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Hello. My name is Michelle and I am just starting this process. I went to the first seminar last night and will schedule my consult with the surgeon in a few days. I have BCBS of California. My question is...My BMI is 36-37. Im 5ft 4.5in and weigh about 218. I have a past history of gestational diabetes, preecclampsia, infertility, suspected PCOS, and hpertension. I also have back/hip/feet pain (which I have never seen the Dr for but have had problems for years), abnormal or absent periods and I think my blood sugar is out of whack. I have tested it at home randomly and have gotten several readings in the 140's and once at 192. I go for bloodwork next Wed. I also have a family history of diabetes, uterine/cervical cancer and hypertension. The problem is, none of these seem like huge red flags and I have never been treated by a DR for any of them except the pregnancy related ones. Im afraid that my insurance will deny me. Any thoughts or advice? Thank you!

I just called my insurance (BC/BS of CA Federal program) to talk to them about co morbidities (for a reminder, my BMI is 37ish and I have several "small" cormobities such as hyperlipidemia, prediabetes, infertility, and suspected PCOS (awaiting a call to be tested) but nothing really BIG) so anyways, I was telling her I wanted to know the criteria for approval because I don't want to have to pay the out of pocket expenses for the nutritional eval and other expenses, just to find out I don't meet the criteria.She said the surgeon can submit something called a pre-service review talking about medical necessity etc and my history and from there I basically will get a "pre" approval or denial w/o having to have the nutritional or psych eval yet. Also, she said those evals are not for them (the insurance) that they are requirements for the surgeon. I didn't know that..Anyway, does anyone have any info on a preservice review? Anyone heard of it? Thanks!

I was banded on Monday the 17th. Today is day 4 and I am so uncomfortable. I feel like I have this huge burp in my chest that wont come up no matter how hard I try. Its very painful. Tried the gas x and walked all day today and its not helping. Is this normal or should I be concerned?

I hope this is nothing but its going to bug me until I ask this! Im 6 days out and Ive been doing pretty good so far. This evening my port area is really sore and when I was pushing on it to feel if there was swelling or anything, I feel a lump directly under my port incision. My incision looks good, no redness or drainage so Im hoping its scar tissue. I did have a more "strenuous" day today. I went to see Good Luck Chuck where I tried not to laugh because it hurt and then I went grocery shopping. My follow up appt is Tuesday. Do you think I should be concerned that I am hurting more today than I was the last couple days or do you think its normal?:help:

Im glad to hear you are experiencing it too. I am in nursing school and I took 3 days off last week for surgery. If I were to get an infection and miss more school, it would really mess things up for me. My surgeon in Reno is awesome. Im really happy with him. Of course I havent actually met the girl who does fills but everyone seems to like her.

I took my pain meds the first 2 days and then only took them before bed the following 2 nights. So Im not taking them anymore. I dont feel like I need them for general pain. Its just this awful bloating in my chest feeling! Ugh!

I gained over 40lbs in just over a year on depo. aHte it. It also really screwed up my fertility. I had regualr cycles before DP and coceived my first 2 kids easily. After Depo (its been 9 years since I stopped) I have only had maybe 5-10 periods on my own since then and I have had to take fertility drugs to conceive my post-depo children. Its dreadful stuff...

I have BCBS Federal. A pre approval (called a pre-service review) was not required by my insurance but my surgeons office required it and only because I had a BMI under 40 to make sure I had comorbidities that would qualify. Youre surgeon appt will be covered whether or not you are approved. I live in CA and I have a $100 copay for the surgeon and a $40 copay for the outpatient surgery center. I called my insurance to be sure there will be no surprises and they said that was all I will owe...Hopefully thats correct. Being banded 9/17. Good luck!

Im trying to decide how to handle telling anyone about haveing surgery..I have told 3 of my best girlfriends and my DH. I cant decide whether to tell my parents/family. Where I am having a problem w/ not telling is: what do you say when people notice youre loosing weight and ask how youre doing it? And what if they come right and ask if you had WLS? My other problem is this. Im obviously leaning towards not telling but I feel guilty not telling my parents that I ham having surgery in general. They would never forgive me/dh if something happened to me and I didnt tell them...You know? Advice please? I just dont want to tell because I know people will be watching/judging me, just waiting for me to fail..I dunno..I know several people who have had GBS and I totally pay attention to whether they have been loosing or gaining when I see them. I just dont want people doing that to me...:speechles

Im a tad nervous about that too. Im in nursing program w/ 26 other people that I see/eat with every day! I think Im just going to stay at school for lunch instead of going out and just say that either Im on a new diet or tell them I cant afford to go out the next couple weeks..Not sure. I am allowed to munch on veggies for my pre-op diet so one should notice me stopping eating, they will just think Im trying to eat healthier. I also have to drink Bariatrix protein shakes (theyre gross!) but I will try to do that at home. Good luck to us both!

Not preachy at all. Thats exactly why I want to tell my parents....Thank you for reminding me of that... I guess in the back of my head, I'm the same old me. Still afraid of failure. Like its just one more weight loss thing I'm failing at. kwim? I know I will do great at this and this is my last and only chance at making this huge change, but I still a little nervous about it not working...:omg: Thanks for your input. I'm thinking of telling my parents and those close to me and deciding on the rest as it comes....:clap2:

I am a mom of 4. My oldest 12 and youngest just turned 2. I am in nursing school full time. I have always done everything w/ my husband and kids but I got invited to go to Disneyland with 2 girlfriends w/o kids. I have been saving $$ and have been so excited for months. Our trip is planned for October 7. I have never even been on rides at Disneyland, I have been pregnant everytime weve gone LOL and this time, its all about having fun. But....I just scheduled my surgery and it will be on September 17. Obviously my priority is this surgery. I will be 3 weeks post op and I have no idea what to expect. Will I feel well enough to walk for 2/3 days and go on rides or should I cancel the trip? I dont want to go to Disneyland AGAIN and no be able to have tons of fun. What do you think?

<p>I have a date! I will have surgery 9/17. My pre-op appt is 9/4. I will have a 2 week pre op diet that is BariatriX drinks, I will know more details after pre-op. I am soooo excited. I never thought I would get approved and I was pretty pessimistic about it. Im sure I will have tons of questions. My main one is this:</p> <p> </p> <p>I am o 2nd semester nursing student. I have a week break the end of Aug and I was hoping to have surgery then but they couldnt get me in at that time. So now I will be having surgery on a Manday (the 17th) and I will be going back to school clinicals on Thursday. I can sit/mope around that day and the next and then Id be off for the weekend. Do you all think Im nuts? Is it unreasonable to think that I will be feeling ok enough to be hanging out in a hopspital (not where I had surgery of course) 3 days later?<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/eek.gif" border="0" alt="" title="EEK!" smilieid="10" class="inlineimg" /> I either have to do it then or wait until I finish school in December and I REALLY cant wait! LOL</p>

I have not purchased my Bariatrix yet, I would love it if you dont need it... Thank you, thats very generous of you...

I figured finding food would be hard as I will probably still be on mushies of something (dang, I wish I would get my paperwork outlining the diet!) so I thought I may have to pack some food with me...Thanks for your reply!

Im scheduled for September 17.Im sooo excited!

Thanks guys. I dont want to tell my teachers/classmates becuse I dont want them keeping an eye on me because I am not really supposed to have any restrictions or they could kick me out. There are 2 girlfriends in my clas that know and they would help w/ anytransfers or anything but because we will be 3rd semester, we will be doing less patient care and focusing more on paperwork and IVs and such..I dont think there will be anything strenuous that month really but I do have help if I need it.

Hi guys. I technically dont beling on this board, but Im here anyway! I live in Susanville, CA, just an hour away. I come to Reno all the time ususally weekly or more. Dr Ganser will be doing my surgery on 9/17. Im very excited!

Hi. My name is Michelle and Im scheduled for 9/17/07!

I'm Michelle and I was on here a few months ago. I kinda dropped off for a bit because I got really discouraged. I didn't think I had enough co-morbidities to be approved having BMI of 37. My c/m were Hyperlipidemia Metabolic Syndrome/Prediabetes PCOS Stress incontinence Infertility Borderline hypertension and a few more minor things Anyway, I have BCBS of CA but I would be having surgery in Reno NV, therefore it had to be BCBS of NV to decide whether I'm approved or denied. Well...I got my letter today and I'M APPROVED!!!!!!! I'm sooo excited.:clap2: I will be scheduling this week hopefully and I'm hoping to have surgery the last week of Aug. It was really stressful getting to this point, but I am so excited to do this. I'm happy to be back and I appreciate your guys' advice and support!!

Sorry it took so long to respond, I didnt have any news until now. I just received my letter today. I was approved!! I ended up getting approved from BCBS of NV though not CA where I live. I will be having surgery in Reno, so it had to be sent to the NV BCBS. Im so excited! Whats going on w/ yours now?

Either one can refer you. If you have an appt coming up w/ one of them, ask then. If not, just call your surgeons office and see if he will fax one over to the hospital (or wherever you will have it done). Thats what mine did.

When all of your "stuff" was done, how long did it take your surgeons office to gather your records etc before they were able to submit?

This past Monday I had my psych eval and that was the final thing I needed to do to meet the requirements. Now its just waiting for the Dr to submit and wait for an approval or denial. My surgeon is at Western Bariatric in Reno and my insurance is BCBS Federal. Any idea how long to expect for the surgeons office to submit? Just wondering how long I should wait before I bug them! I do expect to have an answer from my insurance quickly, Ive heard they dont take very long to decide.

I live in Northern CA and if I get approved, Dr Ganser at Western Bariatric in Reno will do the surgery!