losethemess

I have Anthem BCBS TX.They require a BMI of 40, or 35 with commodities. Since I only had a BMI of 40 I was required to do a 6 month medically supervised diet, which I'll complete in about a week. I also had to complete a Psychiatric evaluation which I did yesterday. Hopefully I receive a response in a few weeks. Your doctors office can tell you exactly what you particular provider requires.

My husband does not have a weight problem. Hopefully like you said he'll come around.

Bella Luna it's simple the co-morbidity's, if they are in fact co-morbidity's are the contributing factors that will make you qualify for lap band. I agree with Jonell 143. It looks lke without them you don't. sleep Apnea, Arthritis, High Blood Pressure, Hypertension, Diabetes, High Cholesterol, Osteoarthritis are all co-morbidity's. The qualification process is sometime lengthy, so be prepared. I am required to do a 6 month medically supervised diet with a nutritionist. Can you imagine having to wait 6 months just to see if you are qualified? Well I have my last appointment on July 8th then my paperwork can finally be submitted. In this case consider yourself fortunate because you have co-morbidity's. You probably won't have to go through this because you may already qualify. Why lie and go through the stress of being found out, when you don't have to? Once your doctors office gets your initial weight (Wednesday's weight) this is the weight they submit to the insurance company as your starting weight, so if you do decide to wear the weights, it should be the last time you have to do it.

You're absolutely right, once I tell my sister the whole family would know and I don't want the added pressure. Luckily for you your husband is supportive, mine is not. He thinks I just need to exercise and eat better. Thanks again for the response.

WHAT AN AWESOME RESPONSE, THANKS EVERYONE !!! What great feedback and advice. I am really worried that people are going to judge me and most importantly try to discourage me from having the surgery. I am 110% sure I need the surgery, but it's so easy for me to start second guessing myself. I really think that for now, until I see results, I'm going to keep my mouth shut. I receive enough support from my mom and doctors office (not my husband) and maybe I'll look into joining a support group after I'm banded. I'm located in Arlington, TX if anyone knows of any good one's. Every time I started talking about a diet in the past, it seemed as though I would fail. It's like talking about dieting is a recipe for disaster? Does anyone else ever feel like this? I was also concerned about eating in front of people. Now if I get questions about what I'm eating I can say, "It's better to eat slow and eat smaller portions," great suggestion.

My surgeon is located at UT-Southwestern. The hospital is recognized as a Bariatric Center for Excellence, which means they meet certain criteria in order to perform Bariatric Surgery. Although I have not been banded (hoping for July/August), I recommend using Dr. Daniel Scott. He and his staff are wonderful. They are professional, quick in responding to you and extremely knowledgeable. If get in with Dr. Scott, they have a team of about 7 Bariatric Surgeon so hopefully one of them can help you. Below is the phone number UT Southwestern 214-645-2900 Office Hours 8AM-5PM Monday-Friday

Girl, you don't have to tell her. It's not like you are going out doing something unproductive or mischievous. I don't tell my babysitter where I am going when I leave my son with her. I just tell her that I'll be back in a few hours, granted your mother in law is different, she does deserve a little more explanation. Remember, once you tell her you can't take it back. I'm sorry to say, but once you tell her, everybody else in your family will most likely find out. Think back to a time when you had a secret and told someone? Of course they told someone else. It is so hard to seek help for a weight problem. You don't need added stress from anyone else. I just posted a poll today about this same topic. Check it out. I have only told my husband and mother. I don't plan on telling anyone else. I really don't see the purpose. If you fell like you are only hesitant to tell her because you feel like you are lying tell her you are going to see a nutritionist to help you with your weight problem. That's the truth at least you won't be lying. If you feel like you need her support and she'll support you then, tell her, otherwise keep it to yourself.

Yes, waiting is so difficult, depressing at times, but gets better toward the end. What are your insurance company's pre-surgery requirements? Just think, in 3 short months, your life will change. I've been waiting since January 2010. I didn't start the 6 month required diet until February 2010, because we didn't think it would be necessary. Unfortunately is was and almost 6 months later I am so ready to get the paperwork submitted for approval. My 6th and final appointment is July 8th so I'm hoping for a speedy response and surgery date. Try using a calendar so that you can mark milestones, like your dietician appointments and psychiatric evaluation. It's helps put the time period in perspective and makes you realize that you really don't have that long to wait.

Hmm... has anyone else had to do an EKG test like Sweatkc85?. My doctor's office never mentioned this but I've read post's and quite a bit of Hopefuls are required to do these for approval. Sounds like a lot of us are teachers( Sweatkc85) who are trying to get surgery before school starts back at the end of August. I told my doctor that I would like to schedule the surgery before the end of August because I'm a teacher and they said that couldn't until I received approval. Takingcontrol, I've been a human garbage disposal since starting this whole process, I've eaten more now, than I think I've ever eaten in my life, strange. Congrats, Ebtkm5 on your approval. I understand where you are coming from. My 10 year high school reunion is this year and there is no way I'm going. I was in a wedding last week and dreadeddddddd taking pictures. I look even fatter in the picture, than I do in person. Anyway, keep me posted everyone and Good luck.

Keep us posted. I've been following your posts and wish you the best of luck.

How are all of the August 2010 Bandsters doing? My Psych eval is scheduled for this Saturday, June 26th and my 6th and final Nutritionist appointment in July 8th. 16 days until everything is complete and my paperwork is submitted for approval. Please pray for me. I am beyond excited. Good luck everyone and keep me posted.

Congrats!!!

IPES, do you have medical insurance? If so you may be a candidate for your medical insurance company to cover the surgery. I have not yet been banded I started thinking about the surgery last year, was told that I would not be approved through Aetna because my BMI was not 40 (38.8) and I had no co-morbidities. My husband switched insurances to BCBS TX , I'm now required to have a BMI of 40 and complete 6 medically supervised dieticians visits. Even if you don't have insurance it may be cheaper and safer to get insurance and get approved through them. Although Mexico may a good alternative, if you have complications, which is not rare, it's easier to get follow up care in the states. Good Luck

I am very excited, I have my 5th medically supervised dietitian appoint on 6/17/2010. The 6th and final appointment on is on 07/08/2010. Hopefully approval will come before the end of July. I can't believe that I could have my surgery date in less than 2 months

I have BCBS TX (Anthem) and they require a complete a 6 month medically supervised diet and Psychiatric evaluation. My 5th appointment is on Thursday and my 6th appointment on July 8th, I will try and complete the Psych eval between now and July. Hopefully I can schedule surgery before the end of July. Your friend should contact her doctors office and her insurance benefits department to verify if the do cover the surgery before she proceeds. I had Aetna last year and did not qualify because I didn't have any co-morbities. Now that I have BCBS and I qualify. She always has the options of changing insurances if she doesn't qualify with her current insurance.

Congrats and good luck. Being nervous is natural. If you aren't nervous then you should be worried. My advice, even though I haven't been approved yet. Ask lots of questions and do more research. Congrats again

That's great, that you're close to submitting your paperwork. Who is you insurance carrier? What state do you live in?

Kirby, losing weight pre-op is contigent on your insurance provider. My insurance provider does not require me to loss any weight in order to be approved for the surgery. The purpose of the 6 month supervised diet, is really not weight loss. I haven't read of anyone losing a significant amount of weight before surgery. Like you said if it were that easy, you wouldn't need the surgery. The purposes is to get you used to eating health foods, to adopt a new attitude about food, to practice getting in your protein and some other reasons. You need to do all of these things in order to be successful after surgery. I think it's a great idea, even though I had having to wait so long to have the surgery. The Psychiatric evaluation is done in order to determine if you are psychologically prepared to have the surgery. I've heard of a lot of people who suffer depression and addiction, following surgery. I think it's terrible that you have to pay for the surgery out of pocket, good luck with that

Hello Ladies, I am also an August 2010 Bandster hopeful. I am beyond excited, thinking about the possibility of being banded in roughly two months. My 5th dietitian appointment is July 17 and my 6th and final appointment in July 8th. Who knows I may get an July surgery date, God works wonderful ways. Of course I have to be approved first, I am very hopefully and faithful that I'll be approved. Praying everyday. KitKat56 I hope your approved. I have BCBS Texas and am required to, do the medically supervised weight loss program as well. To be honest I haven't really lost any weight, o well. Anyway ladies, keep me posted about your progress. I started a thread for August 2010 bandsters but it has little to no activity. I'm happy that I found this one. Have you both completed your Psychiatric evaluations? I hoping to loss weight this year so that my husband and I can work on having our second child next year, he really want to try this year. I'm like, no way I need to loss some weight first. I gained about 50lbs during my last pregnancy, being overweight and pregnant is horrible. This next pregnancy, it going to be better, healthier. Good luck ladies and keep me posted.

First call your insurance company, if you have not already done so and make sure that you have the right information. If they in fact don't cover it switch insurances. You sound like a prime candidate for the surgery. I have BCBS of TX they cover it, so does Aetna. Good luch

I completely agree with CindyLou2u. I really want to have a second child but there is no way I would get pregnant at 260lbs. The pregnancy would be miserable. Let's not even speak about having to take care of two child being overweight and unhealthy. I've decided being healthy is the best decision for me and my future baby. Lose the weight first. I'm 27 so I'm not worried about waiting. You're not old you have time, wait, wait wait

My husband opposes the idea of me having the surgery as well. He basically told me that I had not tried hard enough on my own to lose the weight. I also think that he feels that surgery it very dangerous and drastic. After I cried hysterically and pleaded with him to support me I realized, that this is something that I have to do with or without his support. It's me who is suffering because of this weight. I'm the one who miserable everyday, I'm the one with incredible joint pain and discomfort. I've decided that this is not a game, this is something that I must do and I will just have to encourage myself. Luckily I've had to go through the 6 month medically supervised weight lose program. Currently on month 3. I think this period will give my husband time to get used to the idea that I am having the surgery. Hopefully he's come around, if not ohhh well. My advice, don't try to explain it to him anymore, give him time to get used to the idea.

I am on month 3 of the 6 month required medically supervised diet program. I'm praying for a July/August surgery. My doctor, Dr. Daniel Scott, specialises in the single incision lap band surgery. The incision is an "S" shaped incision through the belly button. He is located in Dallas, TX I've heard other doctors also perform the single incision, which leaves NO SCARS. Good luck. Trying doing a google search. Good luck

Has anyone had success scheduling a surgery date, before you've actually received insurance approval. I'm obsessed with getting the band and was just thinking the other day, "What if I get approved, I mean when I get approved, and the surgery date and time I want is not available." I like many of you are teachers and would like to have the surgery immediately after approval. Instead of waiting until August, I'm going to try and push the date up to the end of July. I contacted my doctors office by email and am waiting for a reply. What do you ladies think?