kathyotto

Thanks all! I am a first grade teacher in an inner city school and will definitly need my coffee. I'll give it a few more weeks (3 more weeks 'til school). There is light at the end of the tunnel:)

OK...I am day 5 with the lap band. I miss my coffee soooo much. I am use to drinking 2 cups every morning. I realize that I can't drink it now, but I just want to know if there is light at the end of the tunnel. Will I be able to drink real coffee again?

Thanks I thought it might be the pain meds because I only take it at night and that is when it seems to happen. I wasn't going to take it tonight, but I have such a sinus headache...maybe I'll just dip my head in Vic's or use my neti pot. It sounds like you had a rough recovery. I hope things are going better for you. How long have you been banded and are you finding success?

Well it is my fourth day with the band and I feel a lot better. I still have a little pain now and then in my shoulder and arm, but not nearly as much as yesterday. It seems my headache has gone away and tomorrow I can start protien shakes, so hopefully will have more energy. My only problem right now is the night sweats. I wake up in the middle of the night drenched and freezing. Is this normal?? I am so excited for my new beginning

I just had my lap band surgery on Monday and feel okay except both my arms are so achy. Is it from gas? Any ideas to releave the pain? Help...

so I guess laying around all day today didn't help... I just don't have any energy. Tomorrow will be a better day. Thanks for the info.

Hi all! I am new to this forum, so bear with me! I went for my first appointment. I thought for sure my BMI would be 40, but it was 38.6. I was a little taller than expected. I am 40 years old, you would think I knew my height! I did wear heavy clothes and shoes, but they handed me the gown, so had nothing else on:thumbdown:. I have Capital Blue insurance and they will only cover if the BMI is 40 and above or 35 with specific medical conditions. I do have high cholesterol, but that is it. I do snore like a race horse, so I am going to get a sleep study done, but because of the neck measurements and the looks of my tonsils the dr. doesn't think that will be the case. I REALLY, REALLY want to have the procedure done. I have been dieting for 28 years and I am nothing but a failure. The pre-op program is $415, do I chance it and attend or just give up? Can anyone help me? What should I do???:w00t:

Off to see the surgeon tomorrow to set the date. BMI is 39.5, so i hope they approve me. Wish me luck!

That's good to hear. Did you have any other comorbities? I wish insurances could give a staight answer! I just don't want to have to go through fighting with the insurance. Wow...your surgery is in a few days. Good luck!!!

I finally got the results from my sleep apnea test and I have mild sleep apnea, so I'm not sure if that is good enough. My PCP is doing another round of blood work on me and said I would be a good candidate for lapband...eventually I will have comorbity. He said he would write a letter for me if I need one. I think I am going to start the process and keep my fingers crossed.

I started the entire process in Jan. with my physical, but my BMI was not high enough...38.7 and I have no other medical problems other than high cholesterol. My insurance Capital Blue will cover if you are 40 BMI and higher or 35 BMI with medical problems. I went for a sleep apnea test about 2 weeks ago...hoping to have it because that would be my "medical problem". I only have mild sleep apnea. I am so frustrated because I will eventually have high blood pressure and diabetes if I don't loose the weight...all runs in the family along with heart disease. I don't know if I should continue with the 3 month pre-op ($415 out of pocket) and hope I will be covered or just give up and join weight watchers for the 100th time. My family Dr. said he will write a letter stating I am a good candidate for the surgery. What should I do???

From what I have read about the requirements, there is nothing about having a 40 BMI for a number of years, but it did say that I need to maintain (or lose) the weight I started with (38.7 BMI) at the time of the physical. I just wish they could give me a straight answer before I waste the money for the pre-ops.:laugh:

Thanks for the info. I have been with capital blue for 17 years, but I don't think they will take that into consideration. I think my only chance is sleep apnea. I have to make my appointment for the sleep study. Good luck...it looks like you are off to a great start!

Thanks, I am going to make that appointment very soon. Wow, I just noticed you lost 78lbs. That is great!! I've never lost more than 35lb. on a "diet". I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes through!

At my first appointment they suggested I go for the sleep study for apnea. I did have blood work done over the summer through my PCP, including the fasting diabetes blood test. The diabetes test came back high, so they sent me for another, which came back normal. We will see how the sleep apnea test comes back. I do snore loud, but that doesn't mean I have sleep apnea. I am going to keep my fingers crossed that it comes back positive.

I just started the process with my first meeting (physical). My BMI is 38.6 and they couldn’t give me any clue if they thought my insurance would cover the procedure. I did call and e-mail capital blue, but they only read what was on my plan either a 40-50 BMI or 35 with co-morbidities and a 3 month pre-op program is required. I have been dieting for 28 years, but never successful. I am on meds for my cholesterol. The pre-op program will cost me $415 and I won't even know if I am approved until right before surgery. Any suggestions? What was your BMI? You had no other proven "co-morbidities"? Should I go on with the pre-op program and hope that the procedure will be covered?

I've called and sent e-mails to capital blue, but can't get a straight answer. They just read what is on the policy. It looks like the only chance I might have is sleep apnea...but have to go for the sleep study. If I don't have sleep apnea, then I'm out of luck.