kagead

Lots of great advice here. You could also say, "I had some conversations about Lap Band surgery with my previous Dr. and I'm ready to pursue it now." Best of luck to you! kagead

I am just starting on this journey and after spending tons of time on this forum, I am firmly convinced that a "holistic" surgical approach is the right one for me, and I am glad I chose the group I did. Believe me, I am as anxious as everyone else to get the band and start living my new life, but I am so happy that my surgery will not take place for 3-4 months from now at the very earliest. I will be working with a team of professionals from nurse practitioners, psychologists, nutritionists, primary care doctors and surgeons (not to mention previous surgical recipients who sit on Q&A panels) who have one single focus- making sure I am SUCCESSFUL after I am banded. I will be spending a great deal of time over the next several months examining why and how I eat, what will change in the short term and what to expect in the long term. If you have the chance to get on board with a surgical group who has a full-service plan in place, I encourage you to do it. For me, having such a strong framework in place is easing much of my stress. Good luck to you! kagead

Even better- it is VEGETARIAN and KOSHER!!! Honest! J & D's - Everything Should Taste Like Bacon: Products I don't keep Kosher but I don't eat pork, so this is something I definitely plan to try! Thanks for the heads-up- kagead

Congrats on your great success TSB! I am just starting the process, but my stats are very close to yours. Same height and same goal weight but I am about 10 lbs over your starting weight. I am more "compact" on the bottom and currently wear a 16 or 18 in jeans and dress pants but am "well endowed" on top and usually a 2x or 3x in shirts and jackets. Hope you don't mind if I follow your progress! kagead

Just starting the process with BCBS of IL. I am going through Northwestern which is one of their Blue Distinction Centers so I am hoping for a relatively smooth experience. Thanks for the good info here. kagead

I'm in Chicago too and just starting the process at Northwestern. Good luck to everyone!

$100-$110 will get you a full hour massage at most of the nicer spas in the city. I can never bring myself to buy a massage for myself, but if I get a GC for one, I redeem it immediately! Is there anything "big" you've been wanting to get? A new bicycle, a flat panel TV, a WII fit, an upgraded computer? How about a girls weekend with some friends? Ask them to pitch in toward that. Have fun!

I would definitely make the calls. My plan does not explicitly say that bariatric surgery IS covered, but it is NOT a specified exclusion. I went to the seminar last night and called BCBSIL again this morning to double check. At first the woman said that it looked like just Gastric Bypass was covered and when I questioned her about it she looked a bit more, put me on hold, came back and said that it appeared gastric banding is covered but was reliant upon the proper CPT code being submitted. I am going to a BCBS Designated Bariatric Center, so I am going to rely on the team there to submit things in proper order. Will keep you posted if I learn more- kagead

I am self-employed and I have an individual PPO with BCBS of Illinois. Lap-Band IS covered on my plan, and I am attending my seminar tonight. I am not sure what my out of pocket coverage will be (some people have had almost 100% coverage) but I do know that I am going to an in-network Dr. and hospital, so I am expecting no more than 20% plus my deductible. I do plan to ask about fill coverage specifically, as I am not sure if those are included or not. Hope this helps, kagead

I replied to this on a similar thread, but I have already starting telling people and I probably won't have surgery until May, at the earliest. Everyone who knows me knows the struggle I have had with my weight. My mom had (very successful) LB two years ago, so the immediate family was no issue at all. The friends I have told so far have been nothing but supportive. Concerned, but supportive. They have said many of the same things mentioned here, "You aren't that big", "Surgery is drastic" and the like, but they haven't judged me at all. I am self employed and work from home, so I don't have the boss/coworker issue at this point in my life, but at previous jobs I probably would have told them, too. At some point, my clients will begin to notice as will colleagues I see only once or twice a year. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it To each his or her own and only you know your own comfort level. For me, this is a HUGE decision and I could not imagine doing this without the support and encouragement of those around me. kagead

This is my first post. I haven't even attended my seminar yet and due to work obligations, the earliest I can be banded is May, but I have started discussing it with people. I'm not telling everyone, but I am building a good support base and am fortunate to have great friends and family that can voice concern (and disapproval) without being hurtful or hateful. I value their input, even if it isn't what I want to hear. :biggrin: