wannababy

I just wanted to come on and let everyone know that I received my approval today from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.... I want to post my situation, so that anyone pursuing this can see a positive outcome from BCBSIL. I am doing to the Realize Gastric Banding Procedure. I have had a BMI around 40-48 over the last 5 years, have tried several diets over my lifetime. I don't really have any severe comorbities, except infertility issues and elevated blood pressure. I had about 12 months of documented Weight Watchers journals, but still had to do the 6 months of medically supervised diet/exercise. I started that process April 25, proceeded to go in May, June, July, Aug, and my final visit Sept 2nd. This was accepted as 6 months, although it was 6 visits, not 180 days. My Dr was great about making good notes in my chart, ie: vitals, weight, what I was doing, eating, exercising, what I should be doing, etc; and I went to the Dr specifically for this process. My information was submitted to BCBSIL in August to see if they would accept my Weight Watchers as part of my 6 months, and they replied that I needed one more month of notes, so that was completed Sept 2nd. That information was faxed on Friday, and I received my approval today, the following Wednesday. This process could not have gone smoother in my opinion. I think my very helpful Dr.'s office, Surgeon's office, and persistance were the key parts to this success. I am having my surgery next Thursday, Sept 18th. That is my story. Hopefully this can help someone going through the beginning stages of the whole process. Good luck to all of you. Amy

What insurance do you have? I have BCBS IL. I too had to do the 6 month diet/exercise plan. For mine, I had to see my Primary Care Physician monthly and follow some type of diet and exercise plan. I did Weight Watchers online and also did the monthly visit with my PCP. I was approved after 6 visits with my PCP and had my surgery a week later. Most insurance companies won't except just WW, but WW combined with monthly visits with your dietician or PCP, but I am sure some insurance company out there does. That does sound like a big time commitment and money commitment too. I would try to find some type of plan that would satisfy that requirement, maybe doing WW and meeting with your dietician, even if that does have to be weekly, at least you wouldn't be spending the extra money on food only you can eat. BUT, I would make sure to get that in writting from your ins company if they say somethign else would work. Have you personally looked at your ins companies policies and procedures? Good luck. BTW, which surgeon are you planning to use? I am in the STL area too. My Dr is Van Wagner. Take care

I like split pea soup made more creamy consistency. Very good for protein content too. I know most people just grind up anything... tuna salad very mushy, chicken salad mushy, pudding, etc. You just have to be creative...

Welcome! And congrats on your decision to have the lapband. I have struggled with infertility for about 3 years too and the whole time knew I needed to be working on my weight while we were pursuing infertility treatments. It started to come down to us doing IVF and I personally wasn't ready to do that, especially at my heaviest weight I had ever been. So we decided to put the babies on hold and concentrate on this...I was banded Sept 18th of this year. I had to do a 6 month supervised diet also. So between my band and my previous diet, I have lost 50 lbs! I can already tell my cycles have regulated and I am hoping we are able to get pregnant on our own when we are ready to try again. Anyway, good luck to you on your journey!! It is the best thing I have done thus far! Take care!!

I am 6 weeks postop and had the same thing happen. My surgeon said it was simply a rash, but if I was worried I should go see my Primary Dr. So I did b/c it started to spread and get bigger and more red. My Dr said it was some type of dermatisis and she px me a strong hydrocortisone cream. It has worked, but there have been a few days that if I dont use it, it starts to come back. As long as I use it it goes away. I am going to continue with it until it is gone for 2 weeks then go off the cream and see what happens. I don't really think it is big deal, but just kinda bothers me since it isn't "supposed" to be there. Sorry I don't have any better info for you.

Congrats on your surgery!! I am just almost 5 week postop, so most of that is still very fresh in my mind. Glad to hear you are feeling pretty good. Here are my replies to your post: 1. The pain in your shoulder is gas pain. I found that walking (I tried to do as much as possible), and GAS X strips (life saver). That combo really helped me and after about a day of walking/gas x the gas was minimal since I kept taking it as a preventative. 2. No appetite is fairly normal so soon after surgery. Don't worry, your appetite will increase as your stomach heals. 3. I would say your energy is going to be lower until you are back in the groove of everything and eating more....I don't think I would be concerned, unless you are extremely weak. 4. That is the purpose behind the phased in diet. My Dr had me on Clear liquids 1 week, full liquids 1 week, soft foods 1 week, modified solid food 1 week, then to normal. I have not had any problems, but I have pretty much followed this pretty closely and chewed my food really well before swallowing. Some people try to eat stuff they shouldn't too early and that seems to be the people who have most of the trouble. Good luck with your journey. I am sure you will do great... Time will fly too!

I TOTALLY understand! I am about 2 1/2 weeks post op and I have lost very very little since surgery. I am tracking everything I am eating and I know I am getting less than 800 calories per day, so I am very frustrated too! I did lose about 12 lbs on my preop diet though, so I am thinking my body is just trying to catch up from that. I have lost about 5 lbs since surgery and that was all in the first 2-3 days after surgery, since then NADA! I know lots of people say this is considered "Bandster Hell", but I don't necessarily agree that is what we are experiencing. I am not overly hungry and I do still feel restriction after I eat, so that isn't the problem. Just that I am eating so much less and can't seem to get the scale to budge!! I don't think a fill is going to change that. I am trying to stay positive and hope that once I can get back to eating normal type foods again, my body will get going again. I am just hoping it is the surgery, liquids, mushy/soft food stage etc that is causing my body to freak out and hang onto my "baggage", lol!! I also think I am going to try to up my calories a little too...which is probably going to start to become more natural b/c I can start eating more foods as time goes on. Good luck to you and I know how you are feeling! Keep it up and I am sure we will all have success soon! Amy

Hello! I had Realize band surgery on Sept 18th, so I am currently 10 days post op. I have a couple of questions I hope someone will give me some opinions on. I am currently in the full liquids phase, so Soups, puddings, yogurts, applesauce, etc. 1. How much is normal to drink/eat right now? My dietician said no more than 8 oz, and that is pretty much what I am doing. A few days ago 1/2 cup with still satisfying me, but now, I want more like 8 ozs. Sound right?? 2. I lost 12 lbs on my liquid preop diet, and I lost about 4 lbs in a few days since surgery, but haven't lost anymore for the last week. In fact, this morning, I even was up 2 lbs!!! I think this might have something to do with the salt in some of the soups, and also haven't had a BM for several days. Is this normal?? I would appreciate any thoughts on these topics... Thanks!!! Amy

I was banded on Sept 18th, so I am right there with you. I have had both issues, but I think they are very common. I have used the Gas X strips and that has helped the gas TONS!! So I would highly suggest those. It does get better!! Good luck!

Most insurance companies & surgeons go by the starting weight in determining the qualifying BMI. Make sure you check with YOUR insurance company and surgeon though. I know my said it right in the policy manual. Good luck to you.

I quit smoking a few year ago. I know my surgeon is very strict about this. He said he has had some people go back to smoking after surgery and EVERY ONE of them had a complication overtime b/c of it. That would be enough to scare me from smoking again. I know it is a toughy to quit, but soooo worth it. There is nothing wrong with using Chantix or something like it...I think that is what my surgeon recommends. Good luck!!

I start my preop diet tomorrow, so I will soon know what you mean!! My preop diet consists of broths, water, crystal light, sf popsicles, basically nothing with calories. For 7 days... Is yours about the same tamihott??

I agree, you really shouldn't go back to junk food, no doubt.... Maybe just try to mix up good foods, but change them up a bit. Good luck and I hope your plateau busts very very soon!!

WOW!! Congrats on your AWESOME weightloss!!! I sure hope I can say the same thing... Have you been exercising since day one? Do you feel like you have been dieting the entire time or just eating good foods and letting the band do what it is supposed to. Also, what has your fills been like....ie: quick from the start, or a slow progression of small fills? Sorry for all the questions, but you have really had GREAT success in such a short period of time.... In response to your question - from what I have read, since I am still preop, it is normal to hit a plateau, and sometimes it takes a couple weeks for it to go away. I would probably try to do a little junk food for one or two days and see if that helps...if that doesn't work, maybe removing all sugars/carbs from your diet? If you don't want to do junk food, maybe just mixing up the good foods you eat now... instead of cottage cheese, do eggs, etc. Good luck and keep up the great work!!!

I am working with Dr Wagner's office too. They are really good to work with. I think UHC seems to be a good insurance--they don't require a weightloss program (I think). My insurance does, so I am actually waiting for their approval now. Good luck with your consultation.

I know how frustrating this process can be too. My ins requires the same 6 month program and my surgeon's office wanted to review the documentation too. The only reason they wanted this info though, was because they wanted to make sure my DR was documenting all the necessary info for the best chance of approval. There are several PCP's that don't do much on the notes and have been denied for lack of info on the Dr's notes, so my surgeon's office wanted to make sure we were on the up and up. Hopefully this is the case for you too and it is just a matter of getting all the info to the surgeon's office for review. They should be able to get you a standard form letter for release of medical info that you can sign and mail/fax to the PCP, sleep test, etc; so you won't have to be calling all over...plus they will most likely want your signature on file authorizing them to release this info to the surgeon. Good luck!!

I think Chicken is a fairly common one, unfortunately. Weird you could do strip steak though. I think it also depends on how it is cooked... maybe try it again but make sure it is super super moist...? I am still preop, so basically just passing on what I have read other places... good luck.

Doing WW preband (I am still preop), I have never really had a hard time getting all my points in. But, I was wondering if it is difficult to get all your points in now, since you can eat so much less? Could you expand on how you feel like WW is the same/different with the band.... Thanks!!

I am still preop, but am going with Dr. Van Wagner. He seems to be really nice, and his staff is wonderful!! I will know more after I have my surgery... Good luck. Amy

ChaCha- Who is your surgeon? I am with Dr. Wagner at St. Alexius in St Louis.... Amy

Congratulations!!!! That is VERY exciting! Since I have BCBSIL I have some questions: Did you do the 6 month weightloss with your PCP? How long was your 6 months....6 visits or 6 FULL months? I have my last visit with my PCP next Tuesday and then I am hoping for a QUICK approval too!!! Congrats again! Amy

I weigh in the morning naked, before I shower. I think that is the most accurate reading possible.

Congratulations!! Glad to see that you got pregnant so quickly after the band...that is one of my biggest reasons for my final decision to be banded sometime this fall. Good luck and happy & healthy 9 months!! Amy

Yeah the wording used, was fairly harsh. I think the biggest risk with ANY surgery is the anethesia (sp?). That is really the only thing that concerns me b/c I have never had surgery before and there are no guarantees on how I will react... I think it is wise to be prepared if something should happen, but also realize it is very rare and most likely you will doing absolutely fine. I think asking yourself the "what would I do with my kids if something happened to me question" is important, irregardless of the surgery. Any one of us could accidentally die in any type of accident at anytime. I think it is important to plan for that situation so you know your family is taken care of, but hope/pray that won't happen anytime soon... ya know? Good luck with your surgery!! I know I am getting excited and anxious to get my surgery date!! Amy

Every insurance company is different. I think the only way to know, is to try and let them deny you if it isn't enough. You said that weight watchers counts now...that is not always true. I was not approved after going only to Weight Watchers, so I started going to my Primary care Dr and WW. We turned in my info to my insurance company and they said I should be approved, but I needed one more month with my Dr, so I am completing that. But they will not accept WW only. Good luck!! Amy