smylie1

I think I ve read so much lately that it's all running together. On the BMI history, does it have to be over 35, or just obese? What about a BMI of 31-32 5 years ago and 35+ since then?

Do any of you have BCBS of NC for State Employees? Could you please tell me the good, the bad, and the ugly stories of getting approval or denial.

Thank you!! You give me hope for the future!

A friend of mine and I were talking about the unusal obsession with food we have. she put it in a way I had never thought of. She said that eventhough, as she goes through her day she makes important decisions by thinking rationally, looking at pros and cons, etc. when there is some kind of food sitting in front of her, it's like there is NOTHING more important at that moment than eating and enjoying it. Her head can be screaming, "YOU ARE GOING TO REGRET THIS!" but it's like something takes over and she doesn't care. Then when it's gone the self lothing kicks back in. I can totally relate to this. I am am still waiting ins. approval, so I am no where near the liquid diet stage but I'm scared that I won't be able to handle it. I am anxious to see how you hold up. I need to know it can be done!

Take it from an old Phentermine pro... if you are going to use it to curb your appetite for awhile it works. For me it did anyway. In the beginning I dropped 15 pounds the first month. Did not want a bite to eat and could clean the house until midnight then be up a 5am raring to go. Then after about 5-6 months I started getting hungry in the evenings and not quite as much "energy" then realized that if I took two it would work, but still not like in the beginning. My blood pressure was through the roof while on phentermine. When I went off of them I gained every bit and more back! I guess my body was so used to going without food it was in starvation mode and held onto every calorie I put in it. I have been on this roller coaster for years thinking each time it's going to be different but it never is and I get bigger and bigger. So if it's for a short period of time, try it, but with an end in sight. Don't expect it to be the answer to your wieght problems. For me, in the beginning, it seemed it was. I wish now I had NEVER taken them. I put part of the blame on them as to why my weight has sky rocketed. Well...them and fried chicken!

You're right! It probably would be better as far as healing goes and I would love to go back and be a few sizes smaller! There are so many little skinny teachers at my school who are constantly on diets! I never tell anyone when I'm on one because I feel like they'd be thinking, "Well, it's not workin' for ya!". I too am waiting for insurance approval, so the decision may be taken completely out of my hands of BCBS doen'st GET ON THE BALL!

I did think about that the other day when I saw Star Jones on TV. I think she was much prettier when she was heavier. I'd still choose the weight loss though.

I would also love to hear the answer to this question. I'm a teacher, so my job is not physically strenuous, however; if you just feel terrible for 2 weeks PO, I'd rather wait until summer break to have it done. Can't wait to hear what your experiences were.

:cool:

YES, EXACTLY!!! WELL SAID!! I just got teary eyed reading this. I'm 35 and I want to be the mom I so desperately long to be while my kids still want their mom around. Like you said, if I don't get this done, in 10 years, I will still be sitting on the poarch wishing I could move, breath, stand, or run with my family out in the yard. Chances are in those 10 years I would have probably lost 50 pounds at some point and put 70 back on! I love this board. I honestly didn't think there were people in the world who truely understand how I feel. Thanks you!

Thanks, I'll check that out.

I have been thinking about my weight over the past 5 years. I'm not sure what my medical records willl show since I had them faxed straight from the doctors office. I have been up and down from a 38 bmi to a 45 bmi during that time. Do you think dropping below a 40 a some point in the past will hurt me in getting approval or show how much I've struggled with it?

OOps sorry, I should've posted on the Insurance coverage board.

Congratulations on your approval! I have one more document to have sent to the coordinator before she can send it to BCBS. I so afraid I'll be denied! Congrats again!!

Congratulations! I'm weighting on one more document to come from an out of state doctor to prove my weight in 2004. Then hopefully I'll get Insurance approval. I can only imagine how you must feel! Congrats again!

OMGosh! I can't believe I've never thought about that! My "ex" ob-gyn really laid into me about my weight once. He is about 5'6" and probably weighs 200+! I wish I would've thought to say that!!!

I truely believe that. I know I've made light of it, but I really have prayed and continue to pray that all will go well if it's in His will. Last summer, we were on the beach in Daytona. There had been storms all day. The sky was that really unusal very dark blueish-gray with streaks of sunlight in the distance. There were 2 perfect rainbows that made an "M" in front of where we were sitting. You know the kind of rainbows that show every color so vividly. It was one of those times when you just feel God, ya know what mean? I, with all my heart, asked Him to help me. He alone knows how much my low self-esteem has prevented me from doing. Some of those are things I know He was calling me to do, I just couldn't. I honestly felt like I got an "OK, we'll fix this together" answer. So now I know if getting the LapBand is the way I'm to go, it'll happen. If not, it won't. It took a long time to decide to start the process, but now things seem to be rolling right along. I know my SIL didn't know about this whole conversation with God, but that's just it SHE DIDN'T KNOW! I felt very judged! Skinny people just think they know it all!! Haha!

Amen, Sister!

I was really afraid to go to my PCP for the referral. He sometimes has this tone that reminds me of the boss on the movie Office Space. I was expecting a "Yeeahhh, I'm not reeeally sure this would be the best route to go ...yeeeahhhh..I'm gonna need you to go ahead and try this diet I've already had you on 3 different times before..yeeahhh.." But THANKFULLY a nurse in his office was going through the lap band process herself and she pracitically threatened him bodily harm if he didn't refer me! He has really been supportive so I feel a little bad foir doubting him. I did get a reaction from my S-I-L that I wasn't expecting. She's always been open to cosmetic surgery (never had any, but talks about what she'd like to have done) but when I told her that I had decided to have the Lap Band done, she gave me a sideways look and said," Well, I hope you've really prayed about it and feel comfortable with that decision." With an almost "Tsk-tsk" in her voice. I wasn't sure what she was saying. Is a lap band a sentence to eternal damnation? Maybe in some religions, but she's a Basptist CEO (Christmas and Easter Only)!

Won't they? The ONLY proof of my weight for 2004 I can find is the paramed exam BCBS did on me when I went on DH's policy for awhile. It seems logical that they would accept it since it was "official" enough for them to use it for their own puposes, right? Has anyone used this type of information as weight documentation? I think it should be MORE convincing to them to cover the procedure due to the fact that the our premium was the same as it would be if we were smokers because of my weight. Ooo I might could use that against them if I have to appeal!

OK, after weeks of practically harrassing my PCP to send my records to the SWL coordinator, I find out I have NO documented proof of my weight for 2004! That's the only thing I need to meet the requirements! Have any of you had this problem? What did you do? Were you denied coverage? I have BCBS of NC SEP. Anyone have experience with them?

LOL! I know exactly what you mean about Frye! I chose Catawba too! I was waiting on Libby to call with an appointment to meet with Dr. Cook. It had been 3 weeks since my Psych evaluation. I just called her to make sure she had everything she needed and my worst nightmare happened! She said she hadn't received ANYTHING on me!! :smile2: So I called Dr. Hoffman and aked him to re-fax (is that a word??) my info. to her. She had me fax the sheet for HSC with my waist measurement written on it, so hopefully this will get the ball rolling. I work at Ray Childers Elementary. I'm the computer lab assistant, so my job isn't too strenuous. I was hoping to have it done during our Easter break, but I don't know if it will happen. I may have to wait until summer. I think my nervousness has passed (for now), now I'm just ready to start my life!

Hi, I just finished my Psych evaluation on Feb.4th and I think that was the last exam I need before the office visit with the surgeon. I'm getting very impatient!! I'm going to call tomorrow just to make sure I haven't forgotten anything. I was hoping to have the surgery done during our Easter vacation from school (I'm an elementary school teacher) so I would be well established in the diet before summer. It's coming awfully soon, so I don't think that's going to happen. I've watched the procedure on YouTube so many times, I feel like I could do it myself!! I'm 35 years old, around 5'4" and weigh about 262 right now. The absoulute heaviest I've ever been. I've been ordering Phentermine online for so long to try and battle the buldge, (it stopped being really effective a long time ago!) but I went completely off of it so I wouldn't have any foreign chemicals in my body during surgery. Now I look and feel like a Thanksgiving parade balloon! Just curious as how many are out there in limbo like I am right now. There's nothing left to do except wait for the surgeon to call. I'll be going to Hickory Surgical Clinic in Hickory, NC. Has anyone had any experience with them?

Hey Mel119, I'm from Connelly Springs! Raised in Hildebran! I can't believe I found someone so close on here! WooHoo! I'm waiting to hear from Libby to find out when my appointment with Dr. Cook is. Are you going to Frye or Catawba?

I had my Psych evaluation on 2/04. That was the last appointment I need to keep before meeting with the surgeon. It is now 2/22 and I haven't heard anything from their office. I have been referred to Dr. Cook at Hickory Surgical Clinic in NC. I know it's not been that long, but I'm SOOO anxious! How long did you all have to wait before getting the appointment to see the surgeon?