CMPW

I was just banded on 2/11 and I have bcbs AL. I did start the approval process in November and it took until the end of Jan to get approved, but the 6 month diet sheets were not a problem. My dates were not 30 days apart. We tried to keep them around the same dates every month but it wasn't an issue. I do know that they will ask for 6 CONSECTUTIVE months though. Your doctor should be kind enough to let you "record" your weight and just sign the sheets for those months when you return. To make things quicker for me, I had been to the doctors at least once a month 3 months before considering the surgery,for other issues, so he back dated those 3 months, using my documented weight from the previous visits.

my doctor said any meds that are smaller than an m&m can be swallowed whole. chewable vitamins can be taken all at once but pill form should be split and the pieces taken about an hour apart. You have minimal absorption now, so you body will expel a lot of the need vitamin if you take to much at once.

though my experience was different, I lost 21 lbs within 1o days after surgery, but the nurse from my insurance company called to check up on me and said DO NOT WEIGH yourself. She said it can be discouraging because the scale may not move...she said this is due to swelling. Your abdomin swells, you have extra gas from the surgery, and you retain a lot of water. I was very surprised to see that I had lost 21 lbs. It has been about 2 weeks since that appointment and now I have only lost an additional 4 lbs

Good luck. I just received my band on 2.11 and I have BCBS of AL. They approved me with no problem and I too am 5'8" and WAS 330lb at time of the surgery, (now 304). There was a lot of paperwork but I called them, asked for a detailed list of what they wanted and then preceded to get all of the documentation myself so that I could ensure that it was done correctly. My BMI was 50 and I have suffered "morbid obesity" for 5+ years now. You should be ok. Good luck.

I had my surgery 2/11. Currently down 25lbs! looking for some encouragement because the weight loss dramatically dropped this week! I knew it wouldn't happen over night but I am worried that it is because of me. constantly worried, am I eating too much, too fast, wrong foods, etc. Maybe I am suffering Post Band depression?!? LOL!