooooo nervous about it. No cream soup. They say you are not hungry because of the protein I will be consuming but I still have my doubts about that. I guess if I am not truly hungry but still wanting food that is the habit that I will be fighting and that needs to start sometime. That I honestly think will be the hardest part for me. Good luck with the rest of your pre op and surgery. I can't wait until I can join you on July 23rd.

Could I please be added to the Lucky 7's wall of fame (the calender) on July 23. Thanks everyone for all the support.

Get this!! Today I was told by 2 different people that I was approved for bariatric surgery. I called the surgeon and got my date. Then a 3rd person from BCBS called to tell me I was approved (she didn't know I had already called 1 time to find out and someone else from there had called and told me I was approved). Anyway, she calls to tell me and I said thank you I know someone already called me and I scheduled my surgery. She then said well congratulations on you gastric bypass approval. I said WHAT!!!!! :omg: I am having the lap band. She said no your surgeon submitted for rouxenY and that is what was approved. I said I will not be having that so I will call my surgeon and see what we need to do now. Called surgeon's office who then called insurance and had to RESUBMIT my paperwork to get approval for lap band. 2 people at BCBS then told me they couldn't tell me if I would be approved or not because now everything was being reviewed again. Another women at BCBS (a nurse) told me she really thought it would be fine because my BMI is under 50 and I meet all the requirements for lap band as well as rouxenY. I was still nervous though and the surgeon's office knew it so at the end of the day the woman who submits to insurance through the surgeons office called BCBS and talked with them. She then phoned me and told me that she was told by the nurse to go ahead and keep the surgery date and proceed with things as we have scheduled because she can not tell us formally today that it is approved but she really does believe it will be approved because it was just a mess up on paperwork and I was approved for the more invasive surgery and my BMI is low enough for the lap band. GOOD GOD I HOPE SHE IS RIGHT!!!!! :faint: Anyway, I am scheduled for surgery on July 23. Cross your fingers the women was right and they approve me for lap band also. I am lucky though because we just faxed everything to insurance 2 days ago and we just got a decision today. They told me they would be sending my approval letter for the rouxenY and my FORMAL approval letter for lapband (providing it is approved) out next Monday so really the paper process has really not been all that long. Just the mix up has my nerves nutso!!!!! So Lucky Sevens I get to join the rest of you losers on the wonderful journey we are about to embark upon!!! JULY 23 I WILL STEP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE MY SWING. MOVE OVER AND MAKE ROOM FOR ME. Sorry for such the long rant...............just had to tell you all about my dilema. Goodness gracious I am glad that women congratulated me on my gastric bypass......what if I would have gotten on the table and woke up having things rerouted and cut out.:omg:

Good luck!! We are all rooting for you.

I just had to update everyone and let you know that we have officially submitted all my info to insurance. Surgeon's office says if we get the approval I will be banding in July. I can't wait. I called BCBS today and they told me they are all caught up on prior approvals for bariatric insurance so once they 'scan' (what ever that means) my paperwork in they will be looking at it and I could have an answer by the end of the week and no longer than 2 weeks. WOOHOO!!!! :clap2: I am so nervous they will deny and I really don't know why. I have done everything required (all testing) and they have paid for all of it thus far. Wish me luck and I will update again once I hear something. Hope I can tell you that I will be a "LUCKY # 7". until then I will continue to wait.:faint::pout:

How long did it take to get approved. Just curious. Thanks for the input.

WHEWWWWWWWWW HAHA. You are hilarious. That is what I was thinking but was to 'modest' to type it. LOL

XGRL I am now finished with the supervised diet. I have seen my pcp for the last 6 months but refused my weight back in January when I seen him so I thought I would have to go again in July to be weighed. he told me we could count January because I know what I weighed because of eight Watchers!!!!!! So today the surgeons office called me and told me they have everything they needed except 1 form my pcp still needed to fax and then we would be submitting to insurance. I am so excited and nervous about getting approved/denied. I am reallly hoping I am approved. I have a BMI of 46.2, GERD/acid reflux, sleep apnea and ache knees. Crossing my fingers and every thing else. I am starting to look like a pretzel here. Good luck on the acid reflux and asthma. I know how rough they can both be. I have the reflux but my sister has the asthma. She is really limited to what she can and can't do because of it. The reflux sure does play heck on the teeth but your right....what about the esophagus?!?! Anyway.....keep us posted on what is going on. I will post as soon as I hear the decission. PRAY real hard for me!!!!!

I have BCBS of Iowa anf we are preparing to submit to insurance either today or tomorrow.:faint: I have done all pre op testing and have found that my BMI is 46.2, I have sleep apnea, gerd/acidreflux, and I have completed yet another medically supervised diet. I have done supervised in the past but was told that BCBS of Iowa likes them to be done within 2 years prior to applying for surgery. My insurance plan does cover the surgery at 80/20 with an out of pocket max of $2,000 per year in which has been met with other appointments this year for other issues so the surgery would be 'free' :heh:. My question is this. With what I have told you about the co morbidities I have and my BMI do you think I will be approved? I know no one can give me the answer per say but I am asking for your opinions. I am just setting here restraining myself from phoning the insurance already and asking if they got the paperwork yet and what do they think-LOL I know I am being nerotic (sp?) now. Just wanted to hear others ideas on this. BTW the surgeons office told me that BCBS is one of the easiest insurances to get to approve and to work with. Hope this proves true in my case as well as others. Thanks for listening to me ramble. Now the wait begins-:frusty::phanvan

I am not yet banded but I know I will not tell any others than what know now. My DH, DD,DS, my mom, siter, and 2 very close best friends. One friend really thought that it was 'the easy way out.' We have talked and talked and I have explained it too her and she says she knows that I still have to work for the weight loss but I still have my days that I regret telling her. I think she feels threatened because her and I go out to lunch about 1 time a week and it just won't be the same. On the other hand, we both bought bikes and now we have been riding bike 3-4 times a week. She is also over weight and trying to lose. The one people in the whole world I will NEVER tell is my in-laws. They are wonderful people but I always feel 'jugded' on some things with them and this I guarantee will be one thing that would be judged. My MIL tells everything to my hubbies sister and niece so they would no and then they would tell and blah blah blah so I am limiting myself to just that. I have a daughter who is 15 (2 months from 16) who is also over weight. We all have those in our lives that are very blunt unfortunately. My daughter asked me the other night 'I will feel really bad if someone says why don't you do what your mother is doing' if I lose weight. I did reassure her that if it comes to that, I will be forth comming and tell them I have a lap band and also 'HOW FREAKEN RUDE TO SAY THAT TO SOMEONE!!' Anyway just my tid bit of rambling. Great job at weight loss everyone. Your doing wonderful!!

Does anyone know of doctors within the US who are placing lapbands on teens. My daughter is 16 and has been obese since 7-8 years old. We have been trying to find more info on this and the only doc I have found is in Mexico. I just am not comfortable taking her out of the states. I will be banded in July (hopefully) but our insurance will not cover her until she is 18. If anyone has any info on this I would really appreciate you sharing. I read a post by another 16 year old on here that she is being banded and the FDA is paying for it. I was just wondering how she got that. I don't know where to even start searching for something like that. Thanks everyone in advance for any info you have to share. My daughter is a pretty determined girl and we are just researching at this point.

:update: There is a place to email allergen (inamed) on their website to get more info on this. Just wanted to let everyone know. Keep your fingers crossed and please send prayers up for us. I am trying to see what I can keep digging up. Thanks everyone!

Thanks for the replies. I have been researching for a while and then today I found that the FDA is doing clinical trials on teens right now. I have emailed them and then called and left a message for more information. We will see what comes out of it. Thanks again!!

Sherri- My heart goes out to you!! My sister just went through this same thing about 1 year ago. She had been married for 7 years, 3 small children and had no idea her hubby was on his way out. He was wonderful for the first few years but then when he turned 29 it got really bad. He complained about what he had in life and didn't have, weight gain and losing his hair (mind you he was only 29....good grief!!!) Anyway, he went to work one Friday and didn't come home after work, somewhat had become the norm. He would go out with guys and they would set up and drink all night but he would usually come home by 3-4 am. This night in particular he didn't come home until 9:30 the next morning. Had every excuse in the world. My sister loving him ever so faithfully, let it go. She didn't believe him but she let it drop for the day. That night we had a family function for a wedding reception with dance. They got there about 6 and he told her they had to go at 7:45. Said he was tired and wanted to go home. Went home, dropped her off. She asked where are you going and he said where ever I want. I will be back. He came home the next morning at 10AM (mother's day last year) and said I am moving out I have found someone else. Walked out and didn't give her a cent. 10 months later he had a baby with 'the other women'. The divorce wasn't even final yet. The family pitched in and helped her but I tell ya we were all soooo worried about her. Now she is 57 lbs lighter, is socialiing with friends again and has a life. She hasn't been like she is now since before she got with him. She is doing so much better and just the other day we were talking about the whole thing. He has bothered her a few times since leaving with one day he wants her back and the next she is worthless. She fell for this a long time. Then we talked her into counseling. It has done her womnders and given her life back. She had stayed home for so many years and done everything for him and now she is living for her daughters and herself. He still gets angry because she doesn't take anything from him now. She has her own life and if he doesn't like something......TOO BAD!! I know what you are going through right now. I too was married before. He cheated on me in the very beginning and even after 10 years of marriage it still hadn't gone away. I honestly don't think that is something people can get past. Good luck to you. You are NOT asking for sympathy. Just compassion. We all need that. Exspecially at times like these. It may seem like you can't do it without him but believe me you can. I am now remarried but I am also a very INDEPENDENT women now. My new hubby and I have the problem that he feels that I don't 'need' him. I do....but I can also take care of myself. Good luck and I hope things work out for you. Come here and talk anytime. We will listen!

I am so excited. Went to doc today for my weigh in. I have seen him for 6 consecutive months but had refused my weight back in January when I went to see him about my weight because I was angry and depresssed about the weight thing and I hadn't even made up my mind about he surgery so I wasn't going to be able to use the month of January. Today when I went in he said to me 'you have been here six months so you have the six months documented.' I said but I refused in January but I do know what I weighed because I had started a diet and I keep logs on my computer. He said 'we'll use that. There is no reason to go another month when we have what we need.' I AM EXSTATIC!!!!! He is faxing all his info to the surgeons office and they can submit to insurance. I have already done all pre op testing (psych eval, nutritionist, echocardiogram, endoscopy, sleep study- 2 nights) except I have to see a pulmonologist before surgery (because I have sleep apnea and I am using a CPAP now) and blood work. I am hoping that everything works out and I can have surgery some time in July. My surgeon requires a 2 week pre op diet so they will allow time for that once they get insurance approval/denial but they told me that they are not booked out so it will happen very soon once they get insurance decision. I am 34 and my BMI is 46.9 and I have diagnosed sleep apnea. I HOPE they don't deny me. I am so ready for this and to start moving on with my life lighter.

Did you get the results of your pulse ox? I hope your insurance pays for the other tests that you have done. My insurance (fortunately) has paid for all the testing so far. I am really hoping I have no problem getting approved. Off to the doc tomorrow for another months weigh in. Wish me luck!

:help:Ok I haven't been banded yet but I have 1 more 'weigh in' on my supervised diet. First 2 months gained 4 lbs., third month lost 2, 4th month lost 9, I have to go next this Thursday and I don't think I have lost or gained, My question is this, has anyone else had BCBS of Iowa and lost and then gained during their supervised diet? I am so afraid they are going to think that I am not trying hard enough on my own so they will deny me. I am telling you the scale and I are becoming bigger enemies than ever before :angry! I bought a bike and have been riding faithfully, eating the right food, bought a bean exerciser and do that every other day. The problem is not that I am not doing anything it is that even though I am eating the healthy foods (with a few minor slips here and there) I am eating too much and have terrible portion control. I am so hungry when I try to eat just 1 serving of food. I have a weekly list of eveyrthing that I eat every day of the week and each month when I go to my doctor I take it in. I have been VERY honest with what I am eating. (Even the blizzard that I had from DQ) He told me I was eating right just too much. Seen the nutritionist and she told me the same thing. She was really inpressed with what I had been eating and how I have been keeping track. Do you think they will send that to insurance along with all the other paperwork? Damn it I am trying but this is emotionally excruciating!!!!! :Cry: Wish me luck. I have 4 more days to move that damn scale down at least a couple of pounds. I have scheduled time to ride my bike everyday for 1 hour and then go to the YMCA. I have 135 lbs to lose so the whole exercising thing is tough but I can do it. Just need some input from you all to (hopefully) put my mind at ease. I am hoping I am not the only one who has bounced around on the supervised diet and that no one has been denied because of it. Thanks for letting me bend your ear and I can't wait to hear from others.

OH yeah!! BTW she has done counseling 3 times in the past. We also have a YMCA membership and she has been going with me. Surgeon told me to start exercising before surgery because the better shape I am in for the surgery the better off I will be during the healing process. I am a very active person already and always have been but I have a BMI of 47.6.